Missionary Baptist Herald # 2

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Why Art Thou Cast Down, O My Soul, J. Godbehere

The Ugly Bride, D. Wharton

The Seeker of Truth, C. Warren

Worship in the Church Age, Tom McElmurry

2002 NWA - Mission Goal

Hume Lake

Church Appreciation - Clovis

Memorials

Proclamation, Thanksgiving

This phrase is found in the 42^nd and 43^rd Psalm. In the last issue of the Herald we were considering why this man, David, who had such a grasp of his Lord, such a loving trust and an obedient heart, could utter such a phrase, this which obviously depicts a depressed and despondent person.

Consider another phrase in the 43^rd chapter: . . . "For thou art the God of my strength, why dost thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Sooner or later we find ourselves in this same condition as David.

In the last issue, I did not fully explore the why of this condition except to state that it is common to our day. So once again let us take up this challenge of just what we should do!

I did state that David remembered what the Lord had done for him on so many occasions. He had remembered the blessing of the Lord as a young man, and as he grew into manhood, the Lord never forsook him. It seems obvious to me that, like David, we should get alone with our Lord and remember just how God has cared for us. It is hard to do that in a crowd while all kinds of activities are crowding our thoughts. So why not consider the place of solitude in the privacy of your home where activity has been shut down. Turn to that which is the most reliable, the words of truth and light. In the 43^rd chapter, verse 3, "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. When David said, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God," he was admitting to God that he had a real problem.

When we know wherein lies our problem, then we can set out to deal with it. We are then able to take that matter to the Lord in our prayers and supplication. We are then able to talk with our God about the real problem that exists. When you begin to talk to God in a face to face situation, you are able to receive the strength to "hope thou in God." Consider verse 5: . . . "Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." Verse 8: "Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." Verse 11: "Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." David knew it was going to work out. Why? Thinking about God, he became aware that his God was a living God, verse 2; his God was a helping God, verse 5; his God was a delivering God, verse 6; his God was a commanding God, verse 8; and most important, his God was his God, "For I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

The thought is that we all have moments of depression just like David. We can wrestle with it until it drives us crazy or we can do like David of old, turn to the Lord and confess our unbelief and transgressions, and receive the help of our God by the cleansing power of our Almighty God.

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:6-9) Have you ever seen an ugly bride? In polite society we would never use such an offensive term to describe a bride, even if it were true. Even the most unattractive women, prepared for the wedding, look wonderful. When cleaned up, made up, and put into a beautiful white wedding dress with all the delicate lace and frail veils, they just look beautiful. There is just something about a wedding gown that makes ugly turn to beauty. When the bride enters through the doors of the church, as the congregation rises to their feet to get a glimpse of her, as the reverb’s of excitement escape in the soft sighs and oooh’s and aaahs, there is an overwhelming feeling that convinces you that you are in a place of true beauty. Yes, when we think of brides, we think of beauty.

Jesus is going to be marrying a bride sometime in the not so far away future. It is a doctrine of scripture that has had God’s children pretty excited down through the ages. Why? Because he has promised that His born again children can be part of that Bride. It is true! Not only can we escape hell, be justified in the sight of God, be guaranteed a place in the resurrection with a new body, but it is possible to be the very wife of Christ. Will all saved children of our great and mighty God be part of this beautiful bride? Hmmmm, seems like there may be some differing opinions on whether all of God’s children or just a "select" few will be part of His beautiful bride. It would seem that the spirit of our thinking today about fairness would make us question whether it would be "fair" for God to only take certain ones and exclude others. After all we are "ALL" His children. As I read the scriptures, they would seem to indicate that God would want the very best for each of His children and that His desire would be for all of His children to be part of the beautiful bride who will marry His Son. Could it be possible that only a elect special group would be chosen?

In the religious world, it is clear that most all denominations and sects believe in a universal bride of Christ. And that this bride will be made up of all of God’s children. Each of these groups may have differing opinions as to the qualification for being one of God’s children. The more conservative and fundamental organizations of the religious world will make the distinction that only born-again believers would be part of this bride. It would certainly seem that if a multitude of voice made a doctrine true, there could be no other conclusion but that all the saved will be in the bride. There is, as you might well understand, always someone or some group who will want to separate the unity of Christianity, and conclude that the bride will only be occupied by those children of God who faithfully followed His Word in every way. Well, we have a name for these one way, obstinate, religious troublemakers. Yes, you guessed it, they are called the "Baptist-Briders."

They say, that a "universal bride", made up of the saved of all ages, would be a very "Ugly Bride". These crazy Baptists say that God does not accept men and women who walk contrary to His ways and will not let such be part of His Son’s bride. Using such examples as, Leviticus 10:1, 2, "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." They conclude that a bride made up of false teachers and believers would be ugly. What do you think?

Can you imagine a bride with Pentecostal people running around, rolling on the floor, yipping and saying, Alia, da do de dum, age go ge me, pati to moo me, ahh to ta? Or Church of Christ people saying, "We are the only ones here and our repentance, faith, baptism, church membership, and faithfulness salvation is what made it possible. Or the Methodist praising God, reminding all that they took the blood out of their services because it was messy, and don’t forget the convenience they added with baptism without the dipping. The Mormons jumping up and down for the dead they baptized into the kingdom. The Jehovah Witness’ excitement for contending that Jesus was not God. The Catholics waiting for their praise, for making it clear that Mary was God’s wife, and don’t forget all those Ana-Baptists they got rid of during the dark ages. The Calvanist for their recognition that Christ did not die for all the world and for making it clear that when God said He was not willing that "any" should perish that He only meant the "elect." The Armenian Church for standing for "salvation by works." And don’t forget the Christian Scientist who brought to understand that it is all a "mind thing." Time will not allow a description of all the ugly doctrines of all the protestant, catholic, and man-made religions of the world. Does this picture of the bride paint a very pretty picture? NOT. It is clear that a bride made up of all the saved with all their false doctrines would be a Very, Very, Ugly Bride!

The bride of Christ will be clothed with a bridal garment given by God and made out of the righteous acts of those who will wear it. My allotted space will not let me go further. Because I have not spent much time talking about who the beautiful bride will be, come back next issue to see who will qualify to be a part of this glorious bride.

Many had already died. The fierce epidemic of lies and heresy had infected their brains. And they had died babbling incoherent words such as "thee" and "thou," none of which made sense.

Yet, there was nothing I could do. There is seemingly no cure for this fatal disease. Even my own mother was infected with it, and I know it was but a matter of time before she succumbed. I sat at her bedside to try to comfort her, but she was also babbling incoherently."Truth," she said I once knew.

What is this thing called truth? Where was it? I asked myself if she once knew truth, perhaps there were others who also knew of it. Yet, as a middle-aged man, and I had never heard of this thing called truth, perhaps this truth was the antidote needed to halt this epidemic of lies and heresy. But where was it?

Then I committed myself to search for this truth: to seek after it until either I found it or found out why it no longer existed. I went to the book stores. No one had heard of such a thing. I went to the universities. "No, they said, "We don’t know what it is." I went to the libraries, seeking a book on the subject. "Never heard of it," said the librarian. Each place I looked I came up with blank looks and negative answers. Perhaps mother was just making it up. Perhaps there was no truth.

Yet, I could not rest. Truth kept me up nights. It kept nagging my mind until I reached the point of committing myself to find the truth. I begin my search. I walked down-town, up a street called lust, and saw that truth was not there. I walked down the street named desire and did not find truth. I drove my car onto the freeway called pride, and drove long and far and couldn’t find it. It was in none of these places. I wish it were, for then my search could have been easier. So again I traveled down the wide avenues of the world seeking truth. I went down the road of Adultery, Apathy, Fornication, Uncleanliness, Hatred, Jealousy, Wrath, Strife, Envy. I went down the street of Murder, Darkness, and Hypocrisy and could not find truth. No one even knew where it was, and I was running out of places to look.

In desperation, I decided to look through the old deserted part of town. Hardly anyone ever went there because there was just nothing there. People had seen a few eccentrics in there occasionally. But that’s all.

So I crossed the bridge named Jesus, which spanned the river called Repentance, and it was the deserted part of town. The main avenue of this section was called Love. It was narrow, and one could tell that very few people traveled it. There was also side streets of Love Avenue. They were called Joy, Long Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Peace, Meekness and Temperance. Then there was a small alley that was very narrow and one could see that not many people at all traveled this way. It also had a name. It was called Faith. "Funny names for streets," I thought.

But I was there to look for truth, and I went up each avenue, looking for something that might show me what truth is. There were few people here, and those who were out kept in the shadows and darted away upon seeing me. I traveled each side of the street to no avail, and all that remained was the narrow ally called Faith. Figuring I had nothing to loose I decided to explore Faith Ally. The first address on Faith Ally was number six. I knocked on the door, no answer. Then I saw the sign on the door. Not here visiting my brother on Lust Avenue. I don’t know when I will be back. But wait! I heard singing, very faintly, from where was it coming? It was coming from down the alley, so I ran to the end of the alley and found a small short door hardly big enough for a person to enter. The address on the door was number seven. The music was coming from behind the small door. I knocked; the music stopped; I knocked again. "Who’s there?" came the gruff reply.

"My name is condemned, and I have come to find out what truth is." The door opened a crack. "Do you really want to know?" the man asked. "Yes, I replied."

"Then you must get down on your knees to enter in." He opened the door, and I got down on my knees. Upon entering, I again stood up. I was in a small room with several people. The light was very dim, and I could distinguish shadows of people in the corners, cowering there. "Please," I said, "can you tell me any thing of truth?" A man touched my shoulder. He had in his hand a book, and it was turned to a page called John seventeen. This man’s finger traveled down the page to another seventeen, and he said,. "Read this." I read: "Sanctify them through thy Word; thy Word is truth." Here it is! I have found it. "Do you know what you have here? I cried." This is the antidote for the epidemic of lies and heresy that is ravaging the world.

I looked around the room. No response; some sat in easy chairs, some stayed cowered in their corners, none were enthused . "Hey, listen to me people. You have the cure right here! Let’s take it out and cure this epidemic of lies and heresy." "Sure, sure," said the man. "We’ve tried it before, and no one listened, so what is the use?"

"People are dying," I said. "Here you have the cure. Use it." " It’s no use," said the man. "We can’t; We don’t have time, nor do we care to make the effort." " But what about them?" I asked, gesturing toward the City. "Don’t you care that they are dying a painful death?"

"What of it?" said the man. "We don’t have to die that way." I couldn’t believe it. Here these people have the truth, the only antidote that would work on the epidemic of lies and heresy. And they didn’t even want to share it. Bewildered I sat down on a stool and picked up the Book that the man had shown me. I turned through it and stopped at a place called Mark, sixteen, and my finger traveled to number fifteen: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." "Well," I thought, "what good is truth if you don’t apply it? What good is cure if you don’t use it?" These people lived at the wrong address. They should be living on the other side of the river. They should be living on Apathy Street. Once again I picked up the Book and turned to the page called Luke, and my finger traveled to number ten and down to number two: "The harvest truly is great but the laborers are few." Again I turned in the Book to a page called John, four, and my finger traveled to number thirty-five, "Say not ye. There are yet four months and then cometh the harvest? I say unto you. Lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they are white already unto harvest."

With that I got up and left. As I walked down Love Avenue, I saw it was deserted. What a disappointment! Such a wonderful thing those people had. Why didn’t they share? Why didn’t they help others? Why? Why? Why?

Text: John 4:24: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Hebrews 10:10: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Hebrews 10: 14: "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

John 8: 31-32: "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; {32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Ephesians 5:26: "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."

I Timothy 3: 14, 15: "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

We began this series back in Article 33, continuing it through Article 35. In those articles we addressed these questions: why are there so many different people, and so many different groups of people, trying to worship God in so many different ways, and why do we have Buddist, Hindus, Catholics, Islamics, and many different protestant groups trying to worship God in so many different ways? I believe we provided an answer to these questions in those articles. But what about all those who have been born-again? Why do they have so many different ways of worshipping the God who saved them? Many of them know Him in spirit, but they are not worshipping Him in truth. The only sanctification they know is what saved them, and thereby assured them of going to heaven. The Greek word translated as "sanctify, sanctified, sanctification, etc" means "to set apart." At the instant of the new birth one is set apart from the lost, from the condemnation of God, forever. However, there is a sanctification process, a setting apart of that saved soul from the ways of the world, that is meant to go on as long as it still lives in the flesh. And this process must be IN THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD. God MUST be worshipped in spirit AND in truth, according to John 4:24. Hebrews 10:10,14, is what qualifies you to worship God in spirit. But John 8: 31, 32 indicates that only true disciples know the truth, and it is hard to see how a man could worship in truth if he didn’t know it. The word "disciple" or "disciples" never appears after the Book of Acts. Why? It would have been redundant on the writer’s part? Why? Because it was understood that the members of the local churches were disciples, and all the books after Acts were written either to churches, or to individual members of local churches. Why was a church member considered a disciple? Because, according to I Timothy 3: 14,15, he was in the place recognized as the pillar and ground of the truth, which is the local church. Paul, in Ephesians 5:26, clearly identifies the churches the place where God’s truth, His Word, is to set the church member apart from the world on a day-to-day basis, and that is worshipping God.

In order to worship God in truth, one must be in the place God has designated he will receive it. If you are not worshipping God in a local church that teaches, and practices, the truths revealed to his first New Testament Churches, then you are not worshipping him correctly. Since worship must not only be in spirit, but also in truth, if you are not in a true church, then your worship is incorrect, and you are not giving him glory. At the very end of the ministry of Jesus, He stood and prayed to His Father, and made this request concerning the men who had traveled with Him as his local church. They had all been scripturally immersed by the same man who immersed Jesus, and had companied together for more than three years as His local visible body. This is what He prayed in John 17;17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." If you want God to accept your worship, you must be in a church that is still teaching and practicing what was delivered to the first New Testament Churches.

Today there are many different buildings where Protestants are meeting under many different denominational names. And they are attempting to worship God in spirit and in truth. Some of them cannot because they have never received a new spirit by being born again. But many of them have received a new spirit, but are not willing to make the effort to worship Him in the truth of his word.

I am not a Protestant. The church where I worship God did not come out of the Protestant Reformation. It is one of the Lord’s true churches. Why? Because we are still teaching and practicing the same truths that were once delivered to the first saints. I am most assuredly not the writer of the Book of Jude. But I will close with his message in verse three of his epistle. And this is the reason we have so many groups made up of born-again believers who are worshipping in so many different ways. There is only one acceptable way, and that way is to worship Him in accordance with the faith once delivered to the saints. I would estimate that less than five percent of born again believers are doing this, and this was why Jesus said, "when the Son of man cometh, will he find faith on the earth?" The definite article for "the" appears before "faith" in the original Received Text, but it was not translated. Jesus was indicating that "the" faith, He was then delivering to the saints, would be hard to find. Jude 3, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

When the National Women’s Auxiliary met in Fresno, California, last June, the building fund for the mission work in Salt Lake City, Utah, was chosen as our mission goal for 2002. Pastor Daryl Dimit is missionary there, and the work is sponsored by Jefferson Baptist Church, Jefferson, Maryland, Michael Forshee, Pastor.

Brother Dimit has labored long and hard in Salt Lake City. It is a difficult field, as you might imagine, and is made more difficult by the church’s not having a building of their own in which to worship.

The Southwest Community Baptist Church worships now in a building in a light industrial district. Their agreement prevents their having any daytime services there during the week. Their Vacation Bible School was held in a park with the youth group from Second Baptist Church in Malvern, Arkansas, assisting them. The attendance was good, and eleven children prayed for salvation, five of whom were from Mormon families.

One of the Outreach projects of the church is a regular service at the Genesis Youth Correctional Facility. The Second Baptist Church Youth Group gave a performance and 31 of the Correctional Facility’s young people attended although officials had told them it was not mandatory because it was a religious service. The church has met opposition there, particularly in the girls’ section, and they would appreciate our prayers for this work. They meet Tuesday evenings, 7:00 - 8:30 PM MT.

Southwest Community Church members are encouraged about the prospect of having their own building in the not-too-distant future. They have engaged an architect who will help them with plans for the building, and the land is paid for. They have a building fund, but it won’t be enough to complete the building. They had hoped to be in their building by the time of the Olympics in February which is quite an ambitious goal; however, all things are possible with God — and with His people who work and pray together to accomplish it. Please pray much for Brother Dimit and his family as they lead and work in this difficult field and then give as liberally as possible to help them get into their much-needed building as soon as possible.

As you no doubt know, theWinter Olympics, 2002, will be held in Salt Lake City. This local church sees it as an opportunity to get the Word of God and its message into the hands and hearts of many who perhaps have never heard or thought about it. Although it is beyond the realm of our 2002 goal, we can add our prayers and assistance to those plans already underway. Please pray much for this effort and if you can help, or would like additional information, please contact the church at their website:

Please send your offerings to the NWA Treasurer: Billie Richardson, 3210 W. Whitendale Avenue, Visalia, CA 93277. I hope you won’t forget to pray daily and earnestly for this work. Thank you and God bless!

The annual Missionary Baptist Retreat, which meets at the Hume Lake Campgrounds on the third week of October, met October 22, 23, & 24, with a great crowd. We met our required minimum of 90 campers with a total of 94. This enabled us to pay our total required fee.

What a great camp! We enjoyed every activity. The preaching was excellent. Brother Gary Perdue preached the message on Monday evening, and Brother David Butimore preached the message on Tuesday evening. Both were messages that were blessed of God. They were uplifting to the soul.

Why not plan now to attend the camp next year? Send Brother Godbehere a deposit for a room, and begin the planning to attend and being a part of next year’s camp. It will do you good!

I will not be able to get the contract for several months and thus, I do not know the cost. It will be comparable to what it was this year. We have both the regular quarters and the deluxe quarters.

You can send your deposit to Brother J. W. Godbehere, 12104 Topper Road, Madera, CA 93638.

The month of October was officially PASTOR Appreciation month. The church at Clovis was very gracious in their expressions of love. There were certificates for dinners, entertainment, and a two- day accommodation at a beautiful early American Bed and Breakfast located in the Mountains. The room even had a Spa! In addition, Clovis Church has for years paid for the Hume Lake Conference for both pastor and wife. The month finished with a special day of fellowship dinner and a unique program presented by the youth.

I am not sharing this to promote myself, but to honor Clovis Missionary Baptist Church for their love. As any Pastor, I do not want to ever become guilty of taking such love for granted. Endeavors of appreciation by a church is generally motivated by one of two individuals in the church.

October, 2002, is nearly a year away. You can start now at your church for next year’s Pastor’s appreciation. Reservation for Hume Lake Conference [Retreat] can be made with Brother Godbehere C/O Fresno Missionary Baptist Institute.

I wish to publicly say, "Thank You" to Clovis Missionary Baptist Church for their expressions of encouragement, love, appreciation and personal concern. May God richly bless each and every family.

News! Clovis MBC has truly been blessed with a great year, many additions and increase in attendance, averaging in 90's for SS and 150 for worship. Plans for the new multi-purpose building is still on track. The College and Careers Retreat is planned for the third week-end of January, 2002. For information call 559-348-9811.

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the union.

Needful diversions of wealth and strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.

Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.