All are invited to join us we thank the Lord for His goodness and pray for His blessings on this new building. The service will start at 2:00pm and there will be an open house following with cake and coffee.
That nation is the United States of America. A nation where untold numbers of people from other nations dreamed of making this nation their homeland.
Many immigrants came here to find freedom and opportunities. Most were successful. They were not afraid of work. For the most part, they were God fearing people.!
The founding fathers seemed to clearly make known their thoughts that our nation’s greatness was due to its relationship to God. For example, in 1778, James Madison, addressing the General Assembly of the State of Virginia said, “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.” In 1828, Noah Webster, wrote these words relative to George Washington: “Literary power and statesmanship were combined in George Washington, the greatest political leader of his time and also the greatest intellectual and moral force of the Revolutionary period. Everybody knows Washington as a quiet member of the Virginia Assenbly, of the two Continental Congresses and of the Constitutional Convention. Few people realize that he was also the most voluminous American writer of his period, and that his principles of government have had more influence on the development of the American commonwealth than those of any other man.” In 1781, Thomas Jefferson, in his notes on the State of Virginia said this, “God who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever;…” In 1783, George Washington sent in a letter to the governors of the states regarding disbanding the army. He wrote: “I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in His holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for brethren who have served in the field; and, finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.” Washington wrote in 1792. “I am sure there never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe, that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God, who is alone able to protect them.” In the original manuscript of his speech at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin said: “God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.”
The early pioneers of this country were strong in their faith and determined to maintain their freedom. A goal to “form a more perfect union” was no small challenge. In the early deliberations, little progress was being made to put in order those documents which would give its people liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and equal protection under the law. Benjamin Franklin rose to call that body of men to their knees to beg the favor of almighty God to assist them to accomplish their task. It is reported that there was a remarkable improvement in the further deliberations to form that more perfect union. For many years the United States of America was known as a Christian nation. Eventually the Supreme Court was called upon to determine if this nation was in fact a Christian nation. In order to correctly make such a declaration, they examined all documents that shed any light upon this question. For more than a year they researched these papers. At the end of this exhaustive search, a unanimous decision was rendered, declaring, this is a Christian nation!
The late Dr. James Kennedy in his preaching and writing, reported that in the very late 1800, more than 98% of our citizens professed to be Christians. Liberal theology began to drift into the pulpits of the United States from Europe. A rash of new bible translations began to appear. Most if not all were influenced by Westcot and Hort. Both the translators and the manuscripts used in these versions are not credible in the eyes of conservative scholars. The method used in translating the new versions were different from the translators of the Authorized or better known as the King James Version. Over time and liberal theology our nation is far different than it used to be. For example, as a young child I can never remember a door to our house being locked if we were at home or if we were gone even out of town or out of state. It is different now, we never leave the car unlocked and we dead bolt the door when we go inside the house. At school we never faced any physical danger unless we got slightly hurt on the playground at recess or lunch time. I remember on one occasion I was standing too close behind a batter and was hit in the socket of my eye as he swung the bat. I was carried home by one of my teachers but there was no ill effect to my eye. Now kids bring knives, guns, etc. In some schools a metal detector is there for each person to pass through daily. At more than one school we have had killings by fellow students. Morals are now practiced like animals and fowl on a barnyard level, unrestrained and public. Divorce must have become bothersome, so now they do not bother to get married. It is reported that more than 50% of all babies are born to unmarried mothers. Those couples that do marry, rather than divorce, will often murder their mate or hire someone else to do it. To those that read and study their bible or attend a bible believing fundamental church; should not be shocked at these things because God has, through the scriptures, already revealed that they would come.
CIRCUIT RIDER NEWS
By Dr. D. M. Hardison
Published 1st Qtr 2011
As we consider this subject that has caused much confusion and erroneous teaching in many quarters, we must recognize that God has operated, in what we call, dispensations. Each of these various time periods had their own unique way in which God continued to reveal himself and his will to mankind.
We must also remember that the printing press is a modern day invention. For this reason all the books were written by hand. It was not as simple to have access to the written word on bark from a certain kind of tree as it is today on paper. Due to this, the parchments were not as plentiful and as available as you and I have them today.
Please keep in mind that when we come to the New Testament, it is without question the most noticeable change among any of the other dispensations in the Old Testament. Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” The long promised seed of woman had come according to Genesis 3:15. The sign given virgin had fulfilled God’s promise in Isaiah 7:14. We see Jesus coming for a noble purpose, Galatians 4:5, “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” The scriptures express it this way, Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Take notice that Jesus used the same method that his disciples were to use and that is preaching that was mingled with miracles. Mark 1:14, 15, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
However, he had his face set like a flint towards the cross of Calvary where he was to be crucified for the sins of the world. 1 John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Message Empowered by Miracles
Not only did Jesus preach the gospel but he performed miracle after miracle. He healed the blind and the lame, he cast out demons, and he stilled the storms and even raised the dead.
Apostles Used Miracles
Jesus, knowing the brevity of time that he would be on this earth, gave power to the Apostles to continue performing miracles. Matthew 10:1, “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Acts 2:43, “And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”
Let me try to illustrate what I am trying to show you. Let us suppose that you have broken some law and a policeman saw you commit this act. He drives up in a marked car that has the word POLICE prominently painted on his vehicle, he steps out of the car in uniform, that indicates he is a policeman; do you think he would show you his badge in order to convince you of his authority? Of course that would not be necessary. On the other hand if he drove up in an unmarked car, and was wearing plain clothes; the first thing he would show you would be his badge. That would show you his authority to question you or even to arrest you. Please consider that same example and remember that the message the apostles are giving to their audience has no mention of law keeping, no command to bring a burnt offering and no hint about a priest. Don’t forget, they have no scripture that they can site to authenticate their message. You can see that it would be difficult to persuade them that this new message is true. So God provided them with the power to perform signs and wonders that convinced the people to believe.
The earliest book written in the New Testament was Matthew. The date of that book has been much discussed, but no convincing reason has been given for discrediting the traditional date of A.D. 37. The majority of the other New Testament books average around A.D. 60. The three Epistles of John are dated A.D. 90 and the book of Revelation A.D. 96. That means, for several decades, scripture was not available to verify the preaching and teaching of the earlier ministers.
Now when I preach and other men of God preach; we do so with a full Canon of Scriptures. We simply cite bible verses even from other books of the bible to confirm that which we are preaching is supported by God’s word.
These gifts are wrought by the all wise God as he sees fit. Hebrews 2:4, “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”
It seems quite clear to me that the Bible teaches that during a transition period from the law to grace or from law to the Church age; there would be signs and wonders that would act as proof of this message that must have been strange to all of those that worshiped God according to the dispensation that was ending.
All these gifts would end with those three exceptions; namely faith, hope, and charity. We are furthermore told when this would occur. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
It is absolutely clear that these sign gifts with the exception of three will cease. What then is that which is perfect that come? Of course Jesus is perfect but he had already come and had been crucified, buried, raised and returned to heaven. He will come again in the rapture. He will still be perfect. But consider what purpose would be served since all the saved will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air; to tell them that certain gifts would cease and others would not cease?
There was something else that would come that is perfect and much sooner. That would be the Word of God. That is the Canon of the scriptures would be completed. That would mean, no longer will signs be needed to authenticate the truth of the preaching and teaching but the very word of God would be their authority.
The passage continues, pointing out that when one is a child they think as a child and speak as a child; but as they become an adult, they put away childish things. This goes right along with the fact that the Church is in its very beginning and required special aids to come to maturity.
A few weeks ago our pastor at Tidewater Baptist Temple, Charles Pearson brought a very good message dealing with the ceasing of tongues. I commended him at the close of the service and shared with him I was planning to write in this issue of the Circuit Rider News on sign gifts but that I would emphasize the gift of healing.
If at the conclusion of this article you think that I am saying that God can no longer heal sick people you will have missed the point. God can heal anyone he chooses to heal. Let me put it this way, I believe in divine healing but I do not believe in divine healers. I can just as emphatically say that I believe that God could give the gift of a language to a missionary to witness to a lost heathen if he chose to do so.
It is obvious that during a period in the beginning of the New Testament Church; God gave power to perform miracles to the Apostles, to the Seventy, and to different members of the Church by the power of the Holy Ghost.
It is just as obvious that these gifts would cease with the exception of faith, hope, and charity. He even tells us when they would cease and named a number of the gifts that would not cease and declared that all the rest of them would cease.
Look at some that taught this error. The Pentecostal movement had its beginning in the early 1900’s. Aimee Semple McPherson, in her autobiography, taught that healing was guaranteed in the atonement. Gordon Lindsay, an Assemblies of God preacher, taught that it was a very serious offense to deny that divine healing is in the Atonement. A. A. Allen, Jack Coe, Oral Roberts and Benny Hinn are among the more well known faith healers of today.
In spite of the declaration of our Bible that most of the sign gifts would cease, including divine healing; many people flock to the meetings that claim to have the gift of healing.
There seems to be evidence in the scriptures that they did cease. I should have thought if the gift of healing was in use; Paul would have healed Epaphroditus that was such a help to him in the ministry, Philippians 2:25-27 We find that God spared his life but Paul had nothing to do with his recovery.
How about Trophimus? Paul left him behind because he was sick. 2 Timothy 4:20, “Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.” Even Paul’s beloved Timothy was sick but there was no gift of healing. 1 Timothy 5:23, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.”
Paul had a thorn in the flesh but had no gift of healing and sought healing from God but got no healing.
Starting June 12th, a class will be held Tuesday nights at Providence Baptist Church.
“Preaching and Teaching the Word of God”
Taught by Pastor Charles Pearson.
7:00-8:30pm
Classes will end July 31st. For further information, email church@tidewaterbaptist.org.
The Lord has greatly blessed us with this wonderful building. We welcome you to join us at any of our services and at our dedication service on Jan 13th at 2:00pm.
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