Serve God

Matthew 6:19-21  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  (20)  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  (21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

            Reading through these verses reminds me of my life prior to my Salvation.  Money and the “things” money could buy were my gods.  My effort each year was to earn as much as possible, regardless of the consequences.

James 4:13-15  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:  (14)  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  (15)  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

James 4:13-14 defined my life.  I was only accountable to myself.  (I had no concern [didn’t know] that my life was in jeopardy.)   I have since learned that my life is to center and focus only on God’s Will.

            Therefore, when we consider “the world” and Christianity, (they ought to be incomparable) where do we fall concerning God’s Will?  Do we as Christians line up with the enmity of God, or are we as close to God as we can get?  Where are our treasures being laid up?  (Could they be in the same room that we have locked the Ten Commandments down in Georgia?)

            (A Christian ought to know where he should lay up his treasures.)  Yet, it appears we Christians have a problem getting past “The Jones’.”  (They are only looking for their concerns day by day with no concern for their eternity.)

            I read today on “facebook, ™ ” “If you want to know where your heart is, look to where your mind goes when it wanders.”  (Our treasures are wherever our heart resides.)  If we reside in the Lord and work to stay within His arms, our treasures are with Him, safe and secure.  As Christians, we do not have a fear of not going to Heaven, but some Christians seem aloof as to their rewards that Jesus is holding for them.

2 Corinthians 5:10  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.

            We Christians will not be judged in the sense of punishment as the un-saved.  However, we will have to hear about the good and the bad that we have done since our Salvation.  If we have mega treasures laid up, we will have a loss in volume because of those times we turned away from the Holy Spirit and refused to do God’s Will.

            (On the other hand, if we have only meager treasures, how well will we do on that day?)   God expects us to follow, God demands we follow. 

            Have you accepted Jesus the Christ as your Saviour and secured a place in Heaven with Him and His Father?  Do you have a Church?  Are you going to Church and placing your willing tithe in the plate?  What have you done to help your Pastor, and the widows of your Church? 

            Today is the day.  Check yourself.  Find out where your treasures are, and then reinforce all that you have done. 

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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Not Of Us

2 Corinthians 4:1-7  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  (2)  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.  (3)  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  (5)  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.  (6)  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  (7)  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

            There are moments when I would like to be able to put the broadside of my boot against my backside.  I know if I don’t, eventually God will.  Last evening I was talking to my Pastor concerning the writing of these devotions.  I later realized I was taking credit for an ability God has given me.  It is not of me, for without God and His Son Jesus, I would be wallowing in a burning Hell.

            Our verses above teach us to renounce “hidden things of dishonesty.” (Pride is likely our most dishonest attribute.)  We are warned to “not walking [walk] in craftiness,” (wherein possibly our minds walk.)  God also warns us not to “handling [handle] the word of God deceitfully.”  If we quote a verse, God expects us to know the context of that verse, (how it is used, the extent of its usage, and for whom it is intended.)

            (We can see we have been warned.)  Now, we must see the task God has given us.  God tells us, “if our gospel be hid,” it is hid to those who haven’t heard the Gospel at all.  As Christians, we must be certain we are not putting the Gospel in “our inner closet” (for safekeeping so we will not lose it.) 

            The Gospel is like an early “facebook™.”  Its intention is to be shared with friends and acquaintances.  Otherwise, how will they know “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ?”  As Christians, our light from Jesus should shine towards others and light our way to them.

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

God’s light MUST shine through us regarding our walk and our talk.  (Our Bible refers to our “conversation” as our lives, worldly and spiritually,) [because we live here, not because we are within it.]   

            The “god of this world” [Satan] has blinded “unsaved eyes” to the Gospel of Christ.  We must strive within ourselves to NOT let Satan “blind our eyes” to his people.  If God’s Gospel is hidden, it is   us (Christians) who are hiding it (by allowing Satan to direct us away from his world.)

            We need to be as brash with the Gospel at “Wal Mart™” as we are on “facebook.™”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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Fundamental Thoughts: Them That Love God

Fundamental Thoughts: Them That Love God: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpo...

Them That Love God

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

            I have heard this verse misquoted and misused more than any other Bible verse.  The portion stating, “to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” is left off.  Consequently, this verse’s application, “for anybody in any situation” is incorrect.   

            Romans 8:28 is a verse of assurance that God has given Christian Believers.  (It is only for those who have accepted Jesus the Christ as their personal Saviour. Yet, the primary misuse of this verse is by Christians.)  We see “a situation” and we chop off the end and try to assure the unbelievers that things will get better.  Instead of attempting to lead them to the One who could help them through their problems, we coddle them with a verse that is not intended for them.

            It always comes down to our choices.  (Our choices as a Christian are limited.  If sin is in view, our choice is to rebuke the tempter and turn away.   Our only correct choice is to always select the right way, the truth.)

            Regarding unbelievers: our choice is to assure them, through the Gospel, that they repent and find they “are the called according to his purpose.”  We then can quote the complete verse and assure them that regardless of the trials in their lives, everything will eventually “work together for good to them that love God.”

            As a Christian, I know we all intend good.  Yet, in our pursuits to satisfy God there are times we fail.  We need to look at our lives and do a personal checkup as to our Salvation.

Hebrews 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

If we truly want and desire to “draw near” to God, we must meet His Requirements.  It must be with a “true heart,” a sincere honest heart.  We must also have an assurance that we are doing His Will in Faith, a Faith that states “I believe without doubt.”  We also must rid ourselves of that evilness we harbor, (bitterness, hatred, anger...etc., within our hearts and mind,) this being done as if we had washed our minds of all the filth with pure water.  

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

            We will fail, however, we must not use this knowledge to keep us from trying, because “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,” and our efforts are “a good thing.”  To use an “over used” shoe commercial, “Just Do It.”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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Jesus’ Love

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

            There is a beautiful old song, “Jesus Loves Me.”  The first verse states, “Jesus Loves Me This I Know, For The Bible Tells Me So.”  Man has never written sweeter or truer words.  Yet, our problem is we have many thousands of people who “rest their eternity” on phrases that men have written.  They have no evidence of their Hope in Christ, but just in a cute little song.

            Jesus tells us that His Love is intended to be reciprocal.  It is a two-way street with a merging in our hearts.  I know that after 50+ years of marriage, love grows and matures.  (It is the same with our love for Jesus.)  How can we wait until the very last moments of our time and claim a reciprocal love that may only have just ignited, or may not exist at all?  Some men preach how Jesus loves us (and He does) and that is all that matters.

            Jesus’ love is defined by His willingness to die on the Cross.  In so doing, He displayed His love for each of us.

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

            Along with this Reciprocal Love is another Commandment given that is: “he [we] will keep my words.”  Jesus tells us in addition to our verse:

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

            This is a requirement that goes beyond our love, and it is because of our love, that we will “keep my [His] commandments.”  In keeping His “commandments,” we are displaying to others that we are loved by Jesus and that we love Him.  We are displaying “The Reciprocal Love” we have within our hearts.

            Yes, our Bible does tell us that Jesus loves us, but are you telling Jesus you love Him, by “keep[ing] my [His] commandments?”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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Have You Heard?

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

            Due to my paradigm, [the limits of my mind], I sometimes have a problem visualizing the concept of “everlasting life.”  I know by faith it is a true concept, but with the finiteness of my mind, it is a hard thought.  As a retired Pastor, I know it is a “concept problem” for others also.  The answer to this problem is contained within the above verse.  The answer is the word “believeth,”  but “believeth” can be another conceptual problem.  If we look at the Biblical definition, we find that to “Believe” is a word with a compound definition.  To Believe is to have “The Knowledge plus Faith.”

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We, (at least most of us), believe the chair we “plop down” on will support us.  We have the familiarity with the chair, (knowledge to believe it will support us.)  It is belief because of “the evidence of things not seen,” not knowing “How” it works.  (We “Hope” without knowing or even seeing.  We “Believe with Faith.”)

            Consequently, those of us who have heard God’s Word have a choice to make.  (It is to take the information that has been received, and by Faith accept Jesus the Christ as our Saviour.)  Paul relates to us in Romans:

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

God tells us if we will confess our belief (that God has raised His Son from the grave) to others, God will save us eternally.  Our second choice is to disregard God’s Word and just walk down our worldly path without any concern of our eternity.

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

            Those who refuse Jesus as their Personal Saviour are facing an eternal condemnation.  But there is time.  Accept Him now “in full assurance of faith” knowing you will now live eternally in the presence of God Almighty and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ.

Hebrews 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

            Accept Jesus now.  Place yourself within God’s Wings, within His Strength, and with all His Love.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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Whosoever You

John 3:15-17  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  (16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

            I recently preached a message using John 3:16 as my verse.  I used three words, Begotten, Believe, and Everlasting.  The intent of the message was to define the extent of those three words and to show how some people change their definitions to suit their way of thinking.  They remove the Bible context, recreate an opinion context, and eventually create a cult based on their heresy.

            In these verses, there are other words just as important, and misaligned by those who change God’s Word.  The one word I want to reflect on is “whosoever.”  In these three verses, “whosoever” is used twice.  This use reflects importance.  

            When I first began preaching, “whosoever” was a word that wasn’t clearly defined in my mind.  A simple definition is: it is in reference to “anybody.”  However, in Biblical terms it needs a clearer more definitive definition.

            Jesus came for one purpose:

Luke 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

So within His purpose, our definition could be “anybody regardless of their sin.”  I have personally envisioned a great book with all names, yet the alphabetizing is only using the letter “W.”  Within this Book, my name would be “Whosoever, Chastain, John R. E” which would be the way all names including Adam and Eve would be displayed.  Again, the listing would be regardless of the sin, the race, the ethnicity, the religion.  All last names would be “Whosoever” as one family.  It would include all people regardless of their personal depravity.  (I am referencing The Book of Life described in The Book of Revelation.)

Revelation 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

(Now whether our names are listed as I described, I honestly have no idea.  This is for illustration only.)

            What I have tried to relay is that regardless of your situation in life, and regardless of your sin, Jesus loves you and is willing to accept you.  All He has asked is that you Believe He is the only Begotten Son of God, and God will give you everlasting life.  (Everlasting = Forevermore = Eternally, nothing less.)

            With you sincerely calling on His name, Salvation is freely given with no strings attached.  Is your name still written in “The Book of Life?”  Or has your name been blotted out?

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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But As For You

Genesis 50:16-21  And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,  (17)  So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.  (18)  And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.  (19)  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  (20)  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  (21)  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

          The preface to this story is that Joseph had many years earlier prophesied what would happen and it infuriated his brothers, consequently selling him as a slave.  Now, their Father Jacob (Israel) was dead, and Joseph was mighty in power.  “What was he going to do to them?”

          Joseph understood his position before God.  He understood God’s Will in his life.  He told them that with his power, in association with the Pharaoh, he would nourish and protect them.  Verse 20 begins with “But as for you,” Joseph told them he knew their hearts.

          We can see in Joseph a Type of Christ.  Joseph was not without sin nor did he die for his brethren.  However, Joseph suffered, was humiliated, and followed the path Jesus would later lay down for us to follow.    

          Jesus our God and our Saviour knows our very hearts and knows how we believe.   

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

          Jesus as God knows through the Holy Ghost when our hearts consider evil.  He knows when we walk down that path of sin, when we are involved, or are just considering stepping over the sin line.                      

          It always comes to, “But as for you” because we as Christians are the problem.  If it wasn’t for Me, Myself, and I, I wouldn’t have any problems.  I am the one who reaches out to the temptations of sin placed before me.  It is my task to refuse, “But as for you” my brethren, (Myself and I) keep me in constant turmoil seemingly always trying to involve me in sin.

          We as Sons of God must react to sin as did Joseph, and say “NO.”  Then again, “But as for you?”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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The Swiftness of Our Day

Job 7:6  My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

          As I read The Book of Job, this verse kinda poked me in the eye.  As a senior citizen, I have found that the older I get the days seem to be “rocketing by faster.”  It seems to me that the “days are using” newer and faster rockets. 

          As a youth, I never thought that High School would ever end.  Now I wonder about my life’s end.  (I have gotten past my mortality, and I know there is a day that God will call me home.  That appointed day we each look toward, possibly with trepidation.  We may look forward with fear of the experience “of stepping into a new life.”)  When we experienced the Salvation God gave us through His Son, we by accepting Jesus “stepped into a new life.”  Consequently, we as Christians should look with “a knowing” that God will receive us, and that He will be with us as we walk through that “spiritual wall.”

Job 7:1  Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

          Go back to our verse, “My days…and are spent without hope.”  As Christians, our “days” should be, “What A Day That Will Be.” 

          Our faith is the “Hope” of God, and Our “Hope” is not a “Hope” that it might happen.  It is the “Hope” of knowing we are going to Heaven to be with our Lord and Saviour.

               

2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

          My “Hope” is I know that to be absent from my body is to be in the presence of Jesus my Saviour and His Father my God.  Is your “Hope” the grave, or is your “Hope” God will overlook your sins and let you in anyway?

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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Changes Again

               Sharil and I have had many emotional “ups and downs” during the last few months.  We knew the day of our departure was, if not at hand, coming soon.  We both have spent much time in prayer, seeking an answer from God.  God finally gave us the “peace” of knowing we were retiring, and eventually we had a date.  (I am not sure God chose the actual date, as it is our Fifth Anniversary here at Fundamental Baptist Church.)

               The time has come for our reflection over accomplishments and disappointments.  In my heart, the accomplishments are many and the disappointments are few.  God has allowed our building’s exterior to be completed.  In my Introduction Article five years ago, I stated I wanted to follow the direction Bro Tom Lewis had set before me.  I am not certain that he would have agreed on the metal siding; however, it certainly beautifies the building, and our surrounding community.

               I also want to thank you, The Community of Wellington, who convicted by God, helped us physically and financially.  Without you, we could not have completed our Building.

               Through prayer, The New Testament Church Planters contacted us to help.  The added support of Central Baptist Church in Amarillo, (Pastor Gerrald Chadwick and 16 of his Churchmen) came on our first Work Saturday and gave us a huge start on the building.

               I also want to thank the “Wellington Leader” for accepting “Fundamental Thoughts” as a regular feature.

               Last, but not least, I want to thank the members of Fundamental Baptist Church for responding to God, and calling me to this Church.  (I know my tenure isn’t as long as some, however, much longer than many.)  As Pastor, I have grown to love this Church (you the people.)  Sharil and I will miss the fellowship, the dinners on the ground, and the camaraderie of “Our Church Family.”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retiring Pastor

Fundamental Baptist Church

Wellington, Texas

Peace In The Valley

               While reading Micah 4:3-5 quoted below, we must take note that Micah is prophesying about a yet unfulfilled future time.  It is the time when Jesus the Christ will once again walk this earth.  So, our selected verses are speaking of The Millennial Reign of Jesus.

               With this context, the song, “Peace In The Valley” is brought to my mind.  It describes the peace and the tranquility of a time in which we all yearn.  (Peace In The Valley was probably the first song, [religious song] I remember.  It was sung at my Father’s Funeral, along with “It Is No Secret.”  Today, these songs are only remembered as “popular” songs, songs we heard on “The Hit Parade.”)  One speaks of God’s Power, the other speaks of His Peace.  (As far as I am concerned they are good songs.  I was told once when I requested, “It Is No Secret” to be sung at my Mother’s Funeral, only the Tammy Wynette’s of the world sing that song.)   

Our scriptures also speak of God’s Power and His Peace.  Only through His Power to save can we ever expect to have the Peace He gives through His Son Jesus the Christ.

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Without our belief, where are we going?  God tells us in these verses that IF we will believe He [God] has raised His Son Jesus from the grave, and confess to others that we believe that God did Raise Jesus, God will save us eternally. With the eternity of Christ Jesus, His Peace is given.  It is given eternally.

John 17:1-2  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:  (2)  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, with conviction, and a sincere heart, eternal Salvation has been given.  It is never because you worked to earn your eternity with Jesus.  He gave it because of your belief.

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.

You and I received the same “deal” with no strings attached.  It happened through your faith, your knowledge of Jesus, and your belief in Him.      

               “Reader, do you believe?   Do you have the Peace In The Valley?”                                

Bro. John R. E Chastain

Micah 4:3-5  And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4  But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. 5  For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. 

Our Strength

               While reading Psalm 28:6-9 quoted below, and the coming Tenth Anniversary of our 9/11 Tragedy, I pondered that portion quoted below that states, “The LORD is my strength and my shield.”   I remember a few days after the tragedy, our Congress convened on their steps and sang, “God Bless America.”  It was such a thrill to actually hear them sing to God, in light of what had just happened.

               “Our Strength” in God was displayed before the world that day.  Yet, where have we gone since?  It seems each ensuing week more of God’s strength is removed and assumed by our government, or one of its agencies.

               It all started when we allowed a court to put the Ten Commandments in a locked janitor’s closet in Georgia.  Since then TSA (Transportation Security Administration), FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency,) and our President, (along with Congress and the Supreme Court,) and others have assumed God’s Strength.  I have no idea what our National leaders will do on this anniversary date, but in my mind, if they decide to sing “God Bless America” again, it will be a blasphemy to God, (them singing to a power they no longer consider.)

               Our Government, in the name of “security” has usurped many of our individual freedoms “to protect us.”   Our politicians that “We” have elected have turned on us, and in so doing are creating a vast social government that no longer resembles the Republic that God gave us.

Hosea 7:13  Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

               I know that Hosea (speaking for God) was condemning the Northern Tribes that had separated themselves from Judah and Benjamin.  Yet, knowing history repeats itself, all we must do is read our history books and apply what we see in “our day” to realize we are becoming that Israel of old who fashioned idols, accepted gods of other nations, and accepted the morality of the heathens.

               We no longer consider it a shame to have a child out of wedlock.  It is no longer a problem for a young girl to “know” many men, (even women).  We have allowed our daughters to become whores, and our young men to become whore mongers, and we allow it with delight and our approval.  We as a God fearing people (Christians), must stop this rampant usurping of God’s strength.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

               “When was the last time our President, our Congress, and our Judicial System actually (not singing on the steps) humbled themselves to honestly pray, to seek God’s Wisdom, and to turn from their (apparent) atheistic ways?”

               Now Christian, I ask you the same question, “When?”   We wonder how it all came apart.  It started back in the early 1900’s, however, it has escalated tremendously since we rejected God and locked His Ten Commandments in that closet in Georgia.

Bro. John R. E Chastain

Psalm 28:6-9  Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  8  The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. 9  Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.