As I muse about life and events, I often write down my thoughts. They might be a basis for a future sermon or they just might be good thoughts that the Lord has given me. The following series of thoughts were created in just such a manner. Some of the following are quotes from people who, I thought, made a great point, but most of them came from my own times of listening to God as He spoke to me.
I hope they are helpful. -WFH
Thoughts
If one thinks the church has compromised to this point, just wait to see what the church of the future will look like. The church is largely made up of people who are unsaved.
Erma Bombeck, a Christian entertainer said: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’” Christians would do well to have her statement as one of their own.
MORE: Faith: Habit or Commitment?
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the Creed of Ignorance, the Corpse of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churchill
Many people quote….”Man looks on the outside but God looks on the heart.”
So, is a person saying that God never looks on the outside as well as the inside? I think that many people excuse themselves because they forget that God has expectations for the outside also.
God loves you whether you like it or not!
Knowing Jesus and being committed to Him are two different things.
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Verses and Quotes
In Philippians 4:13, “all things” means just that…ALL THINGS. It does not mean all things except the things I can’t do. A lack of talent is not an issue and excuse. A lack of abilities is not an issue. The Holy Spirit does not recognize or honor the words: “I can’t”. A lack of help and encouragement is not an issue. A lack of resources is not going to dim the vision and stop us because “all things” means just that. The only thing that “all things” will not cover is lack of faith and commitment. Remember, the Holy Spirit never uses the words: “I can’t”.
Why is it that people always assume that any life which might be found in the universe would be far superior to life on earth? Why is it that human beings are always assumed inferior? I think it is an effort to discredit God’s creation as being second best. It is a humanistic, atheistic attempt to say that the crown of God’s creation really isn’t equal to what evolution could produce. It is an attempt to displace God as the Initiator and Sustainer of the universe.
Think on this: One million seconds is 11.57 days. One Billion seconds is 31.69 years. One Trillion seconds is 31,690 years or roughly 32,000 years.
Time is an interesting thing. God says that there is a time for everything. It is pre-planned and figured out exactly so that everything happens at the proper time. We all have the same amount of time in the coming year assuming that we live throughout the full year. We have 31,536,000 seconds to use up in the coming year. The truth of the matter is: All the time you really have is what you possess right now; this moment. One second ago is gone into history. You can’t touch it or change it. Yesterday is gone; speeding down the highway of history at the speed of time. You do not and may not possess the moment approaching you from the future. When it passes, it is gone. Tomorrow is speeding toward you. You may see it or not. But, all the time you really have is the moment you are in right now. You are not promised another.
We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. As a people, we are not diplomats but prophets and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. – A.W. Tozier
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If God’s Grace is irresistible as some say, then why is there a hell? He plainly states in 2 Peter 3:9, that He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
The basic thrust of most church programs in today’s world appeal to the NOW.
Thoughts on current church paradigms
Give me something fun NOW. Such churches are no more than social organizations designed for the satisfaction of the client, not the edification of the Christian. In fact, today’s church is more of a Christian organization than a Christian organism. The early church functioned as an organism. The modern church looks and acts more like a Christian social club.
If you take “Holy” off the Bible and holiness out of the church; bring God down a notch or two, then the world don’t look quite so bad.” A quote from my friend Dr. Tom Crites.
All of God’s activity was absolutely unnecessary if man can save himself! As long as man is searching for God through some humanly conceived worship system, then God is unknowable because He is beyond man’s ability to find out about Him. He is knowable only when He reveals Himself to man and comes to him. That is why other religions will never find God. If, as some say, “we all worship the same God”, then they need to ask this question: “Why has He chosen to come to man through only one way…Jesus?” They need to ask: “Why hasn’t God come to us in our religious system instead of remaining an unknowable entity we are striving to find and have a relationship with?” World religions are an effort for man to reach God which he cannot do. Christianity is a relationship that God established with us through Jesus Christ.
The Church is not a charity. If people think they are supporting a charity then they won’t tithe as God says to do. They will give out of disposable income to a “charity” rather than obey God with the tithe. God wants the “first fruits” of our labor. He does not want to be given money that is from left over disposable income.
It is a lot less trouble to “come out of the closet” than it is to clean it up.
In times past, Children went out to play. Then, they didn’t want to go out and play and now, you can’t let them go out to play.
“Minister to” has been replaced by “satisfy.”
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Just when did Christianity get to the point that it needed to “court” the world or needed to “appeal” in order to be acceptable and relevant? It has always been relevant but not always acceptable. This is a very recent development. The message is denigrated when it is “marketed” like other products.
The right to make a choice without being called discriminatory is fast vanishing. If anyone’s feelings were hurt by your choice then you were discriminatory or racist.
A recent news article said: “Only a technological revolution can save the earth.” Man will always look to himself and he is looking the wrong way. God is not even in sight to such people.
A Broken Spirit…..The spirit is the strongest thing about us. It can see a person through many trials, tribulations and ills. But, when the spirit is broken….it’s all over!
Optimism is a byproduct of Youthful anticipation. Cynicism comes from brutal experience.
When a man gets what he deserves, he is devastated;
When a man gets what he wants, he gets greedy;
But, when a man gets what God wants for him, he is complete.
This writer is in hopes that this listing of Musings, Thoughts and Quotes will be helpful to the readers in some way.
Reverend William (Bill) Harrell has been in ministry 48 years. He served as the pastor of Abilene Baptist Church in Martinez, GA for over 30 of those years. He can be reached at wfh@williamfharrell.com. You can also check out his blog at www.williamfharrell.com.
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