#2 ~ April May, June, 2002
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| From Generation to Generation - Ruth Burnes |
Sermon Notes
by
June Godbehere
Text: Genesis 13, 14
Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
The story line: In Genesis the 13th chapter it is stated "Then Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere. . .then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other."
Two thoughts catch my eye in verse 12: "Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plains, and pitched his tent toward Sodom." We are told the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.
What follows this is a familiar story. Our choice in the way we choose to live always seems to produce fruit which we do not expect nor do we desire.
The king of Sodom, along with four other kings, rebelled against twelve years of subjugation to a powerful confederacy of the four kings from the North led by one, Chedorlaomer. It appears they enjoyed their freedom for only a short time, perhaps as little as a year before Chedorlaomer brought his armies down to exact a terrible punishment. City after city was sacked and the men of Sodom and Gomorrah fled as fast as their feet could carry them. The final notation in this event: "and they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed."
What I see here is a principle. Abraham and Lot were on a pilgrimage. Life is a journey. When Lot viewed the plains, it looked to him like paradise. However, paradise is not essentially the abundance of material things. The garden of Eden was a paradise because of the presence of God.. It was also a paradise because of the absence of sin.
Jesus, speaking to pilgrims and strangers on the earth, gave us some principles that might guide us in our pilgrimage here on the earth. Matthew 6: 19, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, ..." Vs. 24, "No man can serve two masters; ..." Vs. 33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;..." Let us set our affections upon those things above.
When we live according to the precepts of God, we are building for the future. Abraham looked for a city. When he moved within the will of God, God blessed him. If we follow the choice of Lot, we will find cause to regret that choice. If you want a pattern to follow, choose to follow the steps of Abraham, or the steps of Christ, or men like Moses. They built for tomorrow. Let us not lust after the temptations of materialism or pleasure. This we will surely regret long before the judgment day when we stand before God.
Let us learn from these two pilgrims, Abraham and Lot, as to what our choices should be.
Dr. Tom McElmurry
FAMINES, PESTILENCES, EARTHQUAKES AND JESUS!
I received an e-mail this week asking a question that I have addressed over the last twenty-four years in more than 700 lectures I have presented in churches, colleges, seminaries, and universities in the U.S.A., Lithuania, Africa, and Romania. It suddenly dawned on me that I had never placed it on our web pages. So what follows is the answer I have been providing audiences since 1978.
When scientists, particularly those who are atheistic or agnostic, are told that Jesus is coming soon because more earthquakes are being reported per unit time in this generation, they are quick to point out that they are not really increasing, and will give you a bevy of scientific reasons why they are continuing just as they were from the beginning. This is precisely what the Scriptures said they would do just before the second coming of Christ.
II Peter 3:3, 4, 8, 9
[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. [8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
I would be the first to admit that the astronomical jump in the number of earthquakes that began to be reported in the last half of the twentieth century is due primarily to fantastic increases in all phases of technological advances in seismic technology, more international cooperation in reporting earthquakes and consolidation of a world data base, plus an unbelievably more efficient network system of reporting. However, while I know this has been responsible for the vast percentage of the increase in the number of earthquakes, they also must admit there is no way of being certain whether or not it was totally responsible for ALL earthquakes reported. However, it really doesn’t matter WHY so many are being reported. It only matters that they ARE being reported in ever increasing numbers. It is really a mute point, as I have pointed out to many scientists and audiences during the last twenty-two years. Why? The following discourse concerning who Jesus is, and what he really said about earthquakes, will answer that question.
Luke 2:40, 47, 49, 52 + Colossians 2:9 + John 1:1-3
[40] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. [47] And all that heard him were astonished at his under-standing and answers. [49] And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? [52] And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bod-ily. [1] In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made.
After Adam fell, and before Jesus came, Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. But when Jesus came the wisest, and by far the greatest man who ever lived, was found among mankind, walking as God incarnate in the perfect flesh of a man God created in Mary’s womb. No one will ever exceed his knowledge in the future, for he is God. However, it was God’s will that, by the time of the end of this present age, man would spread across all the earth under his heaven and, as a result of that spreading, his knowledge of the earth and universe would explode shortly before the time of the end.
Daniel 12:4
[4] But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
This fantastic rapid increase in knowledge in the time of the end has allowed us to understand the principles that underlie the causes of many phenomena, and among the many are famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. Jesus, as God among us, already had all knowledge of man, the earth, and the universe. How and Why? Because "all things were created by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:3)."
So Jesus was the only man walking on the planet in the first century who knew that the earth was an oblate spheroid. He was the only man who understood it was not flat, and that most of it was undiscovered. He was the only man who knew that man would spread across it, and his knowledge of it would explode in the end times. He was the only man who knew the crust of the earth floated on underground liquid lakes of rock we identify as magma. He was the only man who understood how earthquakes were produced along the edges of massive tectonic plates as they crunched against one another in the process of floating on the magma. He was the only man who understood the formula of exponential growth in population toward the end of a doubling cycle curve. He was the only man who knew what would happen when the population exploded in the last days and, due to crowding and the natural immorality of man in his fallen condition, that many pestilences would become active among a rapidly increasing population. He knew that, when the twenty-first century dawned, the world’s population would exceed six billion, and that, for the first time in man’s history, two curves would cross – a line curve that showed the rapidly increasing population, and another showing the ability of man to produce enough food to feed the increase. Jesus knew that many more earthquakes would be reported in many more places because he knew the reporting net would expand as man moved into the yet undiscovered portions of the earth. He knew they would increase because of man’s increase in knowledge producing seismological detection technology in earthquake reporting. Only a man who walked as God on the earth could have predicted that famines would accelerate at the time of the end, that new pestilences would surface and spread rapidly in the last days, and that more and more earthquakes would be reported in many new places in a period of time known as the beginning of sorrows.
This Article will continue in the next issue.
Pastor Dennis Wharton
This month we continue and will conclude this article on the Bride of Christ. If you missed the first article, you will wonder how a name like the "Ugly Bride" could have anything to do with what we are discussing today. The first article talked about what a bride would look like that was made of all the saved with the wicked abominable doctrines that are held by Protestant and Catholic denominations. Last issue we started to show why the "Bride of Christ" will be a Baptist bride. This time we will look the expectations that Christ has for His bride.
"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) Wow! What an exciting event! "The bride hath made herself ready." The wedding day has finally come. The anticipation and longing for this day by God’s faithful saints down through the ages has arrived. In every age from the time the church was first made aware that those who would serve faithfully would be in the bride, God’s children have been waiting. Is it a great day? According to these scriptures, it is a "Blessed" day. Those that are called to the supper of the Lamb will receive a blessing that our earthly minds will probably never comprehend until we are actually there.
These scriptures are really revealing concerning the qualifications of being the wife of Christ. We know that salvation from hell is a gift from God. It is a salvation minus works. "Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us." These verses reveal the necessity of some works and righteousness on our part to be in this bride. I know that even the righteousness that we produce comes only through God’s power, but it is clear that these scriptures reveal the need for works beyond the gift given to us in salvation. How has this bride made "herself ready"? We are told that it is the righteousness of these saints that has produced the wedding garment that allows one to be in the bride. The bridal garment is not made out of cloth but the "righteousness of the saints."
In Romans the eighth chapter there is a legal term used that denotes marriage. Verse 16 says, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." The term "joint heir" is a term that is used concerning married couples that own something equally. The verse tells us that the children of God are heirs of God, but if we want to be joint heirs, (share equally with Christ in the New Jerusalem), then we will have to suffer with Christ, so that we can be glorified with Him.
It becomes evident that all the saved are not going to share equally with Christ in the eternal ages when we look at Revelation 22:1-5, "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." On the inside of the city the bride lives with Jesus and they eat the fruit off the tree of life. The leaves off of that tree are given to the nations of the saved that live on the outside of the city. Revelation 21:24, "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it." On the outside of the New Jerusalem live the saved who did not think serving God was important in this life. Now they walk in the light of the city. They send the kings that are over them into the city to take their praise and honor into their Savior, but they cannot live in the city. The city is where the bride lives. The city is described as the bride. Revelation 21:2, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." And again in verses 9 and 10, "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God," This is the special place that Jesus promised His church He would prepare for them while they awaited His return. John 14:2-4, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." There will be many mansions in the eternal ages, but Jesus told His bride that He was going to prepare a special place her, and the angels of Revelation make it clear that the new city was that place.
Who will live in the city? The overcomers, those who have been faithful in the church to whom Jesus is engaged. Revelation 2:7, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Revelation 3:12, "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
There are so many proofs that time will not allow to be presented. One thing becomes very clear: the Bride of Christ is not going to be an "Ugly Bride" made up of ungodly children.
A full-house attendance marked the 24th Commencement at Fresno Missionary Baptist Institute & Seminary with 31 students receiving Certificates of Merit and degrees conferred upon two advanced students, Brother Dirceu Silva of Brazil, Associate of Theology Degree, and Brother Richard Shannon, Bachelor of Christian Education Degree. Brother Silva has now returned to Brazil where he plans to "teach his people the truth more perfectly."
Excitement and exhilaration filled the house as students celebrated a successful year of completed studies and looked forward to the summer break. Teachers also look forward to a lightened schedule for the summer months although preparation for the fall semester will be an on-going process throughout the summer.
The Sanctuary Quartet (First MBC, Fresno) and Sister Joyce Brewer (Galilee MBC, Fresno) thrilled our hearts with music and song.
Dr. J. W. Godbehere, Administrative Vice President, welcomed the visitors, received the offering for the evening, and introduced the Commencement Speaker.
Brother Steve Ridings, Chairman of the school trustees, introduced the trustees and their wives; Brother Bill Finlayson represented the student body and spoke concerning their appreciation of the school, church, and instructors and introduced the president of the student body who on behalf of the student body honored Sister Shirley Warren, secretary; Sister Ruth Burnes, teacher, Sister Billie Frakes in charge of refreshments at break time, and Sister Betty Carlile, assistant to Billie in preparation for refreshments. Sister Frakes was presented a plaque, and the other ladies were presented roses. Brother Kenneth Beene represented the faculty and spoke of the good school year enjoyed by students and teachers alike.
Dr. David M. Butimore, Sr., Pastor of First MBC, Fresno, and President of FMBI, delivered an inspiring Commencement Address, entitled "The Underlying Factor Needed In An Effective Ministry," using for his text Zechariah 4:1-7.
All in all, the Commencement was one of the best ever, and a good time of fellowship was enjoyed by all over pie and coffee following the close of the service.
The 2002 - 2003 fall term begins Tuesday, August 27, at 10:00 A. M. Mark this change on your calendars, and we hope many of you will plan to be with us for this special occasion. The Alumni Association meeting and dinner is scheduled at 5:00 P. M. that same evening. All alumni members are urged to attend.
Ruth Burnes
The 45th annual meeting of the California State Ladies Auxiliary met in Visalia March 26, 2002, Sister Lisa Keeling, President, presiding.
Sister Billie Richardson of Visalia welcomed visiting ladies, and Sister Janice Perdue of Oroville responded.
Sister Becky Thomason of Modesto led the congregational singing, accompanied on the piano by Sister Debbie Cullifer of Folsom.
Sister Lisa Keeling delivered the president’s address, entitled "God’s Great Love, God’s Great Goodness, and God’s Great Grace."
The report on the annual goal for the year, Chapel Builders, was read by Sister Peggy Ross as written by Sister Robyn Wharton. Chapel Builders aided in the building projects at Concord, Red Bluff, and Redding, as well as across the nation and even on foreign fields.
Reports from missionaries’ wives were given by Sister Velma Wood of Lakeside, Sister Robyn Wharton of Fresno (Chapel Builders), Sister Vonnie Crain of Clovis (Prison Ministry), Sister Ann Hall of Sonora. Ladies attending the meeting received a booklet, entitled "Reflections From Missionary Wives."
The goal selected for the coming year is again Chapel Builders.
Officers elected for 2003 were: Sister Lisa Keeling, President; Sister Katherine Olson, First Vice President; Sister Debbie Butimore,
Second Vice President; Sister Peggy Ross, Secretary-Treasurer; Sister Karen Johnson, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer; Sister Euvis Patterson, Parliamentarian; Sister Mickey Godbehere, Assistant Parliamentarian.
Sister Gloria Kral narrated a wonderfully moving program, entitled "The Measure of God’s Love," with Sisters Peggy Ross, Sharnell Chambers, and Winona Graham representing biblical examples of God’s love, followed by a solo by Sister Debbie Cullifer, "Think About His Love."
Several ladies from the congregation were called forward as examples of God’s grace, mercy, and source of strength for the trials faced in daily life.
The meeting was concluded in prayer, led by Sister Rosie Gurnett of Martinez.
INTRODUCTION: The account of young Timothy’s biblical instruction is one of the very best examples of the training of children in the ways of the Lord. In this account, three generations are noted as possessing the "unfeigned faith" that Paul spoke of in his letter to Timothy. When each generation is faithful to do that which it should do in teaching and training children, then all will be well with succeeding generations.
II Timothy 1:5 records, "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also."
Paul begins his letter to young Timothy with praise. He reminds Timothy of the way in which he had been trained — in the devotion and reverence for God of his grand- mother and mother. He reminds him of the quality of the training that were the result of the faith that his mother and grandmother possessed, and he assures Timothy of his belief that their training had not been in vain, but that he also possessed this same faith that was exhibited by his grandmother and mother.
When Paul spoke of the "unfeigned faith" of Lois and Eunice and believed beyond doubt that young Timothy likewise possessed this kind of faith, what did Paul have reference to as to the "unfeigned faith" of Lois and Eunice, and Timothy? He spoke of a sincere, genuine faith — faith that was not hypocritical — faith that was not fake — faith that was the real thing.
Paul said that this great faith dwelled first in Timothy’s grandmother, Lois. Then he noted that Timothy’s mother, Eunice, had this genuine faith, and then he stated that he believed that this same kind of faith dwelled or lived in Timothy, as well. Notice that this faith spans three generations, and that it lasts from generation to generation!
Acts 16:1 records an account of Timothy’s family: "Then came he [Paul] to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess and believed; but his father was a Greek."
Eunice was Jewish, so likewise Lois was Jewish. In this account no mention is made of the grandmother, Lois, but Paul was acquainted with the family and gives her much credit for Timothy’s training. It is clear that Timothy’s faith followed after the example set for him by his grandmother and mother. Both these women were believers in Christ.
Eunice’s husband was Greek, and nothing in the scriptures indicate his faith or that he was a believer, but in Paul’s letter to Timothy, the piety of his grandmother and mother is noted. So it is safe to assume that Timothy received his early teaching and training in the faith at the feet of his grandmother and mother. What a powerful influence godly parents and grandparents are!
When we think of what Timothy became in the service of the Lord, we must reflect upon how fulfilling to Lois and Eunice to have influenced the world through Timothy.
The same is true today when godly mothers and grandmothers teach and train up their children in the way of the Lord; and when these children become faithful, mighty workers for the Lord, how fulfilling to any woman to have influenced so greatly through her children in the work of the Lord!
So, ladies, do we hear the call? Are we doing what Lois and Eunice did so that our children will exhibit that genuine faith that Timothy did?
Perhaps we need to take inventory to see if we measure up in the teaching and training of our children. And are we the examples that we should be to them? Will the "unfeigned faith" span generations in each of our families, from generation to generation?
by
Dr. David Butimore, Sr.
In previous issues, we introduced the subject of parliamentary procedure and practice to give a general idea of its purpose and our intent for discussing the subject, and then gave a synopsis of the main motion and the seven subsidiary motions and their ranking.
Unlike subsidiary or incidental motions, privileged motions do not relate to the pending business, but have to do with special matters of immediate and overriding importance which, without debate, should be allowed to interrupt the consideration of anything else. Like subsidiary motions, however, the five privileged motions fit into an order of precedence. All of them take precedence over motions of any other class except in a very few circumstances.
If the adopted program, agenda, or order of business is not being followed, or if consideration of a question has been set for the present time and is now in order but the matter is not being taken up, by making a Call for the Orders of the Day, can require such a schedule to be enforced, unless the assembly decides by a two-thirds vote to set the orders of the day aside. It yields to all other privileged motions, and to any applicable incidental motion which may arise and which must be disposed of before it is disposed of. It can interrupt a speaker, does not require a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, is adopted by a ruling of the chair, and cannot be reconsidered.
If a pressing situation is affecting a right or privilege of the assembly or if an individual member (for example, heating or cooling of the building, the introduction of a confidential subject in the presence of guests, etc.), a member can Raise a Question of Privilege, which permits him to interrupt pending business to state an urgent request or motion. If the matter is not simple enough to be resolved informally, the chair makes a ruling as to whether it is admitted as a question of privilege and whether it requires consideration before the pending business is resumed. It takes precedence over all other motions except the three higher-ranking privileged motions to Recess, to Adjourn, and to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn. It also yields to any applicable incidental motions that may arise and that must be disposed of before it is disposed of. It cannot be applied to any other motion, and no subsidiary motion can be applied to it. It is in order when another has the floor if warranted by the urgency of the situation. The raising of a question of privilege cannot interrupt voting or verifying a vote.
A short intermission in a meeting, even while business is pending, can be proposed by moving to Recess for a specified length of time. It does not close the meeting and the pending business will resume at exactly the same point where it was interrupted. For example, a recess may be taken to secure information or to allow for informal consultation. The privileged motion to Recess is a motion that a recess begin immediately, made while another question is pending. A motion to Recess that is made when no question is pending (whether the recess is to begin immediately or at a future time) is a Main Motion, and the eight characteristics of the privileged motion do not apply to it. Consequently, a motion to Recess is privileged only when another question is pending; and a motion to take a recess at a future time is in order only when no question is pending. The privileged motion to Recess takes precedence over all subsidiary and incidental motions, and over all privileged motions except those to Adjourn and to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn. It also yields to any applicable incidental motions which may arise and which must be disposed of before it can be voted on. It is not applied to any motion. The subsidiary motion Previous Question can also be applied to it in order to prevent amendments being moved. No other subsidiary motion can be applied to it. It cannot interrupt a speaker, requires a second, is not debatable, is amendable as to the length of the recess (any such amendments are undebatable), requires a majority vote for adoption, and cannot be reconsidered.
A member can propose to close the meeting entirely by moving to Adjourn. This motion can be made and the assembly can adjourn even while business is pending, provided that the time for the next meeting is established by a rule of the organization or has been set by the assembly. In such a case, unfinished business is carried over to the next meeting. A motion to Adjourn may be a privileged or a main motion depending on a number of conditions. The privileged motion to adjourn is a motion to close the meeting immediately, made under conditions where some other provision for another meeting exists so that the adjournment will not have the effect of dissolving the assembly, and where no time for adjourning the present meeting has already been set. The motion to Adjourn takes precedence over all motions except the privileged motion to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn, but it is not in order while the assembly is engaged in voting or verifying a vote, or before the result of a vote has been announced by the chair. It also yields to any applicable incidental motions which may arise and which must be disposed of before the motion to Adjourn is voted on. It is not applied to any motion and no motion can be applied to it. It does not interrupt a speaker, must be seconded, is not debatable, is not amendable, requires a majority to adopt, and cannot be reconsidered.
Under certain conditions while business is pending, the assembly _____ before adjourning or postponing the pending business _____ may wish to fix a date and hour, and sometimes the place, for another meeting, or for another meeting before the next regular meeting. In such cases, the motion to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn can be made, even while a matter is pending, unless another meeting is already scheduled for the same or the next day. This is the highest ranking of all motions. It takes precedence over all other motions and yields to nothing, except that, while it is pending, certain incidental motions, such as Point of Order, may arise and can be disposed of, and the motion to Reconsider can be made, but not considered. The privileged motion to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn can be moved even after the assembly has voted to adjourn, provided that the chair has not yet declared the assembly adjourned. It is not applied to any motion. Motions to Amend can be applied to it. The Previous Question can also be moved on it to prevent amendments. It cannot interrupt a speaker, must be seconded, is not debatable, is amendable as to the date, hour, or place (such amendments are undebatable), requires a majority vote for adoption, and can be reconsidered. A motion to Fix the Time to Which to Adjourn is privileged only when it is made while a question is pending. Otherwise, it is a main motion and is debatable and subject to all of the other rules applicable to main motions. Next issue: Defining and ranking (if applicable) the incidental motions.