The Pulpit Is Responsible

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Prov 14:34

"Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. 

If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.

Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation."

Excerpt from: Charles G. Finney, 'The Decay of Conscience' - article appearing in the The Independent of New York, 4 December 1873.

Book Review: In His Steps

Some time ago I read something of a classic work, titled In His Steps, by Rev. Charles Sheldon. An engaging novel, it tells the story of a church that is powerfully revived when a core group commit together to becoming true disciples of Jesus. Led by their pastor, Henry Maxwell, the group embark on a solemn journey of submitting all their aspirations, skills, careers, relationships, and every-day decisions to the Lordship of Jesus Christ … regardless of personal cost. Their commitment does indeed prove costly, however, each participant is rewarded with a fragrant, deeper Christian life they never dreamt possible.

This move of God in their midst is sparked most unexpectedly when a gentle, homeless man visits their church meeting and asks some awkward questions. Rev. Maxwell perceives the Lord in the visit and, with a repentant heart, he leads his congregation in fresh consecration and a renewed love for the oppressed in their city. As with any genuine revival, the heat and light is not welcome by all and a sifting takes place amongst the church members.

The book is challenging and refreshing at the same time. It asks the tough questions. Pastor Maxwell’s friend reflects: “Martyrdom is a lost art with us. Our Christianity loves its ease and comfort too well to take up anything so rough and heavy as a cross. And yet what does Jesus mean? What is it to walk in His steps?”

Compiled from a series of sermons in 1896, In His Steps was initially turned down by three different publishers. This was followed by a copyright bungle that saw the book relegated to “the public domain.” Without copyright status, the book was released by several publishers and became a bestseller around the world. To date, it has sold in excess of 30 million copies. Rev. Sheldon received almost no royalties from the book and yet, in the Spirit of Christ that he so aptly illustrated in the book, Sheldon was not embittered and instead rejoiced that the defective copyright was used by the Lord for unprecedented good. 

The book is available from Christian bookshops. I picked mine up in an op-shop.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. 1 Pet 2:21

Reaping the Whirlwind

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind... Hos 8:7

A couple of years ago, I had a dream about a massive, destructive tornado. What really struck me was the incredible power and intense fury of the storm. It was a vivid dream and I shared it with a number of people at the time. I dreamt it on the night of 25th November 2013.

Last night I again dreamt about a massive, destructive tornado. Again it was so vivid that I woke up. I didn't look at the time but I'm guessing it was about 4:30 or 5:00am. I lay in bed for the next hour or so thinking about the dream and dozing on and off. When Fiona woke about 6:00, I talked to her about the dream until I got up at 6:30.

In my dream, I was lying down resting almost going to sleep and Fiona called me to help with the children and other things. I got up reluctantly but I didn't complain. I decided to go outside and have a look and I saw that the weather was very severe and there was a tornado coming towards us. I then saw a massive bolt of lightning hit the ground. 

I realised how close the tornado was and thought, 'I will hardly have time to get back inside the house.' I wasn't afraid. I got inside and began securing the house with Fiona in preparation for the imminent hit. I knew all the children were inside and safe.

I then woke up and lay in bed thinking about the dream and the intensity of tornadoes. I dozed off a couple of times. I was thinking about how I would anchor ourselves inside the house in that event. What rope could I use? Where could I tie it? How could I anchor us all with the rope? 

On the way to work, I was thinking about the dream. I put on a message to listen to and, within the first few minutes, the words of the preacher struck me. He was preaching about freedom from fear. "You don't fear terrorist attacks, you don't fear tornadoes. Did you hear me?..." he said.

During the day, I felt prompted to type "tornado" into Google News and see what came up. There was a story coming through the news about a tornado that had just hit Corpus Christi in Texas. The name 'Corpus Christi' got my attention. I looked up the meaning. The words are Latin and mean, 'the body of Christ'. According to the news report, the tornado struck at about 1:30am on Sunday morning. There were 90mph winds and it caused property damage however there were no injuries.

Tornado hits Corpus Christi
http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1208814#.VWMJ10-qqko

We have seen Christchurch shaken suddenly by an earthquake with significant damage and loss of life. We have seen Corpus Christi shaken suddenly by a tornado with property damage but no injuries.

My deep impression from both these dreams is that massive shakings are coming and that they are close now. The things that can be shaken will be removed. As a people, we are inviting destruction into our nation by embracing evil; by following the customs and ways of the ungodly; by calling evil good, and good evil. Worldliness floods our churches. I am grieved to see where we are as a nation. Ocean borders, standing armies, and international positioning cannot save a nation that turns its back on God and embraces unrighteousness.

And yet in both of these dreams, there was safety amidst the incredible force and destruction of the tornado. "The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement" (2 Pet 2:9).

Our safety is in our separation from worldliness. "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of their sins, and that you receive not of her plagues..." (Rev 18:4) and "... keep oneself unstained from the world" (Jam 1:27).

... When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be too far from its haunts. The further from a viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet-call be sounded, "Come ye out from among them, be ye separate."

Charles Spurgeon (1866), Morning and Evening., June 27 - Morning.

We are called to be different; not fashioned according to this world. It matters how we live; what we do with our bodies. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are not our own. They belong to our Lord. We offer them to Him as living sacrifices. In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, we are to shine as lights in the world (Phil 2:15). Is Jesus truly the Lord of our life or are we pretending? The Lord knows.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. Prov 18:10

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Tim 2:19

There is a sure foundation; a strong tower in these perilous days. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found. Be zealous and repent, if worldliness has crept in. The unshakeable kingdom of God is at hand.

Wanted: Burning and Shining Lamps

He [John] was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. John 5:35

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire... Rev 3:18

Last year I discovered a classic revival work by Leonard Ravenhill on a friend's bookshelf. I borrowed the book and have been slowly making my way through it. Last night, I read these insightful and encouraging words...

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"John the Baptist was in God's School of Silence, the wilderness, until the day of his showing forth. Who was better fitted for the task of stirring a torpid nation from its sensual slumber than this sun-scorched, fire-baptized, desert-bred prophet -- sent of God with a face like the judgment morning? In his eyes was the light of God, in his voice was the authority of God, and in his soul was the passion of God! Who, I ask, could be greater than John? Truly 'he did no miracle,' that is, he never raised a dead man; but he did far more -- he raised a dead nation!

This leathern-girdled prophet with a time-limit ministry so burned and shone that those who heard his hot-tongued, heart-burning message, went home to sleepless nights until their blistered souls were broken in repentance. Yet John the Baptist was strange in doctrine -- no sacrifice, ceremony, or circumcision; strange in diet -- no winebibbing nor banqueting; strange in dress -- no phylacteries nor Pharisaic garments.

Yes, but John was great! Great eagles fly alone; great lions hunt alone; great souls walk alone -- alone with God. Such loneliness is hard to endure and impossible to enjoy unless God-accompanied. Truly John made the grade in greatness. He was great in three ways: great in his fidelity to the Father -- training long years, preaching short months; great in his submission to the Spirit -- he stepped and stopped as ordered; great in his statements of the Son -- declaring Jesus, whom he had never seen before, as 'the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.'

John was a 'Voice.' Most preachers are only echoes, for if you listen hard, you will be able to tell what latest book they have read and how little of the Book they quote. To reach the masses, we need a Voice -- a heaven-sent prophet to preach to preachers! It takes broken men to break men. Brethren, we have equipment but not enduement; commotion but not creation; action but not unction; rattle but not revival. We are dogmatic but not dynamic ...

... Unctionized by the Spirit's might, John cried, 'Repent!' And they did! Repentance is not a few hot tears at the penitent form. It is not emotion or remorse or reformation. Repentance is a change of mind about God, about sin, and about hell!

Nature's two greatest forces are fire and wind, and these two were wedded on the Day of Pentecost. Thus, just like wind and fire, that blessed 'upper room' company were irresistible, uncontrollable, unpredictable -- Then their fire started missionary fires, quenched the violence of fire, lit martyr fires, and started revival fires!"

Excerpt from: Ravenhill, L. (1959) Why Revival Tarries., Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers 1996, pgs. 108-112.