Like, Share or Tweet our page
6 3 8 8 1 3
Since January 18, 2015
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now f…
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58%…
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who we…
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit …
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the …
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that the…
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was se…
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in…
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now f…
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58%…
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who we…
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit …
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the …
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that the…
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was se…
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in…
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now f…
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58%…
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who we…
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit …
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the …
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that the…
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was se…
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in…
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now f…
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58%…
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who we…
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit …
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the …
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that the…
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was se…
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in…
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now f…
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58%…
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who we…
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit …
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the …
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that the…
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was se…
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in…
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now f…
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58%…
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who we…
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit …
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the …
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that the…
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was se…
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in…
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now felt it was time to bring it back home. The problem was that David did not consult spiritual authorities about how the cart was to be handled.
God had given specific instructions on how the Ark was to be handled by His people. Even though David’s intent was good, his actions resulted in the tragic death of one of those trying to help.
You may ask, “But didn’t the Philistines do the same thing? Didn’t they get away with it?”
Yes, but they were ignorant of the rules. Light creates responsibility. Every Hebrew child grew up understanding there were rules regarding the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, and the Ark of the Covenant.
For Christians, this is also true. If we have the light of the Gospel, we are held responsible for rejecting it and for not sharing it with those who have not heard it.
So David went to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant and bring it to Jerusalem, but he did it in the wrong way. The Ark had rings on the corners and was to be carried on poles on the shoulders by men dedicated to that task.
Friend, God wants the Gospel to go out today. He wants it to be carried by His own people, carried by a chosen priesthood, a peculiar people. “But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NASB)
David got it wrong. But he repented, and in verses 10 and following he did it the right way.
Will you bear the Gospel of the Lord in the right way?
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58% of those churches average 50 or less in attendance each week." He also said, "90% of those churches average 150 or less in attendance."
Most of the first group of churches have to make decisions whether to maintain their facilities or pay their ministers.
I find this encouraging. Why? Because God uses people, and churches where they are, with the resources they have. God has called us to be faithful at whatever stage we are in ministry or church life.
When the children of Israel stood with their backs to the Red Sea and heard the sound of horses and chariots of Egypt thundering toward them, they cried out, "Were there no graves left in Egypt that you have led us out here to die?"
"And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV)
Then, "And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” Exodus 14:15-18 (NKJV)
Read these words and listen to the heart of God, in verse 13, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD." The people of Israel thought, "This was surely the end. There is no hope. We are going to die here, and no one will ever know that we even existed."
I am on staff at one of those smaller in attendance churches. I know that God is not finished with us. Yes, hard decisions have to be made. But that is true in the big churches as well. The most important and most difficult decision we will ever make as a church is to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.
I know one thing above everything else. God used 11 men, the disciples minus Judas, to turn the world right side up. Twelve men, of whom all but one died as martyrs of the faith. They died horrible deaths, but their lives changed the world.
I know without a doubt that the Lord has a place for churches of all sizes in His work. I am now an old man. I have pastored churches with a total of only 12 members. I have pastored churches that averaged 150 in attendance. I thank God for each of those churches. Each of them had a part in making me who I am today. I have pastored churches that treated me like a king. That poured love into my life and my family. I have pastored hard churches that fought everything I tried to do. I thank God for each of them and know that they helped make me the man I am today. I made many mistakes in my life and ministry. But the God of the Bible is still my God today. He will still be my God tomorrow.
Like Moses, some of his time with the people of Israel was sweet, and some of it was like walking through a furnace heated seven times hotter than it was designed for. In all that time, God walked with him, guided him, and forgave him when he stumbled.
So to my church today, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. If you are a member of a church with 25 in attendance, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. If you are a church that is having to make hard decisions, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.
My God is faithful. He has a plan and purpose in your life and church. Trust Him. Lean on Him. He will not fail you. He will never forsake you.
If you do not know Christ as your Lord and Savior, I pray that you will hear my heart. That you will hear the heart of God. He loves you. He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants to give you hope and peace. He wants to be your shelter in a time of storm. Please visit our page https://passagesministries.org/the-most-important-question or our churches page http://eastonheights-tulsa.org/road-map-to-heaven for information on how to know Him.
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 (NASB)
“Attending” church is pretty much what it sounds like. Most churches will allow you to attend church services even if you are not a member. In fact, they’ll be delighted to have you, at whatever level of commitment you wish to make, for as long as you like. In many cases, you’ll be asked, maybe even gently pushed, to make a deeper commitment, but you can generally attend church indefinitely without “joining” or “belonging” to a church.
Judas attended every event in the ministry of Christ, but he never belonged.
John Mark, Barnabas’ nephew, went on Paul & Barnabas’ first mission trip he attended, he couldn’t take the pressure and abandoned the mission. This caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas. Paul insisted that John Mark not go on the next journey.
After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas, and left after being entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-41 (NASB)
If someone is just attending, it can be easy for them to be offended.
Belonging involves Covenant, Service, and Relationship
Covenant – Remember John Mark? Something really changed within Mark. One day he committed to belonging. As a result, in Paul’s later writing, he spoke about how valuable John Mark was to his ministry.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. Philemon 23-24 (NASB)
Service – Those who really belong get involved. They are willing to serve both inside and outside the church. They want the church to be a clean, welcoming place.
Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
2 Timothy 4:11 (NASB)
Relationship – Those who really belong develop relationships with others who belong. They are not just friendly, they are friends, they are family. They genuinely care when a brother or sister is hurting.
The song Family of God contains lyrics that say, “When one has a heartache, we all share the tears, and rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.”
Acting as a part of the body of Christ
You can still feel like an outsider, even when attending every service. Just like Judas.
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. John 12:4-6 (NASB)
Finding deep, meaningful community, Family. Just like John Mark
It takes commitment. The church is designed for belonging, not just attending.
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit was magical, but because God commanded:
"You shall not eat..." (Genesis 2:17 It created a moral boundary
Without a command to obey, there can be no obedience.
Without a choice to disobey, there can be no free will.
God wanted a loving relationship — not forced allegiance.
The tree defined God's authority
The tree taught Adam and Eve that
Satan's lie in Genesis 3 was
"You will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Meaning: "You will decide right and wrong for yourselves."
The tree exposed whether Adam and Eve would submit to God's moral authority
The tree revealed the consequences of sin
God used the tree to teach a spiritual law:
".. in the day you eat of it you shall surely die." [Genesis 2:17)
The tree was a visible reminder that sin brings death.
Its existence taught:
Conclusion
So why did God put the tree in the garden at all?
Here is the complete, biblically faithful answer:
The tree existed SO humans could follow God willingly, not automatically.
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
I just stumbled upon some memories. The find was prompted by a video I saw about an Automobile Museum in Ames, Oklahoma.
It reminded me of my childhood when I attended 1st and 2nd grade at Ames School. My father was the pastor of Eden Baptist Church, which is now an abandoned building (see picture attached).
When we were there, it had a beautiful steeple with an angel on the top of the spire. The fellowship hall was in the basement, and I remember many pleasant meals shared with other members of the church.
I remember jumping off the rail of the front porch, which was considered a rite of passage. When I landed on the ground, my knees buckled and came up and hit my chin. As a result, I bit my tongue so hard it was almost completely severed.
The parsonage was on the right side of the church building. Neither the church nor the parsonage had running water. We had a pitcher pump on a concrete slab behind the house. The outhouse, used both by our family and the church members, was behind the parsonage as well.
It was in that old church that I was baptized. My Sunday School teacher was Mrs. Bertha Compton. She taught us to listen to the Lord through Bible Study and prayer. She was a woman of great faith and a faithful servant of the Lord. All that she taught us reinforced the things that my parents taught me at home.
It breaks my heart to see the condition of the building today. But those old brick walls held the truth that became the foundation upon which I built my life.
I don’t know if you have memories of a faithful Sunday School teacher like Mrs. Compton. If you do then you had a great upbringing. I pray that you will remain faithful to the Lord and help others to find the path to everlasting life.
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that they never applied themselves to a higher purpose. Just as sad to see young people who have no goals, no motivation, and no passion to make improvements in their lives. Yet the saddest of all is to see Christians who have failed to grow spiritually.
Scripture is clear that growth and maturity is a process in which we become more like Christ. Each day provides opportunities to stretch and grow.
One of the greatest joys of life was witnessing the birth of my children. But how tragic it would be if those babies had not grown, learned to walk, or learned to talk. As they grew, we witnessed the wonder of them becoming mature young people who then became the parents of precious children of their own.
What is your goal, your purpose? Are you pressing toward God’s high calling through Christ? Are you bringing more new believers into God’s kingdom?
§§§§§§§§§§
Father, thank You for giving me a purpose and calling. Give me the strength and determination to attain what You have for me. Show me open doors that You give me to tell the story. Amen.
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was serving as a missionary to Japan. On January 1, 1907, he wrote the lyrics, which he called “My Creed.” He sent the lyrics to his mother and told her that it represented his philosophy of life. Even though he was only in his twenties, he wanted to share his creed with others. His mother knew how important this was to him because she knew that he had a weak heart.
Later, he joined the staff of the YMCA in India as an evangelist to the Muslim students in India. His doctors advised against it because of his health, but he was determined to live out his creed. He died in India at the age of 35 during the influenza epidemic.
His life was lived out in complete obedience to what he believed, no matter what the cost. He was an example of faith and faithfulness. We each need to live with that conviction and in obedience to God’s call on our lives.
§§§§§§§§§§
Father, I surrender my life in obedience to the call You have given me. I would be true in every area of my life so that others may come to know You and Your love. Amen.
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in the street?
I did not want the rooster to crow. I will never forget the last time I heard that sound.
I was standing outside the court. There were people all around. It seemed like everyone in the world was in the courtyard that night, and they were all looking at me.
Why did that servant girl have to speak up like that? Why did I deny that I knew my Lord?!
I had hurt the Lord so much. When they brought Him out, Jesus looked at me. Even so, there was no anger in His eyes. The Lord just seemed to know. It seemed like He understood. But how could anyone understand? I had denied the Lord!
But then came the sound of that rooster, crowing! What an awful sound! I never wanted to hear that sound again. It would just remind me that I had denied the Lord, just as He said I would.
Just days before, I had made such a fool of myself! When Jesus was telling us that He was going to have to die, I told the Lord that I would not let that happen. And yet I stood there unable to say anything for Him or to Him! I denied the Lord - not once or twice, but THREE TIMES!
How could my Lord ever forgive me? I will never forget that night. It has echoed in my heart as long as I have lived.
But there is another time I remembered, too. What a wonderful time it was. Jesus was standing there, right in the middle of the room. We could not believe it at first, but He was there! He was really there!
And do you know what? Jesus did not condemn me! He had really forgiven me. I will never understand why, but Jesus had already forgiven me.
————————
That is why we know that Jesus can forgive us. He forgave Simon Peter, who was just a little trouble-making stone. The Rock of our salvation forgave Peter! He will do the same thing for us if we ask Him to.
He is alive. He is alive, and I am forgiven.
© Copyright 1998 by Passages Ministries. All rights reserved.
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now felt it was time to bring it back home. The problem was that David did not consult spiritual authorities about how the cart was to be handled.
God had given specific instructions on how the Ark was to be handled by His people. Even though David’s intent was good, his actions resulted in the tragic death of one of those trying to help.
You may ask, “But didn’t the Philistines do the same thing? Didn’t they get away with it?”
Yes, but they were ignorant of the rules. Light creates responsibility. Every Hebrew child grew up understanding there were rules regarding the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, and the Ark of the Covenant.
For Christians, this is also true. If we have the light of the Gospel, we are held responsible for rejecting it and for not sharing it with those who have not heard it.
So David went to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant and bring it to Jerusalem, but he did it in the wrong way. The Ark had rings on the corners and was to be carried on poles on the shoulders by men dedicated to that task.
Friend, God wants the Gospel to go out today. He wants it to be carried by His own people, carried by a chosen priesthood, a peculiar people. “But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NASB)
David got it wrong. But he repented, and in verses 10 and following he did it the right way.
Will you bear the Gospel of the Lord in the right way?
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58% of those churches average 50 or less in attendance each week." He also said, "90% of those churches average 150 or less in attendance."
Most of the first group of churches have to make decisions whether to maintain their facilities or pay their ministers.
I find this encouraging. Why? Because God uses people, and churches where they are, with the resources they have. God has called us to be faithful at whatever stage we are in ministry or church life.
When the children of Israel stood with their backs to the Red Sea and heard the sound of horses and chariots of Egypt thundering toward them, they cried out, "Were there no graves left in Egypt that you have led us out here to die?"
"And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV)
Then, "And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” Exodus 14:15-18 (NKJV)
Read these words and listen to the heart of God, in verse 13, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD." The people of Israel thought, "This was surely the end. There is no hope. We are going to die here, and no one will ever know that we even existed."
I am on staff at one of those smaller in attendance churches. I know that God is not finished with us. Yes, hard decisions have to be made. But that is true in the big churches as well. The most important and most difficult decision we will ever make as a church is to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.
I know one thing above everything else. God used 11 men, the disciples minus Judas, to turn the world right side up. Twelve men, of whom all but one died as martyrs of the faith. They died horrible deaths, but their lives changed the world.
I know without a doubt that the Lord has a place for churches of all sizes in His work. I am now an old man. I have pastored churches with a total of only 12 members. I have pastored churches that averaged 150 in attendance. I thank God for each of those churches. Each of them had a part in making me who I am today. I have pastored churches that treated me like a king. That poured love into my life and my family. I have pastored hard churches that fought everything I tried to do. I thank God for each of them and know that they helped make me the man I am today. I made many mistakes in my life and ministry. But the God of the Bible is still my God today. He will still be my God tomorrow.
Like Moses, some of his time with the people of Israel was sweet, and some of it was like walking through a furnace heated seven times hotter than it was designed for. In all that time, God walked with him, guided him, and forgave him when he stumbled.
So to my church today, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. If you are a member of a church with 25 in attendance, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. If you are a church that is having to make hard decisions, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.
My God is faithful. He has a plan and purpose in your life and church. Trust Him. Lean on Him. He will not fail you. He will never forsake you.
If you do not know Christ as your Lord and Savior, I pray that you will hear my heart. That you will hear the heart of God. He loves you. He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants to give you hope and peace. He wants to be your shelter in a time of storm. Please visit our page https://passagesministries.org/the-most-important-question or our churches page http://eastonheights-tulsa.org/road-map-to-heaven for information on how to know Him.
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 (NASB)
“Attending” church is pretty much what it sounds like. Most churches will allow you to attend church services even if you are not a member. In fact, they’ll be delighted to have you, at whatever level of commitment you wish to make, for as long as you like. In many cases, you’ll be asked, maybe even gently pushed, to make a deeper commitment, but you can generally attend church indefinitely without “joining” or “belonging” to a church.
Judas attended every event in the ministry of Christ, but he never belonged.
John Mark, Barnabas’ nephew, went on Paul & Barnabas’ first mission trip he attended, he couldn’t take the pressure and abandoned the mission. This caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas. Paul insisted that John Mark not go on the next journey.
After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas, and left after being entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-41 (NASB)
If someone is just attending, it can be easy for them to be offended.
Belonging involves Covenant, Service, and Relationship
Covenant – Remember John Mark? Something really changed within Mark. One day he committed to belonging. As a result, in Paul’s later writing, he spoke about how valuable John Mark was to his ministry.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. Philemon 23-24 (NASB)
Service – Those who really belong get involved. They are willing to serve both inside and outside the church. They want the church to be a clean, welcoming place.
Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
2 Timothy 4:11 (NASB)
Relationship – Those who really belong develop relationships with others who belong. They are not just friendly, they are friends, they are family. They genuinely care when a brother or sister is hurting.
The song Family of God contains lyrics that say, “When one has a heartache, we all share the tears, and rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.”
Acting as a part of the body of Christ
You can still feel like an outsider, even when attending every service. Just like Judas.
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. John 12:4-6 (NASB)
Finding deep, meaningful community, Family. Just like John Mark
It takes commitment. The church is designed for belonging, not just attending.
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit was magical, but because God commanded:
"You shall not eat..." (Genesis 2:17 It created a moral boundary
Without a command to obey, there can be no obedience.
Without a choice to disobey, there can be no free will.
God wanted a loving relationship — not forced allegiance.
The tree defined God's authority
The tree taught Adam and Eve that
Satan's lie in Genesis 3 was
"You will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Meaning: "You will decide right and wrong for yourselves."
The tree exposed whether Adam and Eve would submit to God's moral authority
The tree revealed the consequences of sin
God used the tree to teach a spiritual law:
".. in the day you eat of it you shall surely die." [Genesis 2:17)
The tree was a visible reminder that sin brings death.
Its existence taught:
Conclusion
So why did God put the tree in the garden at all?
Here is the complete, biblically faithful answer:
The tree existed SO humans could follow God willingly, not automatically.
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
I just stumbled upon some memories. The find was prompted by a video I saw about an Automobile Museum in Ames, Oklahoma.
It reminded me of my childhood when I attended 1st and 2nd grade at Ames School. My father was the pastor of Eden Baptist Church, which is now an abandoned building (see picture attached).
When we were there, it had a beautiful steeple with an angel on the top of the spire. The fellowship hall was in the basement, and I remember many pleasant meals shared with other members of the church.
I remember jumping off the rail of the front porch, which was considered a rite of passage. When I landed on the ground, my knees buckled and came up and hit my chin. As a result, I bit my tongue so hard it was almost completely severed.
The parsonage was on the right side of the church building. Neither the church nor the parsonage had running water. We had a pitcher pump on a concrete slab behind the house. The outhouse, used both by our family and the church members, was behind the parsonage as well.
It was in that old church that I was baptized. My Sunday School teacher was Mrs. Bertha Compton. She taught us to listen to the Lord through Bible Study and prayer. She was a woman of great faith and a faithful servant of the Lord. All that she taught us reinforced the things that my parents taught me at home.
It breaks my heart to see the condition of the building today. But those old brick walls held the truth that became the foundation upon which I built my life.
I don’t know if you have memories of a faithful Sunday School teacher like Mrs. Compton. If you do then you had a great upbringing. I pray that you will remain faithful to the Lord and help others to find the path to everlasting life.
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that they never applied themselves to a higher purpose. Just as sad to see young people who have no goals, no motivation, and no passion to make improvements in their lives. Yet the saddest of all is to see Christians who have failed to grow spiritually.
Scripture is clear that growth and maturity is a process in which we become more like Christ. Each day provides opportunities to stretch and grow.
One of the greatest joys of life was witnessing the birth of my children. But how tragic it would be if those babies had not grown, learned to walk, or learned to talk. As they grew, we witnessed the wonder of them becoming mature young people who then became the parents of precious children of their own.
What is your goal, your purpose? Are you pressing toward God’s high calling through Christ? Are you bringing more new believers into God’s kingdom?
§§§§§§§§§§
Father, thank You for giving me a purpose and calling. Give me the strength and determination to attain what You have for me. Show me open doors that You give me to tell the story. Amen.
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was serving as a missionary to Japan. On January 1, 1907, he wrote the lyrics, which he called “My Creed.” He sent the lyrics to his mother and told her that it represented his philosophy of life. Even though he was only in his twenties, he wanted to share his creed with others. His mother knew how important this was to him because she knew that he had a weak heart.
Later, he joined the staff of the YMCA in India as an evangelist to the Muslim students in India. His doctors advised against it because of his health, but he was determined to live out his creed. He died in India at the age of 35 during the influenza epidemic.
His life was lived out in complete obedience to what he believed, no matter what the cost. He was an example of faith and faithfulness. We each need to live with that conviction and in obedience to God’s call on our lives.
§§§§§§§§§§
Father, I surrender my life in obedience to the call You have given me. I would be true in every area of my life so that others may come to know You and Your love. Amen.
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in the street?
I did not want the rooster to crow. I will never forget the last time I heard that sound.
I was standing outside the court. There were people all around. It seemed like everyone in the world was in the courtyard that night, and they were all looking at me.
Why did that servant girl have to speak up like that? Why did I deny that I knew my Lord?!
I had hurt the Lord so much. When they brought Him out, Jesus looked at me. Even so, there was no anger in His eyes. The Lord just seemed to know. It seemed like He understood. But how could anyone understand? I had denied the Lord!
But then came the sound of that rooster, crowing! What an awful sound! I never wanted to hear that sound again. It would just remind me that I had denied the Lord, just as He said I would.
Just days before, I had made such a fool of myself! When Jesus was telling us that He was going to have to die, I told the Lord that I would not let that happen. And yet I stood there unable to say anything for Him or to Him! I denied the Lord - not once or twice, but THREE TIMES!
How could my Lord ever forgive me? I will never forget that night. It has echoed in my heart as long as I have lived.
But there is another time I remembered, too. What a wonderful time it was. Jesus was standing there, right in the middle of the room. We could not believe it at first, but He was there! He was really there!
And do you know what? Jesus did not condemn me! He had really forgiven me. I will never understand why, but Jesus had already forgiven me.
————————
That is why we know that Jesus can forgive us. He forgave Simon Peter, who was just a little trouble-making stone. The Rock of our salvation forgave Peter! He will do the same thing for us if we ask Him to.
He is alive. He is alive, and I am forgiven.
© Copyright 1998 by Passages Ministries. All rights reserved.
Are You Doing It God’s Way?
By John BJ Hall
There is a wrong way to serve God and a right way to serve God.
In 2 Samuel 6, King David decided to honor God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Philistines had captured the Ark in their perpetual wars with Israel. David now felt it was time to bring it back home. The problem was that David did not consult spiritual authorities about how the cart was to be handled.
God had given specific instructions on how the Ark was to be handled by His people. Even though David’s intent was good, his actions resulted in the tragic death of one of those trying to help.
You may ask, “But didn’t the Philistines do the same thing? Didn’t they get away with it?”
Yes, but they were ignorant of the rules. Light creates responsibility. Every Hebrew child grew up understanding there were rules regarding the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, and the Ark of the Covenant.
For Christians, this is also true. If we have the light of the Gospel, we are held responsible for rejecting it and for not sharing it with those who have not heard it.
So David went to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant and bring it to Jerusalem, but he did it in the wrong way. The Ark had rings on the corners and was to be carried on poles on the shoulders by men dedicated to that task.
Friend, God wants the Gospel to go out today. He wants it to be carried by His own people, carried by a chosen priesthood, a peculiar people. “But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NASB)
David got it wrong. But he repented, and in verses 10 and following he did it the right way.
Will you bear the Gospel of the Lord in the right way?
By John BJ Hall
“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD."
I just watched a podcast from First Baptist Church, Durant, Oklahoma, in which Dr. Todd Fischer (Executive Director, Treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists) said, "We have 1,700 Oklahoma Southern Baptist Churches. 58% of those churches average 50 or less in attendance each week." He also said, "90% of those churches average 150 or less in attendance."
Most of the first group of churches have to make decisions whether to maintain their facilities or pay their ministers.
I find this encouraging. Why? Because God uses people, and churches where they are, with the resources they have. God has called us to be faithful at whatever stage we are in ministry or church life.
When the children of Israel stood with their backs to the Red Sea and heard the sound of horses and chariots of Egypt thundering toward them, they cried out, "Were there no graves left in Egypt that you have led us out here to die?"
"And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV)
Then, "And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” Exodus 14:15-18 (NKJV)
Read these words and listen to the heart of God, in verse 13, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD." The people of Israel thought, "This was surely the end. There is no hope. We are going to die here, and no one will ever know that we even existed."
I am on staff at one of those smaller in attendance churches. I know that God is not finished with us. Yes, hard decisions have to be made. But that is true in the big churches as well. The most important and most difficult decision we will ever make as a church is to stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.
I know one thing above everything else. God used 11 men, the disciples minus Judas, to turn the world right side up. Twelve men, of whom all but one died as martyrs of the faith. They died horrible deaths, but their lives changed the world.
I know without a doubt that the Lord has a place for churches of all sizes in His work. I am now an old man. I have pastored churches with a total of only 12 members. I have pastored churches that averaged 150 in attendance. I thank God for each of those churches. Each of them had a part in making me who I am today. I have pastored churches that treated me like a king. That poured love into my life and my family. I have pastored hard churches that fought everything I tried to do. I thank God for each of them and know that they helped make me the man I am today. I made many mistakes in my life and ministry. But the God of the Bible is still my God today. He will still be my God tomorrow.
Like Moses, some of his time with the people of Israel was sweet, and some of it was like walking through a furnace heated seven times hotter than it was designed for. In all that time, God walked with him, guided him, and forgave him when he stumbled.
So to my church today, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. If you are a member of a church with 25 in attendance, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. If you are a church that is having to make hard decisions, I say stand still and see the salvation of the LORD.
My God is faithful. He has a plan and purpose in your life and church. Trust Him. Lean on Him. He will not fail you. He will never forsake you.
If you do not know Christ as your Lord and Savior, I pray that you will hear my heart. That you will hear the heart of God. He loves you. He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants to give you hope and peace. He wants to be your shelter in a time of storm. Please visit our page https://passagesministries.org/the-most-important-question or our churches page http://eastonheights-tulsa.org/road-map-to-heaven for information on how to know Him.
By John BJ Hall
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 (NASB)
“Attending” church is pretty much what it sounds like. Most churches will allow you to attend church services even if you are not a member. In fact, they’ll be delighted to have you, at whatever level of commitment you wish to make, for as long as you like. In many cases, you’ll be asked, maybe even gently pushed, to make a deeper commitment, but you can generally attend church indefinitely without “joining” or “belonging” to a church.
Judas attended every event in the ministry of Christ, but he never belonged.
John Mark, Barnabas’ nephew, went on Paul & Barnabas’ first mission trip he attended, he couldn’t take the pressure and abandoned the mission. This caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas. Paul insisted that John Mark not go on the next journey.
After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas, and left after being entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-41 (NASB)
If someone is just attending, it can be easy for them to be offended.
Belonging involves Covenant, Service, and Relationship
Covenant – Remember John Mark? Something really changed within Mark. One day he committed to belonging. As a result, in Paul’s later writing, he spoke about how valuable John Mark was to his ministry.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. Philemon 23-24 (NASB)
Service – Those who really belong get involved. They are willing to serve both inside and outside the church. They want the church to be a clean, welcoming place.
Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
2 Timothy 4:11 (NASB)
Relationship – Those who really belong develop relationships with others who belong. They are not just friendly, they are friends, they are family. They genuinely care when a brother or sister is hurting.
The song Family of God contains lyrics that say, “When one has a heartache, we all share the tears, and rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.”
Acting as a part of the body of Christ
You can still feel like an outsider, even when attending every service. Just like Judas.
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. John 12:4-6 (NASB)
Finding deep, meaningful community, Family. Just like John Mark
It takes commitment. The church is designed for belonging, not just attending.
Author Unknown
God created the tree to give humans a REAL choice
Love is only real if it is freely chosen.
The tree served as the test of obedience, not because the fruit was magical, but because God commanded:
"You shall not eat..." (Genesis 2:17 It created a moral boundary
Without a command to obey, there can be no obedience.
Without a choice to disobey, there can be no free will.
God wanted a loving relationship — not forced allegiance.
The tree defined God's authority
The tree taught Adam and Eve that
Satan's lie in Genesis 3 was
"You will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Meaning: "You will decide right and wrong for yourselves."
The tree exposed whether Adam and Eve would submit to God's moral authority
The tree revealed the consequences of sin
God used the tree to teach a spiritual law:
".. in the day you eat of it you shall surely die." [Genesis 2:17)
The tree was a visible reminder that sin brings death.
Its existence taught:
Conclusion
So why did God put the tree in the garden at all?
Here is the complete, biblically faithful answer:
The tree existed SO humans could follow God willingly, not automatically.
By John BJ Hall
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
I just stumbled upon some memories. The find was prompted by a video I saw about an Automobile Museum in Ames, Oklahoma.
It reminded me of my childhood when I attended 1st and 2nd grade at Ames School. My father was the pastor of Eden Baptist Church, which is now an abandoned building (see picture attached).
When we were there, it had a beautiful steeple with an angel on the top of the spire. The fellowship hall was in the basement, and I remember many pleasant meals shared with other members of the church.
I remember jumping off the rail of the front porch, which was considered a rite of passage. When I landed on the ground, my knees buckled and came up and hit my chin. As a result, I bit my tongue so hard it was almost completely severed.
The parsonage was on the right side of the church building. Neither the church nor the parsonage had running water. We had a pitcher pump on a concrete slab behind the house. The outhouse, used both by our family and the church members, was behind the parsonage as well.
It was in that old church that I was baptized. My Sunday School teacher was Mrs. Bertha Compton. She taught us to listen to the Lord through Bible Study and prayer. She was a woman of great faith and a faithful servant of the Lord. All that she taught us reinforced the things that my parents taught me at home.
It breaks my heart to see the condition of the building today. But those old brick walls held the truth that became the foundation upon which I built my life.
I don’t know if you have memories of a faithful Sunday School teacher like Mrs. Compton. If you do then you had a great upbringing. I pray that you will remain faithful to the Lord and help others to find the path to everlasting life.
By John BJ Hall
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
§§§§§§§§§§
Many people go through life without ever realizing their full potential. Think of people, in the winter of life, who look back only to discover that they never applied themselves to a higher purpose. Just as sad to see young people who have no goals, no motivation, and no passion to make improvements in their lives. Yet the saddest of all is to see Christians who have failed to grow spiritually.
Scripture is clear that growth and maturity is a process in which we become more like Christ. Each day provides opportunities to stretch and grow.
One of the greatest joys of life was witnessing the birth of my children. But how tragic it would be if those babies had not grown, learned to walk, or learned to talk. As they grew, we witnessed the wonder of them becoming mature young people who then became the parents of precious children of their own.
What is your goal, your purpose? Are you pressing toward God’s high calling through Christ? Are you bringing more new believers into God’s kingdom?
§§§§§§§§§§
Father, thank You for giving me a purpose and calling. Give me the strength and determination to attain what You have for me. Show me open doors that You give me to tell the story. Amen.
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
§§§§§§§§§§
Howard Walter was serving as a missionary to Japan. On January 1, 1907, he wrote the lyrics, which he called “My Creed.” He sent the lyrics to his mother and told her that it represented his philosophy of life. Even though he was only in his twenties, he wanted to share his creed with others. His mother knew how important this was to him because she knew that he had a weak heart.
Later, he joined the staff of the YMCA in India as an evangelist to the Muslim students in India. His doctors advised against it because of his health, but he was determined to live out his creed. He died in India at the age of 35 during the influenza epidemic.
His life was lived out in complete obedience to what he believed, no matter what the cost. He was an example of faith and faithfulness. We each need to live with that conviction and in obedience to God’s call on our lives.
§§§§§§§§§§
Father, I surrender my life in obedience to the call You have given me. I would be true in every area of my life so that others may come to know You and Your love. Amen.
By John BJ Hall
I had gone to bed that night, but I was sure I did not sleep. My heart was filled with tears, and I knew that if I closed my eyes, I would lose control.
I lay there for what seemed like forever, but the sun refused to shine. Surely, it was morning. But why were there no sounds in the street?
I did not want the rooster to crow. I will never forget the last time I heard that sound.
I was standing outside the court. There were people all around. It seemed like everyone in the world was in the courtyard that night, and they were all looking at me.
Why did that servant girl have to speak up like that? Why did I deny that I knew my Lord?!
I had hurt the Lord so much. When they brought Him out, Jesus looked at me. Even so, there was no anger in His eyes. The Lord just seemed to know. It seemed like He understood. But how could anyone understand? I had denied the Lord!
But then came the sound of that rooster, crowing! What an awful sound! I never wanted to hear that sound again. It would just remind me that I had denied the Lord, just as He said I would.
Just days before, I had made such a fool of myself! When Jesus was telling us that He was going to have to die, I told the Lord that I would not let that happen. And yet I stood there unable to say anything for Him or to Him! I denied the Lord - not once or twice, but THREE TIMES!
How could my Lord ever forgive me? I will never forget that night. It has echoed in my heart as long as I have lived.
But there is another time I remembered, too. What a wonderful time it was. Jesus was standing there, right in the middle of the room. We could not believe it at first, but He was there! He was really there!
And do you know what? Jesus did not condemn me! He had really forgiven me. I will never understand why, but Jesus had already forgiven me.
————————
That is why we know that Jesus can forgive us. He forgave Simon Peter, who was just a little trouble-making stone. The Rock of our salvation forgave Peter! He will do the same thing for us if we ask Him to.
He is alive. He is alive, and I am forgiven.
© Copyright 1998 by Passages Ministries. All rights reserved.