F.I.S.H. is an acronym standing for "Fellowship for an International Scripture Heritage." It is one of several ministries of FellowHelpers To The Truth, Inc., a non-profit organization begun in 1982 under initial endorsement of Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Benton, Arkansas. F.I.S.H. Ministry utilizes on-site missionaries to receive and distribute Bibles and New Testaments on various mission fields, as free-will offerings make copies of the Word available.
Be a Fisher of Men! Helping to spread God's Word Internationally is a mission that needs all of us! How can you help?...... Prayer: We need your prayers, include us daily as you speak with God....... Support: Free Will offerings is the financial life blood of our operations. One time donations are wonderful and monthly donations are fantastic!..... Involvement: If you have a burning desire to share your talents, contact us and we will help fan that flame!
We are Baptist people seeking to be helpful to the Lord’s churches and works both at home and abroad. We identify with the ancient Waldenses, Paulicians, Donatists and others who have stood in the hedge and filled the gap as a succession of true churches from the time of Jesus and the apostles. The true churches of the Lord Jesus Christ are the “Pillar and ground of the truth.” The truth is the Word of God, the “faith once delivered to the saints.” It is incumbent upon us as God’s people to propagate His Word as foundational to individual lives and the continued growth of His churches. To this end we both pray, and labor in fields that are white already unto harvest. Furthermore, to this end we encourage others to get involved in prayers, financial support, evangelistic and teaching activities.
FellowHelpers To The Truth
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The FellowHelper
FellowHelper is the first part of our corporate name of FellowHelpers To The Truth, Inc. Shortly after the start of this ministry a hard copy newspaper named “The FellowHelper” was sent out four times a year to over 8,000 recipients. It contained information on all the works and ministry being done by the workers of the organization. In today’s era of technology “The FellowHelper” has evolved into this website that is available 24/7 not only providing information on works and ministry being done but a repository full of riches can be found in the Library section and hopefully insightful sermons and series discussion in the Video section. FellowHelpers To The Truth is an organization of God’s people going about the work of helping God’s churches in multiple areas. We have among our people so much talent just bursting to reach out and bless us. If you need our help contact us, If you want to share your talents join us, If you want to support us please contribute in the Donate section, If you believe it is God’s will, pray for us! -
Fish Ministry
F.I.S.H. is an acronym standing for “Fellowship for an International Scripture Heritage.”
It is one of several ministries of FellowHelpers To The Truth, Inc., a non-profit organization begun in 1982 under initial endorsement of Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Benton, Arkansas.
F.I.S.H. Ministry utilizes on-site missionaries to receive and distribute Bibles and New Testaments on various mission fields, as free-will offerings make copies of the Word available.
Latest Apologetics
FAITH AND BELIEF ARE DIFFERENT (Tell me again)Another reader asks: what is the difference in faith and belief? Could you write a little post about this? Well, since I always do my best to help anyone with a theological inquiry, I shall offer the following explanation of the shades of meaning of the related terms in a sincere desire to clarify rather than to confuse. But, readers will be the best judges of that.When a definite article immediately precedes faith, as “The faith once delivered to the saints,” it refers to the system of doctrines of the New Testament. Otherwise, “Faith and “Belief” are often used synonymously, and in frequent error. There are contexts in which either term may equally apply, but critical differences in other contexts must be observed.First, defining three terms will help. The terms and their definitions are: 1) “Belief.” Belief is a position of understanding exercised by an individual with or without deference to source. Belief may be correct or false, and erroneous; 2) “Faith.” Faith is the substantiating of what one receives as true (the solid reason for believing it); in the context of the Bible it is full acceptance of God’s Word and His promises as ultimately true; 3) “Hope.” “Hope” is often misused to indicate what one wishes to be true regardless of the reliability or reason of the wish. But, in the strictest sense, hope is the vision of expectation created in one’s mind/heart by the exercise of faith.The Bible definition of faith is offered in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This short, but concise definition begs expanded explanation. The term “substance” is more properly translated as “substantiating.” That which is substantiated (solidified as real and true) are the things hoped for. “Hope” is an envisioned expectation created by faith. Faith means accepting the Promises, the Word of God, without reservation as evidence of things not yet seen. To illustrate in non-biblical terms, one might generally believe that chairs are made to support the weight of human bodies even though some will not. Upon approaching a comfortable-looking chair, one may receive as true (faith) a salesman’s promise that the chair will support his body. He envisions blessed rest (hope) as a result of being in the chair (which is its purpose). When he actually sits in the chair and enjoys the blessed rest, the faith and hope in this scenario is over. Faith gives way to sight and hope to reality.In yet other words, one may believe anything; the moon is made of cheese; the earth is flat; apple pie is good. But Faith is based on promise. It may be the promise of another individual as dealing in good faith, but its roots are in the Bible, and it references acceptance of the promises of God.The earthly pilgrimage, extends the blessed privilege of receiving the promises of God as ultimately true. That is faith. It creates expectation of the future with God. That is hope. At the resurrection and/or rapture faith and hope will give way to sight and reality. All of this is the belief of the Christian who ultimately relies on faith in the promises of Holy Writ and rejoices in the hope it produces.
TIME AND CHANCE OR EXPECTATION’S DISAPPOINTMENTSWords demanding meditation are herein penned by the wise man, Solomon. “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Ecc. 9:11.Generalizations in this world must not be depended upon as being ultimately, always true. For instance, it is a given generalization that if one works hard and consistently, he will achieve success. Another, is that if one prepares himself through higher, and specialized education, the door of a desired career will open to him. these things alone often fail as demonstrated by the practical experience of life in Solomon’s focus and repeatedly verified by modern life situations.One will wonder at some point in life just why a certain person succeeds and others fail when those who fail seem better prepared? Solomon’s conclusion was that it is all “time and chance.” Often just being in the right place at the right time is to realize fulfillment by the randomness of chance. His viewpoint was that these things were, not totally, but definitely involved in every instance in which men are propelled above their fellows. The race may not belong to the swift, but undoubtedly, one must be somewhat swift to enter the race. The battle may not belong to the strong, but the weak should not be engaged in the battle, etc. But, above personal preparations, there are still the factors of time and chance. How disappointing it is when time and chance favors others, crushing expectations designed upon preparation.However, there is a realm wherein time and chance do not rule or dash expectations. It is the spiritual realm. Salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ has been procured, and it is within the reach of all men. Moreover, those who prepare for the Christian race and run it within correct biblical constraints definitely win. They win spiritual battles, feast on the bread of life, are enriched beyond explanation in human terms. Understanding and favor will not elude them. The life of faith that begins with repentance from sins, and placing faith the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s personal Savior leads ever onward from pinnacle to pinnacle of blessings. Moreover, the expectation that hope instills in the heart will never slip or fade into disappointment. Now that is a race to run, a battle to fight, bread to eat, understanding to gain, favor to realize. In Christ, there is no time nor chance, but life, joy, and the ultimate win!
DESOLATEDesolate! What word! What a status! The phonics of it causes one to cringe! It conjures up imagery of a burning desert devoid of life. It is the translation and meaning of the word Jesus used to pronounce the age-long status of national Israel upon their rejection of Christ Jesus and the kingdom he preached and demonstrated for three years. Following His final appeal, he forthrightly declared, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matthew 23:38. Just what does that mean?“Desolate” is the translation of the Koine Greek term, “Eremos.” This term means “Solitary.” “Uninhabited,” “Deserted.” Used of persons, it means to be deserted by others; deprived of the aid and protection of others. Of a flock it means to be deserted by the shepherd. (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)Consider the implications of this status evidenced in last 2K years of the nation’s history, and the devastating consequences of divine judgment. Although for 400 years there had been no word from the Lord to Israel before the preaching of John the Baptist and the ministry of Jesus, the nation had long benefited from the protection and provisions of God upon them. The blessings went all the way back to Abraham, but particularly from the Egyptian Exodus. So how this “Desolation” would practically affect the Jewish people they were to painfully learn as the Roman General, Titus swept through the land in 70 A.D. leaving not one stone on top of another. Jewish people were slaughtered in wholesale fashion with the last who had not fled the country being forced to commit suicide atop Herod’s mountain fortress called Masada. The remnant who had managed to flee into other nations would live and die as refugees for centuries. They were persecuted and as late as WWII were gassed and burned in the ovens of Germany after being starved and often used as medical Guinea pigs.Today, many Jewish people still live among the various nations of the world, but a large segment have been allowed to return to their ancestral homeland where they take their place as a gentile people among the many nations of the world. “Desolate” they are, and in constant guard and readiness against overwhelming numbers of people who have vowed to push them into the sea.But God has marvelous plans for national Israel which are tied to His people of covenant (His church) which is the true “Israel” of the age of grace. One day, at Jesus’ return, the Jewish people will return to Him in repentance, and they will join in the New Covenant governance established by Jesus and shared by His people. Given the known history of a people left “Desolate,” who would choose such a horrible status? Certainly no one should do so. While it is “today,” every heart should be open to Him!
DIRECTIONS ARE IMPORTANTWhether in construction, travel, or baking a cake, directions are important. They are more important in the spiritual verities of everyone’s life. All who labor in the kingdom live in a wicked, evil world system. Even so, practical Christianity requires each of us to be as Jesus taught us: wise as serpents, but harmless as doves. It is good to desire to be close to the Lord, and that is one desire that may be realized, but it will not be done by human works. So, we study and pray to better understand the will and way of the Lord for ourselves and our families.Two of Jesus’ disciples wanted to be exceptionally close to Him, in the kingdom to come. They wanted to sit on His right hand and on His left hand. Jesus told them they did not comprehend what they were asking. He then made reference to the organizational and authority structures of the world with which everyone then and now had common familiarity. Jesus said that the way of the world was not the manner of the kingdom of God. Rather, if they would be great in the kingdom, they should be the servants of kingdom subjects. Using Himself as an example, He explained, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. . .”The object lesson is clear. If we would be close to God, we would earnestly seek out ways to do His will, and lift the spiritual welfare of others. Paul told the Corinthians, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” I Cor. 14:12. Is this one of the strong points of your church’s members or one of their weaker points?A strong point carrying a great blessing is SHARING THE WORD IN WORSHIP! “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa. 57:15. Certainly, edifying the church begins with personal worship. Foundational to worship is fellowship with God in the right spirit and in total constraints of the Word. It is important that each of us be a participant as well as an observer and listener in Word-share. It is joyful when finding a scripture that speaks to oneself in a meaningful and applicable way, to share it with the saints in morning worship, and with others in the course of the week.Finally, defying the flesh nature by becoming a regular student in the Word, instead of treating Christianity as another civic or social club, humbles the heart and spirit of man. Descending into the depths of humility one may find himself soaring into the heights of spiritual joy. The saints of God have universally found that spiritually, the way up is down!
ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT NUMBER THREE FINALFinally, the world is ready, and momentum increases daily toward the biblically prophesied goal. It is a return to Babel. Practically, what does this mean?The global event of Babel occurred some 2200 years B.C. Recorded in Genesis Chapter Eleven; it was the second ecumenical movement in full implementation. The earth’s renewed population would collectively build a tower to heaven, presumably to escape any future judgment of God such as their relatively recent Noahic flood catastrophe.Built upon the foundational thinking of the first ecumenical movement, which succeeded in causing God to destroy it all but eight people, and the fowl and animal species on the ark, the intent was to be totally self-governing, to live life man’s way. But as the global, fleshly sensual civilization in pre-flood days did not stand; neither did God allow the ecumenical Babel initiative to stand. It was broken up by creation of multiple barriers which would prevent any future initiative until the end of the church age. Preventative barriers were huge, including language, geographical shifting of tectonic plates creating continents, and other barriers sufficient to check such a return until the stated purposes of God were fulfilled among men. That time is about done. With those barriers largely overcome, the spirit of ecumenism number three rushes Pall Mall upon earth’s population who rather than resist, receives it with open arms. It is a universal yearning for human triumph in the natural state. Neither is it restricted to the population of the lost world, but finds welcome hosts among churches who would decry the creations of God to be evil, and actively work to reverse them by rejecting the old paths and sages to appease a corrupt world. It is to them the zenith of human civilization: mankind in control of his destiny, apart from God or any outside interference while practicing apostate religion. But little do they know that the very spirit of it all has ascended from the bottomless pit, and its zenith will quickly give way to unspeakable horrors. So, the time that the Bible calls “today” is in its sunset. So short is the time remaining for salvation of never-dying souls! But some would quickly dismiss this thought as they point to political, economical, and religious unions. They see intergalactic initiatives assuring human survival which is not too different to ancient Babel. Decrying it all with biblical precedents is cast off as the negative ranting of a bible-thumping kill-joy. “After all” they say, “This is New Babel! Success will finally be achieved where others failed!” Yeah, right! —- NOT!Those who exit the train to Babel are increasingly fewer. The allure of human success even in religion is great, and the pain of marginalization of all who would exit the train even greater. Perhaps the finest hour of the true church of the Living God is upon us. It is a time to stand on the known truth of Holy Writ. Although somewhat stereotyped and worn, it is still true that God and one man make a majority. On the other hand, history reveals that the majority of men have never been right with God! The third and final ecumenical movement is well under way!
THE INTANGIBLE REALITY OF FAITHEmbraced by millions over the vicissitudes of time, but understood by none, the life-altering, heaven connection: “faith,” abounds greater than the sum of all the ugliness, hideousness, and condemning factors of sin in a largely God-rejecting world. Just think about it!Consider that Hebrews 11:1 calls the spiritual avenue “. . . the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The blessedness, power, and essence of faith follows throughout that tremendous chapter underscoring the responsible agent of triumph over the overwhelming agents of sin and death. It is arguably the greatest chapter of Christian sustainment in the Bible.Faith, hope, and love are a triad of very real intangibles which defy the test tubes and microscopes of science, as well as the understanding of those who are the recipients of them. They are the provisions of grace: The Creator to the created that rectifies, even excels the Edenic cosmos that our federal parents cast down in that place so long ago. It all has to do with the decision making processes. Adam and Eve decided to transgress the commands of the Creator thus adding sin inexorably to the makeup of the species.Paul argues in I Corinthians chapter fifteen, that as the decision of Adam brought condemnation, the decision and perfect work of Jesus brings light and life; albeit not to the sum of the species, but by every individual who is exercised thereby. The greatest wonder of it all is its possibility. It took the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus to do it. But death is the direct result of sin, and Jesus had no sin—no not one. How then could the sinless become sin for us and pay the penalty for sin that we could not? Again, it is the decision making process, and specifically of One Who is qualified to make the decision having the wherewithal to pay to the uttermost.Thus are we blessed with the substantiation of eternal things. That substantiation creates the intangible reality of hope in the human heart. Hope is the earnest, intense expectation of knowing and experiencing the physical realities so intangibly planted. It is by faith that we understand creation, Heb. 11:3. So, the essence of faith: without it, it is impossible to please God for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of all those who diligently seek Him. Heb. 11:6. Truly, a faithless life is a life that would be better served had it never existed.
Fish Ministry News
PEACE BEYOND UNDERSTANDINGThere is a promise of peace to the people of God in the New Testament. Truly, the need for real, lasting peace is evident on the world scene as never before. Is genuine peace so elusive? Well, it is not passed out like ice cream cones from inflated politicians. The simple answer to the seemingly elusive state is readily found in Holy Writ, and it is not only promised, but sure enough stipulations are requisite for it.Peace! It is an enduring status to some, and so elusive to others. Still others throw it away before they realize they have it. Some folks want domestic peace. What can be more troubling than a home where there is no peace? Others want inner peace, a reprieve from a troubled conscience, or the filling of an inner void. Still others may be as the Hatfields and the McCoys; desperately needing peace in their relationships with others. Nations cry peace, and go to extremes to avoid war and its terrible effects for generations, but these things alone do not bring peace. The promise is made in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” But, wait! This verse is the promised state only when other requisites are in place that are named in the previous verses. These include readiness to stand fast in the Lord; to be unified in the body mentally in spiritual matters; when help is extended to others laboring in the Lord; when rejoicing in the Lord is genuine; when one’s moderation (conversation) of faith is known to all men; when one is not anxious, but delivers all things to God in prayer. Then the promise of such peace is sure. However, the mentioned requisites should be the possession of every believer in the Lord’s churches. Those who look elsewhere for peace than to the Lord Jesus Christ may find a temporary topical cream for a present troubled situation, but no lasting peace. The scriptures warned that this would be the mindset of men in the last days: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” I Thess. 5:3.Thus did Jesus say to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. One may wonder if there is an alternative to the peace that Jesus alone gives. In such case, most serious consideration should be given to the forceful and simple statement of Isa 48:22, “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.”
IN THE MOUNT OF THE LORD IT (HE) SHALL BE SEEN!Jehovah-jireh is one of many Hebrew names given to God as He moved to fulfill the needs of His people. This name arises out of a most unusual incident recorded in Genesis Chapter Twenty-Two. God told our father, Abraham to take Isaac and go to mountain that He would be shown and there to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice unto God.The mountain turned out to be Mt. Moriah. As most casual Bible readers know, after God tested the patriarch, He provided Himself an offering as a substitute for Isaac. It was a dramatic, traumatic test of the validity of genuine faith. It must be noted that faith, far different to a fanciful wish, is believing and depending on the word of God. Abraham knew that God had already promised that Isaac would have a son. So Abraham believed God in full assurance that if he offered up Isaac at God’s direction then God would raise him to life and give him a son (that is faith). Moreover, it was a lesson for ensuing generations of what God would do to redeem His people. At the conclusion of this great epic of faith, Abraham called the name of the place Jehovah-jireh (God provides) as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it (He) shall be seen (Provided).”In the land of Israel there is a certain mountain. At its crest is a very large stone of considerable tonnage. In ancient centuries, it was used as a place of sacrificial offerings. Around it grew a village that became a town, that town became a city. The name of the city is Jerusalem. Within Jerusalem, Solomon built the Temple of the Lord. Much later, Muslims built the Dome of the Rock mosque on the site enclosing in its center that very rock from which (they say) Mohammed ascended unto heaven.It is believed that this is the very stone upon which Abraham erected an alter of sacrifice for Isaac, but was given a substitute: a ram caught by its horns in a thicket nearby. Regardless, for centuries men spoke of the offering of Isaac and looked forward to the magnificent event of God’s providing Himself an acceptable offering for the sins of mankind.Thus, in the mount of the Lord it (He) has been seen. God’s Lamb was offered in fulfillment of the type set in Abraham’s day, and that very possibly within sight of the very place of Isaac’s alter of sacrifice. How marvelous are the lessons of prophecy so clearly portrayed and preserved for all in the blessed Word. Today, that ancient prophecy and event has powerful meaning. It is on a nearby peak of this mountain that the Lamb of God will once again appear. God’s people are so ready for that event to occur. However, the question continues to arise today: In the eye of faith, have you seen this? Have you received what God did for you as your personal gift? If each person does not receive Jesus, God’s Ram of sacrifice, then that person will not be retrieved, but sacrificed upon the altar of damnation whose end is never.
PATIENCE’S HAS IT’S PRIZEPatience! Patience! What is it anyway? Someone once said it is the ability to idle your motor when everyone else is stripping their gears. A motel office sign defined it this way: “For night service, ring this bell, then keep your shirt on while I get my pants on.” The ancient Bible word from which it is translated is “hupomeno” meaning to “stay or abide under.” It is to keep on keeping on: in calm assurance the desired result will happen. Near fifty years ago, Laura and I found ourselves in Australia and we were more than a little amused at the many different species there. One catching my attention was the Kookaburra. It is a parrot-sized bird that makes a chilling, chattering, jungle sound; a sound that is used in most all jungle movies even though the bird cannot be found outside Australia. It is a carnivore predator, quite wild, and many people in Australia have not had nor wanted one extremely close to them.A strong male Kookaburra could be heard each evening in the green belt next to the house where we were staying, and I really wanted to see it up close. So, I sat alone on the patio with a ball of fresh meat in my hand, not moving or making a sound. The bird came closer, but soon flew away. This was repeated several days until finally, with much caution, the bird came to me and snatched the meat from my hand. I was elated. From inside the house, a picture was made of the event, and much conversation ensued over the rare moment. But the joy of this unique experience depended upon the exercise of patience. So many good things come in the exercise of patience.King David said, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1. Centuries before him another great patriarch, Abraham reaped the reward of patience. God made great and exceedingly precious promises to him, and the scriptures affirm for all time that “. . . after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:15.A lot of good things are associated with Abraham. His name is used often in modern religious conversations, but the reward of his patience is seldom mentioned. This example of the patriarch should mean much to every Christian. Like Abraham, modern day Christians must exercise patience to win the reward. The author of Hebrews included this very prescription, saying, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Heb. 10:36.Finally, we hear King David again from his vast experience, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him . . . Psalm 37:7.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF SPIRITUALLYStudents of Hebrew grammar soon discover a number of joyous gems of truth in the scriptures that otherwise lie mostly hidden. No, these discoveries are not earth shattering, certainly not contradictory to the JKV English edition, but enlightening. Consider the incidents in Egypt as Moses repeatedly asked Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. In Exodus 5:1, 7:16, 8:1, 8:20, 21; 9:1,13; 10:3, 4 the request or demand is repeatedly made, “Let my people go.” In those instances, in which Pharaoh initially agreed, he changed his mind when the plague was removed, one wonders why he was so adamant in his refusal. The answer, of course, lies in Exodus 10:1. God told Moses, “For I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him.” So, God hardened his heart.Now, enter information from Hebrew grammar. In parsing the stems of a Hebrew verb varying degrees of intensity are conveyed: simple, intensive, causative, reflexive. Take a verb as “Kill” This would be read: “He killed” (simple); “He killed, poisoned, shot, and crushed” (intensive); “He caused to kill” (causative). “He killed himself” (reflexive). Since most folks have forgotten their exposure to grammar, the point will be no longer labored, but concluded. The verb “hardened” referencing the heart of Pharaoh is in the intensive degree in Hebrew, and may be understood to mean God made adamant, turned to stone reinforced with steel, so that no other option was then exercisable. God would get glory from Pharaoh and His servants in this manner.A similar matter is related in Deuteronomy 2:30 as Moses spoke of “Sihon, king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.”Understanding how God dealt with the forces of evil in men in history gives one insight as to how he may deal with them again in the future, pointedly as they more adamantly reject truth in the end of this age.It is to this that the Apostle Paul pens the sobering information about those who receives not the love of the truth as recorded in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “And for this cause. God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. . .”When God sends obstinacy or delusion, there is no turning from it. With exception of tiny pockets of New Covenant believers here and there, the world does not hear, nor does it want to hear the truth of God’s Word. Could it be that we are seeing people under that strong delusion already? If so, the time of great revivals is over, and God’s people need to intensify their study of the Word, and their fellowship with one another. God’s people have been here before as exemplified in the antediluvian world and in the chronicles of Israel under the Judges. History repeats itself spiritually.
NEVER ALONE OR SEPARATED BY SELF-WILLA lot of people in this world are extroverts and so gregarious! The rest of us are introverts. Extrovert personalities like company, lots of people, lots of talk, etc. Introverts on the other hand prefer a quiet corner to read a book and can be quite happy being mostly alone.But there are times when both extroverts and introverts may share a feeling of solitude in matters of faith. While seeking to focus life on the things of the Lord, it is easy to think no one else cares. It seems the whole world is laughing its way to a devil’s hell, and where are those who will share rejoicing in the Word? It is especially discouraging when folk who should be striving to follow God’s path appear to walk everywhere but there. Truly, in those times one might feel that he is alone in striving to honor God in his living. Perhaps Noah had a right to feel that way. Elijah definitely felt that way as he fled from Jezebel’s threat of his life. But even then there were more than 7,000 who had not bent their knee to Baal.It is no longer arguable that churches are shrinking and true Christians are becoming fewer. But should that not encourage us to let our light shine even brighter? When one is bold enough to stand up for God and His Word and Way, it is amazing how many people are found who are keenly interested in learning of God’s ways and power, especially if they think it can truly transform their lives.This then is the power of God working through His people. He is able to make us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Undeniably, the time any of us have to let God work in us in this way is extremely short. So, urgency intensifies. The lesson has to be relearned. When we are weak then are we strong in God’s might. God is pleased to repel the wise and reveal himself to the simple. He is pleased to dwell not in the big things, but in the small things of seemingly little consequence to men whose mind is firmly fixed on worldly things. In identifying with Him, the believer knows that He is the head of the corner, but it must be remembered that first He is the stone the builders rejected. Happy indeed are those who come to know Him and walk in His ways. They learn what the great characters of the Bible learned, causing them to rejoice. They were never alone! Neither are his dear children today. He promises, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” One does not have to look very far to find dedicated disciples. They are not in the hoopla of the world around us, but in the quiet out-of-the-way places where love grows and heavenly company remains. Where this is not true, it could be that self-will has taken the ascendency.