Month: June 2010

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Several years ago, a popular Christian author wrote a book about prayer that began with a bold statement. The preface of the book began “Dear Reader, I want to teach you how to pray a daring prayer that God always answers.” Some of you may recognize these opening words as belonging to Bruce Wilkinson the author of the bestseller “The Prayer of Jabez.” This book was given to me by a Christian friend who was gushing with excitement as if he had just found a long buried treasure in his back yard. Bruce Wilkinson apparently thought the same as he claimed, “One sentence with four parts…tucked away in the Bible…contains the key to a life of extraordinary favor with God.” The one sentence this author refers to is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10. “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!”

It is not my purpose today to write a review of this book. It has now been ten years since it was written and others have done a good job of critiquing it (hint—the bad reviews are right!). Instead, I want to note that many believe it is possible to simply ask God and God is obligated to give. Some believe they have hit on the formula—not found in the Old Testament, but in the New—Matthew 7:7-8. This is their key to extraordinary favor with God. It is simply “I believe in God and therefore I demand what I want!” These verses like most in the Bible do not stand alone without qualification. The larger context is the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus has already given extensive teaching on the subject of prayer. We needn’t think that God will answer any prayer unless the guidelines of the model prayer in Matthew 6 are observed. I have to believe that in the word “ask” there is full intention that all of the teachings of the Lord’s Prayer have been received. It must be further noted that these verses follow immediately upon Jesus’ demand for close personal scrutiny of our lives (Matt. 7:5). While we are seeking answers from God, we must also hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6).

If Matthew 7:7-8 does not seem to work for you, maybe you haven’t considered what Jesus said before this. The apostle John explained it well: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22) This is the real key to extraordinary favor with God.

Pastor V. Mark Smith

Several years ago, one of the members of the church gave me a book entitled “This Day in Baptist History.” The book is a devotional which contains a story for each day of the year about some event that took place in the life of a Baptist believer. I would say that it is remarkable that many of the entries contain stories of persecution. However, if you know anything about Baptist history you know its pages are filled with long centuries of cruelties. A period of rest for our Baptist people such as we are experiencing now is actually quite uncommon. It may be that our period of relative ease is due to the sad compromise of doctrinal truths. The devil is most happy to accommodate us if we are no threat to his kingdom.

Berean Baptist has been blessed in these past few years to see the community grow up around this church. We started in a cornfield over forty years ago and now our location is one of the most prominent in the city. Our location makes us a place of curiosity for those looking for a church in this area, and we often have visitors that stop in just because they saw this church before seeing another. When people visit, most of them find something they are not expecting. We still have a traditional service; we sing mostly old time hymns, and we preach nothing other than the old time gospel from the same Bible our Baptist forefathers used. The most important part of Berean’s ministry is not our programs. We love children, we love fellowship, we love activities—but the most important ministry is always the preaching of God’s word.

We make no apologies that the preaching harkens back to the same doctrines that got our Baptist forefathers into so much trouble. Today, we enjoy the protection of a government that allows us to do this, but should conditions arise that are no longer favorable to preaching the truths of the word, we would without hesitation gladly join the ranks of those who have been persecuted and have even died defending what was taught by our Lord Jesus and the apostles. The apostle Paul said the world considers our preaching offensive and foolish. The cross has never been popular and when truth is spoken in the same straight forward manner it will be no more popular for us than it was for him.

Perhaps someday someone will write another volume of “This Day in Baptist History.” It may well contain a story about us and our determination not to give in to the popular social agendas that shape the cities around us. We pray that God will help us to continue with the same spirit that enabled our forefathers to stand the test of uncompromising faithfulness. The gospel is worth fighting for!

Pastor V. Mark Smith

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)

In over seven years as pastor of Berean Baptist Church, I have made one goal the primary purpose of my ministry. Most of you know what the goal is because you have heard it over and over again in the sermons. The goal is the glory of God. Every part of the ministry must focus on God’s glory. I do not see how we can reach this goal unless we are very careful to do God’s work God’s way. Many people think they can substitute a better plan; they can serve God their way and the end result is still pleasing to God and will glorify Him.

King Saul used this reasoning when he disobeyed God in the matter of the destruction of Amalek. Saul was told very specifically through the prophet Samuel that he was to completely obliterate every living thing that belonged to Amalek. The entire population of men, women, and children were to be destroyed including even their livestock. Why such a command was given is a subject left for another day, but it is sufficient to say the incomplete obedience of Saul nearly resulted in the complete extinction of the Jewish race a few hundred years later. Saul decided that it was in the best interest of God not kill the king of Amalek, nor to destroy the best of the livestock. Instead, these would be used for sacrifice and thereby Saul could show his supreme devotion to God.

The plan seemed reasonable enough, but it was contrary to God’s commandment. This led to those famous words from Samuel, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” God knew the outcome of this disobedience and as just mentioned if not for God’s hand of protection Israel would later have been destroyed. Saul tried to do God’s work, but he didn’t do it God’s way.

I see many Christians that try to do the same. They try to glorify God with alternate methods that seem good on the surface. At first those methods might even produce good results. But in the end doing God’s work God’s way is the only method that will glorify Him. I can relate this to church attendance, to worship styles, to prayer, to preaching, to relationships between members—there are multitudes of ways that seem good at first, but in the end they are harmful because they are not God’s way. We must return to strict obedience to God’s commandments. Jesus said that those who love Him are those that keep His commandments.

Take a look at your service. Are you ignoring the plain simple commands of God’s word?  Have you found what you believe to be a better way? Obedience is the only way to glorify God.

Pastor V. Mark Smith