My lovely wife writes for ladies on her own blog located here at StandingForTruth.

I would encourage all Christian ladies to search the Scriptures with her in the pursuit of Godliness.

The Desert Pastor

Today’s mid-week encouragement is another song by Augustus M. Toplady, entitled A Debtor to Mercy Alone.

Romans 8:1-4, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing;
Nor fear, with Thy righteousness on, my person and off’ring to bring.
The terrors of law and of God with me can have nothing to do;
My Savior’s obedience and blood hide all my transgressions from view.

The work which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is Yea and Amen, and never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now, nor all things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forgo, or sever my soul from His love.

My name from the palms of His hands eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace.
Yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the earnest is giv’n;
More happy, but not more secure, the glorified spirits in Heav’n.

Praise be to our Lord Jehovah that covered in the garments of Christ’s righteousness that the terrors of law and the wrath of God will never have anything to do with His precious children, whom He has redeemed out of every tribe, kindred, people, and nations. Thanks to our God that all of our transgressions are hidden from view never to be remembered again because of the Saviour’s obedience and shedding of His blood.

Covered by the earnest of the Spirit,
The Desert Pastor

Who do you think that I AM? Eternity depends on the answer! Click here at GTY to read about the question!

It had been my desire to provide a source of encouragement on my blog, but the news today was more than I could handle and believe that the truth must be given forth here as well!!

QUOTE from FoxNews on May 13, 2008 with full article found HERE—-

“Evangelical leader John Hagee, one of John McCain’s highest-profile supporters from the religious right, has apologized for comments he made that were offensive to Catholics.

In a letter Monday to Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, Hagee wrote, “I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful.”

Pastor Hagee, leader of San Antonio’s Cornerstone Church, has often made references to “the apostate church” and the “great whore,” terms that Catholics say are slurs aimed at the Roman Catholic Church.

In his letter, Hagee said he now better understands that the Book of Revelation’s reference to the Catholic Church by those two terms are “a rhetorical device long employed in anti-Catholic literature and commentary.” (Emphasis added by The Desert Pastor)

“Neither of these phrases can be synonymous with the Catholic Church,” he wrote.” - END QUOTE

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Once again, another so-called evangelical has turned down the path towards the apostate church! Charles Spurgeon made a comment which in essence noted that once a church begins the downward slide toward apostasy, it rarely ever comes back from the brink of destruction!

John Hagee, one of the wonder-boys of evangelicalism for so long has now defected to the approval of the evil one and his minions which include all teachers of heresy and doctrine which damns souls to a Christ-less eternity. This DOES INCLUDE the Roman Catholic Church. (For further info on the heresy in the RCC, visit WordNVerse!

As a self-professed Protestant, he has decided the better option is to start back down the path which allows Protestants and Catholics to re-embrace, join hands for the better good, etc, etc, ad nauseum! The path so many are taking back to the harlot seen in Revelation is not really so worrying though because the Bible prophesies that in the end times these things would take place within the true professing church.

It is sad to see that a man who was well-respected and well-loved has sold out his flock, his ministry, and his testimony, and his own conscience for the sake of being accepted by the pope and the RCC. All for one and one for all — UNITY AT THE EXPENSE OF DOCTRINE!!!

For those true believers who are observant and watchful, may I recommend you keep your eyes to the skies as we wait for the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ for our redemption draws near! And it may be nearer than we believe! Praise be to the Almighty, the King of Creation!

Longing for my Lord Jesus Christ’s return,
The Desert Pastor

Mother’s Day is a very special day and when considering our earthly mothers, this hymn came to mind. No person who has ever been born had the privilege of selecting their parents with the sole exception of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the rest of us, we did not have our choice of a father or a mother. Human birth is not an evolutionary happenstance, but a miracle from God and children are an heritage from Him.

So too, it is when we are born into the family of God as true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God alone who did the choosing and did so out of His sovereign grace and mercy apart from anything He saw in us. He did NOT select us according to our good works or even because He saw that we would like Him enough to “make a decision for Christ.”

The hymn for this Lord’s Day encouragement was written by Josiah Conder in 1836. It is entitled, “‘Tis Not That I Did Choose Thee”. The son of an engraver and bookseller, Josiah wrote the lyrics to at least 59 hymns.

“Tis not that I did choose thee,
For, Lord, that could not be;
This heart would still refuse thee,
Hadst thou not chosen me.
Thou from the sin that stained me
Hast cleansed and set me free;
Of old thou hast ordained me,
That I should live to thee.

‘Twas sovereign mercy called me
And taught my op’ning mind;
The world had else enthralled me,
To heavenly glories blind.
My heart owns none before thee,
For thy rich grace I thirst;
This knowing, if I love thee,
Thou must have loved me first.”

I would also like to say that I am thankful for my own mother on this Mother’s Day. In England, we celebrate Mothering Sunday normally in March of every year. While Mothering Sunday has become today what Mother’s Day in the USA is for us, you can click on the link for the original history of the British holiday.

I am thankful for her love and care for me down through the years and am proud to call her my mother! I love you, mom, and a Happy Mother’s Day!

In conclusion, I am also thankful for my wife and the mother of our children. She is a very gracious God-send and a blessed helpmeet to me in every aspect of my life and that of my children. I love you, sweetheart!

Thankful for His Choosing,
The Desert Pastor

Sometimes, it is difficult to wait on the Lord! As frail creatures of clay, it seems easier to find strength in going to family, friends, church members, etc. to gain answers than to wait on the Almighty.

In my own life, I am finding myself being stretched and at times it feels almost unbearable. While I am fully aware of my need to lean on the Lord, more times than not I can find myself becoming discouraged or despondent. In a world that cares not for our Lord, but desires that we love that which is temporal, it is easy to be discouraged and take our eyes off of that which is eternal.

1. Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Refrain

Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.

2. Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Refrain

3. Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Refrain

It is at times like this when my heart is touched by the words and music of hymns such as this one entitled Under His Wings, written by William O. Cushing in 1896. But how much more comforting to hear the blessed words of Scripture such as Psalm 37:1-11.

“Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 ¶ Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret-it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

Learning to rest in the Almighty,
The Desert Pastor

On this Lord’s Day, 4 May 2008, may our hearts be encouraged by the words of this wonderful hymn written by Augustus M. Toplady. Many may know him as the author of the hymn Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me. The music for this beautiful hymn entitled How Vast the Benefits Divine may be found at CyberHymnal.Org.

“How vast the benefits divine
Which we in Christ possess!
We are redeemed from guilt and shame
And called to holiness.
But not for works which we have done,
Or shall hereafter do,
Hath God decreed on sinful men
Salvation to bestow.

“The glory, Lord, from first to last,
Is due to thee alone;
Aught to ourselves we dare not take,
Or rob thee of thy crown.
Our glorious Surety undertook
To satisfy for man,
And grace was given us in him
Before the world began.

“This is thy will, that in thy love
We ever should abide;
That earth and hell should not prevail
To turn thy Word aside.
Not one of all the chosen race
But shall to heav’n attain,
Partake on earth the purposed grace
And then with Jesus reign.”

We get wrapped up in what we think is supposed to happen around us or in our precious buildings instead of dealing with the issues of our hearts. Yes, many churches have kept their balance for years because of tradition just like the village of Anatevka, Russia, but sadly, they are more like the fiddler on the roof with his precarious position. I cannot help but wonder if God were to reveal the scales of balance to each of us whether we would be found tried and wanting.

Tradition takes a church, its pastor, and its members and destroys their first love. Should people desire to go to church, to sing good theologically correct hymns, to be careful how they act towards each other and in places of worship, to wear appropriate clothing that does not attract attention to one’s person — yes, yes, YES!!!

Is there anything wrong with the leadership choosing to use a certain hymnbook or Bible version or Sunday School material? Is there anything wrong with using just an organ, or a guitar, or a trumpet, or a violin? Is there anything wrong with wearing ladies wearing a hat or men wearing a suit? Is there anything wrong with a particular order or style of service? — no, no, NO!!!

The problem is when these items MUST be in place or it can’t be considered true worship. Or, they MUST be in place or your church can’t fellowship with our church! Or, they MUST be in place or your church is just not a spiritual center for truth! Or, they MUST be in place or your life will never amount to much in the service of God!

Pastors, we need to have our eyes focused solely on the Author and Finisher of our Faith – NOT the Author and Finisher of our Tradition! We need to preach Jesus Christ crucified and Him alone, not wishy-washy messages that extol how great our church traditions are! We need to step away from many of our traditions and ask ourselves if they please and glorify God or do they only exalt the well-intentioned meanings of fallen men and women? Are we willing to take a stand against the sleeping giants found in many of our churches?

Believers, we need to hold our leaders accountable for what is being preached. We all need to be Berean Christians to see whether those things being taught are from God’s Word or from a dusty, worn-out copy of “Our Standards and Practices.” We need to know that we have the Lord’s help and guidance in providing solace to those who come into our midst seeking the truth that the world cannot provide, not the tradition that restricts the truth of Scripture from being expounded for fear of how it may offend somebody!

Weary of the traditions of men!
The Desert Pastor

1. Ministering in one series of meetings near central UK, some very theologically hymns were sung. However, in more than one instance, I noted some of the older believers who instead of standing to sing would take note of the hymnwriter and if too modern would close their books and sit back down.

2. In many English churches, style of dress and the wearing of certain types of garments are more important than what is in the heart. I remember being told that I would not be welcome to even preach at certain churches if my wife did not wear a brimmed hat!

3. Traditions included what type and precise number of hymns was allowed, what version of the Bible, what time the children’s Sunday school would be, only organs could be used and in many places the music sounded like funeral dirges, no gospel appeal of any kind could be made (directly or indirectly even in the sermon), where a person was allowed to sit, ladies’ meetings attended mostly by the elderly in a manner that has continued just as it did when they started 75 years ago or more, reverence in the church hall for 5-10 minutes before service time, etc, etc.

In the USA, some of these same traditions exist but in various guises. Again, there is nothing necessarily wrong with some of these areas. But when tradition becomes so important as to exclude God from our plans or endeavors, or we seek to stifle and limit the working of the Holy Spirit within our midst for the sake of keeping a tradition because it was done that way for the last 25, 50, 80, 130 years or more, then tradition has become a sin.

It never ceases to amaze me when I watch old church members cluck their tongues with disregard towards a new believer ONLY because those new Christians or visitors do not know the established pattern of how things must be done! Yet those same self-righteous members are bitter at heart, struggle in their marriages, do not evidence the fruit of the Spirit, and then have the audacity to demand that all believers must “conform to the way things have always been or you will just not be considered as spiritual as I am!”

Sadly, the traditions are not just propagated by the members, but even by the pastors. Instead of teaching the entire counsel of God and encouraging all believers (young and old alike) to respect the Word of God, they encourage or condone or at the very least implicitly give their tacit approval for the stifling of church.

Pastors and members alike have forgotten that church is not about the traditions of men, but about a holy and righteous God. Never once in my entire ministry did I ever hear, “Pastor, we would be willing to grow together with you as we study the Word of God to see how we are to act amongst ourselves, how we are to act around the world, how we are conduct ourselves in a place of worship, and if it does not line up with our traditions – well, then we are willing to give the praise and glory and honour to the Lord Jesus Christ for helping us to see what was actually important in the light of eternity!”

(to be continued)

I concluded my last post by speaking about the movie The Fiddler on the Roof where the characters sing a song about Tradition. At one point right before the song starts, Tevye looks at the screen audience and states the Jews have been there for a very long time, always keep their heads covered and wear a prayer shawl to show their constant devotion to God.

He says, “You may ask, how did this tradition get started? Well, I will tell you!” After a brief pause, he shrugs his shoulders and says, “I don’t know, but it’s a tradition. And because of our traditions, everyone of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do!”

Earlier in his little introduction to the movie, Tevye notes, “Because of our tradition, we have kept our balance for many, many years! Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as…as…as a Fiddler on the Roof!”

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Vast numbers of churches have fallen prey to tradition. This aspect of church seems to hold more importance than what really matters to God and what is found in His Word. My concern is not to find unnecessary fault with some of the examples or traditions found in our churches, but to show the need for concern over what level those traditions not only keep us from biblical fellowship with our Heavenly Father and with other believers, but also from often being an effective witness to the world around us.

Without actually saying it, many believers live like Tevye and believe with all their heart that without the traditions of their churches in place, their lives and their church would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof! They believe it is through their tradition that they have kept their balance for many, many years!

In 1 Timothy 4, Paul reminds the young pastor, “In latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron and If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”

Traditions which weigh churches down can include the following which I have observed in England as well as in the US. Traditions often can be confused with a desire to follow Biblical principles and more times than not, these traditions can become an issue of the heart which robs the believer of their joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.

(to be continued)