I Am Redeemed

Sunday night our church family celebrated the Lord's Supper at the conclusion of a series of messages since the first of the year on "Remember." It was only right to conclude with the greatest statement on remember when Jesus said in I Corinthians 11:24 and 25 "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

Jesus is saying, "Don't forget what I have done for you."

Well, in the midst of the "normal" Lord's Supper - the Holy Spirit showed up to me. You see, God does not work in a vacuum. Two things had been going on: (1) We were concluding our missions emphasis "To the World With Love" with me preaching two messages on missions (one last Sunday morning and one three weeks ago) and Dr. Gordon Fort, Vice-President of the International Mission Board, preaching Feb. 14. When the power of the message of reaching a world is given under the anointing of the Holy Spirit - it ALWAYS challenges my heart and renews my surrender to God. If there is one thing that God has used to always "check my blood pressure" it is missions and my willingness to go and sacrifice for the cause of the Gospel.

(2) A song I have heard had been in my spirit for a few days. I first heard this song performed live by The Greenes last November and it just went straight to my heart (did not pass go, did not collect $200) and it caused me to immediately rejoice with tears streaming like Niagara Falls. Then last Friday Roxanne and I were driving to Gadsden and it came on Sirius Radio and I turned it up so loud in the car and had church. Then Sunday afternoon I was traveling from the hospital to a funeral and it was played again on a local radio station. Somewhere around Killen, I just made a fool of myself in the car.

Well, Sunday night as we came to the Lord's Table, the Lord reminded me that "I am Redeemed" by His body and blood. Brought with a price - so why would I consider anything a sacrifice for Him when He sacrificed far more for me? God broke me.

I don't use those words flippantly. When the Holy Spirit of God does a work, it is sudden and complete. He downloads a lot in a moment; it takes a while to unpack what He downloads into you. That has been my week - trying to unpack what He has done. I tried to share some last night at church and I might share later in this venue.

For now, listen to the song by The Greenes "I am Redeemed." It was recorded at Brooklyn Tabernacle (another favorite place of mine) last September and "if anybody ask you, just who I am; just tell them I am Redeemed."

What happened to corporate praying

As I am studying in Daniel 10, I ran across this quote that Warren Wiersbe noted: "Much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." Peter Deyneka, missionary to the Slavic people.

Then I saw Ron Ethridge posted the following this morning. I had to share it with you. I am glad CrossRoads is a "praying church." Won't you join us tonight at 6:30 to find out.

This title is a little odd sounding. After all, how can a person be a Christian and not pray? It happens all the time. Prayer is a major neglect of the American Church… in my opinion. My guess is that if a preacher reads this, he’ll probably get a little defensive. I know… I’m a preacher… it bothers me and I am defensive.

It is recorded in Matthew 21:13 that Jesus said,

“It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer…’”

At one time, Wednesday night was called “Prayer Meeting.” God’s people came together to pray. But over time, fewer and fewer and fewer people came. Attendance began to sag. Corporate prayer declined in importance. People didn’t come because they didn’t want to pray out loud because they were embarrassed (Many Christians told me this.). They were embarrassed to talk out loud to the God that saved them… their Spiritual Father… with only their family present {Other Christians}. That doesn’t make sense to me. And so things began to change…

Since attendance is a MAJOR gauge for many in ministry as to their effectiveness, something had to be done (What I’m about to write may sound simplistic… and that’s okay). Some churches moved Sunday Night Worship to Wednesday night… then they made Sunday night a time for discipleship… and prayer meeting, uh… prayer meeting was moved to, uh… prayer meeting became a class. Interestingly, this “class” was not so much a time to pray as it was instruction on how to pray (Which becomes a need when people quit praying I guess.) It just strikes me as odd that kids learn to talk by observation and listening and eventually you can’t shut them up! Shouldn’t the same be true of prayer for those who’s Father saved them? Just wondering.

In an attempt to elevate prayer in importance, it became a “Ministry of the church.” It was given it’s own room… cards were put in the pew for people to fill out requests… a Prayer Ministry Coordinator was recruited… individuals signed up to pray (by themselves) and everyone felt better. Yet God’s people, praying together in small groups or enmasse, is no longer as prevalent as it used to be.

I’m afraid that many in ministry put more energy into planning, organization, and administration than they do in prayer. It is more important to visit than pray. It is more important to study than pray. It is more important to read than pray. It is more important to blog than pray. The result?

A decline in individual holiness. A form of godliness that denies the Spirit’s power. Legalism. People ever learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Infant Christians without spiritual discernment. Reliance upon surveys of the congregation to determine God’s direction for the church. Committees asking people what they want instead of seeking God’s face for His will to be done. And few realize their own condition.

The remedy? Pray! Emphasize prayer! Have committee meetings where nothing but prayer is done. Have deacons meetings where all they do is pray. Have a month long prayer emphasis as a congregation… every year… that bolsters the prayerfulness of a church. Pastors must remember the Apostles in Acts devoted themselves to PRAYER and follow their example. Prayer must return to the place of importance it once was.

Great Commission Resurgence Task Force Interim Report

The Great Commission Resurgence Task Force gave a progress report to the Executive Committee this evening. The EC did not allow the report to be live-streamed, but a video of the report is now available at thePray4GCR website. The final report will be available May 3. Please join us in praying for a Great Commission Resurgence in the SBC.

Proverb of the Day

My great nephew, Dylan Parrish, is finalists for Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program

The following article was published in The Sand Mountain Reporter about my great-nephew, Dylan Parrish.

Parrish earns area, region awards By Shannon J. Allen The Reporter Published February 16, 2010 Feb. 8 proved to be a great night to be a Pirate, as Boaz fans celebrated boys and girls area basketball tournament championships, as well as Dylan Parrish’s success in the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program. Parrish, an 18-year-old senior, was recognized for winning the Bryant-Jordan Achievement Award for both Class 5A, Area 13 and Class 5A, Region 7. According to the AHSAA’s Web site, all regional achievement and scholar-athlete winners will be recognized and honored and the 12 class winners and the two state winners will be announced at the 25th Bryant-Jordan Awards Banquet. The event is scheduled for April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel ballroom. “I was surprised at first,” Parrish said, when he learned he had won the Area 13 award. He believes letters of recommendation, including ones written by Boaz Mayor Tim Walker and the Rev. David Martin, helped his cause. Martin serves as Parrish’s pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Boaz Principal Lowell Smith informed Parrish he won the regional award during the boys area tournament semifinals Feb. 5. “I was surprised again, but without God I wouldn’t have had this. I just want to thank Him,” Parrish said. “I’m excited to go to Birmingham.” Parrish has competed in basketball, golf and cross country for the Pirates. He’s worked as a basketball statistician this season. He is the son of Darryl and Rissa Parrish. His sister, Anna, a freshman, is a Pirate cheerleader. “I just want to thank all my family members, especially my mom and dad, because they mean the most to me,” Parrish said. “My grandparents and great-grandparents, they mean a lot to me too, and of course, my sister.” Smith said BHS is “real proud” of Parrish. “He’s a good kid. Dylan’s a trooper,” Smith said. “Dylan has overcome a lot of adversity and doesn’t complain. He goes on with it, deals with it and wants to come to school. “He works hard when he’s here, does well when he’s here. He’s just a good all-around young man.”

Sermon Notes from Sunday, February 14, 2010

Here are the sermon notes from Sunday's night message "The Gospel." It is the last of the series of Remember. Due to Dr. Gordon Fort being our guest speaker Sunday morning for Missions' Day, there are no sermon notes from me.

Is it possible to talk too much about the cross?

Is it possible to talk too much about the cross?

(The following is excerpts from this blog here where you can read the fullness of the text).

The entirety of our faith is about Jesus. God’s grand, redemptive story begins with a foretelling of the coming Seed. His chosen servants foreshadow His mission. His prophets herald His arrival. As history progresses onward, we begin to see the entirety of God’s revelation to humanity as pointing towards the advent of the Messiah. This is perhaps why Paul says, “All the promises of God find their Yes in Him” (2 Cor 1:20). In this second kind of way, we are saying the purpose of our faith is about one thing: Jesus.

So when we find the purpose of our faith is about Jesus, we have to ask ourselves the question: why is this so? What is it about the person of Jesus, the mission of Jesus, the work of Jesus, which makes Him the reason for our faith? And this is what leads us to the cross.

Here’s why the cross matters: It is at the cross that we see God most clearly. If history were the vastness of space, the cross would be its brightest star. We see the fullness of God’s being most clearly at the cross. We see the fullness of His active purposes most clearly at the cross.

At the cross…

…We see God’s sovereignty—reigning with absolute control over humanity’s greatest sin.

…We see God’s purpose—making known the mystery of His will prepared before time.

…We see God’s plan—to unite all things, on heaven and on earth, in Him.

…We see God’s judgment—requiring recompense for guilt.

…We see God’s holiness—demanding the perfect sacrifice.

…We see God’s power—crushing the Son of God according to the purpose of His will.

…We see God’s wrath—punishing the wretchedness of sin.

…We see God’s sorrow—wailing as only a forsaken son can.

…We see God’s mystery—the Son, as God, separated from the Father, committing His Spirit to God.

…We see God’s compassion—pleading to the Father to forgive the ignorant.

…We see God’s gift—His one and only Son, bruised and broken on our behalf.

…We see God’s mercy—making unrighteous sinners righteous.

…We see God’s love—Christ dying for sinners.

…We see God’s rescue operation—delivering us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His Son.

…We see God’s proposal—pledging Himself to His bride forever.

…We see God’s revelation—the Word of God speaking His last so He might speak on behalf of many.

…We see God’s victory—disarming His enemies, putting them to shame, and triumphing over them.

…We see God’s glory—the name of the Father being magnified for the sake of all peoples.

Friendship

Last night our Praise Team under the direction of Mrs. Debra Williamson led us in "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." It was a special moment of the Holy Spirit ministering His comfort and strength.

Here are some thoughts about friends and friendship - and remember Jesus is the best friend you will ever have.

Exodus 33:11 "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend...."

II Chronicles 20:7 "Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?"

James 2:23 speaking of Abraham - "And he was called the friend of God”.

God responds to Moses as a friend and calls Abraham His friend. WOW

Then the Proverbs speaks most of friendship:

17:17 "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”.

18:24 "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

The purest use of the word "friend" is John 15:13 speaking of Jesus but again setting a standard of friendship, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down their life for his friends.” Verse 15 - "...but I have called you friends,....”

Benjamin Franklin said, "Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none."

1. Real friends last over time.

2. Real friends last ("survive") through trials and troubles.

Jesus is a REAL friend. He will last for all eternity and He is the one who saved us in our deepest need and worst trial.

Missions' Day at CrossRoads

Today was a historic day at CrossRoads Baptist Church as we had a Missions' Day with the theme "With Love For the World."

Here is a picture from the morning service February 14 on Missions' Day when we presented eight flags (plus a black one for the unreached people) of where someone has been to a

nation of the world from CrossRoads.

Dr. Gordon Fort, Vice-President of the Office of Global Strategy, International Mission Board, Richmond, VA was our speaker.

Proverb of the Day

Recent pictures of Reagan McBride

Most readers of this blog remember sweet, little Reagan McBride that you have prayed for over the years. Recently, she was the Miniature Bride in a wedding at our church. Allen and Jeri Ann have just posted some pictures on Reagan's blog. Look at them here. Now rejoice of how beautiful she is and what God has done!!!!!

Choose to Love

This is Valentine's Weekend. What a joy to know YOU are God's Valentine.

At Valentine's, we think about love and how that love is expressed in personal relationships: husband-wife, parent-child, friends. Most struggle at one time in a relationship with "lost feelings" for the other person. Typically this is in a husband-wife role. One says, "I just can’t love that person." or "I don't love that person anymore."

God would not have commanded you to love that person if God was not intending to enable you to love that person. You can love that person by faith.

We must choose to love as an act of faith and obedience.

C. S. Lewis wrote,

Don’t waste your time bothering whether you love your neighbor. Act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you’re behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.

I read the story about a minister named George Crane who told of a wife who came into his office. She hated her husband, and she was coming to find out how she could get rid of her husband but also how she could hurt him as deeply as possible before divorcing him. She was so angry, so full of hostility. She said, "I want to get even."

Dr. Crane suggested this plan to the woman. He said,

Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him.

After two months she didn’t come back, so Pastor Crane called her and said, “Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?” “Divorce?” she said. “No way! I discovered that I really do love him.” See, her actions had changed her feelings.

So as you think about those that God has put in your life to love, ask yourself, "How would I act if I really did love this person?" Then choose to act as if you loved that person and watch God change your heart as you begin to act in a loving way.

Congrats to my great nephew - John Coby

Congratulations to my great-nephew, John Coby, who signed a football scholarship last week to play at Faulkner University in Montgomery. John is the son of my nephew, Benny Coby and his wife Lori. He is a senior at Boaz High School and played both sides of the line with him being 6-foot-3, 295 pounds.

The Sand Mountain Reporter, the local paper there, headlined the article as "Boaz's 'Mount Coby.'

Congratulations John.

Enjoyed worship at Meadowbrook today

I want to give a shout out to Pastor Randy Gunter and Meadowbrook Baptist Church (Gadsden, AL) where we worshiped this morning. Here are the things that spoke loudly to me:

Randy did a great job of communicating the Word. He is preaching verse-by-verse (which I love and admire) through Luke and he dealt with the authority of Jesus over demons in Luke 4. His message was thoroughly filled with Biblical content using at least 15 Scriptures. His application was strong and clear. You can see the notes here (scroll down to pages three through six).

We were warmly welcomed (and those who know me best know what I'm about to say) by people who came up to us after we were seated and shook hands with us. In the seven minutes before the service began at least five people shook hands with us even when we had gotten by the "greeters" at the front door. Oh, one of those who shook our hands was the pastor even though he did not really know me enough to recognize me and come to me due to a prior relationship. That was impressive he was out shaking hands before the service began.

The music was very upbeat and alive and I enjoyed it.

I could tell there is a strong emphasis on Bible study classes. One of the persons who came to us before the service gave us a brochure on all their classes, personally invited us to a class and handed us a guest card. This person also remembered our names later in the conversation. Randy spoke twice in his message about the class he visited during Sunday School and comments made by the teacher. He was exposing and endorsing the Bible study ministry.

The special parking was great (even though I don't park in "Guest Parking" so no one will "recognize" me and give special attention just because of where I park). I even saw reserved parking for "Special Needs." Awesome.

There are many good churches in Gadsden, but this was my first visit to Meadowbrook in a long, long time and I was blessed. I thoroughly enjoyed it. God bless your ministry Randy and church family. You don't need my endorsement because I can tell the hand of God is on the church.

Being Consumed with Christ

My friend Russ Fox writes daily Bible studies that I am privileged to receive. He is currently going through the book of Philippians.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³ For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. ²⁴ Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵ And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, ²⁶ that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

In the last email I wanted to make the connection between what we read in the Bible and how we act in our day to day lives. That although the Apostle Paul was a missionary, yet his life principles, the way he responded to difficulties and his general view on life, were and ought to continue to be an example to others of us who believe in Jesus. I think I’ve discovered a hitch in the average Christian’s attitude toward the Bible; that often, I get the impression from listening to and watching some who say they believe in Jesus, that the Bible is something to be looked at in the abstract; that it is interesting to talk about, but not particularly relevant in everyday life. If I am right in my opinion, then it explains why little is done in the average church that draws attention to God (that He is glorified); where He is really the star of the situation. Later on in chapter 2 Paul will encourage his readers to “Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (2:14-16). “Light” in the NT not only refers to Jesus (“I am the light of the world”, John 8:12; 9:5), but it also speaks about believers being “light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8) and that we should “Walk as children of light”. Paul goes on in that chapter (Ephesians 5) to say that “all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light” (5:13). A church only shines as lights in the world when Jesus is living and working in and through each member. At the beginning of chapter two Paul wrote the following,

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… (2:1-5)

Again, Paul’s admonition to his readers is to “be” a Christian by acting like a Christian; by allowing the way Jesus thought to dictate how they should think (that’s from verse 5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”). Paul modeled the mind of Christ when he expressed his attitude toward life and death, and what purpose his life ought to have if he should continue to live.

I’m not entirely sure what a sold-out Christian looks like (not even when I look in the mirror); but, in the pages of the Bible, and particularly in the life of Paul, I get an illustration of what God is up to in my own life by seeing how Paul responded to his own life circumstances. I know where He’s going and what I should think and how I should act when He, God, has got all of me there is to get.

My mother used to use this phrase when I was so absorbed with something that I couldn’t think about anything else; “He’s eat up with it.” Not that I was consuming the thing, but the thing was consuming me. I want to be consumed with Christ; I want my thoughts to be his thoughts and His purpose to be mine, and His pleasure my all consuming goal. I want my “desire” to be like that of Paul’s “to depart and be with Christ”; but then, in a kind of disappointed “If I have to” post script, “Nevertheless” if I must remain than let my life count for Christ.

Sermon Notes from Sunday, January 31, 2010

Sorry for the delay in getting the sermon notes from Sunday, January 31, but here they are:

Sunday morning: "A Battle of the Ages" Daniel 10 - Part II

Sunday night: "Fulfilling God's Purposes" Remember Series

Cayden makes his commitment on national signing day

This is national signing day, right? Well, Cayden has made his commitment, but hopefully he'll be playing basketball or baseball, right Uncle Keith? (This is our grandson born 2-2-10).

Gossip vs Flattery

R. Kent Hughes:

Gossip involves saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to his or her face.

Flattery means saying to a person’s face what you would never say behind his or her back.

Disciplines of a Godly Man, p. 139

Cayden O'Neal Cofield, born February 2, 2010

Cayden O'Neal Cofield, son of Kevin and Tammy Cofield, born 3:16 a.m. Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at Jacksonville Medical Center, Jacksonville, AL weighing 6.5 pounds and was 19.4 inches long. Proud grandparents are Roxanne and ME!!!!

More The Shack Reviews

There has been a spate of new reviews of The Shack of late.

Here are three new blog posts:

• Tim Keller, “The Shack—Impressions“
• Albert Mohler, “The Shack—The Missing Art of Evangelical Discernment“
• Fred Sanders, “Making the Most of The Shack“

And here are three recent reviews:

• Timothy Beal, “Theology for Everyone,” The Chronicle of Higher Education (January 15, 2010), pp. B16-17. [subscription required]
• Katherine Jeffrey, “‘I Am Not Who You Think I Am’—Situating The Shack in a Christian Literary Landscape,” Books & Culture (January/February 2010), pp. 33-34.
• James B. DeYoung, “Book Review: The Shack by William Paul Young” (PDF)

Don't Waste Your Cancer

John Piper went through prostrate cancer in 2006 and wrote "Don't Waste Your Cancer." It is a helpful resource, especially in light of him going through the experience first-hand. Read it here.