Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The Benefits of Holiness in a Pastor's Life

by Charles Spurgeon

At times we will find it a struggle to live holy, but ‘God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (1 Cor. 10:13b, nasb).

Consider the lasting benefits that Charles Spurgeon noted:
‘Sanctity in ministers is a loud call to sinners to repent, and when allied with holy cheerfulness it becomes wondrously attractive.’- from Lectures to My Students

'In holiness God is more clearly seen than in anything else.’- from Flashes of Thought

‘The serene, silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world, next to the might of the Spirit of God.’ - from Gathered Gold

‘Only sanctified souls are satisfied souls.’ - from An All-Round Ministry

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Strong Faith and Trials

by Charles Spurgeon

“God never gives strong faith without fiery trial; He will not build a strong ship without subjecting it to very mighty storms; He will not make you a mighty warrior if He does not intend to try your skill in battle. The sword of the Lord must be used; the blades of heaven must be smitten against the armor of the evil one, and yet they shall not break, for they are of true Jerusalem metal which shall never snap. We shall conquer, if we begin the battle in the right way. If we have sharpened our swords on the cross, we have nothing whatever to fear; for though we may be sometimes cast down and discomforted, we shall assuredly at last put to flight all our adversaries, for we are the sons of God even now. Why, then, should we fear? Who shall bid us ‘stay’ if God bid us advance?” - from Gleanings Among the Sheaves

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

ACTION/CGM Pastors Conference October 8, 2010

Pastor Steve Newman of First Baptist of Lodi, California gave a Men In Ministry Conference today, Friday, October 8, in Manila, Philippines under the direction of ACTION Philippines and Christian Growth Ministries (CGM).

The delegates came as early as 7:30 AM and the hall was almost full. A light breakfast was served while registration was completed. Many delegates expressed their thanks for the breakfast as many of them did not eat before coming to the conference. The delegates were from different parts of Metro Manila and from neighboring provinces. Three delegates came from the northern part of Luzon. There were approximately 110 people that registered and attended.

Rudy Ponce de Leon, a CGM Board Member and elder of San Juan Gospel Chapel, started the conference with a devotional talk. Pastor Steve Newman had four sessions, entitled Avoiding Temptations of Gold, Girls, and Glory; Lessons from Paul’s Address to the Ephesian Elders in Acts 20; the Roles of the Pastor: Servant leadership, Modeling, and Teacher; and Roles of the pastor: Shepherd, Trainer, and Encourager with two sessions each in the morning and afternoon.

The delegates received CLAIM/BookShare set # 47 including three books - Twelve Challenges Churches Face by Mark Dever, Galatians by Dr. Philip Ryken, and Love or Die by Alexander Strauch. These three books were just released by CLAIM (Christian Literature for Asians in Ministry), and the delegates of this conference were the first recipients of these excellent books.

Friday, October 1, 2010

What Does Scrooge Have to do With Christmas?

I recently read the wonderful Christmas story again in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in my “through the bible” reading program. Wonderful! Majestic! Glorious!

Let’s encourage our churches, pastors and music leaders to emphasize the true story of Christmas this year in their plays, dramas and presentations at Christmas, rather than music and dramas that may be entertaining, but have nothing to do with the Gospel of Christmas.

We argue in the US, Canada and the UK about the secularism of Christmas (doing away with nativity scenes, etc.), yet when people come to our Christmas programs, all they see many times are silly dramas, circus acts, dancing, ballets, and Scrooge (what in the world does Scrooge have to do with Christmas anyway, with its swearing).

There is nothing as majestic and glorious as Christmas music and the Christmas story of God coming to earth in the flesh of His Son Jesus! 

So, when people come to our Christmas program, let’s make sure it portrays the Gospel of Christ, and is not just entertaining as the world. “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.” (Galatians 4:4 nasb)