For some time now, one Scripture verse keeps coming to mind, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

Allow me to offer several thoughts among the hundreds that could easily be observed (no particular order):

·        I saw this morning where an Ohio woman may get 50 years in the pokey for beheading her boyfriend’s pig. I wonder what her potential prison time would be if she had murdered the boyfriend?

·        While we’re on animals, if you abuse or kill an animal, you’re in for trouble, but rip the brains out of an unborn human baby then throw it in the trash and that’s just fine. I have had pets since I was a child, but I have never had a problem recognizing that they are animals, not family members. They should not be mistreated, but they are animals folks, not humans! Today people have gone off their rocker in treating an animal as if it were a family member. Many animals are even treated better than family members.

·        Many areas are usurping the rights of property and/or business owners by banning smoking in public, but then alcohol consumption is brought in to replace it. I have never known anyone to use their family for a punching bag because they smoked a cigarette, but it is very common from those who love to drink.

·        Our government takes hard earned money (called taxation) from those who work, and rewards those who are too lazy to work by giving it to them. It’s called “vote buying” with your money, but it’s legal.

·        Manger scenes and “Merry Christmas” have been pushed out of sight since they honor Jesus. Instead, Satan is honored with witches and hobgoblins on Halloween.

·        The marriage bed has been replaced with what we used to call just plain old “shacking up.”

·        For those who do actually get married, divorce is quite common. “If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay I’ll just get me another one.”

·        Virginity has been replaced with free sex. It’s more common today than a kiss was when I was young. I think the Bible calls the free sex crowd “whores” and “whoremongers”. Ouch!

·        Sex strictly between a man and a woman now has an added addition; two men, two women, even group sex.

·        Clean language has been replaced with gutter mouths.

·        Clean and neat dressing has been replaced with dressing “down”; punk, sloth, exposed, etc.

·        Clean movies have been replaced with trash.

·        If a lady is raped, she is more on trial than the rapist. In other words, the offended is persecuted, while the offender is defended.

·        The prisons are overflowing because murderers aren’t executed, and convicts are paroled so they can commit more crimes.

·        Ban prayer at the ballgame, but cuss all you want.

·        Bible stories have been removed from the schools, and replaced with free condoms.

·        The 10 Commandments have been replaced with pornography.

·        Capitalism is being thrown out the window, so we can have socialism.

·        Decency is ridiculed while filth is promoted.

·        I saw on the news that a little girl kissed a little boy in school. The school called the sheriff.

·        I have lost count of the child lemonade stands that have been shut down by city officials.

Folks, I just presented 21 examples “calling evil good and good evil” and I haven’t even cracked the surface. These came to me in a matter of minutes. What is it going to take for people to wake up?

Our lifestyle is going to hell in a hand basket, and few seem to care. Not only that, but the “call evil good and good evil” crowd seems to be growing exponentially.

Another thing that comes to mind concerning evil is that I cannot believe, especially from the older generation, just how much people look the other way, even in their own families. The tolerance afforded all this garbage is mind-boggling. In 2 Timothy Chapter three, Paul tells Timothy how matters will be in the last days. You would think he somehow read today’s newspapers.

These very few things I mentioned (the 21 above) and thousands of others all around us are screaming that the end is drawing near.

The economic systems of every country on earth are literally teetering on the brink of disaster. The only thing that has kept us from being flushed down the economic toilet before now is God’s time table. Our political system in this country is in the sewer. Generally speaking, we have very dishonest people in positions of leadership who don’t give a flip about anything but feathering their own nest and being re-elected. Crime is through the roof and exacerbating daily. Criminals are being moddycoddled and taking over society like the fox in the hen house. Madmen are out to kill us, and we bow and kiss their blood-stained hand. Natural disasters are exploding all over the globe.

We seem to have the attitude of “hear no evil, see no evil”. Many of you reading this do not know Jesus Christ. Now would be a good time to introduce yourself!  Many of you Christians have puttered along through life and looked the other way while the world has crept into your lives and the lives of your families and taken over. The coffee is brewing folks!

I have said repeatedly and will say again, that I have no clue when Jesus will come back for His Church, but from the signs He has given us for the last days (no signs for the Rapture), it may not be much longer. I find it interesting that other Christian writers are giving warnings also that the end may be nearer than we think. Could that be a coincidence, or is God trying to tell us something?

 

Grant Phillips

October is pastor appreciation month in many churches. Most of the time a dinner is held in their honor, and there sure isn’t anything wrong with that. We should show appreciation for those who dedicate their lives to helping others, especially in spiritual matters.

What is the best gift we could give our pastor? Some may say to make sure he is paid well. The Scriptures do say, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (my emphasis) For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” (1 Timothy 5:17-18) Now those two Scriptures could bring up another topic altogether, but let’s stick with our current subject, because there is something even better we could give our pastor.

A pastor’s work is much more difficult today than even ten to twenty years ago. Satan has gone on a drunken rampage, knowing his time is short, in an attack against the home and the church. Sometimes a pastor will get hit on both fronts. Let us take a quick look at these.

FIRST FRONT: HOME

Divorces

It is sad but true that pastors too may be hit with divorce. My intent is not to argue the fine points, but just state the fact. The divorce rate for both Christians and non-Christians is fifty percent (50%).

Some pastors bring it upon themselves, just like others do. However, some do not. I have heard pastors say, “That would never happen to me,” but it does. I know many who have been a victim of this curse. Some of those were pastors. Their ministries have been destroyed, often because of the selfishness of another, and that doesn’t even take into account the emotional anguish suffered by the persons directly involved.

To those who are hit with the unexpected shock of this calamity, it is a gut-wrenching experience you would wish on no one. There are many avenues at Satan’s disposal to attack your pastor, and he doesn’t fight fairly. Splitting up the pastor’s home has been the icing on the cake in Satan’s scheme to discredit Jesus Christ and prevent the Truth from being preached.

Children

Sometimes Satan will work through the pastor’s children. It’s hard enough growing up as it is, but when the world’s influences, especially of today, are thrown at children, disaster can strike. Pastor’s too, suffer from the repercussions of this onslaught of Satan upon the family. 1 Timothy 3:4 immediately presents a problem for the pastor’s continued service in the pastoral ministry. “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity” and Satan has another victory.

Spouse

Any pastor needs the full support of his wife. It is true that behind every great man is a greater woman. But Satan also knows about 1 Timothy 3:5, “For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the churchof God?” I have seen pastors so cow-towed by their wife, I was embarrassed for them. Bullies certainly are not acceptable in God’s service either. So again, Satan takes more blood at an attempt to discredit the Lord’s message.

SECOND FRONT: CHURCH

Training

One of the best ways for Satan to attack your pastor is to corrupt his mind before he comes to pastor your church. The best place to start is in the seminaries, and it is here that many young pastors have been sent out in the world with nothing but a social gospel between their ears. Wherever the training takes place, Satan loves to muddy the waters. If you don’t think so, just ask Eve.

The church body

Far too often the church body is a heavy weight the pastor must drag behind him, rather than a friend who walks beside him.

I don’t know if I have ever been to a church that doesn’t have a “clique” that actually calls the shots. If the pastor crosses that “click,” he could be looking for another place to preach God’s Word.

GETTING ON:

I have only listed a very, very few ways that Satan tries to hamper the pastor in his position as the pastor of a local church body, or better yet, to completely destroy any opportunity of being a pastor.

Every pastor needs the help of those around him. So what can we do to help? What is the best gift we good give him?

Special time for him and his family

Every church should require their pastor to have at least one day in the week to spend with his family, uninterrupted. That should be their day. His wife needs her husband, and his children need their dad. I have witnessed far too many pastors sacrifice this area of their lives and suffer for it. I am convinced that it is not God’s desire for them to sacrifice quality time with family.

Visitation

I know a few pastors who won’t visit at all, and that is tragic. Most of the time though, at least in my experiences, I have noticed that the pastor is run ragged doing all the visiting, for one reason or another, while the church body sits on its hands and does nothing but provide more visitation requests.

This leaves him little time for proper preparation for the teaching of the Word that he must provide the church. This leaves him little quality time to spend with his family also.

If you know of someone who needs to be visited, why don’t you visit them? Are you a Christian? Do you not represent the Lord Jesus Christ? There is no reason why you cannot pray with them, witness to them, or help them in their need.

Support

Sometimes a pastor may feel he has little to no support from his congregation, and he may not.

If we can be of service in some way, we should lend a helping hand, and not wait for someone else to fill the spot. If everyone is waiting on the next person, then no one is going to volunteer.

If you see your pastor being unjustly treated, stand up on his behalf and voice your support. Don’t allow the church bullies to run roughshod over your pastor. Regardless of “who they are,” stand up and be counted.

Prayer

The very best gift anyone could give their pastor is their daily prayer for him and his family.

·        “But I have a sorry pastor.” Then pray for him. (Could you be the problem?)

·        “He seems to be doing fine.” We don’t know that, and even if he is, pray for him.

·        “I just don’t think he will change.” Leave that up to God. (Do you need to change?)

·        “I have a good pastor. Prayer would be a waste of time.” Prayer is never a waste of time, and maybe God will make him even better because of your prayers.

·        “I would rather my pastor just leave.” God called him. If God wants him to leave, let God guide him elsewhere if that is God’s decision. In the meantime, your prayers may change your mind.

What should my prayers include concerning my pastor? Allow me to provide a few ideas (in no particular order).

·        His health

·        His spiritual growth

·        His knowledge of the Word

·        His protection

·        His encouragement

·        His family’s health and spiritual growth

·        My readiness and cooperation to be of support and assistance

Again, this is not an inclusive list, but a starter. The important thing is to actually spend each day in prayer on his and his family’s behalf. Don’t just talk it, but walk it.

I realize that it is difficult in our day to find a good Bible believing, Bible teaching man of God as a church pastor. However, I truly believe that through much real, honest-to-goodness prayer on your pastor’s behalf he will improve or be removed, by God. Another marvelous thing that takes place is that those who pray also grow.

Despite the fact that there are probably far more “sorry” pastors than “good ones,” there are still many “good ones” who need much prayer and support from their church family. Satan won’t bother with the “bad” ones. They do his bidding anyway, but he will do all he can to trip up the “good ones.” If you have a pastor who is faithfully teaching God’s Word in full accord to God’s Truth, Satan hates that man, and will do all he can to hurt his ministry. If you happen to be blessed with a “good one,” treasure what God has sent your way. Many Christians don’t have that in their local assembly.

Church congregations need to remember that pastors are not super humans with special in-roads to God that other Christians do not have. We all have a special in-road to God, through His Son Jesus Christ, but none of us are super humans. Pastors are men who have been called by God for a special service, as each person in the body of Christ has been called for special service. They need understanding just like anyone else. They need prayers just like anyone else, perhaps more so, due to their specific calling.

There are many wolves among the sheep, but there are also many good under-shepherds that God has appointed for a high calling. Good pastors are getting harder and harder to find. Reward yours by being a prayer warrior on their behalf, and let them know you are praying for them and their family daily. Help make their calling easier, and I’m sure God will notice.

Grant Phillips