Revive Us Again

Psalms 25:4-8  Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.  (5)  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.  (6)  Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.  (7)  Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.  (8)  Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

            As a Christian, I spend a lot of time with God (though not enough) asking Him “…teach me thy paths.  Lead me in thy truth,..” and there are days I stumble, I do falter.  In my walk with the Lord, I have stumbled many times, yet my Lord always remembers and He lifts me up and re-steadies me in my walk.

            When we stumble, the natural thought is, “I will get up and get going.”  I have tried that many times, and I have found it just doesn’t work.  Our “getting up” begins with prayer [asking, begging, pleading] submitting to God through His Son Jesus.  If it starts with “me, myself and I,” we can use that old aerospace saying, “Houston, we have a problem.”

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The problem is again “me, myself and I,” and it is my boasting that I will do the Lord’s work.   We are informing Him, we can do it ourselves.  Currently, I am under going physical therapy for shoulder surgery.  If I told my Physician or Mrs. Barnett, “I really know better than you, I will do this on my own,”  I would never be able to use my arm to the extent it could be without their help.  It works the same way with God.  I must rely on His teaching, His leading, or I will never be able to approach the potential God has given.  Where are you in your potential with God?  Do you need “Reviving Again?”

            This week we are having a Revival at Fundamental Baptist Church.  Why not come to these evening services and bring a willing heart, a heart which wants Reviving.

            If you have never called upon Jesus as your personal Saviour, come and hear the Gospel of Christ, giving you the necessary teaching to allow you to accept Jesus as your Saviour.  Come and hear God’s Word.

Bro John R. E Chastain

This is an article intended for publication in the 

Wellington Leader 3/11/2010 under "...from The Pulpit"

The Peace of God

 In our verses from Philippians 4:4-7 quoted below, we read that the “…peace of God, which passeth all understanding,..” is something which “...shall keep your [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

              This “…peace of God…” is not an easily defined entity.  It is knowledge that is given through the Holy Spirit.  It is something we have, yet it is like our faith, at times hard for us to put into words.

              We do know when we “…let your [our] requests be made known…” with whom we have just conversed, and this gives us the assurance and the peace that only God can give.

              At this publication, I will have spent a week incapacitated, (maybe to Sharil’s delight.)  I know in that period of time, I will have been somewhat of a physical burden to her and to others.  Yet, knowing her, she will have spent an amount of time in prayer with our Lord, (to allow her unabated,) to continue in “…the peace of God,..” 

              Facing Sharil and I this coming month are two eye surgeries for her, a “mess” of physical therapy for me, and a Revival for the Church.

              In this we must all remember, “The Lord is at hand.”  He is here with us, and it is you and I which must make our “…requests made known unto God.”

              My request to God concerning this Church is that He “Revive Us Again.”   I have talked long with the Lord concerning this year, and while reading Habakkuk, He enlightened me in Chapter 3:2.  There I found my answer from the Lord.

Habakkuk 3:2  O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk expressed his fear for Israel. He also expressed my fear for our Church, and for all the Bible believing Churches of America.  “O LORD, revive thy work…”  We as a Church, independent, fundamental, King James Bible, conservative music Baptists need “our work revived.” 

              If we as Christians want “…the peace of God…” we must insure it with revival.   We must insure revival not only in our hearts, but also in our Churches.  If we are not careful in our walk, as an individual and as a Church, we may find:

Revelation 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

What a crime that would be, a blasphemy against God and His Son Jesus.  Knowing “The Peace of God” will always allow us to know we have our “…first love…” always leading, always first in all our hearts, our souls, and our minds.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Philippians 4:4-7  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  (5)  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  (6)  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  (7)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Under His Wings

              In our verses from Psalm 91:1-4 quoted below, we read that “…in Him will I trust…”  The Psalmist tells us, “…He is my refuge and my fortress…”

              Those two phrases should be the strength of our Salvation.  God has given, given, and given again, and we have received abundantly, yet, where is our heart?

(Matthew 22:37)  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

              Here, we have Jesus telling us what we have heard many times in the Old Testament.  He is quoting Himself.  Yet, here we have it fresh from Him in the New Testament. 

              So what is our problem?  Our title speaks of being “…under His wings…”  If we are under His wings, then shouldn’t we “…love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind?”  Shouldn’t we as mature Christians relish the security we receive (being protected from “…the fowler...”) whom we know as Satan? 

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Satan surrounds us daily, and if it weren’t for “…His wings…” (God’s Wings) where would we be but in the arms of Satan where we used to be?

              We as Christians must open our eyes, and see where we stand with God.  Do we love Him with ALL our Heart, Soul and Mind?  God and His Son Jesus “stand in our way,” to protect us from Sat²€nd his wiles. 

Ephesians 6:11  …that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

              If we read the verses following verse 11, we find that the only armour we need is to “push forth in battle.”  Our Lord covers our back, so if we turn and walk away from Him, we are no longer protected.  Our backs are turned to the battle, and we are then open to (Ephesians 6:16) “…all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

              So, REVIVE your faith.  Turn back to the line of fire with your “shield of faith,” and the protection of our Lord will be on your back.  Some of those darts may get past your shield, but our Lord has you covered with “…His wings…”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Psalms 91:1-4  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  (2)  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  (3)  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  (4)  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

The Fruit of the Spirit

              In our verses from Galatians 5:22-24 quoted below, we read that the “fruit of the spirit,” being singular, is found to be a complex entity that we as Christians must be. 

              This Valentine’s Day we are celebrating love, probably love of all kinds.  We see on television that the world markets the “love of lust,” where many here and elsewhere celebrate “a love of compassion.”  This love dwells within our hearts and wants to be a help to any regardless of the circumstances.  Another love is the “love of term,” a love that is built in a marriage, a friendship, or our faith.

              All of these “loves” are to some degree valid loves.  Lust finds itself in a marriage as a part of the long-term love of that marriage.  The “love of lust” in a broader sense can also be used to describe our initial conviction by the Holy Spirit for Jesus Christ, the desire, and the want to be what He wants us to be.

              Yet, there is more to the “fruit of the Spirit” than just love.  Consider Jesus hanging on that Cross, and stop and think in terms of this “fruit of the Spirit.”  Now think how Jesus had “peace” and “gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness” while He was hanging there, and all the while, still loving us, forgiving us, and having patience concerning our “chosen lifestyle.”

               Where on this Valentine’s Day have you placed your “fruit of the Spirit?”  Is it in your pocket, or is it in the drawer next to your bed?  It should, always regardless of the hour, the day, the week, the month, or all the years combined be within your heart.

              We each, as Christians, have been given the “fruit of the Spirit,” and we each should be able to apply all its aspects.  Yet, we each know we apply one segment more than another segment.  However, they all should be equally applied.  We must apply Jesus’ teachings as He stated:

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

              If we will apply this as our “Golden Rule of Life,” the “fruit of the Spirit” will grow, and all the entities will flourish. 

              Do you “love one another?”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Galatians 5:22-24  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Wherein Ye Stand

              In our verses from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 quoted below, we read that Paul is reminding us of what we have been taught.  He wants us to know that he had received what he taught, and through that teaching, “wherein ye stand,” is the same teaching as through the Holy Spirit, “ye are saved.”

              The part I want to discuss is “wherein ye stand,” and have us look at our own individual “walk and our talk.”

            God intends that we as Christians are to be a peculiar people.  Why are we to be “peculiar?”  Because, we as Christians are chosen by Him as “a royal priesthood.”   We are to “shew forth” “praises of him” in all that we do.

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The last time you were at the Mall or Waaaaaal-Mart, or any other public facility, did you “shew [show] forth” “His praises?”  Did your walk [appearance] show others that Christ lives within you?  What about the “chewing out” you gave the clerk that overcharged you?  Is your talk “praises of him?”

              If you find you are not as you ought to be, are you living in vain?  What are your goals for your life?  If after searching your heart, do you find you are less “peculiar” and more secular [worldly] in your living?  If so, then it is time to give your salvation a check up, move your living, and your “walk and talk” back to God.

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

              As a Christian, [a person, who has accepted Jesus as his personal Saviour through His Gospel,] you must go to Him and repent of your lifestyle.  You must work to adjust yourself, through the transforming of your mind, by deciding, [making a decision] that you want to be within that “perfect, will of God.”  Then, and only then can you ever hope to be the “peculiar” person God wants you to be. 

              So Christian, “wherein ye stand” before God?  Are you His servant or the servant of the world?  It is your decision.  So what are you going to do?

Bro John R. E Chastain

1 Corinthians 15:1-4  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  (3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  

God’s Amazing Grace

          When I read these scriptures below, the first thing that comes to my mind is (John 9:25 )  He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.  That last portion “…whereas I was blind, now I see.” is where I was before and then just after I knew Jesus Christ, God’s Amazing Grace.  I knew nothing about how I got to Jesus, except I was led. 

              On January 19, 1993, Sharil and I sat down with Bro Tom Huntress, and he showed us in scripture where we were dead to Christ, living in sin, living but not alive, and by accepting God’s “Amazing Grace” we could be alive and have a life we never expected to have.  Through those Words of Scripture, Sharil and I allowed our Jesus to put that clay with His spittle on our eyes, and then with our own hearts accept and be washed clean through the scripture, to be able to see again and be alive for the first time in our lives.

              Our lives have not ever been the same since and we thank God for that change.  These scriptures below state that our sinful condition may be to allow God to make himself visible through us.  When I consider that in my life, I was a horrible example to my children, and my salvation showed them (and the extended portion of my family) His work in me. 

              He can do the same in you, even if you are saved.  Let Him have control of your destiny.  Let Him guide you.  Let your family see the washing and the change God has made in you.  Wash the clay and spittle God has put on your eyes by drawing near to Him.  God asks us to:

(Joel 2:13)  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Tear open your heart.  Your “garments” mean nothing to Him, He wants your heart.  Turn to God with all your heart.

Bro John R. E Chastain

John 9:1-7  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.  (2)  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?  (3)  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.  (4)  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.  (5)  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  (6)  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,  (7)  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.