Survey of Micah: Part 1

Micah, prophet to Judah, preaches a strong message against the sins of God’s people. However, the message, the theme of the book is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only hope for Israel, the nations and the world.

The name Micah means “who is like God”. Micah was from Morasthite; a small town of Judah but there is little is known about Micah. He prophesied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which means that he preached with Isaiah in Judah and was also contemporary of Hosea for a time (though Hosea in the Northern Kingdom). He was a bold preacher fearing God rather than man and was known for his bold preaching as we learn from Jeremiah 26:18-19. Micah preached concerning Samaria and Jerusalem, speaking to both kingdoms, but to Judah in particular. The message of the book speaks of Israel as the people of God, not restricted to the ten tribes. For example in Micah 7:20 God speaks to Jacob and Abraham, thus not a divided kingdom, but children of promise.

The book can be divided up into three sections. The division can be seen in the chapters 1-3; 4-5; and 6-7. The prophesy shows the terrible consequences for sin, yet clearly shows that Christ is the only hope for Israel, the only hope for the nations, the only hope for the world.

The first section deals with the DISEASE OF IDOLATRY (CHAPTERS 1-3). Chapter one begins with the sins of Israel and their sin of spiritual harlotry (Micah 1:6-7). Israel had gotten wealthy by her false gods and idolatry and they became powerful and prosperous. Israel will be consumed by the very nations and religions by nations whom they copied and took their gods.

Micah 1:9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

Here we see the disease of spiritual adultery. We come back to the golden calves. The disease of idolatry had now spread like gangrene. The wound of idolatry had infected the Northern kingdom; the judgment likewise that will come to Israel will come to Judah. The people of God had become infected with spiritual harlotry and what began in Samaria will continue on into Judah. Practically, we can see in our own lives what happens when we do not mortify the flesh and when we allow sin to dwell in us, our house.

In Micah 1:10-16, deals with the coming judgment on Judah. These cities mentioned are found in the region of Judah. There is some word play in this section concerning some of the cities; for example: Micah 1:10 Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust. Aphrah which means “house to (i.e. of) dust”. Micah 1:14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel. Achzib means “deceit”.

There are two primary sins that are mentioned, sins of covetous idolatry and not heading God’s Word. The sin of covetous idolatry is first detailed in Micah 2:1-2. This sounds a lot like the words of Amos to Israel. The Sin of oppression, greed and love of money had spread to Judah. God had blessed in the land of milk and honey and the people took the blessings of God and turned the blessings into a god. Micah 3:1-3 speaks figuratively in describing how the rich and powerful were oppressing the poor. A love of sin, love of money and overruling greed birthed a lack of compassion, lack of love, and a lack of mercy. The love of money had brought a hatred of men. Money is a cruel god with a cruel and hateful religion.

Secondly, there was the sin of false gods, false prophets and denial of the truth. Just like in Amos, the people didn’t want to hear the preaching of God’s Word Micah 2:6-7. They would not hear the convicting preaching of the Word. When you are confronted with the Word of God and are convicted of your sins, you have two options; you can hear the word and repent and obey or ignore the word or seek to silence the word. Judah chose the latter.

The people wanted to hear a preacher that preached what they wanted to hear.

Micah 2:11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

Isn’t this the way? People will find a preacher that preaches what they want to hear and find a church that does what they want the church to do instead of hearing a preacher that faithfully expounds the Bible and a church that does what the Bible says to do, not what we want to do. Many will look and find a church that bends to their whims and fancies. That is why there are so many false churches, false doctrines and so many church splits. Micah said that the people would look for a man that would justify their sins. What’s your sin? Want to drink? Find a preacher who will preach you can drink. Want to hear a man centered lie of a gospel? Find a preacher who will lift you up and lower God.

Well, with little surprise, these men that they found were prophets for profit.

Micah 3:5 Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

They preached for money, gain and prophet. The sad reality is the prophets that they found themselves preachers that would preach lies to them and tell them what they wanted to hear; but these men didn’t care for them. A man that will preach a lie will have no problem leading to destruction. I was visiting family recently and I had to get after my son and nephew because they were doing something that was either going to end in something breaking or someone getting hurt. My nephew said that I was being mean to him because I didn’t let him do what he wanted. Yes, he didn’t like what I said, but I had to get after him, not because I was mean, but because I love him and didn’t want to see harm come to him. The people didn’t like Micah because he spoke hard truths, they did not like Amos for the same reason. The people of Galatia did not like Paul for the same reason.

Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Hard truths to be sure; yet it was out of love that hard truths were spoken.
The consequences for both sins are found in Micah 3:9-12. The leaders and the preachers continued in lying, fleecing and sinful spiritual adultery. They got what they asked for. They wanted religion like the world and they got it and more; they inherited the consequences of false gods and false religion.

Judah will feel the hand of God in judgment for turning from God and trusting in false gods. Yet God will not leave the faithful without hope. God gives wonderful promises to that remnant that loves Him, and shows that the coming Christ was the only hope. As the captivity now looms over their head, God points to Jesus Christ and HIS Kingdom Come, which we will look at, Lord willing, next time.



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Douglas Newell IV

Valuable Books: Part 2

Last time I listed the commentary sets that I use and enjoy.

Today's list are my five favorite systematic theologies.

1. Systematic Theology by Hodge
2. Abstract of Systematic Theology by JP Boyce
3. A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine by TP Simmons
4. A Body of Divinity by John Gill
5. Seven Dispensations by JR Graves

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Douglas Newell IV

A Funeral Message for the Unsaved

What do you say at the funeral of one who had never made a profession of faith in Christ Jesus? What should be said about a soul where there is no evidence that they ever believed in Jesus Christ, and in faith repented and trusted in His finished work on the cross?

When the family asks a man of God to conduct or be a part of the service, this man has a responsibility first and foremost to declare the uncompromising truth. Will you me a man of God or a boy? Be merciful, be kind, be loving - but love the people enough not to lie to them in their darkest of hours. Love them enough not to deceive them now, for a few pats on the back and a good honorarium. Love them enough to kindly, gently, but boldly declare the glory of God in salvation.

The more common funeral message is to preach the person into Heaven. I am sure we have all been to funerals where the person that had died and was a notorious sinner, by anyone’s standard, especially God’s (Romans 3:10). Yet this preacher, a man that should be a man of God, stands and speaks of this person’s goodness and of their peace with God. I have a real problem with that. Many people who attend funerals may be hearing preaching for the first time, or the first time in years. And here is a man, supposedly speaking for God with a Bible in hand, declaring a wicked man good. What happens to the lost soul who is living a more moral life than the deceased ever did? They must think “If they are good enough to get to Heaven, no problem me getting in.” How could they not? How shameful for a man whose life is supposed to be centered in the gospel message lie to people at such a moment? Why stand up and lie? Would it be better for a lost soul to hear the true gospel or for a man to tell them what they want to hear?

A man can be sensitive to the families hurt for their lost loved one and declare a true message at the same time.

What should be said about a soul who did not make a profession, and is most likely in Hell as you speak? Tell them that you have a message that the deceased would like you to hear.

If your loved one could tell you one thing right now, this is it; salvation is of the Lord.

There is a holy and just God who hates sins so much that He has prepared a place to punish sinners for their crimes. Sin is the reason for all that is bad in the world; pain suffering and death. Yet this same God is loving and merciful, and sent His Son, Jesus Christ into the world to be a substitute for sinners. Though all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, God showed His love toward His people that while we were yet sinners, Christ died, shed His blood and rose again for the justification of all who repent of their sins and believe in Him. This is the message that they would want you to hear, right now.

That would be the message in a nutshell, and I believe it to be truthful way of approaching the funeral. A believer, who is now absent from the body and in the glories and bliss of heaven would most certainly want their Saviour to be praised and the gospel proclaimed. The darkest and vilest of sinners would not want their family to go and be with them in Hell. The soul in Hell would want the gospel to be preached, not for the glory of God, but to spare their family the pain and suffering of eternal torment. Luke 16:19-31

My Dad once preached a funeral message to a family of mostly believers. There was one man who hadn’t been to church in over 50 years. He hated the thought of religion, church and Christianity. He was adamant about how little use he had for the Word of God. My Dad preached a faithful, true gospel message and spoke very little, perhaps one sentence about the deceased, and about 15 minutes about Christ Jesus. This man approached my Dad and sternly said, “I’ll see you at church Sunday.” Long story short, two years later, the Lord saved this man’s soul and also saved His wife.

Brethren, be faithful to God. You have a needed message. You have a powerful message. Be loving to your hearers. Love them enough to give them the gospel. Use the opportunity to tell people about Jesus. While death and eternity is on the mind of every soul in the building, use this opportunity to tell them the truth.

The Home of Hosea

The book of Hosea is difficult to outline, but not difficult to understand. I would, perhaps, be difficult to go verse by verse through the book in a outline form, but that is the style of the book. Where Amos is like an outlined sermon, Hosea is a grieved and broken husband and the style and flow comes out that way.
There are some differences of opinion about the interpretation of the first three chapters of the book. If you read the first three chapters of the book, removing all chapter divisions, I think the meaning is clear. Once you have the story of Hosea’s life and the parallel that illustrates God’s relationship with Israel, then chapters 4-14 are easily understood in that context.

God commanded Hosea to get a wife, a wife of whoredoms from children of whoredoms. Whether Gomer is promiscuous or she is of a land of idols is unclear. I do not believe either interpretation will change the point of the story. He was to go and marry someone that was not exactly a trophy wife for a prophet of Israel. Hosea goes and marries Gomer and starts his family. Gomer bears three children, two boys and a girl. The first child, the Bible says, was born unto Hosea. The next two, I believe, were the result of adulterous affairs.

The second and third children the product of adultery. Romans 9:25 gives us some insight into the other children. As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. These children were called not loved and not my people. This makes it pretty clear they were from her adulterous affairs. Hosea 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Gomer was not finished with her life of ill repute. Hosea 2:2-5 tells us that she was shameful in conception and that she went after her lovers and was no longer his wife. The poor relationship of these two children to Hosea was the result of their mother’s sin, not Hosea’s. The change of the names of the children (as we will notice later)also gives us understanding that they were not his.

The children were to plead with her mother, because she was not longer the wife of Hosea. They had separated because of the adulteries. She went after her lover’s whole-heartedly. But after they had used her, they wanted nothing of her, so she wanted to go back to her 1st husband because he had always taken care of her. When she had her fill of sin and the consequences of her sin had left her to a point of destitution, then she decides to come home. Hosea did not let her come back. She would now reap what she had sown.

Notice the prayer of adulterous Israel and the response of God

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. (Hosea 6:1-7)

I think that Hosea had left Gomer to her sins. She was no longer being supported by her offended husband, and her lovers no longer care for her. I believe that she was forced either into prostitution or slavery. Israel did that over and over. God would deliver them from their enemies and they would follow Him for a while, then go right back to other gods. Then after they got in trouble and needed deliverance, they would cry out to God. Gomer had done this too. She would go off to her lovers, give them credit for Hosea’s goodness, then when trouble came and she was in need, she would go back to her husband because she knew he would help her. The time had come where Hosea said enough is enough and left Gomer in her sins and deal with the consequences of her adulterous life. God did the same with Israel. Their repentance was not true repentance, but like the morning dew. So Gomer was force, in my opinion, either into slavery.

But, here comes the happy ending. Though Gomer left him, and cheated on Him and sold herself into harlotry, Hosea purchased her out of His love for her.

Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.
(Hosea 3:1-5)

I believe this still to be Gomer. God did not tell Hosea to go and marry another, but Go yet, or go again, and love a woman. I think that Hosea is the friend who loved her, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel. What a statement. What a picture of the grace of God. Hosea was to go and purchase this woman who was sold into slavery, who was living the just recompense of her sins. No one was to blame but Gomer, and there was nothing Gomer had done to show that she had changed, or there was nothing in Gomer to love; yet Hosea, out of unconditional love to his wife, bought her from her bondage. She didn’t deserve it, but love compelled Hosea to purchase his wife. Hosea and Gomer’s relationship was not the same, they had no relations, but this pictured that Israel would not have the same relationship until God fully restores his chosen people in the millennial kingdom.

But I can’t help but to see God’s saving grace to the individual as well. When we read the Bible, we like to put ourselves in the situations that make us the hero. We put ourselves in David’s shoes as he hurls the stone towards Goliath’s head, or we put ourselves in Elijah’s shoes as he battles the prophets of Baal. We are NOT Hosea in this story, we are Gomer. We are the adulterous, undeserving wretch.
Hosea’s name means “salvation”(Same as Joshua, same as Jesus in NT). Hosea shows us the love of Christ. This is love. Love is not a “cupid’s arrow” type love, and is more than physical attraction. Love doesn’t look for what you get, this was unconditional love. We see Christ in the forgiveness of Hosea. We see Christ in the salvation of Gomer by Hosea. Hosea redeemed Gomer, he bought her. Hosea went and paid a redeeming price for her which hints to the price of buying a slave. Hosea bought what was his, his love. Redemption in Christ is illustrated here. Christ paid for HIS people, that which belonged to Him. Though we did not deserve it, we did not do anything that warranted Christ purchasing us, Christ paid a great price, not corruptible things, like silver and gold, but by the precious blood of the Lamb. It was not out of righteous works that we have done, but according to His Grace, He saved us.

Now there was restoration. Hosea’s love knocked the “not” off of his children.
“lo” (which means 'not') was removed from the names of the children. Ammi means my people, and Ruhamah means loved. We have a restoration of the family with full, free forgiveness (cf. 13:14-15; 14:4). I think that Hosea had adopted those children that Gomer had outside of marriage. The children that were not his by nature but are now his by adoption, and to show that, he changed their name. By changing their name, he change their relationship. This is the point God showed to Israel, that in the millennial kingdom, they will be restored, brought back to the Lord God. And though I was a child of wrath like other, I am a child of God by adoption in Christ Jesus.

I am not deserving of God’s amazing Grace, yet He loved me, redeemed me, justified me, gave me life, adopted me, preserves me and keeps me by His power.



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Douglas Newell IV

Quiz: Who said it?

“Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan; no one wants to claim it.”
a. George Bush
b. George Washington
c. John F. Kennedy

“Courage is being scared to death—and saddling up anyway.”
a. John Wayne
b. Theodore Roosevelt
c. Robert E. Lee

“Brevity is the soul of wit.”
a. Robert Louis Stevenson
b. Jerry Seinfeld
c. William Shakespeare

“To suppose that the eye could have been formed by natural selection , seems I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.”

a. Billy Graham
b. Charles Darwin
c. Jerry Fallwell

“Success is the sole earthly judge of right and wrong.”
a. Adolf Hitler
b. George Washington
a. The Apostle Paul

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Keep scrolling for the answers below.











ANSWERS

“Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan; no one wants to claim it.”
c. John F. Kennedy

“Courage is being scared to death—and saddling up anyway.”
a. John Wayne

“Brevity is the soul of wit.”
c. William Shakespeare

“To suppose that the eye could have been formed by natural selection , seems I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.”
b. Charles Darwin

“Success is the sole earthly judge of right and wrong.”
a. Adolf Hitler


Surprised at any? How about Charles Darwin saying, “To suppose that the eye could have been formed by natural selection seems I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” I admit, that was not too shocking to me. God has shown man clearly that He exists. It is evident in creation. Isn’t it odd that one of the few, if not only times that humanist say not to believe or trust in your instincts and what feels to be right and true in your own heart is when they want people to deny what is evident from nature and their own hearts, that there is a God? Darwin was correct in stating that it was absurd in the highest degree to look at the design of the human body and say that it evolved. That is why the Bible says that “the fool has said in his heart there is no God." The Bible does not say the fool BELIEVES in his heart, but the fool (atheist) SAYS in his heart. The atheist lies to himself and tells himself that he doesn't believe what he knows to be true.

What about “Success is the sole earthly judge of right and wrong?” Again, that should not be shocking. In fact, that is the fruit of Darwinism. Only the strong survive, there is no judge but what we do and what we accomplish. “You can’t tell me what to do!”

The consequences of that are whatever stands in my way whatever I need for my success must be removed at all costs. The Bible tells us success is not the judge of right and wrong, but God is. There is a God, and He is the judge. God has given man His laws and they are the only standard of right and wrong. Man will be judged by His laws, not our feelings, our sincerity or how relatively good we were compared to others.

Man knows that God is true, but how can man know God? More importantly, how can God know us in love? Hebrews 1:1-3. God is revealed to us in Christ Jesus the Lord,God spoke to us in Jesus and in Jesus we see God, the Word, the Power of God, the Majesty of God, the mercy and love of God as Jesus died for undeserving sinners. God sent Jesus to Earth to be a substitute, to die in sacrificial love to meet the demands of God’s justice for sins, believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and have faith that His blood was shed for your sins and be saved.



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Douglas Newell IV

Valuable Books

I was asked a question to list influential religious books that I have read. There were several categories of different types of books. Since making the list I have read several books that I wish that I had put on the list.

Here is the first category; multiple book/volume commentary sets.

Here are the ten that I find most useful, in no particular order.

1. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
2. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Matthew Henry’s Commentary
4. Matthew Poole’s Commentary of the Holy Bible
5. An Interpretation of the English Bible by BH Carroll
6. New Testament Commentaries by John MacArthur
7. Maclaren’s Exposition of the Holy Scriptures
8. Commentary on the Whole Bible by Jamieson Faussset and Brown
9. Expository Thoughts on the Gospels by JC Ryle
10. Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

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Douglas Newell IV

God's Beauty and Our Beauty

God’s Word teaches us that God's holiness is the beauty of His attributes.

2 Chronicles 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalms 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

“Holiness is the sum of all excellence and the combination of all the attributes which constitute perfection of character” says JP Boyce, author of Abstract of Systematic Theology.

God’s holiness is the beauty and excellence of His nature. His Holiness seasons each of His attributes. He has holy strength, holy mercy, holy justice and holy wisdom. Purity, perfection, God in all His ways is pure and untainted in all His actions and affections.

God’s holiness is beautiful, and all His attributes are beautiful. They are pure, perfect and right in every way. His beauty, since holy and pure, is also eternal. God's holiness is absent of all impurity, there is nothing in God that can decay or deteriorate; perfect holy purity.

Beauty is, in this sinful world, fleeting at best. A person with outward beauty is one with few flaws, blemishes and symmetry. The fewer the blemishes, the more beautiful. The young girl who stops traffic with her beauty, will in the process of time, loose her beautiful appearance. The young man, whose beauty is his strength and athleticism, will in the process of time, become slow and weak because of sin. Beauty in mankind is always fading because of the corruption of sin.

But God, who is eternally Holy, never fades, His Holiness never lacks luster or beauty. This is why there will never be satisfaction in pursuing a quest for outward beauty; you will never make it there. Only when we rejoice in the holiness of God can we see true beauty and be satisfied. Instead of hungering and thirsting after vain beauty, we would be better served to hunger and thirst after Jesus Christ and His righteousness.


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Douglas Newell IV

Yes, yes...

This has nothing to do with a person desiring to look nice for their spouse, or a young man or young woman staying in shape and dressing in a beautiful, modest fashion. The point is that our beauty will never equal that of God's holiness because our beauty is flawed by sin.

Back Home

I returned yesterday from the meeting I preached for the Beauty Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in South Shore, Kentucky. We had a great meeting with great fellowship with the church there. It has been several months since I had been in Kentucky and it was good to go back home for a while.

I had the privilege of preaching seven times during the five day meeting and I believe that the Lord blessed the preaching of His Word. The weather was really nice and cool and God blessed us with a cool mountain breeze for the majority of the trip. I rejoiced in getting to spend some time back up on the mountain farm that I was raised and to see how the farm has changed since I left.

God answered many prayers during the meeting and I am thankful for the undeserved blessings of the trip. The church was beyond hospitable and I rejoiced in their Christian love towards me and my family.

This is for my 'Old Kentucky Home".


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Douglas Newell IV

Apples of Gold

Back from a short hiatus, quotes of the week. Two quotes today, one from Spurgeon, the second from Hugh Martin in his work on Jonah.

“It does us good to remember what we used to be. There was no reason in us, by nature, why we should be made the children of God. There were in us no distinguishing traits of character by which we were separated from our fellow-sinners. We ran in the same course; we were possessed by the same spirit; we wroth the same works; we had the same nature; we were under the same condemnation: “children of wrath, even as others.” -- C.H. Spurgeon

“There are few more conclusive and continually operating proofs of the depravity and ungodliness of the carnal mind, than its strange, cool, unaccountable, and settled forgetfulness of the very existence and nature of God as an infinite and omnipresent Spirit.” -- Hugh Martin



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Douglas Newell IV

Jump in where you can and hang on!

Happy Monday!
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Douglas Newell IV

Ronald Reagan on Abortion

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan wrote this article on abortion for Human Events, Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation..

This was AFTER President Reagan was elected. I stress this because modern Republicans are pro-life BEFORE the election, and it is a very important issue until the election is over.

Every legislator, every doctor, and every citizen needs to recognize that the real issue is whether to affirm and protect the sanctity of all human life, or to embrace a social ethic where some human lives are valued and others are not. As a nation, we must choose between the sanctity of life ethic and the "quality of life" ethic.

I have no trouble identifying the answer our nation has always given to this basic question, and the answer that I hope and pray it will give in the future. American was founded by men and women who shared a vision of the value of each and every individual. They stated this vision clearly from the very start in the Declaration of Independence, using words that every schoolboy and schoolgirl can recite:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I also appreciated Reagan's ability to see through the politics and bring the abortion issue down to the true issue, life and murder.

What, then, is the real issue? I have often said that when we talk about abortion, we are talking about two lives — the life of the mother and the life of the unborn child. Why else do we call a pregnant woman a mother? I have also said that anyone who doesn't feel sure whether we are talking about a second human life should clearly give life the benefit of the doubt. If you don't know whether a body is alive or dead, you would never bury it. I think this consideration itself should be enough for all of us to insist on protecting the unborn.

I'm sure the republicans will elect another prime example of prim and proper post-modernity, who says the right things at the right time, who is polite, smiles a lot and eats apple pie. I would rather have an honest man, who speaks the truth, trusts in Christ and unapologetically stands for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, rather than political life, party lines and the pursuit of reelection.


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Douglas Newell IV

Amos: The Man

Amos is one of my favorite prophets. Years ago, I preached at a Bible conference in which each speaker spoke for 30 minutes on one of the minor prophets. Mine was Amos. I was always thankful that I preached that message, for my own edification. I had never preached a single sermon on a whole book before, and it was a blessing to study the book as a whole and preach on the theme, instead of a verse by verse study or a topical study with a single text.
Even if you are not familiar with the so-called minor prophets, when you do a cursory reading of Amos, you know that you are at least familiar with some of his message in verses like:

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Amos 4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

I enjoyed what I learned from Amos, the man. Amos made no apologies for who he was and where he was from. He was a farmer and a shepherd from the wilderness of Tekoa. Reading the book, you get the sense that he loved what he did and would have been happy spending the rest of his days honoring God in the fields tending sheep. What I love about Amos is that he didn’t stay; he got up and went when God called him as you see in the parenthesis of chapter seven, when the false prophet tried to shut Amos up, his response shows that he was on a mission from God. I suppose I can identify with Amos. I grew up on a 2,600 acre farm, and would have been happy working there all my life, but I was called to a different field.

Amos was a outdoorsman, a farmer and he talked like one. Amos 2:13; Amos 3:12; Amos 4:9 are some examples of how this plainspoken farmer delivered his message. In J.R. Grave’s book The Seven Dispensations, he has an excellent quote from H.H. Tucker on plenary verbal inspiration. Though every word Amos penned was inspired of God, it still incorporated the speech of Amos.

“A man does not cease to be himself when God uses him. His powers are not changed, they are merely controlled so as to effect the very purpose, and no other, which God would accomplish. It is as if a musician were to play first upon a flute and then upon a cornet; each instrument would give its own sound wholly different from the other, but the breath that makes the sound and the genius that inspires the music is the same. Moses, David, Isaiah, James, Paul, Peter, were some many different instruments, though not mechanical instruments, each with personal peculiarities of his own, but all were used by the same God as the media of communicating with men.”

The people of Israel to whom Amos was called to preach were rich and sophisticated. That is one of the sins for which God judged them. They were oppressive and covetousness. They were a materialistic society. Amos prophesied during the height of Israel’s economic success. This country man, this rustic farmer goes to the big city, to the well to do aristocracy and delivers a stern message of impending doom. Imagine a country preacher walking into a high rise in Manhattan and declaring the Word of God to the wealthy, influential men and women of New York. This was Amos’ calling.

One of my favorite passages is One of my favorite verses Amos 4:1 when he calls the ungodly calf worshiping women “Cows”. Could you imagine? Not very nice of God some would say, but true. These people did not need nice, they needed truth. This is why I like Amos, he was there to do his job, preach. The parenthesis I spoke of earlier is in chapter 7:10-17. The enemy prophet, Amaziah had the king’s ear. He was the well favored, well loved priest of the people, but hated and despise by God. The message of the false prophet was to Amos, not the people. “Go away ‘seer’ we are intellectuals here, we do not subscribe to your “old way” of preaching.” Amaziah was a lost man, had no spiritual understanding or knowledge of what it was to really be a prophet. He said “Go back to the country, Go back to your poverty, eat your meager bread with the sheep. Your over your head and no one wants to hear your message, go back home.”

We see the boldness of Amos, because he didn’t go home. “I didn’t ask for this, I would have happily served God in the field, I would have loved God with my family and friends back home. I didn’t ‘inherit’ this job, I didn’t ask for this job, but it is mine, and I’ll do it or die trying.” Amos stresses God’s call and God’s message. The Lord TOOK ME, He laid hold of me, He seized me to this work. “I didn’t send myself here, God sent me.” This isn’t what anyone would want to do, no one would like to preach such a message, but God sent him and woe to him if he did not preach. He sort of told Amaziah “You won’t tell me what to say, you won’t tell me when to leave, nor will you intimidate me as I am following God’s calling in my life.”

Amos wasn’t a seminary man. He didn’t go to the school of the prophets, proper. He went to the true school of the prophets, God’s seminary. We would be much better off with more men of God rather than more seminary students. More men who study God’s Word rather than more men who study other men. More men God calls and uses rather than homiletical machines. There is certainly nothing wrong with education, and I don’t want to seem that I am anit-education; however, if men took four years and studied the bible instead of four years studying at most seminaries they would be much better off.

Amos was a bold country preacher, and one of my favorites.


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Douglas Newell IV

Fantasic Mr. Fox

Fantastic Mr. Fox, the movie.

I know that I’m late to the party with this, but I just caught this movie on Netflix. The movie was based upon a childrens novel by Roald Dahl.

Good cartoons will have a simple story, loveable characters, a clear protagonist, and will have a captivating storyline that adults can enjoy the deeper struggles and themes of the movie that children might not yet fully grasp. UP! is an excellent example of such a film. Too often cartoon movies fall into either side of the ditch. They are either so childish and moronic that there is no story, but goofball antics and silliness, good for kids, bad for me and Momma on movie night. The other extreme is jokes that are over the child’s head, not because the child might not grasp the greater moral dilemma presented, but because the crude locker-room humor is lost on a young child, as well it should be. I think Dreamworks films are notorious for this.

Somehow, someway, Fantastic Mr. Fox seems to have fallen on all three categories at the same time. The storyline is very simple and captivating from the start. I loved the stop action animation and it was a nice change of pace from CGI. Big stars with recognizable voices can take away from the movie, especially if they have a recognizable voice, but George Clooney did a great job as Mr. Fox. I couldn’t decide whether the movie was intended for children or hipster college kids who have finished a semester of philosophy; my guess, the latter. But, at the same time the absurdity of much of the movie is endearing to children. As far as the language, coarseness of the dialoged was unnecessary. Replacing expletives with the word “cuss” isn’t very clever, especially when the vulgarity is unambiguous.
The theme of the movie is my biggest problem. Mr. Fox sums up the theme for us. After suffering a midlife crisis, Mr. Fox is unhappy with his life. He has promised his wife that he would no longer steal chickens after a near death experience caught in a fox trap and learning that she was pregnant. Mr. Fox, feeling unfulfilled and unhappy says:

“Why a fox? Why not a horse, or a beetle, or a bald eagle? I'm saying this more as, like, existentialism, you know? Who am I? And how can a fox ever be happy without, you'll forgive the expression, a chicken in its teeth?”

The existentialism philosophy runs through the whole movie. Mr. Fox defined his life and his happiness by what he does and what he wants. By not being able to steal and lie and do all the things that are natural to him, he questions his purpose. When asked how he could lie to his wife he says “I’m a wild animal.” The philosophy of the movie teaches that we define what is right and wrong for us, we define truth and our existence and how we exist define who we are. When Mr. Fox had found a way to steal and be deceptive for the good of others, he was happy again, thus his life had meaning, for him. There was no redemption, only a shifting of the moral standard. Though the “evil corporations” to whom Mr. Fox was stealing their wares, were pouring out a ridiculous amount of wrath upon the animals to try and kill the fox, and had become obsessed with their vengeance; but they had every right to try and kill the fox. The enemy in the film is the enemy for protecting their property and the hero is the hero for saying that the end justifies the means. Class warfare at its most basic, yet so devilishly subtle, you almost miss it; because you need an antagonist. The only reason that farmers were hated was because they were rich. Rich = bad, poor = good; unless of course you are a filmmaker or actor, then it’s OK to be rich.

Without God and Jesus Christ, there is no meaning in life. Why a fox? Because God made him a fox. Why are you who you are? Because God made you who you are, and you were made to glorify God, not yourself. The emptiness Mr. Fox felt was because he was the center of his universe, and if you are the center of your universe, then you must do all that you can to make yourself happy. He could not be happy unless he was doing what he wanted to do, steal chickens. Doesn’t matter if that was right or wrong to steal, he wanted to, it was in his nature to, so in order to be happy, he had to fulfill all the desires of his heart, despite the consequences it had on anyone else. When confronted on this very issue, the answer was that he couldn’t help it, it was in his nature. Mr. Fox, in his atheistic, humanistic existentialism had ironically made himself a god who determines right and wrong for himself, while at the same time condemning others for being evil and unjust for living by the same rules.

Who am I, why am I here? The Bible tells us. We are here to glorify God, yet we have sinned and come short of God’s glory. Who am I? A sinner. God provided a way of Salvation and reconciliation in His Son, Jesus Christ, dying for our sins and giving us life. We have a reason to live, for His glory, we see the purpose of life, we see that life is not only about our existence and we are not the center of the universe, there is a right and a wrong, good and bad but we are not the judge of that, God is. The Bible shows us that in whatever state we are in, we can rejoice and be content because life is more that the possessions we have and the situation we are in because God is the center of all things.

I thought of the book of Ecclesiastes in light of this film. King Solomon and tried the existentialist lifestyle and provided himself with every possible pleasure and every possible way of happiness, but was left at the end depressed and unfulfilled. There is no true joy, happiness or fulfillment outside of God, in Christ Jesus. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Long story short; the movie has a dangerous anti-christian worldview. I do not recommend it.


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Douglas Newell IV

The Burden of Nineveh: A Study of Nahum

Around 150 years after Jonah preached in Nineveh, God has another prophet to preach to that wicked city, the prophet Nahum. It is interesting to consider that God has given us two books in the Old Testament, Jonah and Nahum, that directly deal with one Gentile city. Nineveh is a prime example of the ‘goodness and severity of God.’

The city had quickly fallen from the previous generations trust in the Lord. They again had become a bloody city of war, a ravenous, predatory, bloodthirsty people. The Assyrians were steeped in idol worship and false prophets and false gods. Their riches, commerce and city walls had become their resting place and they have, as a people, totally forsaken God. For two hundred years, the known world trembled at this mighty power.

We might wonder at whether or not the people were really saved in the book of Jonah since they have fallen in to egregious sin again. Both Jonah and Jesus said they repented and believed, so there is no need to question the salvation of the Ninevites in the book of Jonah. Think about this example; we are in 2010, what was America like in 1860? Has the morality and the people changed here in 150 years? The infants that did not know their left hand from their right had lived and died, seven generations from Jonah and the city is back to where it was before Jonah. It is not hard to see how after seven generations, the city had forsaken the Lord.


We do not know much about Nahum himself. We know that he was an Elkoshite, but that doesn’t really tell us much either. He was a man of God, with a heavy message from God to a wicked people. In the order of prophets, he would have prophesied either during the reign of King Manassah, or King Josiah. If you put this historically and chronologically in the Old Testament, the book would have been written during the times of II Kings 22-23 area, II Chronicles 35-36 and most likely a contemporary of Jeremiah. We know this from the accuracy of the prophecy and knowing the time when Nineveh was brought down. It was no small event that Nineveh fell. The Assyrians were the scourge of the world, and many leaders and many countries tried to fell this capital city.

Nahum is a vivid book with amazing imagery. The book’s theme is simple and straight forward, God’s judgment on Nineveh. God lays out for us first that He will not acquit the wicked. After the verdict, secondly God will judge the guilty. Third God pronounces His woe upon the guilty and judged city. Verse number one gives us our title, The Burden of Nineveh. Burden – load, carrying; the burden of Nineveh is the burden of unforgiven sin. Judgment is hanging upon the wicked city, waiting for the judgment. Not waiting to be condemned, but condemned already.

B.H. Carroll had a good alliterated outline of the book.
I. Verdict of Vengeance (chapter 1)
II. Vision of Vengeance (chapter 2)
III. Vindication of Vengeance (chapter 3)

My outline is not as clever, but serves the purpose.
I. GOD WILL NOT ACQUIT THE WICKED
II. GOD WILL JUDGE THE WICKED
III. GOD’S WRATH ON THE WICKED
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Douglas Newell IV

Street Preacher Fined for Preaching

Street preacher, Shawn Holes preaching in Glasgow, Scotland was arrested and fined for preaching.


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Douglas Newell IV

Bondage

This past weekend we had some friends from Florida visit with us and we had a great time, fellowshipping in the Lord Christ. It came at a great time and my family was truly blessed of the Lord and it caused me to pause and thank God for Christian fellowship.

We were discussing at one point the differences between the laws of North Carolina and the laws of Florida and how different they are. Our friends really could not believe the added regulations and taxes that we have here that they do not have in Florida. When I moved from Kentucky to North Carolina, I was shell shocked when I learned of all the regulations and laws and taxes that you have to go through, just to LIVE here. I jokingly told my wife that we had moved to the People’s Republic of North Carolina because of the government interference into our lives. Kentucky, as I learned, was a place with far more personal freedom. I missed Kentucky.

When I began to express my frustration with the natives of NC, they kind of looked at me as if I were insane, and really didn’t understand my frustration. You see, they had lived here all their lives and know nothing else but North Carolina living. The government regulations and taxes that I found to be appalling were just a way of life here, and the norm. The people are less free here and do not even realize it.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. The unsaved of the world think that they are free. They do whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do it. They are not going to answer to anyone, free to do as the please, when they please. The unsaved are slaves and under bondage and do not even know it. They have lived in sin their entire lives and know nothing else. I once thought that I was free. My life was my own and I could do whatever I wanted and no one was going to tell me what to do. However, I was not free, I was under the bondage of my sinful nature. My depravity had control of me, and my freedom was kind of like the freedom a rock has when dropped from a high cliff. The rock is free to go wherever it wants, but gravity is going to bring it down. I was “free” to do what I wanted, but my sin nature always brought me to the same place, sin, unhappiness and unfulfilled.

Jesus Christ saved me from my sins. He gave me life and with that new birth, opened my eyes. Being brought from the bondage of sin to the peace of Christ in salvation, I see that I wasn’t really free. I really didn’t do whatever I wanted, but was controlled by the flesh, controlled by my depravity and now I am Christ’s freeman. Who Christ sets free is free indeed. So I shouldn’t look down my nose at those who are lost and undone and sin, but should have mercy and compassion on them. Mercy shows them the way of deliverance, the way of salvation; compassion shows them that they are not free, but sinners and sin has consequences in eternal damnation. But there is liberty in Christ, there is freedom, forgiveness from the guilt of the law and life eternal.

Romans 5:8-11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

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Douglas Newell IV

When the Door Is Open by Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

The more that I read from Dr. Seymour, the more I enjoy his devotions. Admittedly, I am not much of a devotional reader. What I enjoy about these devotionals are they are spiritually deep, and scratch the surface of great Biblical truths, giving the reader a desire to...MEDITATE on the biblical truths, which is really what devotional passages should do.

My apologies for previously posting a devotion without giving the information about where you can get your hands on a copy of this book.

If you are looking for a really good devotional book then click >HERE.

Here is his bio from Amazon.com.

Dr. Manuel J. Seymour, Sr., has been a preacher, missionary, and teaching pastor for over thirty-one years. He has dedicated the greater part of the last twenty-one years teaching Bible principles for Christian growth, which gave fruit to his previous book Cultivating Christian Faith - A Step-by-Step Study Guide. He is a pastor that truly loves his flock and strives to nourish them upon the wholesome writings of the Word of God. In an age when many seekers are overwhelmed by a multitude of hollow religionists, Pastor Seymour endeavors to unveil with simplicity the succulent green pastures of the written Word of God. As it is written, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)

It is written: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” (Rev. 3:7-8)

Only one of the “Seven Churches” spoken to by the Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation merited the gift of the “open door” being set before them. To each of the seven churches Jesus said, “I know thy works”; but what He knew about this church was different. Jesus was so moved by this difference that He set before them an open door for the propagation of the Gospel and then secured it open by the power of His might. Not the gates of hell or any man possesses the power to shut the door Jesus has opened. Oh, what a glorious thing it would be indeed to have an open door for the spreading of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Three things made the church at Philadelphia different from the rest of the churches.

“Thou hast a little strength” was the first quality. The words “little strength” are from the Greek words “mikros and dunamis,” which reveal they had only a micro amount of power, but it was power in action. To the world they seemed to be just a feeble little church, but Jesus saw them using what micro amount of power they had to proliferate the Gospel. Jesus took their micro and made it mega.

“And hast kept my word” was the second quality. The word “kept” is from the word “tereoo,” which means, “observe conscientiously.” The church with great consciousness studied to do the spoken word of the Lord Jesus Christ. They did not try to pervert it with their own philosophies. They were faithful to His word in the little, so Jesus trusted them to be faithful to His word in the much.

“And hast not denied my name” was the third quality. The word “deny” is from “apneomai,” which means, “to deny, disown, or refuse." The name of the Lord Jesus Christ was precious to the church in every way. Jesus took their love for His name and gave them multitudes to speak it before.

What a glorious thing indeed to have the door opened by Jesus!

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Revelation 3:20

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. This is a very familiar passage of scripture. Many know this verse, and many quote and use this verse frequently, but it is used so frequently to promote a wretched doctrine of works for salvation. Revelation 3:20 is erroneously used as an invitation to the lost, but I believe that they, to comfort and ease the minds of the lost, have twisted a verse speaking of the love of Christ toward His church and made it into a doctrine of God dishonoring heresy.

Too many people believe in errors and easily accept falsehood due to the perception that all scriptures in the bible are for all people regardless of whether a child of God or child of the Devil. I could say “I am happy to see you here this morning” to one who enters the Lords house on Sunday morning and there would be nothing strange about that. But the same phrase “I am happy to see you here this morning” would not be the message I would give to an intruder who was trying to break into my house in the early morning. Just as every word you and I speak are not intended for every person walking the earth in all situations, words of peace spoken to those who are loved of God wouldn’t apply to the reprobate. So common sense would tell us that not every message in the Bible is for every person at all times.
We need to see who this message is from and who is the intended recipient. Revelation 1:10-11 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia. Jesus, I am, Alpha and Omega, it was He who had the message. It was he who had the message, and revealed it to John, to give to someone, but who? Revelation 3:14 "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,” and Rev. 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. The message that the Lord had given in Revelation 3:20 was given to the church of the Laodiceans. A message that is given to a church, naturally excludes some people. Since a New Testament church is made up of saved, baptized believers, it can be said that a message to a church would in fact exclude the impenitent sinner. By a simply, cursory reading of the whole message, and knowing to whom the message was intended, we see that Revelation 3:20 cannot be an invitation to the lost as so many believe. Otherwise this verse would be calling for those who are saved to be saved.

This verse cannot be an invitation to the lost to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. This would contradict the attributes and nature of Jesus. I once saw an artist’s depiction of this verse. A log cabin set back in the woods with a small dirt path leading up to the door. It was dusk; the fire from within the rustic home was putting out a warm glow that could be seen afar off shining out through the windows. There at the door, what I assumed to be Jesus, with his head hung low, and arm out stretched, gently knocking at the door of the old cabin, but alas, no one would answer. HOW OUTRAGEOUS! That is not my Jesus! My Jesus does not beg for one to trust in him, but he is the Great Shepard who said in John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. The lost world loves to think of Jesus in this manner, the needy Saviour who is in great want from us. In December, they will think of Him in the manager, but not as Lord. He is depicted standing outside of “heart’s door” seeking our approval rather than seeking and saving the lost. The choosing is not at “hearts door”, man choosing Christ, but the choosing was in eternity, God choosing his people.

I mentioned “heart’s door” because that is how I have always heard the door in Rev 3:20 being referred as. The bible states clearly in John 10 that Rev 3:20 doesn’t call sinners to open their heart’s door to Jesus. In verse one Jesus says Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Then in verse seven Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Jesus is the door, not our hearts. And if one is to be saved they must “enter in”, not allow Jesus to enter in. Those who teach another Jesus, knocking at heart’s door, are not “entering in by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way” and are thieves and robbers. It is by grace that we are saved through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

So then, what does it mean? As with the previous churches in Revelation, there was a word of correction of faults then a word of comfort or encouragement. The Laodecians were neither hot nor cold as we find in verses 14-22. They had lots of money, but spiritually poor. They had lost their zeal for service, just playing church if you will. They had not gone off into idolatry either; they were lukewarm. Jesus told them in verse 19 to repent of the sinfulness of idleness and cold heartedness. He commanded the children of God to be zealous. Then in verse 20 we see a word of encouragement. The emphasis of the verse should not be put on the door, or on the knocking, but what the verse is telling us. Consider the foolishness of “heart’s door” in this interpretation. If the door is heart’s door, when we sup, do we sup at heart’s table? No, what we see here is Jesus love for his people and his church. Because of this love, Jesus meets and fellowships with his churches. Jesus will not leave nor forsake us. When his churches gather together to worship, He is there. Jesus loves His people, and loves fellowship with His people. The Laodecians met, but by being lukewarm, they lost sight of the fact that we are given the opportunity to come, fellowship with the Son of God, in His house, and worship Him in spirit and in truth, and we are given that opportunity regularly. We should come to God’s house knowing that Jesus meets and sups with his church, without fail. He is faithful to meet with us and bless us; but are we faithful to be in His house? God is faithful by who ye were called unto the fellowship of His son Jesus Christ our Lord. This love knows no bounds, and with that love there is friendship. There is a special relationship between the Lord and His church. He will choose his bride from among his true church and said “ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you” and the members of the Lord’s churches have followed the Lord in baptism and joining His assembly.

Revelation 3:20 doesn’t tell us that Jesus needs something from us, but that God is there for us! This passage teaches that God is faithful to us as He promised to be. Are you in need? Are you depressed? Do you feel alone child of God? Are you shunned by family and hated by those around you for trusting in Christ? Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To apply this message to an invitation perverts the sacrifice, the glory of God, God’s relationship with His children and the love Jesus has for his Church. Child of God, do you seek that sweet fellowship with the Lord? He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Shoot First

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Douglas Newell IV

Lux lucet in tenebris

If you wonder what the symbol is that is on the header of the blog, here you go. Lux lucet in tenebris is Latin for “Light shining in darkness”. It was the motto for the Waldenses, the Anabaptists who lived and preached in Europe in the ninth century. I am a Baptist who holds to Baptist truths; I am a Christian and Jesus said that I am the light of the world, and so are you if saved by God’s marvelous grace. Also, if you have any books from Baptist Standard Bearer, then you will recognize the image.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. He tells us what a Christin is, not what a Christian should try to be. If you are a child of God, you ARE the light of the world. The world has no other source of light. Not in politics, not in art, not if philosophy and not in any other religion.

The Bible says a lot about light and darkness. I believe that darkness is shown in scripture to be sin, ignorance of truth, death, judgment, error, the unsaved, and the power of darkness in Satan. Darkness is the absence of light. God is light. Men love the darkness, love to be in sin and far, far from the holiness of God. John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Despite the horror and consequences of darkness; men love it. Ignorance is bliss for a season. Men love their false gods and false religions and would rather spend their time groping in the dark Egyptian night than to stand before the Holy God.

We are the light because we are in The Light, Jesus Christ the Lord. We cannont try to be the light but ARE the light because if we are truly Christians, we are in Christ. In a world of darkness, you Christian, are the light. You are the bright spot in this Earth, not the scourge. You are the answer to the problem, not the source of its troubles. Do not feel insignificant and helpless because you are the light of the world. Do not try to hide your usefulness but shine the grace of God in your life! Love God, love your neighbors, not to be seen, but because Jesus Christ died for your sins, and you have a home in Heaven because your sins are forgiven.

Christian, you are the light of the world. Jesus did not say that only Peter was the light of the world, or only the apostles were the light, but all his people, all Christians are the light of the world. Some men God raises up and have fame and far reaching ministries; but they are not the ONLY light of the world. Spurgeon was not the ONLY light of the world. A.W. Pink was not the ONLY light in the world. John MacArthur is not the only light in the world. YOU are the light of the world. Look what God said through Paul in Philippians 2:13-15 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. He did not say that HE was the only light because he was the apostle, but you church at Philipi, you shine as lights in this crook, perverse world, you are shining in the darkness of sin.


God is light (I John 1:5-7) and Jesus said “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). We are Saved by the Light (Luke 1:79). The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm. 27:1). How is it that God is the light, and we are the light? We are the Light as we are brought into the Light (Christ). We are reflectors of the Light. For example, Christ is the sun, we are the moon. We shine forth the light that is in us. Christ IS the light, He is purity, He is holiness, He is salvation, the Way the Truth and the Life. By being His children, we reflect Christ in our lives.
How is it we can shine our light? We are the light, by living as Christians we shine our lights. One way we are light is we walk in the light. Ephesians 5:8;11 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Living a holy life is being light in the dark world; living like you are saved is shining our light. Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Giving the light or the gospel is shining our light in this sinful, wicked, dark world. II Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


Christian, Lux lucet in tenebris.


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Douglas Newell IV

This is what change looks like

With all due respect to President Obama, THIS is what change looks like.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Colossians 1:13-14 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:


This is what change looks like. This is the kind of change our country needs. Unless God sends revival and many people are saved, we have no hope as a nation. Had those that professed to be saved NOT voted for leaders that supported abortion, then this monstrosity would have never passed. Yes those in Washington wrote the bill, passed the bill and did who knows what to get the bill passed; but we sent them there. It is the professing Christians who voted their pocketbook instead of their principles who put this through, for if this were truly a Christian nation, we would not have sent pro-abortionist to Washington to represent us.


I have not hope in Washington in either party. I am not looking for change Republicans can bring either. My hope is in looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. For all of us who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls, been redeemed by His precious blood, this is the change we are LOOKING for.


Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 Corinthians 15:51-51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.




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Douglas Newell IV

STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE ON ABORTION "DEAL" ON HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON -- (Sunday, March 21, 2010, 6 PM EDT) -- In response to today's announcement regarding an agreement between Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mi.) and President Obama on the pending health care bill (H.R. 3590), the following statement was issued by the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of right-to-life organizations in the 50 states:

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) remains strongly opposed to the Senate-passed health bill (H.R. 3590). A lawmaker who votes for this bill is voting to require federal agencies to subsidize and administer health plans that will pay for elective abortion, and voting to undermine longstanding pro-life policies in other ways as well. Pro-life citizens nationwide know that this is a pro-abortion bill. Pro-life citizens know, and they will be reminded again and again, which lawmakers deserve their gratitude for voting against this pro-abortion legislation.

The executive order promised by President Obama was issued for political effect. It changes nothing. It does not correct any of the serious pro-abortion provisions in the bill. The president cannot amend a bill by issuing an order, and the federal courts will enforce what the law says.

To elaborate: The order does not truly correct any of the seven objectionable pro-abortion provisions described in NRLC's March 19 letter to the House of Representatives, which is posted here: www.nrlc.org/AHC/NRLCToHouseOnHealthBill.pdf

Regarding Community Health Centers (CHCs), NRLC has documented the problem created by H.R. 3590 here: www.nrlc.org/AHC/NRLCMemoCommHealth.html.

Prof. Robert Destro, a professor of law and former dean of the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America, and an expert on abortion-related litigation, has sent lawmakers a letter explaining why the bill opens the door to direct federal funding of abortion in Community Health Centers: www.nrlc.org/ahc/DestroLetterToStupakOnCommHealthCenters.pdf

Prof. Destro clearly explains why it is the statutory language that will govern.

Regarding the new program to provide tax credits to purchase private insurance, the executive order merely tinkers with the formalities of a bookkeeping scheme under which federal subsidies will pay for plans that cover elective abortion -- a break from the longstanding principles of the Hyde Amendment.

The order does nothing at all to mitigate the other abortion-related problems described in the NRLC letter, dealing with bill provisions that create dangerous regulatory mandate authorities, revise Indian health programs, and create pools of directly appropriated funds that are not covered by existing restrictions on funding of abortion. Nor can the order correct the omission from the pending legislation of the necessary conscience-protection language that had been included in House-passed health care legislation last November (the "Weldon language").

For additional information regarding the abortion-related components of the legislation, and NRLC's assessment of the gravity of these issues, please refer to the March 19 letter linked above, and other materials posted on the NRLC website at www.nrlc.org/AHC/Index.

Sunday's Sermons

I preached this morning on the subject Authority and Baptism. We started in Luke 20:1-8, but in particular verse four; The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? Baptism was from Heaven to John, who baptized Christ, who first authorized His disciples to baptize in His name (John 4:1-2) then authorized His church to baptize (Matthew 28:18-20).

Tonight, if the Lord wills, I will preach on the danger of poor exegesis, using examples from Matthew 5:31-48, in particular and eye for an eye and oaths. If we don’t expound the Word of God correctly, then even though we have a text, we may not learn the true lesson of the text. Taking passages out of context or not in context of chapter, book, testament or the totality of Scripture is a sure fire way to heresy and error in doctrine.

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Douglas Newell IV

Malice, Mercy and Missions

I preached last Wednesday from the fourth chapter of the book of Jonah. In the final chapter, we have two scenes that play out before us. It is interesting as well to note that each scene leaves us with an unanswered question from God. Jonah had just preached one of the greatest revival meetings that ever have been where the whole city had come under the guilt and condemnation of God’s just wrath; thus repenting of their sins and crying out to God for mercy.

The final chapter opens with Jonah much as we found him in chapter one, angry. What is striking is the difference in Jonah. In other prophesies, we learn little or see little of the prophet, but see much of the message and the people he ministers to; some prophets we don’t really know anything about them. Here, the focus is on Jonah’s development.

We see the sailors in their interaction with Jonah, the fish in relation to Jonah, his preaching, and now the consequences of the preaching. The book has not focused so much on the people he ministered to, but his reaction to their repentance.

Had a man written the book, the conclusion would have focused on the numbers saved, the revival of the city, the benefits to the people, and the people they waged war against who see the change in the city, making Johan a hero. Jonah would have justified his behavior or made himself into the redemptive character who becomes the hero at the end after overcoming tremendous odds (see 95% of every motion picture ever made). But after this great revival, the scene still focuses on Jonah, not in the midst of a jubilant, forgiven city, but alone, angry and hoping for a slaughter.


I. SCENE ONE: THE POUTING PROPHET -- Jonah 4:1-4
II. SCENE TWO: THE PITILESS PROPHET--Jonah 4:5-11



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Douglas Newell IV

Cursed of God by Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr

(The following is a devotion by Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.)

“Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.” (Deut. 27:16) “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.” (Prov. 15:20) The fifth Commandment is “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Ex. 20:12)

The words “setteth light” are translated from a Hebrew word which means “to disgrace, to dishonor, to despise, to lightly esteem, to treat with contempt, and/or to treat shamefully.” We learn from this that when one despises or treats shamefully his mother and/or father, he brings upon himself a curse from God. It is not an option, nor is it up for debate or self-reasoning; the offender will have God’s curse come upon him. God leaves no room for excuses; neither does He set any age limitations. If one’s mother is 84 and he is 60 he is still under the command of God to “honor thy father and thy mother.” Age or adulthood does not erase the command of God.

The Apostle Paul writes, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” (Eph. 6:1) The word “Children” simply refers to one being an offspring; age is not a factor in the word. There is also a qualifier given by Paul and that is “in the Lord.” As long as the parent’s instruction is compatible with the Word of God the offspring is obligated to obey the parent. Now, if the parent instructs the offspring to go contrary to the Word of God, the offspring is obligated to obey God and not the parent. For example, if the parent tells the child to steal an object, the child is not required to obey the parent but is to obey God Who commands “Thou shalt not steal.”

One of the identifying marks of the last days given by the Apostle Paul is that offspring will be “disobedient to parents.” This is a spirit of anti-God, that is to say, one sign of the last days is that children will treat their parents shamefully, bring dishonor upon them, despise them, and not obey them in the Lord, which reveals their hatred of God and His Word. They in essence fight against the laws of God. They will become lawless, doing what is right in their own eyes, fulfilling their wicked imaginations and the desires of their own hearts in rebellion against God. This revolt against the commands of God brings upon them a horrid curse from God.

Heart Murder

From Studies on the Sermon on the Mount, considering Matt. 5:21-22

“What is the state of your heart? How do you react to things that happen? Do you find yourself flaring into a raging temper when a person has done something to you? Or do you sometimes feel anger against a person who really has done nothing to you at all? These are the things that matter. It is that which God meant when He said, ‘Thou shalt not kill’. ‘God seeth the heart’ and is not concerned only with the external action. God forbid that we should produce a kind of self-righteousness by reducing the law of God to something which we know we have already kept, or which we feel sure we are not likely to transgress, ‘let every man examine himself’.
–M. D. Llyod-Jones

The Greatest Miracle in the Book of Jonah

I preached tonight from Jonah 3:1-10. I believe the greatest miracle in the book of Jonah was the great revival of that wicked city.

In chapter 3 you see:
1. Sovereignty and Responsibility
2. The Great Miracle of Salvation
3. The Results of Salvation
4. The Penitent Preacher
5. The Repenting Preacher
6. God Repented (anthropopathism – the ascription of human feelings and emotions to describe God)

The book of Jonah is full of God’s power and mercy. When you think of Jonah, most likely, the first thing you think about is the miracle of Jonah being swallowed by the fish and preserved and spat out again on the shore. One of the great Bible narratives of the Old Testament.

The greatest miracle in the book of Jonah is not, in my opinion, the fish, but what happens after. I believe the greatest miracle in the book of Jonah is the great revival meeting in Nineveh. Salvation is of the Lord. It is both solely by God’s Grace and power; yet man is responsible to believe and repent in what he will not believe in, or cannot repent to. So anytime one is saved, it is a miracle of Divine mercy and grace.


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Douglas Newell IV

The cure for the United States

There is a lot of talk about the mid-term elections this year. The elections, we are told, will be a chance to save the Republic, to vote out the representatives that are not representing the will of the people. Politically, that is true; the elections will prove to be crucial to the future of our nation. Will that save us? No, unfortunately it will not.

What the United States needs, is the gospel being faithfully proclaimed, and the Merciful Lord granting revival. That is the only hope of our Republic. Shuffling around career politicians will not do for the country what needs to be done. There needs to be salvation, repentance and trusting and following the Lord Jesus Christ.
Think about Jonah 3:1-10. He was commanded of God to go and preach in Nineveh.

Nineveh was a great city, and extremely wicked. The people of Nineveh were barbaric and unmerciful to their enemies. They were a false god worshiping, war and fear mongering people. What was needed? Regime change? Perhaps that would have changed the course of Nineveh, but they would have been no better off. Replacing one ungodly heathen with another to lead a city would have made no difference. The people did make a drastic change, individually and politically. The answer was the gospel.

Jonah preached about the wrath of God, and I believe that they saw the sign of Jonah, three days and nights in the fish’s belly, seeing the mercy of God and a picture of Christ dying, being buried and rising from the dead. The city was changed, wickedness ceased and the city was a new city. God did not judge Nineveh because the Nineveh that He was going to destroy was no longer there. Old sins had passed away, and all things became new. They were new creatures in Christ, the old Nineveh was gone, and there were a new people, a new city. Hugh Martin said that they city couldn’t have been more new if they had rebuilt every building in the whole city. They had forgiveness of their sins, they believed in Christ for salvation, the repented and followed the Lord.

We have a responsibility to vote, and if God has called you to serve in the government, I hope you do well. Jonah, as he preached in the midst of the city, preached the message that God had sent him to proclaim. Jonah preached, Jonah gave the gospel, and whether anyone reacted to it did not matter; he was going to be faithful. This man of God was not giving advice or selfhelp, but what he was preaching was powerful, was living, the Word of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18;21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. By the preaching of God’s word, we see the great miracle in the book of Jonah. A group of people worshipping idol gods now have turned from their whole lifestyle, thoughts, and worldview and have radically changed unto God fearing men and women. It was not because of a natural disaster, it was not because of a new king and new philosophy, but by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. The means was not fire from the sky, or a vision from angels, but a preacher, preaching a very simple message.

Jesus Christ is the only hope.


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Douglas Newell IV

Psalm 8:3-4

The White Mountain from charles on Vimeo.

Psalms 8:3-4 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Phil Johnson on manliness.

Pulpit Highlights - Phil Johnson from Grace Community Church on Vimeo.

"We have traded up to cushy seats instead of hard benched pews and we expect our preachers to fashion their message accordingly."

Fort Hood Terror

You have to be willingly ignorant and blind to say that this was not Muslim terror. We are going to "nice" ourselves to death as a nation.




HT: Medford Caudill

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Douglas Newell IV

The Divine Inspiration of…the Constitution?

I was listening to Glenn Beck’s radio program and heard Him say that the Constitution of the United States is a Divinely inspired document. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, hoping that perhaps Mr. Beck doesn’t understand what Divinely inspired means. Perhaps he meant, not so much inspired, but influenced by God. In other words, their knowledge of God and the scriptures were the foundation for the writing of the document.

He could have meant perhaps that they were influenced Sovereignly by God, and that the Providence of God was manifested in the Constitution. The founding was surely the Providence of God, but so it is for every other nation. But I do not think that he meant that because he went on to say that our founding documents are not the same as the Magna Carta or other constitutions, not because of the superiority of content, but because of their origins, meaning our constitution is superior because ours was from God. Then hearing him say that Americans need to “preach the gospel of Madison” sealed the deal for me, I think he believes that the founders were Apostles of God.

The Constitution of the United States was not inspired by God. It is a man made document. This may be unsettling for those who are more American than Christian, but it’s a fact.

II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Scripture is given by inspiration of God. If the Constitution of the United States is Divinely inspired, then it is Holy Scripture and should be added to the Bible. God is unchangeable, His Word is unchangeable and pure and perfect. So if God inspired the Constitution, that is part of His inerrant, unchangeable perfect, holy Word. (By the way, it would make Constitutional amendments blasphemy and very dangerous, right? Revelation 22:18) What does it mean that God inspired the bible. The Greek word translated “inspiration of God” is Θεόπνευστος (theopneustos). The word is a compound of θεός (Theos)or God and πνέω (pneō) which means to breathe, so the word translated inspired by God means that it is divinely breathed in; given by inspiration of God. The Holy Scriptures are not merely the ideas men have about who God is; rather it is God speaking through men. II Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Paul did not take the ideas of God and relate the theme in his own words, but penned God’s very words. Every word, every sentence is of God.

Though the Constitution of the United States is a remarkable document and though it is the greatest example of manmade government the world has ever seen, it is, none the less from the minds of men and not inspired of God.

Scriptures are authoritative because they are the Words of God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word of God is powerful, living, penetrating truth. God’s Word is absolute truth; it gives us the truth about God and about ourselves, displaying even the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The Constitution has been amended and ratified because it was not perfect, but every word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5). The Word of God contains the truth about wickedness of man and his need of a Saviour. God tells us in His Word the gospel of Jesus Christ; the only way to Heaven, by Grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, dying on the cross as a substitue for sinners, paying their sin debt, then rising from the dead after three days and three nights for our justification. There is power in the Word of God, not in the Constitution.


Remember, when you read the Constitution, you are reading a document conceived in the mind of a man who is long since dead and gone. It has a beginning, and like every other nation that has come into being, it will have an end. The Constitution of the United States will pass away. Heaven and Earth will pass away, and that includes the Constitution and the founding documents, but, Jesus said till Heaven and Earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. God’s Word will not pass away, God’s Word cannot be defeated. The best that men can do and the greatest men can achieve will ultimately come to an end.

I think most Christians are like me, freedom loving men and women, and agree with most conservative pundits. I caution you if you listen to Glenn Beck not to get caught up in this deification of this country’s founding to the point of making the founding documents God’s Word. This is idol worship and blasphemy.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalms 19:7-10

(Corrected gramatical errors 3-3-10.)