HBlog Charles Jr.

Would You Pass The Salt, Please?

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:42:00 +0000

God willing, I will resume my study of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) this coming Lord's Day.

On the first Sunday of July, I finished our mini-series on the beatitudes of Jesus. The next portion of Jesus' famous sermon is recorded in Matthew 5:13-16. In these verses, Jesus explains how we can maximize our impact and influence for the kingdom of heaven with two word pictures: salt and light. It is my plan to preach these two passages separately.

This Sunday, I plan to preach on Matthew 5:13: "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet" (ESV).

Pray for me. Pray for those who will hear the exposition of God's word at MSMBC this coming Sunday.

A Critical Point about Divine Guidance

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:05:00 +0000

This morning, I had a conversation with a trusted mentor and cherished friend. I called him to seek his advice. Little did I know, he was planning to call me on an unrelated matter. As always, this friend's advice proved to be insightful, challenging, and encouraging. He listened. He spoke carefully about the subject, but freely about his view of me. It was just the kind of conversation I needed to have today. God is good!

By the way - and I know this is absolutely none of my business - but I hope that you have godly, trustworthy people in your life who can give you biblically sound, Christ-centered, and spiritually wise counsel. All of us, no matter how mature a Christian you are, all of us have "blind-spots" in our lives. You know what blind spots are, don't you? They are things that sit outside of your line of sight as you are driving. And you need a different perspective, usually this means looking over your shoulder before changing lanes, to keep from having a collision. Likewise, godly and trusted friends are gifts from God to help you to see what you cannot see on your own.

I love the way this principle is stated in Proverbs 27:6 - "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy" (ESV). I love that verse! It literally says that it is better to be hurt by a friend than to be kissed by an enemy. Or to put it another way, enemies stab you behind your back. But friends stab you face-to-face. And this is a good thing. Your best friends are not just the ones who give you the pat on the back. They are the ones who sometimes put a finger in your face at times and say some tough things to you in love.

But I digress...

At the end of our conversation, my friend said he needed to give me one final word of advice before we got off the phone. Of course, I was eager to hear whatever he had to say. Then he stabbed me. In love. He warned me to remember that - here comes the blade - "God does not confirm our doubts." If you ask God for wisdom and guidance, he argued, God will surely give it. But God is not in the business of confirming our doubts for us. As he leads, he will give you conviction about what is right and pleasing to him. However, along with the conviction, there will be doubts. But God usually does not remove all the doubts before he leads us forward. We must go forward in faith, with a sense of conviction concerning God's will for us.

God used my friend to help me today as I wrestle with a personal matter. But I could not dare be stingy with such a gift. I am sure that I am not the only one who needs this word. What are you wrestling with today? Let me share this important road sign to help you find your place in God's will: "God does not confirm our doubts."

Or, if you don't want to receive this counsel from my friend, let me give it to you in the words of Solomon: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The Difference Prayer Makes

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:49:00 +0000

One of the discussion questions in our small group meeting tonight was, "What difference does prayer make in your life?" One sister answered, simply, "It's the difference between a good day and a bad day." She explained that prayer makes all the difference in her day, even though it may not change the details of the day. Prayer makes the difference in how I respond to the circumstances of my day, she said.

This dear sister was absolutely right.

Indeed, there are times when God responds to our prayers by direct, divine intervention that changes things in our lives in dramatic ways. But there are other times - most of the time, I would say - when God responds to prayer by changing us rather than (or before he) changes our circumstances.

This is what Philippians 4:6-7 teaches: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (ESV).

This is God's answer for your anxieties. We are to be anxious for nothing. We are to pray about everything. Rather than letting our circumstances strangle us with mixed emotions, we should make our requests known to God with thanksgiving. And Philippians 4:7 promises that God will answer prayer. However, it does not promise divine intervention. It promises divine insulation. It does not promise that God will guard your health, family, or career if you pray. It declares that the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

This is the difference prayer makes. So even when prayer does not seem to be making any difference in your situation, don't stop praying. When you pray, God may not fix all of your problems, but he will give you strength and peace and wisdom to trust and obey, no matter what the problem may be.

The bottom-line is that God is always more concerned about what is going on within you than what is going on around you. Or to you. Or against you. Your internal disposition is always more important than your external circumstances. Be sure, God is ready and willing and able to change things in your life. But until he does - or even if he does not - trust him to provide his peace as a spiritual "climate control" system, so that you may have peace within while the storm is raging all around you.

Remember, Isaiah 26:3-4 is still true: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Notes from Sunday - 07/13/08

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:17:00 +0000

Yesterday, I preached at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.

This was my second time preaching at Shiloh. And, once again, the congregation received my ministry very warmly. I pray that the messages ministered to the congregation in a helpful way. May God grant the increase.

I preached two messages - Job 1 at 8 AM; Genesis 50 at 10 AM.

For some reason, I was much more relaxed in the second meeting. But I was able to say most of what I felt I should say in both services.

I lost my voice in the middle of my first sermon. But the Lord gave me the strength to get through the second message. At this point, I think it's a conspiracy. Microphones. Argh!

I missed being in my own pulpit. I look forward to resuming my study of the Sermon on the Mount this coming Sunday.

Being out of my regular Sunday morning routine makes it difficult to get ready to preach.

My friend, Pastor Elliot Ivey, who leads the New Beginnings Baptist Church in Oakland, filled in for me at MSMBC. And all the reports I have received have been about the great blessing "Poison" Ivey was to the congregation in both services. George said there was a "revival" feel in the services. My little sister warned me that I better get home quickly, before I won't have a church anymore. Praise God for a great day in my absence!

Pastor Ivey is one of the very fine young preachers in our country. I get to call him a "young preacher," because I am several years older than he is. But Ivey is a mature, strong, and gifted preacher that you will hear much about in the months and years to come. God is using him in a great way around the country.

I got back to the room after church. Took off my suit. Put on my trunks. And jumped in the pool for an hour. That's a first. But it was cool. HBC3 swims well. Natalie is just starting to get comfortable in the water. Hailey swims better than her mother!

Last night, Trey, Natalie, and I ditched Crystal and Hailey to catch a movie. Popcorn!

Crystal and the kids got hungry late last night. So we out for a late, gourmet meal. We went to the Waffle House!

Yesterday concluded a week of hanging out in Jacksonville. My family and I have been shown great kindnesses this past week by many people. We are very grateful.

Several times this week, we got caught in sudden, afternoon thunderstorms. We literally saw "the storm clouds roll." I thought that only happened in old Gospel songs.

This morning, my family and I have two long flights back to Los Angeles. Please pray that God may grant us safe passage home.

The Hardest Prayer You Will Ever Pray

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:43:00 +0000

I am reading The Incredible Journey of Faith by Ray Pritchard. It is small work. But it is taking me some time to read it. It seems that every couple of pages, I stumble over some statement that I am forced to wrestle with before I can go on. It happened to me again last night, as I was reading a chapter that focuses on a petition of the model prayer: "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10b). Pritchard calls this petition that hardest prayer you will ever pray. And I agree with him. For many reasons, this is a difficult prayer to pray sincerely, confidently, and joyfully. Invariably, it will cost you to pray with prayer. It costs Jesus when he prayed this prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. And it will cost you. But this prayer is worth what it costs. Consider the alternative. It's either God's will or your will. And if you think your will for your life is the prevailing reality, you are deceived. And if you think that your will for your life is what it most important, you are even more deceived. God's will is going to be done. And God's will is wise, even when it seems illogical. God's will is good, even when it hurts. And God's will is successful, even when you have to lose some stuff to trust and obey God. Pritchard writes:

When we ask that God's will be done, we are implicitly asking that our will be overturned, if necessary. (p. 55)

Indeed, to pray this pray is to acknowledge that you are not really in control in the first place. The sooner we acknowledge and embrace the fact that God is in control and has the last word over our lives - including the things that we hold on to so tightly - the more free and fulfilling our lives will be.

So many of us go through life with a clenched fist, trying to control the uncontrollable, trying to mastermind all the circumstances, trying to make our plans work. So we hold tightly to the things we value - our career, our reputation, our happiness, our health, our children, our education, our wealth, our possession, even our mates. We even hold tightly to life itself. But those things we hold so tightly never really belonged to us in the first place. They always belong to God. He loaned them to us, and when the time comes he will take them back again. Happy are those people who hold lightly the things they value greatly. (pp. 67-68)

Listening For The Next Word

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:57:00 +0000

A friend of mine called me last week to check on me. During the conversation, he affirmed that he was and is covering me with believing prayer. Specifically, he said that he was praying that I would be able to hear "the next word." Of course, I asked what that statement meant. He then referenced Genesis chapter 22. He went on to explain. But I already knew the point he was trying to make. I have another friend who has often used Genesis 22 to warn me not to kill Isaac prematurely or unnecessarily.

Genesis 22 records the story in which the Lord commanded Abraham to offer his son Isaac on one of the mountains of Moriah. This is an incredible request. But the Bible says that Abraham arose early the next morning to obey the Lord's command. After traveling for three days, Abraham came to the place where the Lord commanded him to go. And as he and Isaac climbed the mountain, Isaac asked, "Dad, what's missing? I see the wood. And I have the fire. But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "Son, God will provide himself a lamb for the burnt offering."

Abraham trusted and obeyed, even though he had no idea what God was up to. And just as he was about to take his son's life, Abraham heard the Lord say, "Stay your hand." This was the second major command the Lord gave to Abraham in Genesis 22. And it is just as important as the first word. You see, this whole experience was just a test of Abraham's faith, obedience, and devotion. The Lord wanted to see what was more important to Abraham - his God or his son. When Abraham passed the test, God gave him the next word: stay your hand.

What radical thing is the Lord calling you to do? What impossible command has the Lord issue to you? What "Isaac" in your life has the Lord told you to sacrifice? Whatever it is, trust and obey. But as you do so, keep listening for the next word. The Lord does not want to take away what he has promised to you. He just doesn't want you to allow your blessings to become more important than him. So do what the Lord has told you to do. But keep listening for the next word.

The Joy of Persecution

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:40:00 +0000

Jesus said to be happy when we’re persecuted. Persecution can be good because: (1) it takes our eyes off earthly rewards, (2) it strips away superficial believers, (3) it strengthens the faith of those who endure, and (4) it serves as an example to others who may follow us. We can be comforted to know that God’s greatest prophets were persecuted in the past (Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel). Our persecution in the present means we have shown ourselves to be faithful. In the future God will reward the faithful by letting them enter his eternal kingdom where there is no more persecution. – The Life Application Bible, p. 1332

I concluded our study of the beatitudes of Jesus this past Sunday with a message on Mathew 5:10-12. It is a ironic, radical, and paradoxical statement in which Jesus declares those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are blessed.

Here is the sermon skeleton:

Title: "The Joy of Persecution"

Title: Matthew 5:10-12

Theme: The blessedness of Christian persecution

Point: God blesses those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.

Outline:

I. The reality of persecution

    A. You will be reviled: "Blessed are you when others revile you" (5:11)

    B. You will be persecuted: "and persecute you" (5:11)

    C. You will be slandered: "and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account" (5:11)

II. The reasons for persecution

    A. Persecution can arise because of your obedience to the word of God: "for righteousness' sake" (5:10)

    B. Persecution can arise because of your devotion to the Son of God: "on my account" (5:11)

III. The response to persecution

    A. The response: "rejoice and be glad" (5:12)

    B. The reasons:

       1. Look back and rejoice: "for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (5:12)

       2. Look up and rejoice: "for your reward in heaven is great" (5:12)

Notes from Sunday - 07/06/08

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:09:00 +0000

Yesterday was a great day of worship and fellowship at MSMBC.

Communion Sunday is always a special time in the life of our congregation. Yesterday was no exception.

The attendance was good yesterday, even though it was a holiday weekend.

Some of our summer small-groups and Sunday school classes kicked-off yesterday. There are four or five groups that will meet at different places around the campus during our two worship services.

My assistant, George Hurtt, made it home safely from his short-term missions trip to Haiti this past week. Praise the Lord for blessing his labors and bringing him safely too us.

I met a guest who is in town from Chicago for the next month. Her pastor, my friend Romell Williams, recommended that she attend our church while she is in Los Angeles. Cool.

I guess it was throw-back Sunday at MSMBC and nobody told me. One of the selections the choir sung is, "We've Come to Praise Him." When I was a boy, choirs used to march in on this song. Do you remember when choirs used to march in?

I finished our little "mini-series" on the beatitudes of Jesus in Matthew 5:3-12.

I preached on the final beatitude, recorded in Matthew 5:10-12. I labeled the message, "The Joy of Persecution."

It was interesting to hear several people comment on how different my message was between the two services. I thought that they were pretty much the same, except for the introduction and the conclusion. Come to think of it, maybe they were right.

I hope the message was as radical as the beatitude itself, in which Jesus connects two realities we typically separate: blessedness and persecution.

This week's score: Microphones - 2; HBC2 - 0. I thought we fixed the problems with the audio system, specifically my monitors. But something went wrong again. I am determined to fix the problem this week.

My throat was so sore during the 10 AM service, I wondered how I would be able to preach. I had to specially ask the church to pray for me before I began my message. The Lord answered prayer again and gave me strength to preach. Praise the Lord!

By the way, the Los Angeles weather was absolutely beautiful yesterday. It was a great day to be outside.

I am happy that Venus Williams and Raphael Nadal won at Wimbledon this weekend.

The E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference is meeting this week in Dallas. ray God blessings on this great meeting that was began by one of my preaching heroes.

Rev. Timothy Wright, the famous Gospel singer and pastor, was in a serious car accident over the weekend. His wife and grandson died in the accident. And Rev. Wright is in serious condition, from the last report that I heard. Please cover this family with believing prayer.

My family is headed to Florida today. Please remember us your prayers.

A Thought for Self-Examination on Communion Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:53:00 +0000

But if Jesus died for the sins of the world, then those sins committed after his death are just as responsible for putting him on a cross as the sins committed before. This truth makes it impossible to love Jesus and knowingly transgress the law of God. It's like saying you love someone while you are twisting a knife in his back - the ultimate in mixed messages. Seeing the cause and effect between my present tense sin and Christ's past tense death might mean I will have to do something about sinning beyond casually accepting God's grace. - John Fischer, On a Hill Too Far Away, p. 38

Happy Independence Day

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:26:00 +0000

May you have safe and enjoyable holiday and weekend.

God bless.

hbc2

Too Busy Not To Pray

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Prayerless people cut themselves off from God’s prevailing power, and the frequent result is the familiar feeling of being overwhelmed, overrun, beaten down, pushed around, defeated. Surprising numbers of people are willing to settle for lives like that. Don’t be one of them. Nobody has to live like that. Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s prevailing power in your life. – Bill Hybels, Too Busy Not To Pray, p. 16

Last night, I began a new summer small-group. We will spend the next eight weeks reading and discussing Too Busy Not To Pray by Bill Hybels. Our Sunday School and small-group schedule has been thrown out off because of our transition to a new location this year. So, while we usually "go dark" during the summer months, this year we some new small-groups and Sunday school classes during the months of July and August. Anthony, one of our associate pastors, and I are leading a small-group on prayer. Last night was the first meeting, in which we do get to know each other and over the study material, schedule, and expectations. And the group got off to a great start last night.

I read Too Busy Not To Pray when it was first published some ten years ago. In fact, read may not be a good word. I devoured the book. It caught me at the right place at right time. And I have cherished it ever since, reading through it again four or five times over the years. Now, I do not agree with Hybels on every subject. And I am not one of those "seeker Church dudes." But those qualifications aside, Too Busy is a good book. It is a clear, compelling, and challenging book that casts a large and high vision of God. And it teaches the importance, discipline, and power of believing prayer in practical terms. I just plain like this book. It is one of my favorite books on prayer, even though I have a rather long list of 'favorite" books on prayer. And I have and do recommend it to those who want to jump-start their prayer lives.

Joining the Family Business

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:19:00 +0000

Peacemakers release tension, they don’t intensify it. Peacemakers seek solutions and find no delight in arguments. Peacemakers calm the waters, they don’t trouble them. Peacemakers work hard to keep an offense from occurring. And if it has occurred, they strive for resolution. Peacemakers lower their voices rather than raise them. Peacemakers generate more light than heat. Blessed are such great-hearted souls! We need more of them in the ranks of faith. We have more than enough fighters, more than enough who are ready to pounce. – Charles Swindoll, Simple Faith, p. 34

This past Sunday, I continued out series on the beatitudes of Jesus, with a message on the blessed peacemakers who are called the sons of God. Here is the sermon skeleton:

Title: "Joining the Family Business"

Text: Matthew 5:9

Theme: he blessedness of being a peacemaker

Point: God blesses peacemakers.

Outline:

I. The Mission of the Peacemakers

    A. What is peace?

       1. Peace is not merely the absence of war, conflict, or hostility.

       2. Peace is "Shalom" (OT) - life, health, wholeness, prosperity, and wellbeing (Num. 6;24-26).

    B. What are peacemakers?

       1. Peacemakers strive to bring peace between God and man (2 Co. 5:16-21)

       2. Peacemakers strive to bring peace between man and man

          * Peace among fellow Christians (Eph. 4:3)

          * Peace for all people (Rom. 12:18)

II. The Characteristics of the Peacemakers

    A. Peacemaking involves truth-telling (Eph. 4:15).

    B. Peacemaking involves selflessness (James 4:1-2).

    C. Peacemaking involves courage (Matt. 5:10-12, 43-45).

    D. Peacemaking involves forgiveness (Matt. 18:21-35).

III. The Reward of the Peacemakers

    A. Peacemakers are called

       1. By God himself

       2. By the watching world (Acts 11:28)

    B. Peacemakers are the sons of God

       1. The peacemaker's nature resembles God.

       2. The peacemaker's inheritance is from God.

Notes from Sunday - 6/29/08

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:38:00 +0000

Saturday, MSMBC hosted a community day in which we prepared food, games, and information for our neighbors. I was a good time of meeting guests and fellowship with one another. Hat's off to our Transition Team for your hard and faithful work!

Yesterday, was a long, good day. To be sure, it was full of adventure. But the Lord was gracious to me and helped me fulfill my assignments all day.

I led the corporate singing portion of our service yesterday. I don't sing that often anymore. But I love to sing the praises of God. It is a wonderful privilege to lead God's people in grateful praise to him.

We emphasize missions on 5th Sundays at MSMBC. Yesterday, Norberta gave a testimony about her recent short-term (medical) mission trip to Africa. It was inspiring and challenging. May the Lord raise up more members in our church who have a heart and calling for missions work.

Please pray for my brother and colleague, Pastor George Hurtt, who left last night for a short-term missions trip to Haiti.

God will give you strength as it is needed!

I continued our series on the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount with a message on Matthew 5:9, which I called, "Joining the Family Business."

I don't know what was up in our 8 AM service. It seemed that everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I was flabbergasted by it all. And it made it really difficult for me to preach. But I was reminded this morning that when things do go as we plan, the Holy Spirit makes the difference. Then I was further reminded that even when everything goes according to schedule, it is still the Holy Spirit who makes the difference.

The 10 AM service was like night and day from the first service. It was a warm service. The congregation was very attentive. And I was able to relax and preach without some of the distractions that affected the first service.

There was a dynamic at work in the 10 AM service that was a first for me. No comment.

Yesterday afternoon, I preached the 50th church anniversary service for Bethany Baptist Church of West Los Angeles. Dr. Rocellia Johnson is the Senior-Pastor. Dr. L.A. Kessee is the Executive-Pastor. This is one of the great churches of our city, known for its commitment to evangelism. And they completed the building of a new facility about a year ago. It was an honor to be invited to preach this special occasion for.

For some reason, I thought and announced that I was preached Pastor Kessee's pastoral anniversary service. I didn't know it was the church's anniversary until I arrived and looked at the program. Yet another example of how clueless I can be at times.

I preached Psalm 23 - "Living with Confidence in God."

After the afternoon service, I woman introduced herself to me that said Mt. Sinai was the first church she attended after moving to Los Angeles 48 years ago. She told me how much I reminder her of my father. What a compliment!

I got swept by audio equipment yesterday. Microphones - 3/HBC2 - 0.

Of course, when I finished preaching my final sermon last night, I got in the bed and passed out as soon as possible. Good sleep.

One more thing. This morning, I walked the little more than two miles from my home to the church for morning prayer. It was not a marathon or anything. But I am rather proud of myself.

Speaking @ Calvary Baptist Church

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Last night, I spoke at Calvary Baptist Church of Los Angeles for the final night of their youth and young adult revival. This is the congregation that was once led by the late Dr. Manual Scott Sr. The congregation is now led by the able Rev. Virgil Jones. And under his leadership, this historic congregation is growing and bearing fruit.

This is the fourth or fifth year that I have done the closing night of this meeting. And services have been a blessing each year. This year was no exception. The participation of the youth in the service was very encouraging. They were quite attentive to the preaching of the word. And as one of my friends says, the Lord got on my back and rode me as I preached.

I preached a part of the Parable of the Prodigal Son parable last night. I sought to argue the primary point of Luke 15: Lost people matter to God! My goodness, what a story! Better yet, what a mighty God we serve!.

After the service, a sister asked me if I remember what message I preached last year. I thought this was kind of an odd question at first. But I did, in fact, remember. When I told her the passage, she said, "Yep, that was it." Then she went on to tell me that she was scheduled to teach a youth conference last year. And there was some confusion about what the teaching material was going to be. So she took the leader of the events the notes from my message that she had taken down, and asked if they would be acceptable. The pastor told her, if the material is from H.B., he trusted it was acceptable to teach. And she said the young people were really blessed by it. I was deeply encouraged my this testimony. I really thought I had missed it last year. But God was at work to bless people beyond anything I thought or imagined. Praise God for the power of his word!

When Grace Transforms

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Matthew 5:3-12 records the “Beatitudes” of Jesus Christ, which introduce the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). These eight declarations pronounce divine blessings on those who possess the characteristics of citizens of the kingdom of God. Specifically, Jesus blesses the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. These eight brief but potent statements describe what it means to right with God. They teach what it means to be righteous, rather than merely being religious. In a real sense, a clear understanding of the beatitudes is a life-transforming introduction to the practical implications of Christian salvation, growth, and service. In the preface to When Grace Transforms, Terry L. Johnson comments:

In the Sermon on the Mount in general and the Beatitudes in particular we are treated to Jesus’ most complete description of his disciples. Jesus works from the inside out, zeroing in on the heart and describing the behavior that flows from it. What emerges is an individual, and then a community that is radically different. (p. 8)

Without a doubt, one of the most profitable things we can to examine ourselves and to care for our souls is to regular meditate on and study the beatitudes of Jesus. Indeed, there are many helpful resources available you can use as a guide to lead you through the high and rugged terrain of Matthew 3:1-12. But I would like to recommend that you add Johnson’s When Grace Transforms to your collection of resources.

Terry L. Johnson is the senior pastor of the Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia. And along with his ministry of the word to his own congregation, Johnson has put pen to paper to the benefit of the larger church of Christ. In fact, When Grace Transforms is a part of a trilogy, of sorts, on the dynamic work of God’s sovereign grace. Johnson has also written When Grace Comes Alive (on living through the Lord’s Prayer) and When Grace Comes Home (on how the doctrines of grace change your life). I warmly recommend all three of these works. But When Grace Transforms would be a great place to start reading Johnson.

Published in 2002, Transforms is a newer study of the beatitudes. And in some instances, that would be a bad thing. I have found that when it comes to finding helpful materials on the Sermon on the Mount, the older the better. But Johnson provides a sound, fresh, and compelling treatment of the beatitudes. Though Johnson has obviously studied the classic, he his not merely parroting what has already been said. In Transforms, Johnson combines the skill of a theologian, the precision of an expositor, and the heart of a pastor, to explain what the beatitudes do and do not mean in simple, challenging, and practical terms. I encourage you to change your life by prayerfully reading When Grace Transforms. And I dare you to change your world by sharing this rich, little book with someone else.

On The Christian Dress Code

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:17:00 +0000

My father used to tell of a conversation he had with a man outside of MSMBC one day. The man had overheard the services as he passed by and he said that he would have come in, but he didn’t have any nice church clothes to wear, like the other people he saw. This conversation deeply impacted my father. And it resulted in him designating the month of June as “Old Clothes Month” at Mt. Sinai. When I was a boy, it was actually “old clothes” month. For instance, the men would wear overalls (or, are they called “coveralls”?). It may seem silly. But the church took it rather seriously. My father would retell the story of his conversation and challenge the church to be the kind of congregation that makes people feel welcomed, no matter what they had on.

By the time I became the pastor of MSMBC in 1990, June was still designated as “Old Clothes Month.” But things had changed. Actually, it was just casual month, where there would be no ties and hats, for the most part. There were no more overalls, thank God. And it really wasn’t a big deal anymore. During the early 90’s, the congregation had become a lot more relaxed in its attire and there was a lot less emphasis on “church clothes,” in general. So for many people, June was the month when we officially dressed the way we unofficially dressed the rest of the year. And, frankly, I think that was a good thing. In fact, I think it’s kind of cool that on most Sundays I preach to some worshipers who are dressed in suits and dresses; others in jeans and sneakers.

Now, this is not to say that I am happy with everything I see on Sunday mornings. To the contrary, we still struggle with what’s appropriate to wear to church. So I thought it would be appropriate for me to remind us of the Christian dress code. It can be succinctly stated in one word: modesty. In other words, your apparel should demonstrate your respect for the Lord, for the corporate worship service, for weaker brothers and sisters in Christ, and for yourself. This applies both to those who would wear tight, revealing clothes and to those who would overdress in gaudy, ostentatious “church clothes.” And while I’m here, let me say that the principle of modesty does not just apply to the Lord’s Day. Modesty is to govern how you dress everyday and everywhere you go. Remember, you are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14-16). So we should always strive to dress in a way that reflects reverence for God, self-control, and good judgment.

First Timothy 2:9-10 describes what it means to dress modestly: “women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness – with good works” (ESV). Of course, Paul is directly addressing women in this verse. However, this instruction to Christian women teaches both men and women the godly standards for modesty in dress. Paul is not trying to enslave women with these pastoral instructions. And he is not simply lashing out against matters of style that he didn’t like. Instead, through the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul confronts three common expressions of immodesty: (1) worldliness, (2) materialism, and (3) sensuality.

Peter co-signs Paul’s injunctions in 1 Peter 3:3-4: “Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing – but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” Again, don’t miss the point by focusing too closely on the details. The issue is not about how you wear your hair, if you wear jewelry, or the style of your clothes. It’s about your focus, attitude, and motivations. As Warren Wiersbe has said, “God is concerned about values, not prices.” So we should be more concerned about our spiritual attractiveness than our physical appearance. Or as Proverbs 31:30 teaches: “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” And this instruction applies to men, as well.

Lest I am misunderstood, let me be clear that I am not saying that we should be so unconcerned that we do not bother to care for ourselves. Hygiene, neatness, and grooming have their importance. And there is nothing inherently wrong with looking nice. Yes, you can wear jewelry and honor God at the same time. But we must not be preoccupied with externals. True beauty begins inside. Colossians 3:12-14 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” So let’s strive to dress like Christians, spiritually and physically. Here are some tips that may help you guard your witness by dressing with modesty:

1. Remember that you represent Christ and ask him to exercise lordship over your physical appearance.
2. Examine your motives by asking yourself why you are wearing a particular outfit.
3. Remember that corporate worship is not a fashion show or time to attract a date or mate.
4. Strive to make sure that the corporate worship meeting is not distracted by what you do (or don’t) have on.
5. Live to the glory of God (1 Co. 6:19-20; 10:31; Col. 3:17).

Waited Time on God is Never Wasted Time

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:05:00 +0000

I preached the 11 AM service at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church on August 5, 1990. My Father, who had led the church for more than forty years, had died fourteen months earlier. And the congregation was deep into its pastoral search. I was not a part of this process. In fact, the pulpit committee met with me the next day to make it plain to me that I would not be a candidate. I had not sought the church. I was just a seventeen-years-old high school senior. But apparently there had been some requests from some of the members to add my name to the list being commended to the church. And the committee wanted me to know, in no uncertain terms, that this would not happen. (For the record, they allowed names to be nominated from the floor. My name was given. And the rest is...)

I had been preaching most first Sunday services at 11 AM throughout much of 1990. But August 5 was the last time they allowed me to preach before the election of the new pastor. They told me that allowing me to preach would only confuse the search process. Three months later, on November 5, the congregation elected me as the third pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church.

In the providence of God, the last time I was allowed to preach before being selected as pastor, I preached from Job 14:14. It says, "If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come" (KJV). I entitled the message, "When God Removes the Hedge from Around Your Life, What Then?" I sought to make three points from verse 14b:

    1. Job had an appointed time.
    2. Job knew the one who appointed his time.
    3. Because Job knew he had an appointed time, and he knew the one who appointed the time, he was resolved to wait.

I know this isn't deep. But what do you want? I was only a boy preacher.

I wanted to be an encouragement to the church that day, as they had already gone more than a year without a pastor - after having the same pastor for over four decades. But as I preached, as often happens, I discovered that I was preaching this sermon to myself more than anyone else. I needed to be reminded to wait my turn.

As I was preparing to go home for the day, Job 14:14 came to my mind. Then I recalled the sermon I preached on this verse, and the circumstances surrounding its presentation. In fact, before I started writing this post, I went to my file cabinet and found the almost twenty-year-old handwritten manuscript of this sermon. As I read through it, Lord preached it to me again. I am struggling with impatience right now. And I really need this reminder that waited time on God is never wasted time.

Are you sitting with me in God's waiting room? Take heart. You have an appointed time. And God's timing is perfect. So wait on him to.... (You fill in the blank).

Preaching is Worship!

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:20:00 +0000

Have you noticed how people refer to the singing in church as "worship time," as if the other parts of the service are not part of our worship? This is troubling, because Christians should recognize that prayer, saying the creeds, giving, and especially the sermon, are all part of our worship of God. But I wonder if one of the reasons why people do not know this is that preachers have forgotten to worship God when they preach. We may deliver carefully crafted sermons, but if we ourselves are worshiping God when we do, then that element will be lost on the people as well. On the other hand, when we are preaching primarily for the glory and pleasure of God, we can draw the rest of the congregation into worship with us. In fact, that is just what the best preaching does. - Harry L. Reeder III (with David Swavely), From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church, pp. 110-11

Notes from Sunday - 06/22/08

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:57:00 +0000

I took an overnight trip Houston this week. Saturday afternoon, I flew into Houston to preach for Pastor Dennis Jones and the Gethsemane Baptist Church. It was the their Micah Ministry's (Young Adults) emphasis, with various events taking place over the weekend. And the young adults led the services on Sunday morning.

This is my second time preaching at Gethsemane. And I was again blessed and encouraged by the worship and fellowship. Pastor Jones has proven to be a true friend to me since we met. And it is an honor to be invited to minister the word to his wonderful congregation.

I like Houston, Texas.

I hear that George preached up a storm yesterday on the story of Jesus' encounter with Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. Praise God for his hard work and the Lord's favor.

The early reports I received are that MSMBC had a good day Sunday. Everything went smoothly and according to schedule in spite of my absence. This is always music to a pastor's ears.

I flew home several hours after I finished preaching. I was home before it was dark. And was still able to spend a part of the evening with Crystal and the kids... until I passed out.

Today begins a pretty busy work week for me. Please remember me in your prayers.

On Generational Curses

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:30:00 +0000

I was introduced to the subject of “generational curses” some years ago in a strange way. I was sitting in the pulpit of the church I serve, listening to an encouraging sermon by an out-of-town friend. He ended the message with a personal testimony of divine healing. He had been very sick. And the only explanation for his recovery was that God had healed him, for which I rejoiced.

I had no problem with his testimony of healing. But I did have a problem with his explanation of how he received the life-threatening disease. He claimed that it was a generational curse that the devil had passed down from his grandfather to his father to him, he said. What I would have called a hereditary disease, he called a generational curse. And what began as a testimony of providential healing ended with a lesson on spiritual warfare, as he claimed that the devil was not going to take his life. When he finished, I stood and made it clear that our church did not embrace what had just been taught. For the record, this is one of the few times in my pastoral ministry that I have found it necessary to publicly comment on a message this way. But I could not pray in good conscience for those who had come forward without clarifying what we were praying.

When the service was over, my friend and I had a long talk about what had just happened. I am not sure if we finally agreed with one another. But it was an important conversation. And I believe that it is a conversation that needs to continue. Consider what follows a conversation starter.

The term “generational curses” has become a common part of the church’s vernacular. It’s not rare to hear high-profile preachers warn against them with passion and promise deliverance from them with confidence. But there is very little biblical exposition given on this intriguing subject. All too often, the facts about these so-called curses are assumed, rather than explained. I have even heard gross sin explained (or explained away) with this theory of generational curses. I really don’t know how this can help those who are struggling with sin. Of course, I am not suggesting that the sinful ways these preachers are addressing are not serious. I just believe that the diagnosis of the problem and the prescriptions for deliverance are wrong, unhelpful, and dangerous.

Got Scripture? The Bible does not mention generational curses, as such, one time. And not only is the term not there, the concept is not there, either. Obviously, passages like Exodus 20:5 and 34:7 speak of God as “visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation” (ESV. Also see Num. 14:18; Deut. 5:9). But we must be careful not to build a doctrine on Old Testaments that we have taken out of context. These passages are calls to trust and obey God, which include both promises to those who respond and warnings for those who rebel. Likewise, they are statements made by God to Israel, specifically. They are stipulations of the unique covenant relationship God had with Israel as a nation. And such statements are not made in the New Testament. The New Testament teaches that believers have been save from the penalty of sin, are beings saved from the power of sin, and will ultimately be saved from the very presence of sin. And I submit to you that any rigorous and study of what the Bible teaches about what it means to be in Christ will not leave any room for generational curses.

God curses people. Over the years, I have looked up this subject of generational curses in various Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference works. And generational curses are not mentioned. Isn’t it a bit odd that most biblical scholars ignore such a serious subject? Anyway, I eventually searched for the subject on the Internet. And most of the results sent me to sites or articles about Satan, demons, or spiritual warfare. But the biblical passages used as proof-texts actually have nothing to do with the devil. They are about God and Israel. Apparently, the proponents of this teaching have failed to see that scripture teaches that God curses people, not Satan. The sinful patterns they are so concerned about are not matters of bondage by Satan. They’re matters of guilt before God. Satan doesn’t need to be bound for people to be set free from sin. God’s righteous demands need to be satisfied. And they have been satisfied in Christ (1 John 2:1-2).

Guilt is personal. The Bible affirms the universal guilt of mankind because of original sin. But the emphasis of divine punishment is always on the individual. And this is not just a New Testament perspective. Ezekiel 18:1-4 says: The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?’ As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine; the soul who sins shall die.”

Did you get that? The soul who sins shall die. This means that guilt is personal. Now, let me be clear. I do not believe in generational curses. But I do believe in generational consequences. Certainly, our lives affect the generations to come. But while the consequences of sin may be far reaching, the object of punishment is always the sinner who sins. Galatians 6:8 says, “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” The New Testament makes it clear that when God places the guilt of one on another, it is when he places the believer’s guilt on Christ in salvation (2 Corinthians 5:21).

We are made new in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” One of the greatest terms used in the Scriptures to describe the believer’s position in Christ is the word “new.” When a person receives Jesus Christ, a total transformation takes place. It is a change in one’s standing before God. And it is also a real change of the heart, the inner man, the spiritual nature. Vance Havner used to say, “Christianity is not an Old-Adam Improvement Society.” And he was right. The good news is that you are automatically delivered from any curse that may be on your life when you are saved by grace through faith in Christ.

Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’” So if you are saved, you have already been set free from all curses. Thank God for that great act of deliverance (Col. 1:12-14). And walk in it with confidence. If you are not saved, I plead with you to come to Jesus. Run to the cross. Receive the Lord Jesus as the Forgiver of your sins and the Leader of your life. And you will live the blessed life declared in Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” No curses! Just blessings!

Pictures from Natalie's Graduation

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:03:00 +0000

Natalie Graduates Kindergarten Today!!!

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:00:00 +0000

My six-year-old daughter, Natalie Marie, will graduate from kindergarten this morning. And I could not be more proud of her. In fact, this is he only reason I am even in town. I was supposed to be in Washington D.C. preaching this week. But there was a big mix-up on the date of the graduation.

Crystal and I had decided that I would go do the meeting to keep my word. And that I would just make it up to Natalie when I get home (which was supposed to be tomorrow). But when we told Natalie these bright plans, she nodded yes while crying inconsolably. Crystal promised what I would do for her when I got home. Natalie argued she didn't want anything but her daddy to be there. So I had to stay home to be with Natalie. Period. (I deeply appreciate the kindness and understanding of my friend Pastor Garfield Burton and the Macedonia Baptist Church.) I trust and pray that there will be other revival meetings. But my little girl will only have this day once.

I pray that this will be a special day for Natalie. And I pray that she would continue to grow as Jesus grew - in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52).

On another subject, the "underwear scandal" was funny. But "The Man of Steel" resisted the temptation to jump into the conversation.

One more thing... Sorry Lakers fans. Not. Bring on the summer!

These are pictures I took of Natalie before we left this morning for the graduation. Hopefully, I will be able to add more pictures of the ceremony this afternoon.

The Prayer of a Minor Prophet

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:36:00 +0000

I am reading A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer by Lyle Dorsett. I have greatly benefited from Tozer's published writings over the years. And I am excited about all that I am learning about the man and his ministry in this gripping biography. I am being reminded that God uses human beings, not pulpit superheroes. I strongly believe that we need Tozer's story today, maybe more than we need his wise and helpful books. He was not a religious celebrity, a megachurch pastor, or an ecclesiastical powerbroker. Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963) was an humble man with a great passion for God.

I was just reading about Tozer's ordination, which took place on August 18, 1920. After the ceremony, Tozer slipped away to pray about the solemn calling and great responsibility the Lord had given him in assigning him to gospel ministry. Tozer later wrote out his recollections of this prayer. He called the article, "For Pastors Only: Prayer of a Minor Prophet." Here are several exerts from the article that caused me to stop reading and start examining myself:

"Save me from the curse that lies dark across the face of the modern clergy, the curse of compromise, of imitation, of professionalism. Save me from the error of judging a church by its size, is popularity or the amount of its yearly offering... Let me never become a slave to crowds. Heal my soul of carnal ambitions and deliver me from the itch for publicity. Save me from the bondage to things. Let me not waste my days puttering around the house... Deliver me from overeating and late sleeping. Teach me self-discipline that I may be a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (pp. 66-67)

The ESV Study Bible Is On It's Way

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:35:00 +0000

I have been doing my personal Bible reading and memorization of the Bible from the English Standard Bible for about four or so years. I have been preaching and teaching from it for about three or so years. And I love it. It has the accuracy of the New American Standard Bible, the readability of the New International Version, and much of the poetry of the King James Version and/or New King James Version.

When I began using it in my public ministry, I was really just trying it out. I was not sure how it was going to be embraced - both within my congregation and in the larger Christian body. But it has established itself quite well as reliable Bible translation. And it seems that its influence is increasing. One of the ways I measure this is by the reference resources that are being developed for it (concordances, study Bibles, etc).

Naturally, I was please to find out that the ESV Study Bible is in the works and is set to be released in October, 2008. I have and regularly use the Reformation Study Bible, edited by R.C. Sproul, that is based on the ESV. But it is welcomed news to me that Crossway is publishing a study Bible for this great Bible translation. I encourage you to pick up a copy of the ESV, if you have not already. And keep an eye out for the study Bible in the Fall.

Click ESV Study Bible for more information.

By the way, I have some links to Bible study resources in the right panel. But if you know of any other helpful sites with Bible resources, please share them with us.

Pictures from Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (H.B. Charles Jr.) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:20:00 +0000