Vision News

Olivia Wampler

January 31 2009 | Prayer Requests | 1 Comment »

Preachers for Sale!

Judges 18:19-20 … is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

This is a wild story from the Old Testament that sounds like something that might be written in today’s newspaper. The story is about a man named Micah and his religious family.

Micah’s mother had saved some money to make an idol and dedicate it to God. Judges 17:1-5. Micah steals the money, then returns the money and they build a house of worship (false worship to a false god of course). They are very excited about how “spiritual” they are. Micah makes himself a priest.

Then a Levite, who is a wandering, adventure seeking, man of God in name only, comes by. Micah asks him where he is going and agrees to hire him.

The Levite has no job and is willing to sell himself to serve a family and idols against the will of God. Judges 17:10-13. The lost man makes the preacher his man of God. Micah and his family are now happy because they are sure that God will be happy with them since they are “religious” and even have a “legitimate” man of God working for them.

Then one of the tribes of Israel, Dan, is traveling by and they hear and recognize the voice of the Levite. They, too, think that it would be good to have a “hired” priest.

The Levite shares with them how he is treated and compensated working for Micah and his family. He probably showed them his little worship center and idols (false gods).

The story now brings us to the verses in today’s devotional. They come and steal Micah’s gods, instruments of worship and his priest, the Levite. The Levite objects. He says what are you doing.

Their response is classic. How much are you getting paid? How many do you have in your church? Wouldn’t it be better to serve an entire tribe rather than just one little family? Where do you feel you would be more respected?

No the questions are not all stated in the text but they can easily be seen and understood from the context.

That brings us to today’s application. How many preachers are for sale? We look for the numbers and success? We look for the crowd over the content of the message. We are willing to do whatever the people want us to do so that we can have numbers.

Does the church you attend teach the Bible, the truth without fear or favor? Does your church vote on what god should look like or how he should be treated. Notice that I on purpose did not capitalize the word god or he and I usually do. I didn’t because if it is left to popular vote it isn’t the God of the Bible that you are worshiping.

Preacher do you determine what you will preach based on what the people want to hear? Do the crowds get your attention? Does growth become such an issue that we chase it at the cost of Bible doctrine and Bible preaching?

Are you for sale as a preacher or as a church member? These words can never get the truth across to your heart but the Holy Spirit can. I ask you to ask Him to speak to you about the truth.

Repent and get back to being a preacher of the book if you have wavered-and I often have. Let’s seek God and worship Him.

No preachers for sale here!

January 31 2009 | Daily Devos | 1 Comment »

Congratulations to Whitfield Baptist Church

Whitfield Baptist Church, the church we were born out of, turns 31 years old this Sunday. I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell the church and Brother Wayne that we love them very much and are very thankful to God for them.

The following is a note from their church blog.

Thirty one year ago on the day after Thanksgiving Mrs. Connie and I visited Dalton for the first time and began to ride around the streets of Dalton praying for direction as to whether to begin a fundamental independent soul winning church in Dalton. That night Connie and I drove up to the top of Dug Gap Mountain road and prayed over the city. After several days of prayer God gave us peace about beginning the church and we resigned our position as assistant pastor of Gospel Baptist Temple in Claxton and moved to Dalton on the 20th day of January 1978. Two weeks later we had our first service in the up stairs room of the old “picture frame house” at 706 South Thornton Street, across from Bryman’s plaza. We had 29 in Sunday School and 42 in church and Bruce and Connie Smith got saved. The rest is history. Thirty one years of God blessing by teaching and preaching His precious Word! Souls have been saved, Christians have repented, children of God have surrendered to serve the Living God, not only in Dalton, but around the world. I praise God for His Goodness and I also praise God for the folks like you who have been faithful co-laborers as we have served God together all for His glory.

We love you Brother Wayne, Mrs. Connie and all of Whitfield Baptist Church.

January 30 2009 | General | 1 Comment »

Doing what you think is right!

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

A common thread running throughout the book of Judges is that people did whatever they thought was right. Judges 21:25 This was a time when they still did not have a king. There was no one to tell them what to do or to enforce that the people do the right thing. They each did whatever they thought was right!

Isn’t that a pretty fair assessment of what goes on today in the Christian world? People even say that is not what the Bible means to me or to me that verse is saying, etc. That is not good Bible reading actually. The Bible doesn’t have secret, different meanings for each of us. There are no private interpretations. 2Peter 1:20

The Bible doesn’t give off mixed signals. It doesn’t tell one person what to do and then something else to a different person. That is manipulating or twisting the Bible. God’s Word is rather straight forward.

Now that brings us to the thought for today. Are you seeking to know what God would have you to do or do you do what is right in your own mind?

I am afraid that too many of us live as though God doesn’t exist until we are in trouble. I fear that we have a religious veneer but it is only skin deep and doesn’t really affect our lives and decisions. It is possible that people come to church, hear the messages, shake their heads, say amen but let it go in one ear and out the other.

God help us to seek His face. God help us to try and find out what pleases Him and to do so. Do you listen to each message and ask God what He would have you to do? Or do you have a ho-hum, I know it all attitude about the messages? Do you seek God in prayer and Bible study each day to know what He wants or do you use human logic and go on from there.

Real short version of the story but Joshua had a group of people come to him and lie to him about who they were and where they were from. He didn’t check with the Lord and just did what he thought was right. These people the Gibeonites were lying to him. He found that out a few days later. He looked like a fool but had already given his word. Joshua 9:3-27

Too late! Stuck in a contract because he forgot to seek God. Don’t make his mistake. Joshua 9:14

January 30 2009 | Daily Devos | No Comments »

Enjoying the Baptist History Conference with Bob Dalton

The students and church have enjoyed very much the time so far with Bob Dalton of Ambassador Baptist College.

If you live in the area I want to invite you to come tonight, tomorrow morning and again on Friday night to participate in this Conference. It will be well worth your time.

The morning classes go from 8 until 12 and the evening services are at 7:15.

If you are unable to come you can watch it online by clicking here.

January 29 2009 | General | No Comments »

Missionaries and Pastors

I invite you to keep up with other posts that we do for pastors and missionaries on the Church Planting Forum.

January 29 2009 | General | No Comments »

Teach us to raise our children!

Judges 13:12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?

This verse comes in the story of the birth of Samson. The angel appears and tells them the child will be born. Manoah, the dad, asks God to show him how to order, train, raise the child. He wanted to know what to do with his child.

That brings me to the question of the day. Have you asked God how to raise your children? Do you consider what He says about being a parent and what you are to do. I would like to show you several things you can apply even today as a godly parent.

Your children are a gift from God to you. They belong to Him and are on loan to you. Psalm 127:3-5

You should set the example for them in all that you expect them to do. Genesis 18:19

You should get the Word of God into them as much as you possibly can. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

You should realize that raising them includes training them. Proverbs 22:6

You should discipline your children. Proverbs 22:15

You should bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

You should teach them the Scriptures and especially salvation from the time that they are small. 2Timothy 3:15

My fear is today that God’s Word is full of instruction for you that could make a major difference in your life and yet you ignore it. You are concerned about getting them the right education. You teach them facts. You get them involved in socially stimulating events. You are concerned about the friends that they will have etc.

But do you work at following God’s commands about how to raise the children that He has given you? Have you asked God how to raise your children? If you haven’t do you not think that it is about time to seek God and beg Him to help you be the parent that He wants you to be?

January 29 2009 | Daily Devos | No Comments »

Please pray for my friend!

Dear Preachers,

Just a quick note to inform you of an important prayer request for Dr. Don Richards. Bro. Richards is the pastor of Corinth Baptist Church in Loganville and a past moderator of our fellowship. Bro. Richards has just been diagnosed having stage 6 prostate cancer. I have just spoken with his secretary and learned some good news in that the cancer is contained in the prostate. Later this week he will be meeting with doctors to determine the next step to take. I know that you will want to let your churches know to pray for him as well as letting Bro. Richards know he is in your prayers at this time.

Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

May God bless you.

Bro. Gary Ledford
Moderator

January 28 2009 | Prayer Requests | 1 Comment »

Me or Him!

Judges 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

You know the story. Gideon is going to fight the Midianites. He will end up using only 300 of the 32,000 soldiers that came out to do battle. This verse is the crux of the matter. God is reducing the number of men because He wants all of Israel, the world and Gideon to know that He is the one that will win the battle. He wants to make it impossible for man to win. He wants it to be in such a position that Gideon nor anyone in his army will have the slightest doubt about who won the battle.

This verse jumps out at me because of a problem that I have. I deal constantly with pride issues. I want to take the credit for the great things that God does in my life. Now, understand that I would never say that out loud. I would only think it in my heart.

I know that it is God but then I like to think that God did such a great work and then how that makes me look good. I am embarrassed when things do not turn out right because that means that I failed and I wondered why God didn’t treat me better.

Understand that I would never ever say this! Understand that I just have my little complaining, whining ways. Understand that I just wonder why God doesn’t do more with me (code for make me look better)! When God blesses and things go very well I give Him all the praise (outwardly).

I know that this is sin. I hate this about me. Now I have a question for you. Do you suffer from this same problem. Could it be possible that we use God to get glory for us? Could it be that we worry sometimes more about how things will make us look than what He wants?

Boy do I feel like junk right now. I know exactly what you are thinking. I had no idea the pastor was so wicked. Well you are right. I am. I think too much about me. Do you?

God says, I will win the victory, Gideon but I am going to do it in such a way that you nor anyone else will be able to take the glory.

I want to die to myself and my filthy pride. I want to live and breathe to bring Him glory. I want to serve Him in the good times and in the bad times because of who He is and not what I get out of it.

This is a very unusual devotional and I know that. It is more like a confessional. I hope that maybe some of you will confess with me. I do not want to raise up against Him. I do not want to lift me up (well I often do but don’t want to).

I want to be His servant happy with what ever He decides to do with me. What about you?

January 28 2009 | Daily Devos | 2 Comments »

Read Jeff Bush’s post about his wife!

source

I wanted to share some personal thoughts from these 5 years the Lord has allowed us to be missionaries here in Argentina. The next few blogs I will be posting will be specifically addressing “Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field”.

This first lesson is the freshest on my mind as well as a very recent incident that happened. Just days ago, on Saturday, Mindy was in the hospital because of the loss of our baby. To make the story brief, she was bleeding a lot and if they would not have taken her to surgery, she could of died. Most of the nurses and hospital workers were on vacation and/or out of the office. It seemed that no one was attending us and Mindy was getting worse and worse. I began to pray with her and then in my heart, “Lord, please let her live, I need her, I will be different, please give her back to me.” This big scare that happened, brings me to my first “Life’s Lessons on the Mission Field” – the need of your spouse.

How many times have I been so wrapped up in work that I forgot about my precious wife. It took a “close to death” experience for me to wake up. We have talked since and realize how much time we have wasted over silly arguments and disagreements that make no sense. My stubbornness, not wanting to give in, etc has made me lose so much time of this short life with my wonderful wife. As Solomon explains in Song of Solomon 2:5, “the little foxes, that spoil the vines”. The little arguments, the little petty things in life that steal time and ruin relationships.

I counsel our young people in our church to not get married unless they can serve the Lord more as a couple than they could being single. But how often have I not taken my own advice. The Lord has given me a “help meet” one to not only accompany me, but to complete me. A precious jewel, a friend, a co-laborer to help me in the ministry. And together, as a team, we can do so much more for our Lord than being separate.

How foolish I have been many times ignoring my wife to try and “grow” the church, when the truth is that most of the people I have striven to get in church ends up leaving after a short time. It is not to say that my labor has been in vain with people, but I have found out that although many have used me in the ministry, my wife is always at home to love me and accept me.

To conclude this first lesson, I cry out to myself and many married couples on the mission field, “you can lose your ministry and still have your wife, but if you lose your wife, you will lose both ministry and wife”. Life is short to waste it not being in love. Maybe Romeo was not all that silly, maybe “a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecc 4:12). So grab your wife by the hand and enjoy the time God has given you on the journey for Him.

Here to Serve,
Jeff Bush

January 28 2009 | General | No Comments »