A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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The biggest problem in the church today is it is
intentionally all too often non-confrontational.
This is why we are so Biblically ignorant as a culture. Too many churches that claim to still be faithful to the Word present/contextualize/apply it intentionally in a non-confrontational way. Therefore, many of the unsaved have not actually seen what we believe lived out, for we don't live much differently than them.
Non-confrontationalism is the biggest heresy in the church today, because it inhabits most of the churches that still preach the traditional doctrines of sin, repentance, the trinity, etc.
By self-imposing non-confrontationalism, we have emasculated the faith, rendered it defenseless against the Spirit of the Age, and thus done the same to the faithful.
That doesn't mean confrontation has to always be aggressive. Confrontation is not a method but a motive.
The Christ child we adore in the manger is confronting a sinful world, just as the fully ascended Christ on a white horse with a sword in his mouth and a robe dipped in blood.
But we have taught confrontation is inherently bad. We have made "love" an idol in our image. As in "love" is" what will be the most non-threatening and least offensive way I can present the Gospel to not risk anything on my end.
This is why we wait on political saviors instead of publicly taking a stand ourselves. Because we can be "the silent majority" and go and vote privately for our candidate without backlash.
The Bible is a book of confrontation. God is a God of confrontation. Christ becomes our Lord and Savior via confrontation.
Rest assured, Hell has never practiced the doctrine of non-confrontationalism, and never will. And it will continue surrounding us in this culture until we learn to embrace confrontation again. Steve Deace
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING/TEACHING RESOURCES
WILL BE ADDED AS WE MOVE FORWARD
A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
Read Study Learn Teach Mentor Train for Christ
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7/7/2022
6 min read
The word "world" is not synonymous with the word "earth". More and more though I am hearing people make them so. The earth refers to the planet we reside upon and the basic soil from which it is made. And God called the dry land Earth, Genesis 1:10. Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head, II Samuel 15:32. World refers to the system of governance and culture by which man organizes himself.
Just as God made the earth, he made our world. He designed nations, families and laws. He was in the world, the world was made by him and the world knew him not, John 1:10. The world, or should we say, the system of man's culture, government, and interaction one with another is fallen. It is no longer what God made it to be. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, Jeremiah 10:12.
Anyone who cares to look at our earth can see the power of God throughout all creation. To study the world is to see the corruption of man upon the face of the earth. No one watching an evening news broadcast is tempted to ascribe God's wisdom to the world depicted. Yet anyone reading of what God can do with our culture, government, and interactions one with another is struck by the wisdom.
Sometimes the Word of God shows us the world upon the earth as God would see it. That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth, Job 37:12. In such a verse, to look upon the world is to look upon the outspreading of man upon this earth. We are commanded not to love the world, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, I John 2:15. When we love the world we besmirch ourselves and become just like it. God could not help but love the world, 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, John 3:16. When God loved the world, he also became like it, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, II Corinthians 5:21. He became sin that we might be made righteous.
The world is an ever shifting untrustworthy conglomeration of the machinations of men. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions, Ecclesiastes 7:29. There will come a day when God stops the shifting and changing. The world will become unmoving, it will have a form that pleases God once Jesus Christ returns and remakes the world in his chosen form. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously, Psalm 96:10. Notice, that is a future verse.
We have another verse just 3 psalms later that tells us that the "world moveth not". One psalm tells us that the world will one day not move and the other speaks of it as an accomplished fact. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved, Psalms 93:1. What do we do with two verses which supposedly are talking about the same thing, are only three chapters apart, yet can't agree on the timing? We trust in the exact English, that's what we do.
Let's review Paul Scott's entry to this blog where he discusses the difference between the words "established" such as is used in Psalms 96, and the word "stablished" which is used in Psalms 93.
"The word establish is well understood. The synonyms include founded and beginning at. We often see that a business, a community, or church was established, founded, or began at such and such a time, and in certain circumstances. Briefly, it means built upon. Founded and foundation.
Stablish, in its briefest definition, means built up. See the synonyms used in 1 Peter 5:10: perfect, strengthen, settle. James 5:8, 2 Thes. 3:3, and Romans 16:25 use stablish as strengthen. It’s not the founding of anything, but rather the building or strengthening of the already existing person or principle. Edified and strengthened."
Psalms 96 tells us that the world "shall be established." That is prophetic. When it is established, the social order, the government, and our interactions one with another will not be constantly moving and subject to change as they are today. There are many passages of the Bible which foretell of that blessed day. Psalms 93 tells us that the world "is stablished". How can something that has not been founded be built up? Psalms 93 is also obviously prophetic. Many prophecies in the Word of God speak in the present tense even though they are to be fulfilled many years later. The world must be "established" before it can "stablished". What is the use in having a perfect English bible if we don't follow its rules?
Why is that important? It is important because there is an ever increasing segment of the King James crowd that believes that the "earth" doesn't presently move. They often cite Psalms 93:1. Such a belief if stated clearly in the Bible would arrest me and force me to believe it. However, the Bible says no such thing. In fact, it says the opposite. Years before science ever figured it out, the Bible spoke of an earth riding a circuit. I have never wanted to believe something that required me to squelch or ignore part of my intellect. Fortunately, the King James Bible has strengthened my intellect and made me see the natural world more clearly.
For example, that the earth is spheroid in shape is never openly stated, but there are statements in the Bible which would make no sense if the earth was not spheroid in shape. Take the concept of a bottomless pit. The Bible tells us that there is one on the earth, Revelation 20:1, as well as other similar verses. Such a geographical feature could not exist unless gravity was in the center of the earth and the earth was constantly rotating so that a person in a pit in the center of the earth could never get to the bottom. This is just an example of the Bible being a couple of millennia ahead of science.
In the ignorance that pervades modern education it is often taught that the medieval church persecuted Galileo because of what the Bible said. Nonsense, the church persecuted Galileo because Thomas of Aquinas had just been sainted and he had misspent his life trying to harmonize the writings of Aristotle with the Bible. He therefore associated Catholicism with a flat earth at the center of the universe. It was science and religion that stood against Galileo, not the Bible.
As for the earth, it makes a circuit. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in, Isaiah 40:22. There are many people who try to confound the "circle of the earth" with its shape. There is a difference between a spheroidal and a circular shaped object. The earth is not circular. A circle could not contain a bottomless pit. Even if it was circular God would not sit upon it as Isaiah 40:22 says.
Where does God sit? He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision, Psalms 2:4. Out in the heavens is a circle that God sits on. It is called the circle of the earth. The earth has a circle in the heavens because it has a circuit in the heavens. My Bible tells me that there is a circle of the earth in the heavens and that God sits on it. As usual, the bible had the news long before science did. The Bible said it hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, science figured it out about 500 years ago.
There is simply no verse in the Bible that says that the "earth" does not move. In fact there are many that say that it does move. The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, Jeremiah 49:21. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage, Isaiah 24:20. All the foundations of the earth are out of course, Psalms 82:5. Someone might say that the movement described by these verses is not the planetary movement described in a heliocentric solar system. I would agree. Neither is the movement in Psalms 93:1. That has not stopped them from building an ersatz theology off of Psalms 93:1 that contradicts both the scriptures as written in English and common sense observation. The earth and the world are not the same thing.
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7/6/2022
2 min read
And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem, Acts 21:15.
Within the King James Bible believing community resides a small but vocal minority who insist that the world is flat and that the sun rotates around the earth. When pressed on this, they merely state, "that's what the bible says, we believe our bible". I see that position as working discredit to our bible. I'll take a little time to explain why. Indeed from man's perspective, the sun does rotate around the earth. From man's perspective Paul and Luke went up to Jerusalem. From God's perspective they went down to Jerusalem. Acts 21:15 is written from man's perspective, not God's.
The bible does not place the position of God's throne directly above the center of the land masses on earth. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King, Psalm 48:2. In Lucifer's rebellion he vowed to; sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north, Isaiah 14:13. Moses in the law recognized that when he wrote; And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar, Leviticus 1:11. God's throne is above the northern heavens.
For Paul's party to travel from Caesarea to Jerusalem was to travel south. That is down from God's perspective. The elevation may have been higher in Jerusalem than at Caesarea, but the 75 miles further south and away from God's throne more than compensated for the increased elevation. They traveled down, away from God's throne. When Luke wrote that they went up to Jerusalem, he said so from his perspective's not God's.
When the bible says that the sun rose, it says so from man's perspective. From God's perspective the earth turns on its axis on a 24 hour basis and rotates around the sun every 365 1/4 days. I do not correct a King James Bible to state that. I take each of its statements in their respective contexts and honor God by believing them.
7/5/2022
2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
My grandson plays games with his grandfather; and, that rascal, if he is losing, feels free to change the rules; so, the new version promotes a score that’s favorable to him! Similarly, when one political party is losing (speaking of children!), they attempt to change the rules— rewrite the Constitution to a version that is favorable to their cause. Outrageous as it is, they cite these reasons:
1. That document is out of date, it’s archaic. Below is an article from the Atlantic, stating the case for a new version to the old Constitution:
“America, we've got some bad news: Our Constitution isn't going to make it. It's had 224 years of commendable, often glorious service, but there's a time for everything, and the government shutdown and permanent-crisis governance signal that it's time to think about moving on.”
2. That document was written by men (all men, no women); therefore, it is not a credible authority.
3. Some of the language is …out of date, we should have a document that’s easy to read.
We the citizens, who have enjoyed the wisdom, liberty, and protection afforded by the old Constitution, find these arguments against its credibility ridiculous, unfounded, and foolish (and perhaps unpatriotic). Rascals! Imagine the anarchy, and chaotic mess at best, if we were to have multiple governing documents and authorities, and each person choosing the one that best suits him! (Judges 21:25).
It’s easy to hear a parallel argument about multiple bible versions, with each person choosing the one that suits him, on that particular day. I hear, “The old Bible, it served its use, but times are a changin.” And, they say, “That old document was written by men! – all men, only men! – we need a more inclusive authorship which incorporates a diversity…”
While their argument may seem sound to some, and it may initially appeal to those who seek to be open minded and fair (which isn’t a bad motive), they don’t consider the fruit of usurping a sole, time tested authority. As with multiple constitutions, and changing the rules mid-game, the 300+ English bible versions lead only to confusion, frustration, and spiritual anarchy. They never lead to equity (since we can’t agree on what’s right and fair) and it drifts and dulls away from the original intent. Nay, despite the tide of progressive activism, it’s far better, whether Constitutional or Biblical veracity, to do a little work, and gain understanding, and stay with the tried and true. Understanding is better than easy.
When the world speaks a new dominant language, and English no longer is the undoing of Babel, perhaps God will at that time, inspire a new version in the new dominant world language (perhaps). But for now, English reigns, and therefore the greatest English text, the tried and true, remains relevant and authoritative. Stay the course.
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING/TEACHING RESOURCES
WILL BE ADDED AS WE MOVE FORWARD
A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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by Bill Taylor
This site contains papers about how marriage should work. Marriage is simple, but not easy. It's simple to walk across a room - just put one foot in front of the other. It's just as simple to walk from Maine to California - KEEP putting one foot in front of the other - but less easy. Marriage is a lifetime journey, not a short stroll.
What Drives Men to Marry?
Many women say they want to marry, but the way they behave makes it doubtful that any man will want to marry them. The New York Times published “Sex on Campus – She Can Play That Game, Too,” which argues that women are as eager to participate in casual “hookups” as men are.
At 11 on a weeknight earlier this year, her work finished, a slim, pretty junior at the University of Pennsylvania did what she often does when she has a little free time. She texted her regular hookup — the guy she is sleeping with but not dating. What was he up to? He texted back: Come over. So she did. They watched a little TV, had sex and went to sleep.
The Times called the woman “A” because she didn’t want her name used. A doesn’t particularly like this man, but he’s a handy sexual partner. She isn’t looking for a deeper relationship because she doesn’t have time: Continued Click Here...Marriage Under Threat: What Drives Men to Marry?
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
Read Study Learn Teach Mentor Train for Christ
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Winning the Lost
God Depends on Us
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This book has three major segments: Discipline in Old Baptist Churches,
The Disappearance of Discipline, and
New Testament Church Discipline.
It documents the strictness of church discipline in Baptist churches prior to the 20th century and describes the downfall in discipline since then, both in convention or denominational Baptist churches, such as Southern Baptist, and in Independent Baptist churches.
The study on New Testament discipline is extensive and practical. It deals with the goals of church discipline, the right attitude of discipline, the patience and wisdom for discipline, the authority for discipline, the authority for discipline, discipline of interpersonal problems, discipline of disorderly conduct, discipline of public and grave offenses, exclusion and restoration, discipline of faith teachers, discipline of church leaders, inactive membership, and discipline and the Lord’s Supper.
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Cultural Factors in the
Weakening of Churches
Following are some of
the factors that have weakened the character of Bible-believing churches over the past
70 years and helped create a mixed multitude of philosophies.
CLICKABLE LINKS THAT ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK ARE ADDED FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY OF EACH OF THE SUBJECTS BELOW:
Accessed from www.AWarningMinistry.com
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING/TEACHING RESOURCES
WILL BE ADDED AS WE MOVE FORWARD
A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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Winning the Lost
God Depends on Us
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:15-16 KJB.
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THIS SITE CONTAINS PAPERS ABOUT HOW MARRIAGE SHOULD WORK. MARRIAGE IS SIMPLE, BUT NOT EASY. IT'S SIMPLE TO WALK ACROSS A ROOM - JUST PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER. IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE TO WALK FROM MAINE TO CALIFORNIA - KEEP PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER - BUT LESS EASY. MARRIAGE IS A LIFETIME JOURNEY, NOT A SHORT STROLL.
This is a list of messages in the blog. Clicking on a title takes you to a description which has a link to the article or you can use control-f to search within this list. Feel free to use any of this material in any way that supports His cause!
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EXTRA ARTICLE FOR YOUR EDIFICATION!
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Facebook YESTERDAY I SHARED THE POST TO THE LEFT TO ALL MY GROUP'S AND RECEIVED MANY GOOD RESPONSES IN THE
There are all kinds of books out there about how women don't understand men. (There are several that I can recommend for women who want to know. Just ask me!)
LOL! Now we men have a book to help us
understand women, guys!
And here is some research that may help
men and women, alike!
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CLICKABLE LINKS THAT ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK ARE ADDED
FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY OF EACH OF THE SUBJECTS BELOW:
Accessed from www.AWarningMinistry.com
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“Men & Dogs”
“But beware of men: … ‘ Matthew 10:17a
“Beware of dogs,… ” Philippians 3:2a
When Jesus spoke to His little band of brothers in Matthew 10, He was about to send them out as sheep among wolves! (vs. 16). He knew what they were about to face and what every godly, sincere child of God would face down through the ages. Friend, many of our spiritual forefathers and (mothers) faced the flaming pyres for their faith and testimonies. To beware is to be aware of the obstacles and hindrances to getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Men and dogs are what one should be concerned with in Christian ministry. Men bite and devour, dogs growl and nip at one’s heels. There are a lot of “ankle-biters” that constantly cause problems for God’s workers and people. If one is aware of them, they can be avoided or at least stepped on if need be … accidently! Now, I could spend a lot of time today talking about these people who think they need a dog with them on airplanes! I sat by Mickey, I even learned his name due to the fact that he was always in trouble with his “master.” He ate, he drank, he yipped, he breathed his doggy breath on me for over an hour on a flight in recent days. This lady no more needed that dog than I need a case of the shingles! (P.S. I saw getting on a plane last Thanksgiving-a comfort parrot!) After that paragraph I could say to myself, “Beware of getting side-tracked and God bless you!” Oh, and beware of dogs and men on the road of life. – T.G
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from excerpts from the “Baptist Bread” May 24th, 2022 devotional by author Dr. Tim Green, Revival In Our Time, Day Heights, OH. With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread.
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Weakening of Churches. THERE IS A BIG LACK OF
‘WARNING MINISTRIES IN CHURCHES'.
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“The Ministry Of God vs. The Ministry Of Man”
“God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. ”
Psalm 55:19
The word ministry is an interesting thing to consider. To minister is to work or to help one in need. The word ministry in the New Testament is used in connection with those doing the work of God. Ephesians 4:11-14 speaks of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These were given the responsibility to minister by the Spirit of God’s power and with the Word of God.
All too often in today’s world this work is done in the name of unity, prosperity, comfort, compromise and convenience. I call this the ministry of maintenance! This is the effort to keep that which is profitable and good without offending anyone. Therefore, the preaching is not to bring about repentance but maintenance. It is preaching to just keep things going as they are for the benefit of all. There is little preaching against sin, truth that is hard, worldliness or that which is offensive.
The ministry we have been given is one of reconciliation (see II Cor. 5:18). It is reconciling men to God. It is not reconciling man to man. The way of reconciliation is repentance. The “work of the ministry” that is of God is repentance; not mere maintenance.
A ministry that does not demand change is one that just wants to keep the status quo. NO CHANGES, NO FEAR OF GOD! -M.D
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread”, May 18th, 2022 by author MURRAY DOUGLAS, Pastor, Ludlow Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, IN . With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread
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'Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge: Or What?"
Roger E. Fulk, Sr. 4/29/2018 Hosea 4:6-16 KJB from morning message notes filling in for Pastor.
God's Charges against Israel
1Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
7As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
13They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
19The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
RECOMMENDED READING
Keep From Backsliding – Again! by Bill Brinkworth
What Is It That I Said That Was Wrong? by Bill Brinkworth
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"Destruction To Delight"
"The wicked worketh a deceitful work: ... so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD:" Proverbs 11:18-20
We see two very different contrasts and begin observing the downward slope of the wicked. These folk work a deceitful work, not realizing how many times their dishonesty has worked evil, because they have lied not only to others, but to themselves as well. Then, they pursue evil to their own destruction, which ultimately causes them to have a froward or a disobedient, unyielding heart to God. They have become an abomination to the Lord, because they have no desire to stop going down the slippery slope of sin; which causes their hearts to be turned farther from God.
However, in these same verses, the contrast is clear with those who want to do right and actually do right. As in, " ... to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: ... but such as are upright in their way are his delight." It takes us sowing that which is right to reap the reward of that which is right. The righteous will or rather should pursue that which is right to life eternal. Ultimately, as it says in verse 20, that doing right will delight the Lord. We should strive to be a delightsome individual to the Lord, pleasing Him in all that we do, say or think. - T.H
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread” May 7th, 2022 devotional by author T.H. TIM HALLET JR., Pastor, Birch Street Baptist Church, Eau Claire, WI. With permission from Tim Green, editor Baptist Bread.
Feel Free To Contact Me
www.RogerFulk.com Roger@RogerFulk.com
Church Discipline in the 21st Century
This book has three major segments: Discipline in Old Baptist Churches, The Disappearance of Discipline, and New Testament Church Discipline. It documents the strictness of church discipline in Baptist churches prior to the 20th century and describes the downfall in discipline since then, both in convention or denominational Baptist churches, such as Southern Baptist, and in Independent Baptist churches.
The study on New Testament discipline is extensive and practical. It deals with the goals of church discipline, the right attitude of discipline, the patience and wisdom for discipline, the authority for discipline, the authority for discipline, discipline of interpersonal problems, discipline of disorderly conduct, discipline of public and grave offenses, exclusion and restoration, discipline of faith teachers, discipline of church leaders, inactive membership, and discipline and the Lord’s Supper.
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Cultural Factors in the
Weakening of Churches
Following are some of the factors that have weakened the character of Bible-believing churches over the past 70 years and helped create a mixed multitude of philosophies.
CLICKABLE LINKS THAT ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK ARE ADDED
FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY OF EACH OF THE SUBJECTS BELOW:
Accessed from www.AWarningMinistry.com
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Feel Free To Contact Me
www.RogerFulk.com Roger@RogerFulk.com
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Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (There are so many problems associated with alcohol consumption that it is best to leave it alone. Even in days when the culture had wine as a common beverage, the Proverb says it can deceive. We see the deception of alcohol today.
Many say that drinking is all right since it is culturally acceptable. The big argument is they did it in the Bible. and many religious groups not only endorse it but use it in their” communion” services.
I don’t pretend to know the alcohol content back then because I wasn’t there. I have read articles though saying it was not as much and the potential for alcoholism was less. But today there are a lot of bad things associated with alcohol. While many would use it to celebrate and at sporting events, others know the terror of a loved one killed by a drunk driver or the crime and problems associated with it for youth and those who become alcoholics.
Then there is testimony to others like children, youth, and those who are trying to recover from alcoholism. I know it’s a big industry and seems to be all over, but I think we have to see how we influence others by partaking in it.
I am glad my family and the families we have come from have never had to deal with the problems of alcohol personally because we have discovered that it's OK not to drink. Later in Proverbs 23:29-25, it talks of how it deceives. It will strike you and make you do foolish things if you get drunk. It will take you to places you should not go and will make you do things you should not do and when you wake up from the stupor you will not even know you did them.
So please consider your witness as a Christian to those around you and understand its association today is with more bad things than good. You don’t have to drink alcohol to be cool or refreshed.
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The Discipling Church: The Church That
Will Stand until Christ Comes
by David W. Cloud, 550 pgs
Cultural Factors in the Weakening of Churches
Following are some of the factors that have weakened the character of Bible-believing churches over the past 70 years and helped create a mixed multitude of philosophies.
CLICKABLE LINKS THAT ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK ARE ADDED
FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY OF EACH OF THE SUBJECTS BELOW:
Accessed from www.AWarningMinistry.com
Church Discipline in the 21st Century
This book has three major segments: Discipline in Old Baptist Churches, The Disappearance of Discipline, and New Testament Church Discipline. It documents the strictness of church discipline in Baptist churches prior to the 20th century and describes the downfall in discipline since then, both in convention or denominational Baptist churches, such as Southern Baptist, and in Independent Baptist churches.
The study on New Testament discipline is extensive and practical. It deals with the goals of church discipline, the right attitude of discipline, the patience and wisdom for discipline, the authority for discipline, the authority for discipline, discipline of interpersonal problems, discipline of disorderly conduct, discipline of public and grave offenses, exclusion and restoration, discipline of faith teachers, discipline of church leaders, inactive membership, and discipline and the Lord’s Supper.
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ABOUT MARRIAGE AND
PUTTING BACK THE PIECES!
Proverbs 27:8 "As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place."
Q. EVER WONDER WHY MANY MARRIAGES ARE FAILING TODAY?
A. WE ARE TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THAT WE ARE WRONG!
PRIDE DESTROYS US ALONG WITH OUR MARRIAGES!
LET ME START OUT BY SAYING THAT MARRIAGES ARE NEVER EASY! THEY TAKE MUTUAL EFFORT TO MAINTAIN.
(But help is always available from God who created marriage!)
THE DEVIL WANTS TO DESTROY EVERY GOOD THING THAT GOD HAS EVER PUT TOGETHER!
SATAN STARTED MARRIAGE'S DESTRUCTION IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, BY CAUSING ADAM AND EVE TO DOUBT GOD'S WORD!
The top verse is the reason for discontent and abandonment of marriage vows BEFORE GOD, along with promises made up to each other at the altar.
DON'T ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR GREENER PASTURES!
THE DEVIL IS ONLY TOO PLEASED TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO GOD'S PROVISIONS!
God is grieved by broken vows!
Matthew 24:12 "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
This is happening because of the evil times in which we live, which excuse wrong for right and right for wrong!
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
It is also happening because some believe worldly allurements and temptations will make themselves "happy" again. But this false hope never works. Happiness is temporary. Joy, which God provides, is permanent!
SELFISHLY FOLLOWING AFTER SECOND BEST IS NEVER GOD'S FIRST INTEREST FOR YOU!
Marriages "wax cold" because the partners have forgotten their, "FIRST LOVE" which SHOULD be Jesus!
1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us."
Revelation 2:4 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
This is the reprimand Jesus gave to the first church He mentioned at Ephesis. It also applies for those who leave their marriage!
IN THIS WORLD, DUE TO OUR PRESENT STATE OF INCREASED DECEPTION, AND WICKEDNESS, MARRIAGES HAVE LITTLE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL WITHOUT JESUS AS YOUR PRIMARY HEAD AND GUIDE!
Turning around marriage has to first start with God Almighty for repair!
After all, God initiated marriages!
Matthew 19:6
"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
If true love had found you in the first place, a love that was created by God, then restoration is possible. Even if your marriage hadn't started out TRUE, God can still put the pieces back into place!
But this takes a goodly amount of sincere prayer and willingness with both parties to let God help!
For starters,
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;""
Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."
HUSBANDS ARE ALWAYS TO BE THE INITIATORS!
Sincere apologies work best for foundational building blocks and for restructural purposes!
Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
A wife who has a husband who truly cares for her and is sincere in his desire to be a Christlike example should be a dream husband to any woman!
She should be overly willing to follow this command:
Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."
The marriage union is NOT a slave/master partnering, as the devil has worked overtime to promote! It's a help-meet relationship, each partner sticking their oars into the water together, working our their issues looking to Jesus as their master first!!
When Jesus Christ is at the head of any marriage relationship, BY BOTH PARTIES, this following is true:
Ephesians 5:20-22 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
FEAR OF GOD IS MISSING IN MANY RELATIONSHIPS TODAY!
But what happens when only one partner is willing to try to start again? Repair is still possible!
1) Make fervent prayer to God!
(James 5:16.)
2) Show a Christlike love toward your partner. (A "pretend" love can't win them over again! It didn't the first time!)
3) Go out of your way to be kind! (Jesus wants to help you here!)
Follow the advice from the, "love chapter" of the Bible! (Love may be substituted for charity in many instances here.)
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"
In other words, as Jesus love given to us is pure, so also is the love we give that starts from Jesus to others... pure!
My friends, it's all about a matter of prayer, and obedience to our Lord, Saviour, and Master, Jesus Christ! Maybe the missing component to marriage restoration is putting down our pride!
Will you give God back the throne of your life and fulfill His desire to let Him repair your marriage?
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Based on the book of Proverbs, The Red Herring deals with
one of the greatest issues among Christians today.
Pastors, fathers, and families struggle every day
to spiritually survive as they fight to walk with God
while they are continually being hunted by
what Proverbs calls “The Strange Woman"
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In today's interview, Dr. John Asquith addresses the effects that pornography has on the viewers brains. "Your Brain on Porn" by Gary Wilson is a secular book about the severe problems pornography causes in our society. Dr. Asquith comments on this book and recommends some answers from a Biblical perspective.
Dr. John Asquith and I circle back and discuss the crucial topic of what pornography does to the users brain, the destruction it brings, and the way to escape its grasp.
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CLICK WEBSITES RIGHT BELOW:
Type or copy/paste into your browser for
a ton of SEARCHBLE INFORMATION!
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CLICK WEBSITES RIGHT BELOW:
Click orType or copy/paste into your browser
for a ton of SEARCHBLE INFORMATION!
When you sign up for our mailing list, you will be able to ... "Stay tuned" for news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Here you will find many different subjects with information and resources for your learning/teaching needs! WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TODAY!
"Three Big Needs …
To learn everything else …."
2 Years Ago Roger Fulk May 2, 2019,
(1) Need to read and study and believe
and apply the King James Bible.
(2) Need to study true Baptist Church History.
(3) Need to learn the proper methods of Biblical Interpretation.
If we learn the truth, the lies will stick out like a sore thumb!
IF WE STUDY AND LEARN THE TRUTH … THEN THE LIES WILL STICK OUT LIKE A ‘SORE THUMB” … IF YOU ARE A BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER IN CHRIST INDWELLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HAVE DISCERNMENT! … I Corinthians 2:14
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This subject is popping up again in different places … so I feel it my duty to post this post again … I have been looking for a good book written by a Christian on the subject of the problems in the modern church today, especially in the area of the effect of feminism! Well here it is ....See Contents and Sample Pages
The Discipling Church: The Church That
Will Stand until Christ Comes
by David W. Cloud, 550 pgs
Cultural Factors in the Weakening of Churches
Following are some of the factors that have weakened the character of Bible-believing churches over the past 70 years and helped create a mixed multitude philosophy.
Theological Liberalism
The Public School System
Materialism and Working Mothers
The Rock & Roll Pop Culture
Pop Psychology
The Feminist Movement
Self-Esteemism
New Evangelicalism
Television
The Internet
What is the real problem? How can it be fixed? Whose responsibility is it?
It needs to start in the Churches, with Professing Christians, Pastors and Leaders. We are a big part of the problem and here is why! And here is a solution to follow!
RESULTS FORFEMINISM”
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by Bill Brinkworth
The actual church is the believers of Christ wherever they may be. If a believer is at home, that is where the church is. When the born-again child of God goes to the supermarket, that is where the church is.
“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:9
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” I Peter 2:5“
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” II Corinthians 6:16
However, a physical church is an important place where believers meet to hear the Word of God’s teachings, a place to worship Him, and where they can be encouraged to serve and live for the Lord. The building is a recognized place where most know they should be able to hear what the Bible teaches. Many attend, and because of the preaching and teaching, decide to be born again into God’s family.
There are many dangers to the health and life-changing ministry that pastors and church attendees should be wary. Because of the local church’s importance, it faces many threats that could harm its role to the cause of Christ. Some demolishers that can weaken or destroy a God-honoring and obeying ministry include:
- Using “bibles” that have changed or water-down what the preserved Word of God teaches. There are over 350 different versions in the English language alone, each teaching something different after verses have been altered or deleted.
- “Bibles” labeled as “new versions” should signal to a Christian that God is not now just giving us His Word. It has been around since Old and New Testament times. God has preserved it for earlier believers, and it is safely kept for today’s Christians.
- For English-speaking people, every word God had prophets, leaders, and men of God pen still has every “jot and tittle” (Matthew 5:18) preserved in the King James version. Changing His words has weakened and destroyed many ministries.
To learn more why the KJV should be used for those speaking English, please view:
(Use the right arrow key to go through the presentation)
- A lack of unbiblical doctrines taught and preached. A ministry will weaken and not grow if opinions are taught rather than “thus saith the Word of God.” God preserved His Word because it will change lives and even societies. His will and way will never change and it is recorded in His Word.
- A lack of desire and attempts to reach others with the Gospel. One essential goal of a Bible-obeying ministry should be to reach the lost so they can be saved. If they are not sought and taught, there will be little growth in a ministry. Too many churches are spiritually dead, as they are no longer a “saving station” nor a hospital for the spiritually wounded.
- Unqualified or uncalled leadership in a church. The Bible clearly defines the qualifications of church pastors and deacons (I Timothy 3:2-13). Those in charge that should not be instructing or preaching will also weaken and destroy a ministry.
- “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Act 20:28
- Undealt with sin within the church. The Bible warns of sin throughout its pages. When sin is not preached against or is tolerated, the hand of God will be off that ministry!
- Those sowing discord among the brethren. Gossip against the preacher, teachers, and anyone within the ministry can also weaken and hurt a church.
- “These six things doth the LORD hate… 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
- Home Bible study groups. Attending a local church every time its doors are open and one’s personal Bible study should be the primary sources of spiritual feeding. The intention of having extra Bible studies sounds edifiying, but they often can result in being hotbeds for “sowing discord” against the brethren and teaching false doctrines. Even a diet of television and radio preaching can sometimes sow disagreement against what one’s church is preaching from God’s Word. Division can occur in a church because of those influences.
- Covid and other infectious diseases. If you cannot attend because of health issues, do your best to stay in contact with your local church leaders and members. Although we do not want to spread disease to other church members, separation from other believers and being part of a local ministry can weaken and slowly kill a local church. Lack of attendance also discourages the preacher and teachers and disheartens other church members.
A local Bible-believing, Scripture-obeying ministry is an essential need for children of God and surrounding communities. Lives have been improved, souls saved, and sin stopped by a church’s outreach and influence.
A church’s usefulness can easily be destroyed by allowing it to be weakened by many of the mentioned dangers. Do your best to keep its doors wide open so God’s will and way can be preached and practiced. If its doors are closed and its message weakened, how will the nearby people know God’s truths? Who will tell them if the local ministry is too weak to help?
“When the Devil saw that persecution would not stop the church, he changed to a different tactic. He joined the church. He began to hurt the church from the inside. He still does that today. He attacks the validity of the Word of God, and he tries to discredit the Gospel. If that doesn’t work, he tries to discredit the man who preaches the Gospel, as he tried to discredit Paul.” — J. Vernon McGee
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A Discipling Church Is a Reproving Church
May 22, 2019
Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
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Outline
Christ’s Reproof
Paul’s Reproof
The Ministry of Reproof in Scripture
The Blessing of Godly Reproof
Effectual Reproof
Public and Private Reproof
The Ministry of the Body
A ministry of exhortation, reproof, rebuke, warning, and correction toward sin and error are necessary for making true disciples of Jesus Christ.
The ministry of loving reproof and correction is necessary for the type of atmosphere that produces disciples.
The Bible clearly emphasizes the necessity of this ministry.
“Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Ac. 20:31).
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).
“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly...” (1 Th. 5:14).
“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Ti. 5:20).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Ti. 4:2).
“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Tit. 1:13).
“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Tit. 2:15).
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Re. 3:19).
But a biblical ministry of reproof is a neglected and grossly misunderstood ministry today.
A ministry of reproof is even thought to be strange and hurtful. A preacher told me recently, “You have a strange ministry,” referring to my reproof of erring pastors. Actually a ministry of reproof is strange only to those who have turned from Scripture.
To love righteousness is to hate sin, and to love truth is to hate error.
“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Ps. 119:128).
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Ro. 12:9).
Christ said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Re. 3:19).
John, the “apostle of love,” defined love as obedience. He said, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
Proverbs teaches us that the parent who does not chasten his child does not love him (Pr. 13:24). The same is true for a church leader. Those who do not reprove and correct the sheep do not love them. It would be like a shepherd who sees the sheep going astray but does nothing about it.
Further, a ministry of godly reproof is a ministry of spiritual growth and protection.
“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Pr. 6:23).
Far from being harmful, a godly ministry of reproof and correction has the potential for great blessing.
The Necessity of Reproof
Reproof, warning, and correction are necessary because God’s people are still sinners in this present world. The “old man” is still present (Eph. 4:22). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jo. 1:8). We are easily beset by sin (Heb. 12:1).
Therefore, every man is to be warned and taught (Col. 1:28), and note that warning is put first. In practice, teaching comes before warning, but here warning comes first. This is by way of emphasis. Every saint in Christ needs warning!
Without a ministry of reproof, warning, and correction, the saints do not grow spiritually as they should. They backslide. They become lukewarm. They become settled upon the lees (Zep. 1:12). They tend to go out of the way.
An environment of godly reproof, and warning is the atmosphere in which the Spirit of God convicts and challenges and keeps God’s people growing in holiness and separation from the fallen world system.
The Ministry of Reproof in Scripture
Reproof and correction is one of the purposes for which God gave the Bible (2 Ti. 3:16). To avoid reproof and correction is to cut a lot of truth out of Scripture. Some years back a man published The Positive Bible. He had the audacity to “remove the negative things from the Bible.” The result was a very small “Bible”!
The terms “reprove,” “rebuke,” “warn,” “admonish,” “chasten,” “convince,” “blame,” and “correct” are used more than 30 times in Acts and the Epistles.
These words have similar but different meanings.
“Admonish” means to put in mind; to caution; to charge; to reprove gently; to notify of a fault; to counsel against wrong practices; to advise; to instruct. The Greek word translated “admonish” in Romans 15:14 is “neotheteo,” which is elsewhere translated “warn” (Ac. 20:31; Col. 1:28). The word “admonish” is used for Jeremiah’s warning to the Jewish remnant about not going to Egypt (Jer. 42:19), Paul’s warning to the ship’s captain (Ac. 27:9), the admonition toward an erring brother (2 Th. 3:15), and God’s admonition to Moses to build the Tabernacle exactly according to the divine pattern (Heb. 8:5).
“Reprove” means to charge with a fault, to convict, to blame. An example is John reproving Herod for marrying his brother’s wife (Lu. 3:19) and Paul reproving Peter for his hypocrisy (Ga. 2:11). To reprove also means to persuade, to give evidence, to convince. The word “reproof” in 2 Timothy 3:16 is the Greek word “elegchos,” which is elsewhere translated “evidence” (Heb. 11:1). To reprove is to convince someone of his sin or error (1 Co. 14:24; Tit. 1:9). To reprove means to shine the light of God’s Word on the deeds of darkness (Eph. 5:11-13). The Spirit of God has come to reprove the world of sin (John 16:8).
“Rebuke” means to reproach, correct, chide, scold, reprimand. Nehemiah rebuked the elders (Ne. 5:7). The judges of Israel were to rebuke sin (Amos 5:10). Christ will rebuke the nations when He returns (Is. 2:4). Jesus rebuked Peter (Mr. 8:33). The Christian is to rebuke his brother when he trespasses against him (Lu. 17:3). Sinning elders are to be rebuked (1 Ti. 5:20). The Word of God is to be preached with rebuke (2 Ti. 4:2; Tit. 2:15). Some are to be rebuked sharply (Tit. 1:13). Christ rebukes those He loves (Re. 3:19). One’s attitude toward rebuke reveals his spiritual condition (Pr. 9:7-8; 13:1).
Admonish, warn, reprove, and rebuke are similar in meaning. All of these terms refer to correction. Rebuke is the strongest. Reprove and admonish are usually a little milder, a little less forceful. Admonition and reproof ignored or rejected leads to rebuke.
Christ as Reprover
Christlikeness is compassion and gentleness and patience, but it is also firmness, even toughness, in regard to God’s holy laws. The Lord said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
Consider how forceful Christ can be in reproof to His own people (not to speak of His millennial rod of iron and the issue of eternal judgment for the unbeliever):
“But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men” (Mark 8:33).
“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and UPBRAIDED THEM with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him” (Mark 16:14).
“But he turned, and REBUKED THEM, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of” (Luke 9:55).
“Then he said unto them, O FOOLS and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25).
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I WILL COME UNTO THEE QUICKLY, AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:5).
“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, WHICH I ALSO HATE” (Revelation 2:6).
“So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and WILL FIGHT AGAINST THEM WITH THE SWORD OF MY MOUTH” (Revelation 2:15-16).
“Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I WILL KILL HER CHILDREN WITH DEATH; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:22-23).
“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I WILL COME ON THEE AS A THIEF, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (Revelation 3:3).
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH” (Revelation 3:15-16).
Five times in the Gospels, Christ expressed disappointment and reproof by saying that the disciples were of little faith (Mt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Lu. 12:28).
Christ “looked round about on them with anger” (Mark 3:5); called Israel a “generation of vipers” (Ma. 12:34) and a “faithless and perverse generation” (Mt. 17:17); called the Jewish leaders “hypocrites ... blind guides ... fools and blind ... serpents” (Mt. 23:13-33); sharply upbraided the cities in which He did mighty works (Mt. 11:20-24). He called Herod a fox (Lu. 13:32). He twice made a whip and drove the moneychangers and sellers out of the temple (Joh. 2:15-17; Mr. 11:15-17). He commanded that holy things not be given to dogs and pigs (Mt. 7:6).
Christ is the example that church leaders are to follow. To see compromise, sin, and error in the church and not deal with it effectively is not the Christ-like way.
The apostle Paul exemplifies the right “balance” in ministry. He said, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Php. 3:17). See also 1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1. On the one hand he was as gentle as a nurse with the believers (1 Th. 2:7). On the other hand, he was firm and unyielding about discipline (1 Co. 5; 2 Th. 3:6-14). He was a strong reprover (e.g., 1 Co. 6:5; 15:33-36; Ga. 3:1), and he taught the preachers under his watchcare to be the same (2 Ti. 4:2; Tit. 1:13; 2:15).
We see the ministry of reproof in Paul’s attitude toward the sin and error in the church at Corinth. He was kind and patient, but he did not overlook sin, error, and carnality. He dealt with it head on. He exhorted, reproved, and rebuked. He did whatever was necessary to effect repentance and change.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you” (1 Co. 1:10-11).
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Co r.3:1-3).
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise” (1 Co. 3:17-18).
“But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” (1 Co. 4:19-21).
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Co. 5:1-6).
“I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” (1 Co. 6:5-7).
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Co. 6:18-19).
“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” (1 Co. 10:21-22).
“For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not” (1 Co. 11:21-22).
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (1 Co. 14:20).
“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?” (1 Co. 14:23).
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die” (1 Co. 15:33-36).
Paul’s ministry of reproof to the carnal church at Corinth worked repentance and change (2 Co. 7:8-11). A sound ministry of reproof and discipline has the same power today.
We see a ministry of reproof in James’ epistle.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (Jas. 4:4-10).
James did not countenance worldliness and carnality. He dealt with it in the most direct manner. He called the worldly saints adulterers and adulteresses. He called them the enemies of God. He called them sinners and double minded. He called them proud.
There is no beating around the bush here. There is no speaking in vague generalities. James’ audience knew exactly what he meant and whom he was talking about.
This is the example for every church leader. Yet today it is common for preachers to accept worldliness as the status quo and to allow it to spread throughout the congregation. Instead of reproving the worldly members after the fashion of James, church leaders put worldly people into positions of ministry and allow them to influence the entire church body. Within a generation the spiritual character of the church is destroyed because of church leaders who won’t exercise the biblical ministry of reproof.
We see a ministry of reproof described in Paul’s instruction to Titus.
“One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Tit. 1:12-13).
Titus was ministering on the island of Crete. He was establishing churches and training and ordaining elders.
But the national character of the Cretians was affecting the churches. Paul taught Titus what to do, and he was to exercise a sharp ministry of reproof.
Discipline must fit the character of the individual or church. It’s like chastening a child. Each child is different and must be dealt with differently. If a child obeys, he is not spanked, but the stubborn, self-willed child must be dealt with more forcefully.
This is true in the church. If there is a Cretian character, the chastening must be firmer and sharper. The Cretians tended to be liars (deceitful, dissembling), evil beasts (backbiters, gossips, hurtful), slow bellies (lazy, idle, living for their physical appetites). Because of their exceedingly poor character and slowness to obey God, the churches on Crete needed to be dealt with more sharply than churches in other places.
Sharp rebuke is contrary to the teaching of humanistic psychology, but God knows human nature and His Word instructs us how to deal wisely with stubborn insubordination.
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
This is a description of a strong reproving ministry of God’s Word exercised in the New Testament church.
Paul is giving a commandment, not a suggestion (2 Th. 3:6). This type of ministry is required of God in every congregation.
The passage deals with church members who are disorderly and do not work, but rather are busybodies (2 Th. 3:11). But it would apply to any type of disorderly conduct that is unlawful for God’s people to engage in.
The church is not to overlook this type of thing. It must be dealt with plainly and as severely as necessary to bring it to a stop.
Disorderly conduct is to be dealt with in a variety of ways. First, there must be teaching. The saints must be patiently instructed about the importance of good labor (2 Th. 3:7-9). Compare Pr. 6:6-11; 13:4; 14:23; Acts 20:34-35; Eph. 4:28; 1 Th. 4:11-12. Next, there is to be exhortation (2 Th. 3:12). The church is to be exhorted to do what God commands. Then there is to be reproof and rebuke of those who disobey (2 Th. 3:11). Finally, there is to be discipline if the reproof is not taken to heart and there is no repentance (2 Th. 3: 6, 14). We, see, too that brotherly love is to permeate a ministry of reproof and correction (2 Th. 3:15), which is one of the things that sharply distinguishes godly reproof with a cultic, Diotrephes type of reproof.
Paul is describing the ministry of reproof and correction that must characterize every New Testament church. The church is not to overlook disorderly conduct. It is to deal with it with every spiritual tool that God has provided.
The Blessing of Godly Reproof
“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear” (Pr. 25:12).
Wise reproof that is received well is a great blessing. I have personally witnessed this many times over the years.
Following are a few examples:
In one of my classes in Bible School, a student frequently harassed the teacher from his (the student’s) Ruckmanite thinking. Finally one day as we were leaving class I reproved him about disturbing the class and showing dishonor to the teacher. I reminded him that he had not been given authority to teach that class, and the rest of the students were not there to hear his opinions. He was a large, gruff man, and I approached him in some fear, but he was humble and apologetic.
On another occasion I confronted a young relative about dating a worldly man who was contributing to her backsliding. We were sitting in our living room, and initially she ran out of the room crying. But she repented and today is married to a godly man.
I reproved one of our church men who consistently absented himself from our men’s discipleship meetings. We had exhorted him previously about faithfulness, but he had not changed. Now I said, “It appears to me that you are either unsaved, lazy, or you don’t like me and therefore don’t want to attend my classes.” I also said that if I had missed something, please let me know. After saying nothing for some time, he replied, “I am lazy.” I then exhorted him about his need to be zealous in his service for Christ and a good example to the church and to his own family. He has been faithful ever since.
I once reproved a young mother in our church about letting her daughter disobey her instructions and commands. I said, “If you are disciplining her properly, the evidence will be obedience. If she doesn’t obey, she isn’t disciplined. It’s that simple.” The mother took this to heart, and today her child obeys her and obeys other adults.
My wife and I discipline our grandkids when they stay with us, if necessary, which has been extremely rare. We never let them get away with disobedience or disrespect, and they know that we mean business. One of our grandsons was acting a bit rebellious one day, and my wife reminded him that she had her spanking stick handy. She was referring to a short rod, but it so happened that a seven-foot stick was standing in a corner of the room for some project she was doing, and the grandson thought she was talking about that. He was just a little guy and he was standing near that corner of the room, and after looking that huge stick over from the floor to the ceiling he was immediately in a better mood!
Of course, it doesn’t always turn out this way. When the ear is not obedient, the reproof won’t be fruitful in that individual’s life and might even result in trouble for the reprover, but God is glorified either way, because the reprover has obeyed God and honored His Word (Pr. 15:23).
This is true for every aspect of discipline. It doesn’t always result in blessing in an individual’s life, but it always results in glory to a holy God and the purification of the church (1 Co. 5:7-8).
The same is true for preaching the gospel (2 Co. 2:14-16). The preaching of the gospel is a sweet savour unto God, whether the person believes or does not believe. In the case of the unbeliever, God is glorified because His Word is preached and the offer of salvation is made and His goodness is evident even in the offer.
The preacher of the gospel and the reprover of sin and error obeys God’s Word, and leaves the result to Him.
Effectual Reproof
There are many things that are necessary for effectual reproof. To engage disobedience and error is no simple matter, and it must be done by those who are properly qualified and prepared.
1. The reprover must be filled with goodness.
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Ro. 15:14).
He must have a respectable Christian testimony. He must not be a hypocrite. If the people to whom I minister see me doing things that are wrong, they will lose respect for me and my reproof will lose effectiveness. I’ve not always done right in this, but I know that a good testimony is necessary for a fruitful ministry of preaching God’s Word. And I am thankful that in spite of my failings, the Lord has given me a good testimony in the eyes of those who know me.
I once challenged a church member about her dress and asked her if she would read my book Dressing for the Lord. She replied, “I will read the book because of my respect for you.” A national preacher once said, “Brother Cloud can reprove us because we know he loves us and we know how long and faithfully he has ministered among us.”
If there are glaring sins and failings in an individual’s life, he is incapable of reproving those things. For example, if a pastor’s children do not know and serve the Lord, no one will pay much attention to him when he tries to teach them about how to raise children. And if he is divorced, they probably won’t listen very well to his warnings about divorce.
Being filled with goodness includes mercy and care. The one being reproved must know that the reprover cares for him.
This is why we can effectually reprove the young people in our church. They respect our Christian lives and they know that we care for them. Even when I have had to “rebuke them sharply” at times because of their sin and stubbornness, they have received it, or at least most of them have. Otherwise, the reproof could frustrate them and drive them away.
2. The reprover must be filled with knowledge.
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Ro. 15:14).
The reprover must know God’s Word and know how to properly use God’s Word; the better you know God’s Word, the more fruitful you can be in helping others. Many saints remain ignorant year after year; therefore, they are ineffectual and unfruitful.
The necessity of being filled with goodness and knowledge reminds us that the young believer or even the young preacher should be extra careful about reproving. He doesn’t have the maturity to be as highly respected as an older saint; therefore, his reproof will not be received as well as that of an older saint.
I think of a little church in Tennessee where I taught Sunday School. One of the members was a rough old “hillbilly” with several children that he was not training properly. I decided to teach about child training, though I wasn’t even married yet. After the first class, he said, “You don’t know what you are talking about,” and if I remember correctly he stopped attending the classes. He was right that I didn’t know what I was talking about experientially. I was only about two years old in the Lord. I was still “wet behind the ears!” At the same time, he should have been more respectful toward God’s Word. He lost most of his children to the world. In fact, some of his children went to prison.
3. The reprover must be wise.
“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear” (Pr. 25:12).
Consider some characteristics of wise reproof:
There is a right time and situation to reprove.
“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears” (Pr. 26:17).
Reproof should be given when it is your business to reprove.
Since the pastor is responsible for his flock, it is his business to reprove them when necessary. He can’t say it is not his business. How can a shepherd say that the sheep are not his business? And how can the sheep say the shepherd has no business meddling in their lives?
The Lord has given the God-called preacher the authority to reprove in season and out of season (2 Ti. 4:2), but this doesn’t mean it is wise to get involved in every situation that comes to his attention.
Some situations will work themselves out without the input of a pastor, and he must have the wisdom to know these things.
When at all possible, the reproof should be made face to face rather than by email or text.
Reproof shouldn’t be given when the individual is severely distracted, such as during a tragedy.
Reproof shouldn’t be given early in the morning or some other very inconvenient time. One time a friend started reproving me about something he felt I was doing wrong, but he did it first thing in the morning before I even had my cup of coffee. Not wise! To reprove someone when he or she is preparing for something and is therefore distracted and under pressure is usually not wise. For example, if you want to try to correct something the preacher has said, don’t do it just before he is scheduled to preach. Be wise.
And the reprover must decide whether the reproof should be private or public. Paul reproved Peter publicly (Ga. 2:11-14), but there is also a time for private reproof. In general, public error should be dealt with publicly, and private error should be dealt with privately. Paul reproved Peter publicly because Peter’s hypocrisy was public and he was influencing others (Ga. 2:13). I am often criticized for reproving preachers publicly about their ministries, but I only do this when the ministry in question is public and that preacher is influencing people outside of his own congregations.
There is a right person to reprove.
The Bible teaches us to consider the character of the individual that is to be reproved.
In a nutshell, we should reprove when we are dealing with a receptive heart.
“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee” (Pr. 9:7-8).
There are levels of reproof. I will give a certain type of reproof to the insubordinate and another type of reproof to the subordinate. When I am pretty confident that a person isn’t going to respond positively, I will still sometimes give a reproof because God tells me to (Eph. 5:11; 2 Ti. 4:2). But I won’t dwell on it or pursue it.
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
Verse 4 means not to answer a fool in like manner to his folly. Don’t respond to anger with anger, to mocking with mocking, to berating with berating, etc. But verse 5 says we should answer a fool according to his folly in the sense of what his folly deserves and requires. To give no answer can make him wise in his conceit, because he takes no answer to mean there is no answer to his folly. I sometimes follow this method in regard to email communications from obstinate people. Sometimes I ignore them totally; sometimes I reply briefly. But I aim not to get carried away with their foolishness by getting into name calling and mudslinging and character attacks. I’m not always successful, but this is my aim, because I know that to answer a fool in like manner to his folly is unwise and accomplishes nothing and takes me down to the level of the fool.
“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
Here we see how to deal with the heretic, who is a person that has made a choice to cleave to error. He is “subverted.” There is something wrong with him. God’s Word instructs us to admonish such a person once or twice, and then reject him. The heart of the heretic is not receptive to the truth, and it is therefore a waste of time to pursue him.
For example, one night I accompanied some relatives to distribute gospel tracts and to witness to people in a park in my home town where a lot of people congregate on weekends. Some of my relatives played musical instruments and sang to attract a crowd, and the rest of us witnessed to them. A Church of Christ man accosted me with one objective, and that was to debate about baptism. I showed him from Scripture how that it is the gospel that saves (Ro. 1:16) and that baptism is not the gospel (1 Co. 15:3-4), but he didn’t hear a word I was saying. He focused on his false interpretation of Acts 2:38. In a short while, I said, “You are wasting my time. I am here to preach the gospel to needy sinners, and you are of the devil, because you are hindering me from doing that. If you believe baptism is the gospel, go to the other side of the park and preach your gospel. Goodbye.” I turned away from him and ignored any further attempts to harangue me with his heresy. I was careful not to say, “The Lord bless you,” because we are not to bless false teachers (2 John 10-11).
A ministry of reproof deals wisely with people according to their character.
There is also a right way to reprove.
The reprover must have “the spirit of meekness” (Ga. 6:1). He must put himself in the place of the person he is reproving and exercise the “royal law” to do unto others as he would have them do unto him (Jas. 2:8). He must reprove with the attitude that he, too, is a sinner who is susceptive to backsliding.
The reprover must seek God’s help and wisdom to know how to deal with every situation, because each situation is different. Consider Christ’s dealing with Peter in Matthew 16:21-23 versus His dealing with Peter in John 21:15-18. We see the difference between sharp rebuke and gentle but persistent exhortation. After Christ’s denial, the Lord knew that Peter was already deeply reproved by his own conscience and that he had wept bitterly (Mt. 26:75), so the Lord focused on questioning Peter about love. Christ got to the heart of the matter, which was Peter’s self-love and lack of love for Christ. This is why Peter, rather than John, was sifted by the devil. Christ’s persistence in asking Peter three times if he loved him pressed the issue into Peter’s conscience. It was extremely effectual and fruitful. Peter spent the rest of his life loving Christ and feeding the sheep. His epistles are extremely powerful and searching. He had indeed been converted (Lu. 22:32).
The reprover should know the difference between attitude and action. Both my attitude and my action must be right. Sometimes we are so careful to keep a right attitude that we don’t do the right action, or we do the right action with the wrong attitude. For example, consider a young woman who wants to serve in some ministry in the church, but her hair is too short. On one hand, hair length is a relatively small thing, but that doesn’t mean that it is of no consequence. Paul addressed it and taught that hair length is an issue of authority. The woman’s long hair is her God-given glory and is a sign of her submission to the man’s authority, whereas the man’s short hair is the sign of his submission to God (1 Co. 11:3-5). Paul said that even angels are affected by this issue (1 Co. 11:10). The right attitude in this context is to deal with the young woman kindly and patiently and to keep this issue in the right perspective in my own heart. I must remember that hair length is not necessarily a spiritual thermometer. A woman with short hair might love the Lord much more passionately than a woman with long hair, and a man with longer hair might love the Lord more passionately than a man with short hair, and love for the Lord is the most important issue. But keeping my attitude right does not mean that there is no action to take. In the previous case, the young woman needs to be instructed and guided in this matter so that she will come to understand the issue and not want to be an offense and stumbling block by her appearance. And the action includes enforcing the church’s standards for workers, even in external appearances and even in matters that are considered by many of “small” consequence.
We must exercise special wisdom in reproving an elder, referring to an elder in age as well as to a leader. An elder is not to be rebuked, but to be entreated as a father (1 Ti. 5:1). Paul is talking particularly about the fact that younger people are not to rebuke elders but rather must deal with them in an entreating manner. (In contrast, an elder, referring to a pastor, is to be rebuked if he sins, 1 Ti. 5:19-20.)
The wise repetition of reproof is a major part of the process of discipleship.
Human nature demands repetition in instruction and reproof. We don’t learn all at once, but a little at a time. We forget and have to be reminded of what we have already learned. Thus biblical reproof must permeate the church’s ministry and must incorporate repetition.
We see the principle of teaching by repetition throughout the Bible. But effectual repetition does not mean saying exactly the same thing repeatedly. It is dealing with the same subject in different ways, coming at it from different directions, presenting it in different contexts, emphasizing different aspects.
For example, consider Bible study. The leaders produce good Bible students by repetition. It isn’t enough to preach this once a year or mention it in a sermon once in awhile. It isn’t even enough to offer a course on Bible study. Bible study and every other major aspect of discipleship must be constant themes that are woven throughout the church’s ministry. The leaders must explain the reasons why the people need to study the Bible. They must exhort the people to study the Bible. They must teach the people how to study the Bible. They must rebuke those who do not study the Bible. They must do all of these things all of the time.
The same is true for teaching prayer, holiness, faithfulness, separation, modesty, etc.
Public and Private Reproof
Both public and private reproof are necessary for an effectual ministry of reproof. Here we are talking about reproof in the congregation.
A preaching ministry that includes clear and practical reproof and rebuke is a very essential part of a disciplined church. It is a necessary part of the atmosphere that produces true disciples.
Not everyone will respond properly to such preaching, but those who have a heart for God will grow in this atmosphere.
Public reproof is necessary for spiritual protection.
Public reproof is a major part of keeping the church disciplined, a major part of producing disciples.
Yet preaching with reproof and rebuke is becoming a neglected ministry. In many churches, the preaching is getting softer, and the result is a weakening of the spiritual climate of the church and the inevitable breaking down of the walls of separation from the world.
Once I interviewed a father about his grown children who were serving the Lord and asked him if he had any suggestions for other parents. The first thing he said was that after he was saved, the Lord had led him to a good Bible preaching church, and he determined as a young father that he was going to obey what the pastor preached. He tried to do whatever the preacher preached from God’s Word, and this resulted in good fruit in his family. Of course, we don’t blindly follow a preacher, but when the preacher is preaching God’s Word, it is right and wise to obey (Heb. 13:17). This church is a church where the preaching is given with plenty of reproof, rebuke, and exhortation, as well as sound doctrine, and those who submit to such a ministry are sanctified thereby.
An example of something that requires the ministry of reproof is the believers’ responsibilities before God such as being faithful to services and being faithful to prayer meetings. It is God who requires faithfulness, and the preacher must uphold God’s requirements (e.g., Acts 2:42; 1 Co. 4:2; Heb. 10:25).
Consider the prayer meetings. The members of the first church “continued in prayers” (Acts 2:42). But today it is typical that only a small percentage of church members attend prayer meetings, and this should be a matter of teaching, exhortation, rebuke, and even discipline, but many pastors are content with small participation in the sense that they do little or nothing to change the status quo.
I think of a large church in Florida that announced a women’s prayer meeting before the service, but my wife was the only one in attendance!
I think of two fairly large churches, but the special prayer meetings before the services are ill attended.
In fact, as I travel in my Bible conference ministry, I am almost always shocked by the pitiful number of men who attend such meetings compared to the number who attend the service itself. Typically, the prayer meeting is only about 15 minutes, so it is not a major sacrifice for the men to attend. Some are unable to attend, of course, but many simply don’t make the effort.
If a man can’t get off work and is therefore unable to attend, though he wants to, that is one thing, and we are patient with that type of thing. But in many cases, it is a matter of rank disobedience and lack of spiritual zeal.
I always rebuke men for this sin. I think of a church in North Carolina where I preached a Bible conference. There were just a few men in the prayer meeting, but there were probably 30 men in the services.
I don’t believe that a preacher has a right to ignore this type of blatant disobedience to Scripture.
I think of a church where I preached a Bible conference that ran from Wednesday to Sunday. The attendance on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings was about 50, if I remember correctly. I was therefore shocked on Sunday morning to see something like a couple hundred people in attendance. I began my message that morning by reproving those who had neglected the services. I said, “Where were you the last three nights? Didn’t you know that the church was having a Bible conference?” I was preaching a series on Revelation 2-3, and these people had demonstrated a powerful example of Laodicean lukewarmness! I thought that would be the last time I was invited to preach there, but in fact I have been invited back two or three times.
I think of another church where I preached a Bible conference. This church had not had a Bible conference in something like 25-30 years. The services were well attended and the response seemed to be good, but I noticed after a couple of nights that there weren’t many teens and young single people in attendance, and when I inquired about the matter I was told that the young people were at a softball league tournament. I couldn’t believe it. The first Bible conference in decades and the adults let the young people skip out for a softball game! The next evening, I rebuked the church for this great compromise. The day before this reproof, the pastor had been excited about the meeting and had even asked me if I could come back every year for a conference. But after the reproof about putting sports before Christ, I was never invited back.
But we refuse to accept this type of thing, and we have learned how to deal with it in our own church work. Ninety-five percent of our people are faithful.
We don’t want to rebuke our people. We get no joy out of that. The last thing we want to do is hurt them. We no more want to hurt our church members than to hurt our own children and grandchildren, but reproof and correction are matters of obedience to God and blessing for those who need it.
Our desire is that our people be true disciples of Christ, and we are willing to do whatever is necessary from our side to see that happen.
If God requires a steward to be faithful and if He has given us the example of faithfulness in the members of the first church, who am I as a church leader to require less?
The public process of perfecting disciples requires teaching, exhortation, reproof, rebuke, and discipline, in that order.
As with child training, chastening must precede rebuke and scourging or spanking (Heb. 12:5-6). The word “chasten” is from the Greek “paideuo,” which is elsewhere translated “learn” (1 Ti. 1:20), “instruct” (2 Ti. 2:25), and “teach” (Tit. 2:12). This is the foundation of proper discipline. The parent patiently teaches the child the difference between right and wrong and makes him to understand what is required of him.
Likewise, discipleship begins with teaching. You don’t reprove and rebuke and correct and discipline until first you have carefully instructed the church member as to what he is supposed to do. The same is true for child discipline. To reprove before proper teaching will produce confusion rather than good fruit.
So, in regard to producing faithful church members, we begin by patiently and persistently teaching our people about faithfulness and why they should be faithful and the blessings of faithfulness. This instruction includes the ministry of our One Year Discipleship Course which has a lot of teaching on this subject.
Together with teaching and instruction is exhortation. We exhort our people to be faithful. We weave this teaching and exhortation into the preaching and teaching ministry.
Only after teaching and exhortation is there reproof and rebuke. Those who do not obey and persist in unfaithfulness must be reproved.
Ultimately, there is discipline. If an individual persists in disobedience in the face of teaching, exhortation, reproof and rebuke, we do not allow him to be a member of our church.
Of course, there are many other elements necessary for producing faithfulness to Christ, including much prayer, compassion and patience.
Take another issue, that of loving God’s Word. According to Scripture, the believer is to have an intimate relationship with God’s Word from the time he is a babe in Christ (1 Pe. 2:2). He is to delight in it and meditate therein day and night (Ps. 1:2). He is to study it diligently and rightly divide it (1 Ti. 2:15). He is to become skillful in the use of it (Heb. 5:12-14).
God requires this of His people; therefore, the church leaders must require it.
Again, the process of requiring a right relationship with God’s Word begins with teaching.
We teach our church members about every aspect of Bible study. We teach them how to have a daily Bible study time. We teach them how to use Bible study tools and how to interpret the Bible for themselves. Our teaching on this subject is extensive and includes two courses, a basic one entitled The Effectual Bible Student and a deeper one entitled How to Study the Bible.
Then we exhort them to read the Bible and study the Bible and love the Bible. We weave this theme into the messages.
Finally, we reprove and rebuke those who refuse to obey God in this matter.
Other examples of things that commonly need to be reproved are husbands not being the spiritual leaders of their homes, husbands not loving their wives, husbands neglecting their children, wives not honoring and obeying their husbands, wives not being keepers at home, parents not disciplining their children, young people not honoring and obeying their parents, employees not being good workers, lying and dishonesty, laziness, not paying one’s debts, putting one’s work and business before God, putting education above seeking God’s will, and neglecting the duty of being an ambassador for Christ.
There must also be PRIVATE REPROOF.
“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).
Note that this is a ministry to “every man.” Public reproof is not enough. There must also be individual, private reproof.
This is very necessary, and it can be very effectual.
I often talk briefly to individuals when they are late or miss services or other things in order to exhort them. I inquire as to their situation (such as where they were during the service) and then exhort them according to their situation and need.
We sometimes meet privately with members after church services to exhort them.
We also visit homes to encourage and exhort the people. Last year we used one evening every week to visit the homes of the church members. The church leaders visited each home together, and after we talked with the family and inquired as to their situation and needs, each of the preachers delivered a word of exhortation.
As with dealing with children, you don’t rebuke church members until it is necessary, and you don’t rebuke them more than necessary.
Usually the public teaching and exhortation and reproof and the private exhortation is enough.
But if the individual persists in disobedience, the leaders must get increasingly firm.
The Ministry of the Body
Another essential part of the ministry of reproof that produces a church of disciples is the ministry of the body itself.
The following are some of the Bible’s teaching about the “one another” ministry of the New Testament church. Note that admonishing is one of the ministries that the members are to exercise toward one another.
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER” (Ro. 15:14).
“BEAR YE ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Ga. 6:2).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to LOVE ONE ANOTHER” (1 Th. 4:9).
“Wherefore COMFORT ONE ANOTHER with these words” (1 Th. 4:18).
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and EDIFY ONE ANOTHER, even as also ye do” (1 Th. 5:11).
“But EXHORT ONE ANOTHER daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).
Our goal is to build the congregation up in Christ so the members are able to minister effectively to one another. This does not replace the ministry of the leaders and preachers and teachers; it works together with that ministry and is under the direction of that ministry.
Note that the Bible doesn’t say that the members are to rebuke one another. They are to teach, encourage, comfort, exhort, and admonish. The rebuking should be done by the preachers and leaders.
Exhort means to encourage; to challenge; to cheer. The word translated “exhort” is from the Greek “parakaleo,” which means “to call near.” This Greek word is also translated intreat” (Lu. 15:25), “desire” (Ac. 8:31), “beseech” (Ac. 13:42), “comfort” (Ac. 16:40), “call for” (Ac. 28:20), and “pray” (Ac. 16:9).
Admonish means to put in mind; to caution; to reprove gently; to warn or notify of a fault; to counsel against wrong practices; to advise; to instruct. The Greek word translated “admonish” in Romans 15:14 (“neotheteo”) is elsewhere translated “warn” (Acts 20:31). It is used for Jeremiah’s warning to the Jewish remnant about not going to Egypt (Jer. 42:19), Paul’s warning to the ship’s captain (Acts 27:9), the admonition of God’s Word about sin (1 Co. 10:11), admonishing an erring brother (2 Th. 3:15), God’s admonition of Moses (Heb. 8:5).
I often hear of the operation of this ministry in our church. I hear of one brother or sister encouraging another, teaching another, exhorting another, comforting and helping another, and it is a great blessing to the church family.
Our more spiritual young people exercise this ministry toward the weaker ones.
We give instruction about this ministry, and we encourage it.
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Sharing Policy: Much of our material is available for free, such as the hundreds of articles at the Way of Life web site. Other items we sell to help fund our expensive literature and foreign church planting ministries. Way of Life's content falls into two categories: sharable and non-sharable. Things that we encourage you to share include the audio sermons, O Timothy magazine, FBIS articles, and the free eVideos and free eBooks. You are welcome to make copies of these at your own expense and share them with friends and family. You may also post parts of reports and/or entire reports to websites, blogs, etc as long as you give proper credit (citation). A link to the original report is very much appreciated as the reports are frequently updated and/or expanded. Things we do not want copied and distributed are "Store" items like the Fundamental Baptist Digital Library, print editions of our books, electronic editions of the books that we sell, the videos that we sell, etc. The items have taken years to produce at enormous expense in time and money, and we use the income from sales to help fund the ministry. We trust that your Christian honesty will preserve the integrity of this policy. "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18). Questions? support@wayoflife.org
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by permission 03/12/22
Calvinism: John Calvin (1509-64) French Theologian and Ex- Catholic.
Famous for his writings in his Book: Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536).
Taught that God Desired to Save some of his Creation and Damn the Rest with No Chance to Respond to the Gospel Call before their Conception.
That Jesus Christ Finished Work on the Cross was only a Limited Atonement. Not a Full Atonement for all Humanity.
That God Dosen't Desire All Men to be Saved. Even if the Pre- Dammed Person Desires to Come to Christ by Faith Blasphemer!"
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Type or copy/paste into your browser for
a ton of SEARCHBLE INFORMATION!
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THESE (3) WEBSITES ARE CURRENTLY
BLOCKED BY FB AND MESSENGER
Type or copy/paste into your browser for
a ton of SEARCHBLE INFORMATION!
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"BIG PICTURE" UPDATED 02/23/22
LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S NEW !!
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"Come and feast, food to fill your Soul!" Randall Wandell
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THE OTHER GROUPS TO BE COMBINED.
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION BELOW!
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EXTRA ... EXTRA ... READ ALL ABOUT IT! JUST ADDED!
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VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION! |
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This is about the BIG PICTURE moving forward!
If you are receiving this, it means that you may be a member of one or more of these groups displayed here!
As we “continue” using these groups they will become very slowly merged into two (2) EXISTING groups and will be displayed on these two (2) EXISTING groups on MeWe and FaceBook as "Baptist Church History" and "A Warning Ministry”
and (2) EXISTING WEBSITES
www.AWarningMinistry.com and www.BaptistChurchHistory.com
In addition, you are also being offered to subscribe to the email delivery system 'Constant Contact', which is only 30 days old as of 03/12/21 and will continue being built right now, for regular updates of all the subjects and groups listed below! The entire system will be under construction for some time, so come back and visit often for continual updates! Enjoy the ride and check back often.
We will still be using the same group rules, standards, and guidelines in all the groups, which have been used, merged, and updated for over two years to date.
At this time there are more than fourteen thousand members (some in more than one group) in these five groups! Plus, I personally have almost 5,000 members in my personal groups that are overlapping and see posts from the other groups on a regular basis!
THESE GROUPS HAVE BECOME OVERLAPPING AND ARE NOT
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE BY NATURE OF THEIR CONTENT!
The history of each group may be accessed using the links provided.
CHECK OUT ALL THE RESOURCES BELOW AND ENJOY THE
'MASSIVE' AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
AVAILABLE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!
HERE IS HOW TO STOP BEING CONFUSED!
START TODAY AND NEVER LOOK BACK!
What causes all the confusion?
THREE THINGS!
(1) Modern Bible Versions
(2) Lack of Baptist Church History TRUTH
(3) and lack of proper Biblical Interpretation methods!
IN A NUTSHELL ... THE ROOT CAUSE IS … a SPIRITUAL, a HEART AND an IGNORANCE PROBLEM … that … causes all the other things mentioned … which are the symptoms!
“MAJOR CAUSES OF PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH".
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“Most Christians do not read the Bible. Many Christians who read the Bible ignore what the Bible says. Some Christians who ignore the Bible don't see that as a problem.” "Baptist Bread" July 17th, 2017 devotional by author Dr. Guy Goodell, Pastor, Bible Baptist Church, Hudson Falls, NY. with permission from Tim Green The Baptist Bread
- “Ignorance of Baptist heritage, which is so infectious in our pulpits and pews today, is dangerous and must be overcome with a renewed teaching of our Baptist heritage and heroes of past generations.” Appendix B Ten Affirmations Concerning Our Baptist Heritage, " Page 262, “The Collegiate Baptist History Workbook", by James R. Beller
- Lack of training in proper Biblical Interpretation methods, including Prophecy.
What causes all the confusion? Modern Bible Versions and Lack of Baptist History TRUTH and lack of proper Bible Interpretation! This is the root cause of all the other things that were mentioned.
SOLUTION:
We teach the entire counsel of God, based on the Authorized King James Bible, Proper methods of Biblical Interpretation, including prophecy and True Baptist Church History and Distinctives.
The Ten C’s ….. there may be more ….. Now here are Ten!
Greatest Commandments Matthew 22:36-40
Great Commission Matthew 28:16-20
Earnestly Contend for the faith Jude 3-4, 20-25
All the Counsel of God Acts 20:26-27
One Christ Ephesians 4:4-6
Another Christ 2 Corinthians 11:4
With Compassion, Christians are to have compassion
(1 Pe. 3:8; 1 Jn. 3:17; Jude 22). [See Charity, Labor, Love, Mercy.]
Pray without ceasing I Thessalonians 5:17
Creation Genesis 1:1-2, John 1:1-5 The seven c’s of creation!
His Commandments in Old & New Testaments Revelation 22:14C
How to stop all this confusion out there?
- Get saved so you “can” understand!
- Start reading the KJB and pray every day!
- Learn the proper methods of Biblical interpretation!
- Learn “true” Baptist Church History!
- Learn and practice the entire counsel of God!
- Attend a good Bible Believing Independent Church regularly!
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"Three Major Problems In The Church" by Guy Goodell -...
"Three Major Problems In The Church" by Guy Goodell "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. " Matthew 22:29 KJV The church claiming preference as the "Body of Christ" is in trouble. I speak ...
Read more
awarningministry.com
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The purpose of this Blog is to teach about Jude 3
IT HAS BEEN SAID THERE IS A BIG LACK OF ‘WARNING MINISTRIES’ IN CHURCHES. THIS IS A TEACHING RESOURCE TO HELP PEOPLE AND CHURCHES UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT JUDE 3.
Read more
awarningministry.com
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About The Author Roger Fulk |
Welcome to our Blog Posts and Keep coming back often and enjoy learning about many different subjects like this for your edification!
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All subjects are not of interest to everyone, however we have found there is much confusion out there. We are here to help!
We aim to help people learn about many different subjects for your teaching and learning purposes! Keep coming back often and enjoy learning about many different subjects like this for your edification!
Thank you,
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