Be Persistent!

Be persistent!  The Bible instructs believers to “…not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 ESV).  Thomas Edison said, “The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” President Calvin Coolidge stated, “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence.”

Be persistent in excellence. Excellence is striving to do your best. Excellence is not perfection because perfection is an attribute held only by God. Nevertheless, excellence is a self-imposed expectation to excel to your very best in every endeavor.

Be persistent in good works. Paul encourages the Galatians not to grow weary for in time they would reap, if they didn’t give up (Galatians 6:9).  The Psalmist in the 73th Psalm expressed weariness in doing good because he lost sight of the eternal benefits of doing good. Apply stick-to-itiveness to you good works and keep your heart “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).

Be persistent in word. Jesus taught “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37 ESV).  If you say it, then do it. Nothing reveals the character of a man like his word. As much as is possible, be persistent to your word. Napoleon Hill said "Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.”

Be persistent in prayer. Jesus taught that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1 ESV). Persistently and boldly bring your request to the Lord. Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord and would not let go until he blessed him (Genesis 32:24-26).  Do not grow weary in praying but persistently bring your prayers to the Lord. Follow @pastorbarr

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Experience Does Not Trump Truth

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Experience does not trump truth. The following thoughts come from Felon's Maxims of the Saints. Although I do not endorse all the doctrine

Archbishop Felon’s (or Fénelon)

portrayed in Felon's Maxims, the author does address an issue that continues to haunt Christendom even today. The false belief by many Christians that personal experience over rules the word of God. Here is what Felon says:

"In the history of inward experience, we not infrequently find accounts of individuals whose inward life may properly be characterized as extraordinary. They represent themselves as having extraordinary communications; --dreams, visions, revelations. Without stopping to inquire whether these inward results arise from an excited and disordered state of the physical system or from God, the important remark to be made here is, that these things, to whatever extent they may exist, do not constitute holiness."

"Again, the persons who have, or are supposed to have, the visions and other remarkable states to which we have referred are sometimes disposed to make their own experience, imperfect as it obviously is, the guide of their life, considered as separate from and as above the written law. Great care should be taken against such an error as this. God's word is our true rule."

To this, I can only add - Amen! -Pastor Jim

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A Delight

Many may know the famous Christmas hymn Joy to the World. A few may know the author, Isaac Watts; but very few know anything about the Senior Isaac Watts. The elder Watts was a man of principles and faith that was often separated him from family because he his stanch faith landed him in prison. In 1865, while in prison, he wrote a letter to his family directing part of it to his eleven-year-old son, Isaac. The next few articles will address the charge that Senior Isaac directed to his son. They are wise thoughts that all should take to heart!

Frequently read the Holy Scriptures, and that not as a task but as a delight. –Isaac Watts, Senior

Anyone that has every attended a Bible believing/teaching/preaching church knows that they should read their Bible. Usually at the beginning of a new year, pastors give a challenge to their congregations to read though the Bible the next year. Something I encourage all believers to do. But what caught my attention in this charge is the part "and that not as a task but as a delight." All too often the reading of the Bible is viewed as a task and not a delight. We must be cautious when reading the Word of God to approach it as a joy and not a job.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalms 19:7-11


With that being said, may we encourage you to take our challenge and read through the Bible in 2012. You can join others in the quest at Read Through the Bible in 2012.

Flying Through the Dark

On July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy, Jr. flew his Piper Saratoga into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) ruled the crash was caused by: "the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over water at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation."* In other words, he became confused and flew the Piper into the water.

Experienced pilots have told me that it is easy to become disoriented especially over water on a hazy night with no visual horizon.  In conditions like those, the pilot must rely on his instruments and not his senses. 

This is also true for the believer in Christ. When navigating through the dark periods of life, the Christian must trust the Word of God to guide her or him. We cannot rely on our perceptions, especially our emotions. Things may not always appear as they really are. The promised horizon may not be visible – you may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel! God’s word and God’s promises are true and there is a light of hope at the end of the darkest trial. We must trust His Word. The true foundation for our faith is the Word of God.

If you enjoy the inspiration and encouragement found in Wit & Wisdom, they you will love Pastor Jim's book, For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom. Take a peek inside. Also available in Kindle at a discounted price.

Why Believe the Bible?

Join Other in Reading Through the Bible

One of the reasons you can count on the Bible being true is because of the fulfillment of prophecy. This is especially true in the fulfillment of prophecy made hundreds of years before concerning Jesus and the atonement he made for us. Perhaps the clearest of the many prophecies is the one that appears in the Isiah 53:

1 ¶  Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 ¶  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 ¶  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Aurthur Pink comments on this passage are profound: "This chapter tells us at least ten things about the humiliation and suffering of the Redeemer. It declared that he should be despised and rejected of men; that he should be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; that he should be wounded, bruised and chastised; that he should be led, unresistingly, to slaughter; that he should be dumb before his shearers; that he should not only suffer at the hands of man but also be bruised by the Lord; that he should pour out his soul unto death; that he should be buried in a rich man’s tomb; and then it was added, that he would be numbered with transgressors; and finally, that he should make intercession for the transgressors." (Source: Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross, The)

The Bible has an outstanding record of proofing itself to be true by revealing hundreds of prophetic verses that were made hundreds years before being fulfilled. Don't let the world undermine your faith in the Word of God.

How Is Your Approach?

How you approach any writing will reflect your understanding of it. Take for example the high school student and how he or she might approach a history textbook. If the student has been told history is boring or has experienced a poor teacher of history in their earlier years, then chances are he or she will view the current history textbook as boring before he or she reads the first page. The same is true when people approach the Bible; and perhaps, more so because when it comes to understanding the Bible, purpose matters.

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Some approach the Bible as a rule book; and, if they follow the rules, they might gain entry into heaven. Others see the Bible as a historical document or as an ancient work of literature. Although the Bible does give instructions on how to enter heaven and contains historical facts and is literature, it was not given to be a rulebook, nor a history book, nor is it to be studied as another piece of literature. None of these approaches consider the purpose of the Bible.

The Apostle John in his short epistle titled 1 John gives us the clear purpose of the Bible:

…that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3 ESV)

The purpose of scripture is to restore a fellowship, a broken relationship between people and their creator that has been breached because of sin. The Bible is God reaching down to fallen man with love and hope. When approached with its right purpose in view, the Bible comes alive. Lives are changed. They are changed by the power of a personal relationship with God.

Check out these related articles: Why Believe the Bible and A Delight

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