Calvary Baptist Church » Pastor’s Corner

Service & Radio Messages

Michael — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:56:48 +0000

Welcome! Below you will find links to the most current Service and Radio Messages. If you are looking for something older, click on the link below entitled ‘Service and Radio Message Archive’.

Messages through April 2011

Service Messages:

Click here for the Service and Radio Message Archive…

Radio Messages:

Radio messages are now available on our new website:

http://www.plowinginhope.com

Click here for the Service and Radio Message Archive…

MP3 message archive

Michael — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 22:36:44 +0000

Archived service messages available below!

Service Messages: (Sun & Wed)

Radio Messages:

Radio messages are now available on our new website:

http://www.plowinginhope.com

Where, O where, have God’s men, gone?

Wes — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:51:37 +0000

Where, O where, have God’s men, that once “contended for the faith”….gone? What has happened to the battle cry of “memorizing scripture.” It is rarely heard of anymore. And if it is, it is just a hint of what it should be. ”Here memorize John 3:16, or maybe 2 Timothy 2:15 and you’re good!”

The lack of “letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” among Independent Baptist Pastors has led to messages that are empty. Spewing out repetitions of old. “Don’t dare wear pants, (ladies), to God’s house”. Using the O.T.Law to validate this claim. “Although it is acceptable for a woman who is lost, unacceptable for a woman is is Saved. ” Here is another, “Let’s all co-exist, why can’t we all just get along.” Forgetting the multitude of verses that teach separation such as Romans 16:17-18, 1Timothy 6:3-5, 2Timothy 3:5, 2John 9-11, 2Corinthians 6:14 and 17.

Most Believer’s (I dare say) have never heard taught the importance of memorizing scripture, and because their leaders in the church do not memorize, they certainly will not teach their congregations that they should. Memorizing the Word of God will enable you to achieve an understanding of the scriptures like you’ve never had before. It will enable you to “prove all things.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). It will enable you to actually become a “truth detector.” (John 8:31-32), to know what is being taught or preached to be right or wrong. It will give you a love for God’s Word like never before!

The lack of memorizing scriptures has led to congregations that trust in Pastor’s and not God’s Word. ”Our Pastor would never lie to us, so what he says must be truth!” Our churches are filled with congregations that depend on their Pastor to do the studying for them. The end result of not knowing God’s Word for yourself, for not being able to prove to yourself, (let alone anybody else) what you believe and why…..with chapter and verse, results in spiritual slavery amongest Believer’s because they take what the Pastor says as gospel!

There is a command and a warning in Hebrews 13:7 ”Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” . The COMMAND is to remember your Pastor (in prayer) and to follow his faith. The WARNING is to “consider the end of their conversation.” In other words, listen to your Pastor, follow him, but listening to him to make sure he is always, always, in the Book and not operating outside of it. It is about accountability! Pastor’s are accountable to God and the congregation to “feed the flock..” The congregation is accountable to the Word to hold their Pastor’s accountable that he stays in the Bible, (the Bible being the KJV and not the NKJV).

The excuse is “I cannot memorize scripture, I’m too old, my mind is not cut out for this” Excuses is exactly what they are. There is a way to memorize scripture. It is Biblical and therefore possible. Here is the catch (you had to know that there was one), it takes COMMITMENT, HARD WORK, A WILLINGNESS.

1. Pray. Ask God’s help in this matter

2. When you sit down to read (you must have a daily commitment to the Word) always have pen and paper.

3. When you read…….listen. Don’t put yourself under the pressure of ”I must read so many chapters in a day.” or ”I must spend this certain amount of time reading….or else.”. Take your time with the Word. If it takes you a week to get thru a couple of chapters…..so what! It is better that you get something out of two chapters, rather than read 50 chapters and it mean nothing to you. Remember, When you read…. listen. The Holy Spirit will nudge your heart with a verse. A verse will jump out at you. A verse will grab your attention. When that happens write it down, commit it to memory. Write it, fold it, and put it in a container marked ”memorizing”. Pull that out every day and go over it a couple of times before reading as you would for that day.( you can also write it down and carry it with you throughout the day) Have another container marked ”verses in waiting.” Every time you hear the Holy Spirit nudge your heart over a particular verse, write it down and put it in the “verses in waiting container.” And as you memorize one, pull out another and add it to the “memorizing” container. Before long you will gradually find yourself spending more time in God’s Word AND the Holy Spirit himself will start putting those verses together in your mind and in your heart. Then the holy Spirit will bring them into remembrance to your mind when you need them. John 14:26 ”⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

This is nothing new, not a new idea at all. This process of learning is in God’s Word and always has been. Colossians 3:16, Psalm 119:11, Isaiah 28:9-10.

When the Word of God dwells in you richly as Pastors, you will no longer need “sermon helps” from the internet or from a book written by some man because he thinks his sermons are really wonderful. God will give you the message for the day….every time…..from the Bible.

When the Word of God dwells in you richly as a lay person, you will no longer depend on hope that what the Pastor is saying is truth……you will know and will experience a joy and a freedom in our Lord and Saviour like you have never experienced before.

I have many testimonies from children as well as adults (young and old) that will testify to the fact that this is true.

Where, O where, have God’s men, that once “contended for the faith”….gone? They have gone from the way of memorizing God’s Word have have weakened themselves and in turn weakened the flock that God has placed them over.

“O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.” —Jeremiah 22:29

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:” —Hosea 4:6

“Where no counsel is, the people fall..” —Proverbs 11:14

A GREAT FALLING AWAY

Wes — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:57:07 +0000

A GREAT FALLING AWAY

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,..”

This has certainly happened among Independent Baptist today. The advertising and commercialization of Revival Meetings. The “registration fee” expos and the silver and gold club memberships of being part of some great spiritual or religious club. The names that attract people to these events are displayed like some grand hall of wonder. And all in the name of God and his Word of course.

Preachers with titles before their names and after. Of course they would all say “it’s not about pride..” Never mind the fact that God’s very Word warns us against giving titles to men. (Matthew 23:7-10 “And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” )

Preachers who think they have the authority to change the doctrine of Salvation by leaving off “repentance” of all things. Claiming that repentance is simply a change of mind. Scripture will be given to support their idea, but as heresy dictates, they ignore the scripture that contradicts this.

Preachers who think that unless you go and “knock on doors” you are not in the will of God in building a church. A marketing strategy started by Hyles- Anderson College back in the ‘70s. Ignoring completely God’s idea of building a church found in 1 Corinthians 12.

Offerings must be taken up or the church may go bankrupt. Ignoring the Biblical command of giving found in 2 Corinthians 9. Men telling other men that they could never amount to anything because of being divorced. Can’t teach, preach, or do anything for God. Using parts of Gods Word for their “reasoning of the scriptures” and not “rightly dividing” the “whole counsel” of God. Church members ought to be encouraged to ask their Pastor why they do the things they do in church. And the Pastor’s should be able to take the Word of God to explain why. Why we have an altar. Why we go about the way we do to collect money. Why we do what we do in church. That would be a great lesson in itself!

This may seem trivial to most, but it is anything but. We are to keep the “commandment of God without spot or blemish.” (1 Timothy 6:14). That means no room for error, regardless of how unimportant something may seem. I am picking on Independent Baptist because we are the closest thing (as far as any group of church brands goes) there is in teaching, preaching, and contending for the faith that there is! There has been a falling away from the whole Word of God, to most of the Word of God. I believe that there are many who would agree with me but fear that the fact they may be ostracized from preachers with reputation.

I may well loose support from what few acquaintances I have left but I am sure I will survive. May God help us to get back to the precious Word of God and leave off ideas, traditions, clicks, and clubs. To stand on this beloved King James Bible that is celebrating it’s 400^th anniversary this year (2011). To be content with such things that we have (the KJV) and not want for anything else to build a church. To sticking to the paths that have been “cast up” for us in the KJV and the KJV only.

“Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;..” –Jeremiah 18:15

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHRIST’S RETURN !

Wes — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:48:53 +0000

BILLBOARDS ANNOUNCE DAY OF CHRIST’S RETURN -

The very confused Harold Camping, head of Family Radio Network, is claiming that Christ will return on May 21, 2011, and billboards have been set up in nine cities across America announcing the event. This is the second time that Camping has made a nutty prediction. In the last decade he predicted that Christ would return on September 6, 1994, and I don’t have to tell you that it didn’t happen. You would think that this world-class blunder would have ended his Bible teaching career, but in these days there are enough gullible people out there to keep such heretics afloat. Camping’s heresies are heard on 55 radio stations in America and via shortwave overseas, and his program is translated into 48 languages. He believes the church age ended in 1988 and that God has turned from churches to Family Radio as His means of preaching the gospel. His followers meet in homes to listen to Camping’s messages. There is no baptism, no Lord’s Supper, no pastor–especially no pastor.

In late 2001, Baptist Pastor Jim Barker of Elmont, New York, was banned from preaching messages on the topic of the church on WFME radio that broadcasts from West Orange, New Jersey. Though he had preached on that station for many years, he was told that he could no longer identify himself as a pastor or mention the church. Barker warns, “Camping says sinners can no longer be saved in churches and if Christians defy him and continue to attend church services their children cannot be saved.” Camping also believes in extreme “sovereign election,” that you can only hope that you have been chosen and that “a baby can be saved as readily as a mature adult” (Time Has an End: A Biblical History of the World, 2005, p. 17).As for life’s most important question, “What must I do to be saved?” Camping says, “You cannot do anything.”

Happily, the Bible has already given the answer to that question and it is “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). As for Jesus’ coming, there is no doubt that He is coming again, but we don’t know when. We only know that it is imminent. We are instructed to expect Him at any time. There is one thing we do know, though, and that is that Jesus will NOT return on May 21, 2011, for He said, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:13).

(Friday Church News Notes, January 8, 2010, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org,

How the Word of God is Understood

Wes — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:53:41 +0000

What is a Bible scholar? One who has studied the Bible in college and has a degree. PHD, DD, OB, STP, so on and so on. I am amazed at brethren who think that “only the deep things of God” can be understood when you have been to “bible college.” I am also just as amazed at Believers who think, “I can never understand the Bible unless I go to Bible College.”

The Bible is GIVEN BY INSPIRATION and is understood by INSPIRATION. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God….” And Job 32:8 says that “there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding..” Any Born Again Believer can understand the Word of God. It does not take one to be a preacher or teacher or deacon to receive “special powers” to understand God’s Word.

There is a Biblical way to study and understand God’s Word. If you would like to know how, please let me know. I can point you to God’s Word for the answer. This is nothing new. It is not my idea. It is God’s way and not man’s. It will take commitment to God’s Word

God’s Word is understood by Inspiration! I have often wondered that if some preachers would remove the title “Dr.” from there name, would there be any difference in their spiritual life? What is the reason that a servant of God would have a title in front of their name? To impress God? To impress man? To let one know that you have been to Bible college? If there is no Biblical basis to have a title of “Dr.”, then on what authority do we do it? There is a warning about placing titles on man found in Matthew chapter 23 verses 1-12.

AMEN !! Thoughts on America’s Elections 2010

Wes — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:41:59 +0000

THOUGHTS ON THE U.S. ELECTION

(Friday Church News Notes, November 5, 2010, www.wayoflife.org ) -

We observe, First Point, that Bible believers are thankful for the election results. At the very least it should slow the horrible flow of red ink and Obama’s socialist/globalist agenda. As I have often stated, politics are important because politics affect our lives, but–and this brings me to my second point,.

Second Point, it is also necessary to understand that politics cannot “bring America back to God” because politics cannot address the foundational spiritual and moral issues. The most foundational problem in America is apostasy and compromise in the churches and the resulting judgment of God. As in Israel of old, “from the prophets … is profaneness gone forth into all the land” (Jeremiah 23:15). Americans do not fear God because the churches do not preach the fear of God, and no amount of politicking can change that. I am confident that those who are laboring to strengthen the Bible convictions and spiritual depth of churches are doing more to help America than all of the “conservative politicking” that has been conducted over the past 40 years. The vast majority of the loudest “conservative” voices–the Glenn Becks and the Sean Hannitys and the Rush Limbaughs–do not have a clue about the foundational issues

We would observe, thirdly, that though the Tea Party is acting like they now call the shots, they remain a minority in government and they are dreaming if they think they have actually taken control of America. As significant as this election was, the fact is that the country remains deeply divided and a large percentage of the people as well as their elected officials are opposed to the Tea Party agenda. We would observe.

Fourthly, that the American electorate is a very weak reed. The American people have proven themselves to be fickle and unwise, and what they give today they can easily take away tomorrow — with no good reason. They elected Bill Clinton. Twice. Just two years ago they elected a near-Marxist, racist, America hater. The average American voter is frightfully uneducated on the issues and susceptible to the lies of the liberal media.

I want to say, Fifthly, that there is great moral and spiritual danger in intensive politicking. It is dirty business. It is all about compromise and building coalitions and rubbing shoulders with those with whom we do not agree, whereas the Bible warns repeatedly that “evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). I am not saying that God’s people should never get involved in politics. Each individual must make that decision before the Lord and some good has come out of it; I am simply warning that there is danger in such involvement, and there are more important ways that one can spend his life for Christ.

The best thing God’s people can do is to put Christ first, seek His perfect will, and pray fervently every day for the nation.

AMEN !!!

The 12-Step Program. Alcoholics Anonymous

Wes — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:13:00 +0000

EARLY 12-STEP MANUSCRIPT REVEALS THE PROGRAM’S UNSCRIPTURAL NATURE

The 12-Step addiction recovery phenomenon, which began with Alcoholics Anonymous, has gone far to psychologize North America and wean it away from solid Biblical principles. Twenty-seven million copies of the AA manual have been published in more than 50 languages, and the psychobabble approach has been applied to everything from gamblers to “shopaholics.” It has been celebrated in countless movies and television programs.

The first AA book appeared in 1939, and a working manuscript that was used to produce that first volume is being published this week in a format entitled “The Book that Started It All.” The manuscript reveals how that the founders of AA determined to avoid overtly “religious” terminology and any “preaching” that might offend the non-religious. Through AA’s influence, the biblical term “drunkenness” was traded for “alcoholism.” Sin became a disease. Sinners became victims. The power of spiritual regeneration through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ was traded for the power of self-will and (for those who need more) a non-defined “higher power.”

The following marginal note from the working manuscript is telling: “We have said constantly the trouble with organized religion is that they try to dogmatically pour people into moulds. So why should we give specific instructions in the book such as saying do this and do that?” (“12-Step Manuscript Rare Glimpse into Early AA,” AP, Sept. 28, 2010). To reject religious dogmatism and specific instructions is to reject the Bible and the God revealed in the Bible, which is what Western society has been in the process of doing for a long time.

Susan Cheever, who wrote a biography of AA co-founder Bill Wilson, says it was his “spiritual inclusiveness” that “struck the right tone in a chapter for atheists and agnostics.” The founders decided not to use words like “saved” and “instruct.” Most references to God were replaced with “faith” before the volume was first printed.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I have witnessed time and time again, that when a person truly accepts Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they quit (COLD TURKEY!) the alcohol and or drugs that permeated their life. It has just happened recently in our church. A 41 year old that has been a drukard for more than 20 years. Acceptd Christ as his Saviour and has not touched a drop NOR has he had the craving for it! ”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” —2 Corinthians 5:17

Faith Defined

Wes — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:35:11 +0000

Faith is the substance of things hoped for.. it brings the future within the present. The fact that one day we will live and reign with Christ is our greatest hope! Faith is our present hope that God will meet our needs

Faith is the evidence of things not seen . ..it makes the invisible seen.!

Faith is not a blind leap in the dark, in fact Faith demands the surest evidence and finds it in the Word of God

Faith is not limited to possibilities, but in fact invades the realm of impossibilities!

If it’s possible…..then there is no glory for God in it!

There are difficulties and problems in a life of faith. God does in fact test our faith to see if it is genuine ”That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” –1 Peter 1:7.

George Mueller is quoted as saying ”Difficulties are food, for faith to feed on!”

Faith….without it you cannot please HIM!

Glenn Beck and New Age Faith

Wes — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:39:19 +0000

GLENN BECK’S NEW AGE FAITH (Friday Church News Notes, September 3, 2010,www.wayoflife.org,

- The following is excerpted from Brannon Howse, “Glenn Beck: Another View of His Crusade,” Resistnet.com, August 31, 2010:

“I believe that Beck does not only embrace the pagan spirituality of Mormonism but also Cosmic Humanism. Cosmic Humanism is known by most as the New Age Movement. Cosmic Humanism says that man is god. Mormonism says that man can become god. See the similarities? Before you react listen to what Glenn Beck said on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace on the Fox News Channel. Glenn Beck said that his rally was not political and the reason for his rally was because ‘there’s nothing that we can do that will solve the problems that we have and keep the peace unless we solve it through God, unless we solve it in being our highest self. Be your higher-self.’ Beck used the phrase ‘higher self’ three times in the interview with Chris Wallace. No one talks that way unless they know exactly what they are saying. One New Age website says: ‘There are many great words to describe Who or What your highest identity or Self truly is. Below are just a few: Higher Self, I am Presence, I Am That I Am…Cosmic Consciousness, God, Christ, Holy Spirit And the list goes on…’ Notice that ‘I AM that I AM’ is another word for ‘higher self.’ Last week on his radio program Beck said, ‘I Am That I Am is the most powerful phrase in any language as it is the name of god, never use it in vain; use it to create who you want to be. I AM _ (you fill in the blank).’

I AM is a title that is to be reserved for God Himself. In Exodus 3:13 God told Moses that when the people of Israel ask for My name tell them, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ … ‘I AM’ is to be reserved as a title for God yet it is being blasphemed in the pagan practice of what is called ‘the law of attraction.’ In the book The Secret, that was promoted by none other than Oprah Winfrey, Rhonda Byrne wrote: ‘The law of attraction is the law of creation….You create your life through your thoughts’ (p. 15). … The fact that people like Beck on the right and Oprah on the left are proclaiming the ‘I AM’ message is a sign that we are living in the last days according to Jesus Himself in Luke 21:7-8.”

GLENN BECK SAYS GAY MARRIAGE NOT A THREAT TO AMERICA

Glenn Beck expects his spiritual crusade to “fundamentally transform America,” but what will this look like? Some of my fellow Baptists seem to think he has the same moral values and concerns as they do, but he doesn’t. On Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, August 11, 2010, Beck was asked, “Do you believe gay marriage is a threat to the country in any way?” He replied, “A threat to the country? No, I don’t.”

Beck held up a Bible at his August 27 and 28 rallies and indicated that it has the answer to America’s problems, which it does. But the Bible condemns homosexuality as an abomination to God; it warns that homosexuality can bring society to such degradation that God judges it; and it calls upon homosexuals to repent. Homosexual “marriage” is a threat to society because it destroys the very concept of marriage. The authority for marriage is God’s Word, and if marriage can be defined however man desires, the institution of marriage will be destroyed.

In fact, homosexual marriage will destroy the very concept of morality. If a man can marry a man because he “loves” him or “feels it is right,” there is no reason why a man can’t marry a boy or his mother or his dog or his G.I. Joe toy. Who can say dogmatically that such a thing would be wrong? On what basis? Legalized homosexuality destroys the very concept of absolute morality.

Beck doesn’t believe this because he doesn’t believe the Bible, and a man who doesn’t believe the Bible does not truly share the moral values of the man who does, because his own thinking is his ultimate authority rather than the Word of Almighty God.

——————————————————————–

Is there any doubt whatsoever that we are near the end. I literally look for the Rapture of the Church everyday. Glenn Beck is attracted to so many Believers because he is the epitome of conservatism. But brethren have allowed “conservatism” to become part of their focus along with the Word of God. There is no room for the Word of God and……whatever else. It must be God’s Word that drives us and God’s Word alone. Remember 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ”¹³For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.¹⁴And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.¹⁵Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.