The Seeing Eye
“Where there is no vision the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18
“We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.” Psalm 74:9
A word to the wise: there is a broad gap between real vision and being visionary. Real vision is seeing what really is and taking into account that which relates to reality. Visionary is about something not yet in reality, but is imaginary and more speculative than probable.
We need to be so much about real vision, that we discount being visionary: “…make your calling and election sure” 2 Peter 1:10-11.
We can easily step away from seeing God’s will for our lives with visionary thoughts about how fulfilling our lives can be if we go our own way. Thus, the prodigal son, Luke 15:11-24.
However, as James 4:13-17 tells us, when we make the plans of our lives on our visionary thinking, instead of, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that”, we can easily forsake doing what we know is the good will of God, unto our differing way being sin.
By being visionary, Naomi’s husband took her and their two sons away from Israel (God’s covenant place for them) unto going to Moab, with thoughts of improving their lives. Since this was a visionary move based on human desire and hopefulness, rather than the vision of proving what the will of the Lord was, even in times of tribulation, it proved out to be, “I went out full, and the Lord hath brought be home again empty.” Ruth 1:21
Satan tempts us to be visionary about life’s choices, rather than clear our vision with the truth of God’s Word: Matthew 4:8-10. Satan shewed Christ the visionary picture that if He would fall down and worship Satan, Jesus could have the glory of all the kingdoms of this world, to which Christ replied with the vision of truth: “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
True vision takes into full account what is, seeing what needs to be done, must be done, as well as seeing what will happen if it is not done.
Disinterest and neglect are the result of no longer seeing the importance of what is real.
SHARING
The Folly Of Eluding Accountability
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13
The truth is what makes people free, if they will accept it and own up to it. Otherwise, it will be their judge.
Human nature, being deceitful, is first prone to “not come to the light”, but rather to avoid its manifestations. Being wise in one’s own eyes, leads to using diversion tactics. Rather than accept responsibility and face up to the matter at hand, one considers themselves to be smart if they can throw off on something or someone else.
This was the first recorded practice of deceitfulness on man’s part in the Bible. When God confronted Adam regarding his sin of eating of the forbidden fruit, Adam attempted to shift the issue off himself and onto Eve (Genesis 3:12). When God approached Eve, she blamed the serpent (Genesis 3:13).
But guess what? Even though Adam and Eve could cleverly change the conversation, they could not change their guilt, nor could they escape God judging them for what they had done, nor did their attempts to side step accountability prevent them from losing the blessedness of Eden’s paradise. Their attitude just testified to their guilt and reason for judgment against their obstinacy.
Disobedient King Saul (1 Samuel 15:13-23) first insisted that his intentions were for something better than God’s way. Then he tried shifting the responsibility for what he had done unto the congregation. Then he tried making out like it was all an unintentional mistake. But God judged it all as being stubbornness and rebellion on Saul’s part and “fired” him from being king over Israel.
David tried to divert attention away from his adultery with Bathsheba by using the war to eliminate her husband from the picture and then by giving the desolate widow and her unborn child a place in the royal family. But not only did this not eliminate the guilt or the judgment for his sin, it brought shame and disgrace to his person, as well as gave the lost world reason to denounce the faith in the God that David professed to believe in and serve. God held David accountable, not only for his sin, but also the effects of his sin upon others.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
SHARINGThe Candlestick
“…the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” “…I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 1:20b, 2:5b
Some proclaim “they” have concluded that the Baptist church is close to the New Testament Church of the Bible. But close isn’t good enough! A church has to be “it” = a “candlestick” by God’s definition and recognition. A church is not a candlestick if it is just close to being one. A church is either one of God’s candlesticks, or it isn’t.
I fail to see in the Bible where God said the day would come when all that would be left would be something close to what a New Testament Church once was. Nor do I find God saying He would authorize some insightful person to tell the rest of us what was close to what the original church was, and that we should follow this man’s insight.
Rather, the New Testament sets forth the New Testament Church that Jesus built and is the Head of. Jesus declared the gates of hell would never prevail against New Testament Churches, and that He would be with them always, which means they have to continue, as He made them for this to happen. The power that opened the door of the first church, is the power that will keep the door open of the last church, until they are removed with the Rapture.
The “candlestick”, i.e., the New Testament Churches started by God and kept by God, being true to God’s Word, are the covenant works of the Kingdom of God during this church age. Just as the gospel of God’s Kingdom has not faded away unto something that is just close to what Biblical salvation once was, neither has the New Testament Church of God’s Kingdom ceased to be the real body of Christ, joined together by God and empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.
To say there are no real New Testament Churches today, like in the days of the New Testament, is to say that God’s Word is no longer effective to produce on earth what God has spoken from heaven. It is to say that the Holy Spirit cannot regenerate and generate according to the will and purpose of God.
Anyone can paint the name Baptist on a church sign. But unless God opened the door, set the candlestick there, and set members in the church, it never was a New Testament Church. And unless that church follows the doctrine of the New Testament, God will withdraw the candlestick. So a church either is, or is not a church of the New Testament order.
SHARING51st Anniversary of Faith Baptist Church: Jan. 1, 1968-2019
The Vision
The first part of November 1967, Bro. James Gardner, pastor of Moore’s Fork Baptist Church, in Clermont County, felt led to see if an interest existed in the Lynchburg area for a sound New Testament Baptist Church. Upon inquiry, interest was found.
God Opened The Door
An empty church building was found on Freiburg & High Streets in Lynchburg, which was leased with the option of buying at the end of the lease. The work opened with a two week meeting, January 2-14, 1968, with Bro. Gardner preaching each night, except Thursdays, with Bro. James Head of Wilmington filling in. Sunday, January 7, 1968, Bro. Robert Miller of Dayton, KY, preached, at which time there were 5 requests for membership, plus 2 confessions of faith. On January 14 & 28, Bro. Terry Parnell of Dayton, KY, preached. January 21, Bro. Alwin Pflueger of Moore’s Fork preached.
A Pastor Called
February 1, 1968, Moore’s Fork Baptist Church extended the call to Robert Miller to pastor the Lynchburg mission. He is to give full time to the work. He is to lead the people there in complete accord with the position of the sponsoring church in all matters of doctrine and practice. At such time that the mission and sponsoring church agree, the mission will be organized into a local Independent Baptist Church. Bro. Miller accepted the pastorate, and with his wife, Cinda, and son, Robby, moved to 301 S. Main St., Lynchburg, on February 24, 1968.
An Independent Baptist Church
January 9, 1971, the mission was organized into the Faith Baptist Church, with 32 charter members.
SHARINGThe Destiny Of The New Testament Church
Since the New Testament Church is the Body of Christ and not the denomination(s) of men, it’s installation on earth is broader than what a single calendar date defines.
THE ORIGIN: It was foreordained in God’s eternal plan and purpose – Ephesians 3:9-11. Thus, the New Testament Church existed in God’s eternal plan before the world began. It will also continue on into eternity future as the Bride of Christ (in the Rapture and from then on).
THE SUBSTANCE OF: God sent John the Baptist to prepare a people for Jesus – Luke 1:17. Jesus took these prepared people and set them in His Body (the local church) as its first members. The substance (prepared people) and Christ, were all identified together through the Baptist baptism of John, the New Testament covenant seal: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” – Ephesians 4:4-6
THE DEFINITION OF: Christ brought the substance (prepared people) together unto being members of His Body (the local church He built), and equipped it with its ordinances and practices during His earthly ministry.
THE HEAD: God only gave Christ to be the Head over all things to the church, His body, Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 5:23-33.
THE INAUGURATION OF: At Jesus’ crucifixion, the Levitical order (Old Testament) was disannulled, and the New Testament was put in force by the death of the Testator (Jesus Christ), Hebrews 7-9, Luke 22:20.
THE GREAT COMMISSION: Matthew 28:18-20, after His resurrection and before His ascension.
THE EMPOWERMENT OF: With the coming of the Comforter, i.e., the new role for the Holy Ghost in the church capacity, Acts 1:8 (Acts 2), Christ personally gave spiritual gifts to the Apostles during His earthly ministry. All others after his ascension have them bestowed through the Comforter – 1 Corinthians 12.
THE PERPETUITY OF: Matthew 16:18, 28:20 – The Body of Christ (local New Testament Churches with Baptist baptism), descending from the One Jesus built, will continue on earth until they are all removed in the Rapture.
THE RAPTURE AND MARRIAGE OF THE CHURCH: At the Rapture, all the local New Testament Churches will become one as the Bride of Christ, for marriage to the Lamb of God, to eternally reign with Him in the New Jerusalem.
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