Category Archives: Wednesday Evening Sermons

What Does the Bible REALLY Say About Modesty?

About Modesty?

Pastor Don Carpenter

What Does The Bible REALLY Say? / Skirt; Clothing

When Pastor Esseppi died, our church had several leaders pulling us in several directions. It took over 3 years to unify enough to choose a leader. The one thing that the church could agree on was that they wanted a King James preacher. I sure hope we are still there. But friends, there are a lot of folks who teach error but preach from the King James Bible. If someone were to come in teaching that truth is not absolute, or that Jesus is not the Christ, or that Salvation can be lost, he would be tossed out on his ear! Tonight we continue a series that will peer into the subtle underbelly or error held by some teachers who call themselves Independent Fundamental Baptists. These are folks who preach from the King James Bible. These are folks who use the right words. These are folks who espouse teachings that can lead to vain, empty, worship. These subtle teachings though preached with volume and passion are not found in the Bible… not really. Sure someone may lift a verse or a phrase from context and read their own cultural or racial bias into it… but that does not mean that it is Bible truth.

Matthew 15:9 KJV

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Last week we explored the dark manipulations of scripture made by folks who had racist leanings. Today we are going to explore the subject of modesty. This is an area that has several teachings often repeated as scripture that need to be examined further. Here is the only verse in the entire Bible that mentions modesty. Now I believe in it… but we need to see what does the Bible REALLY Say?

1 Timothy 2:9–10 KJV

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

David Cloud, founder of the IFB “Way of Life Ministries” laments the lack of standards and offers a solution.

 One man wrote:

“It’s not just clothing that can be inappropriate — also high heel shoes. They cause the hips to gyrate when the lady walks. The secular world told us this, so why is it in the church? Bright red nail varnish on fingernails and toenails, red lipstick, seamed stockings — that look from the ‘50s and ‘60s [that draw undue attention to the legs.] It’s not always what the attire is but how it is worn and the woman herself. … Excessive use of perfume and make up — both designed to draw men; they should be used with wisdom.”

The battleground, of course, as we have noted many times, is the heart. If a lady is worldly in her heart, she will probably not be modest even if fully clothed and she will look for ways to push the boundaries of any clothing standards with the objective of being fashionable and perhaps showing herself off.

He goes on to offer a “Biblical Solution”

 True modesty requires a wise dress code. I believe strongly in dress codes for Christian workers in this day and age, but the dress code must be thorough. It is not enough to say that the women must wear dresses rather than pants. It should describe all of the important features of a modest dress, that the neck line must not be too low, that the clothing must not be tight, that it must be long enough so that the leg is covered, that it must not be clingy, that it must not be sheer, etc. The issue needs to be spelled out plainly. The dress standard is not only a code; it is a teaching tool to educate the people on this matter. And dress standards for church leaders and workers is a model for for the rest of the church to follow.

Of course, if a girl or woman is worldly in her heart she will still look for ways to push the boundaries of the standards regardless of how clear they are, but that is a separate problem altogether.

[This article is from the author’s book Dressing from the Lord, which is available in print and eBook editions from Way of Life Literature.]

Another Church put their dress code online:

 REGULATIONS

 Men (13 & up)

 Full length pants (no demin)

 Front button polo or dress shirts. Sweaters are acceptable. (No t-shirts)

 Shoes and socks

 Jewelry

  No pierced jewelry

  No necklaces on outside of clothing

 Women (13 & up)

 Skirt or dress is required

  Must completely cover the knee while standing or sitting

  Any slits must stop at the knee

 Top (pertains to blouse or dress)

  Must cover cleavage completely while standing, sitting, or bending over

  The back neck line must be above the shoulders

Snugness of fit for skirt, dress, blouse, or top:

  Not form-fitting, or body hugging

  Must drape and not cling

  No exposed midriff

  Nothing see-through

 Disclaimer: This policy cannot cover every possible situation. Other obviously distracting, immodest or giving-a-wrong-message type of attire will also be prohibited.

“Doctrines” that are actually the Commandments of Men.

“Women Must Not Wear Pants”

Deuteronomy 22:5 KJV

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Job 38:3 KJV

Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Job 40:7 KJV

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

 • So the thought is if you divide the legs, you are doing what men do.

 • Some go on to teach that men wear denim jeans, that makes women want to wear jeans, so no one should wear denim.

 • The text is actually speaking of maintaining gender distinction… not laying down an exact fashion choice.

 • In fact the girding of the loins was used of the virtuous woman.

Proverbs 31:17 KJV

She girdeth her loins with strength, And strengtheneth her arms.

“Shorts = Nakedness”

“The Bible Says ‘the uncovering of the thigh is nakedness’”

 • This quote is repeated over and over… and it is not in scripture.

 • Here is the reasoning behind this…

Exodus 28:42 KJV

And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:

Loins = Hips

Thighs = From the hip to the knee – Websters Dictionary

“THEREFORE any skin showing above the knee is NAKEDNESS!!!!”

HOWEVER….

 A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (3409. ??????)

 3409. ?????? yârêk, yaw-rake´; from an unused root mean. to be soft; the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphem. the generative parts

Loins = upper thigh… private parts

The ONLY verse speaking of the thigh and nakedness is not a teaching about shorts and modesty… it is saying that the priests’ privates are supposed to be covered.

What Does The Bible REALLY Say about Modesty?

Modesty is not a Dress Code, it is an Attitude.

 1 Timothy 2:9–10 (KJV)

 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 

 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Peter 3:3–4 KJV

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

 1 Timothy 3:2 (KJV)

 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Dressing for Attention is Wrong in the Heart Motivation

Proverbs 7:10 KJV

And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

Romans 15:1–2 KJV

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Everyone is Responsible for Their Own Thoughts and Actions

Matthew 5:27–29 KJV

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Job 31:1 KJV

I made a covenant with mine eyes; Why then should I think upon a maid?

Remember Who You Are

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Colossians 3:17 KJV

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Romans 12:2 KJV

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:48 PM June 7, 2023.

What Does The Bible REALLY Say About Race?

About Race?

Pastor Don Carpenter

What Does The Bible REALLY Say? / Marriage; Segregation / Numbers 12; Genesis 1

When Pastor Esseppi died, our church had several leaders pulling us in several directions. It took over 3 years to unify enough to choose a leader. The one thing that the church could agree on was that they wanted a King James preacher. I sure hope we are still there. But friends, there are a lot of folks who teach error but preach from the King James Bible. If someone were to come in teaching that truth is not absolute, or that Jesus is not the Christ, or that Salvation can be lost, he would be tossed out on his ear! Tonight we continue a series that will peer into the subtle underbelly or error held by some teachers who call themselves Independent Fundamental Baptists. These are folks who preach from the King James Bible. These are folks who use the right words. These are folks who espouse teachings that can lead to vain, empty, worship. These subtle teachings though preached with volume and passion are not found in the Bible… not really. Sure someone may lift a verse or a phrase from context and read their own cultural or racial bias into it… but that does not mean that it is Bible truth.

Last week we learned that Satan is a subtle deceiver who hides error under a thin skin of truth. As we start to see what deceptions lurk in the shadows of the IFB we will see one theme over and over.

Matthew 15:7–9 KJV

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

As we introduce our topic for this evening, it is helpful for us to be reminded of some cultural and historical context that influenced teaching and perception of what the Bible meant to say. At the turn of the last century, mainline denominations were turning from a long held belief in the inspiration of scriptures… and embracing dangerous liberal, and unorthodox positions on major doctrines. Among the Baptists, the Northern Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention were headed in that direction.  Bible Believing Fundamentalists rose up in each group to split off. The GARBC was born out of the Northern Baptist Convention and Independent Fundamental Baptists came from the SBC. Think about that… the IFB was born in the deep south in the 1930’s. The culture was deeply racist and did not even realize it. Racism, both passive and blatant, made it’s way into church culture and teaching. I am going to show two clips. One of a preacher who has done a lot of good, but was very comfortable with racial joking around… and one whose view on interracial marriage reveals his very bigoted views.

** Show Clips**

Racism within the IFB can be seen in three unbiblical errors that are still being taught today. Let us answer together: What Does The Bible REALLY Say About Race?

God Does Not Divide By Race!

Genesis 1:26–27 KJV

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 The belief of Darwinian evolution claims that human beings changed “from-molecules-to-man” over millions and millions of years, with one of our intermediate states being that of the apes. This belief logically implies that certain “races” are more ape-like than they might be human. Ever since the idea of evolution became popular and widespread, Darwinian scientists have been attempting to form continuums that represent the evolution of humanity, with some “races” being placed closer to the apes, while others are placed higher on the evolutionary scale. These continuums are formed solely by outward appearances and are still used today to justify racism — even though modern genetics has clearly proven that our differences, few as they might be, are no deeper than the skin. On the last page of his book The Descent of Man, Charles Darwin expressed the opinion that he would rather be descended from a monkey than from a “Savage.” In describing those with darker skin, he often used words like “savage,” “low,” and “degraded” to describe American Indians, people groups from Africa, and almost every ethnic group whose physical appearance and culture differed from his own. In his work, those once called pygmies have been compared to “lower organisms” and were labeled “the low integrated inhabitants of the Andaman Islands.”

Ware, A. Charles; Ham, Ken. One Race One Blood: The Biblical Answer to Racism (Revised & Updated) (p. 19). Master Books. Kindle Edition. 

Exodus 22:21 KJV

Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Mark 12:31 KJV

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Colossians 3:25 KJV

But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Revelation 7:9–10 KJV

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

 More and more scientists find that the differences that set us apart are cultural, not racial. Some even say that the word “race” should be abandoned because it’s meaningless. . . . We accept the idea of race because it’s a convenient way of putting people into broad categories, frequently to suppress them . . . the most hideous example is provided by Hitler’s Germany. . . . What the facts show is that there are differences among us, but they stem from culture, not race.5

Ware, A. Charles; Ham, Ken. One Race One Blood: The Biblical Answer to Racism (Revised & Updated) (p. 102). Master Books. Kindle Edition.

What Does The Bible Really Say About Interracial Marriage?

Misused Scriptures

Genesis 1:11 KJV

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

 Due to beliefs that interracial marriage was at worst sin, and at best unwise, many fundamental/evangelical leaders supported segregated communities and segregated churches.

 In 1956, evangelist John R. Rice expressed the following thoughts: But I say frankly that many things are worse than these, and most intelligent people would prefer to have Jim Crow laws than to have unrestrained intermarriage between the races. Christians everywhere should try to avoid oppression and take particular pains to be kind and thoughtful and unselfish in all inter-race relationships.10

 Socially, it is better for both Negroes and whites to run with their own kind and intermarry with their own kind. The mixing of races widely differing is almost never wise. . . . Thus if a girl would do wrong to marry a Negro boy, she would be wrong to keep company with him, mixing regularly with him in a social life.11

 In 1961, M.R. Dehaan expressed his view about interracial marriage with these words: I feel Negroes and Whites should never intermarry, but where possible live in their own social and religious groups and churches. . . . as far as the intimate relationship and fellowship which comes by living in the same sections in a community, I do not believe that the time is ripe.12 It should be acknowledged that Rice and DeHaan were seeking to deal with cultural realities of their day. Both expressed concern about oppression of African Americans, but they also supported, at least for their time, the segregation of the so-called human “races.”

Ware, A. Charles; Ham, Ken. One Race One Blood: The Biblical Answer to Racism (Revised & Updated) (p. 40). Master Books. Kindle Edition.

Leviticus 19:19 KJV

Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

Deuteronomy 22:9–11 KJV

Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. 

Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. 

Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.

Deuteronomy 7:1–6 KJV

When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; 

And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: 

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 

For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 

But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. 

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Ezra 9:1 KJV

Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

The Bible Supports Interracial Marriage.

Numbers 12:1–2 KJV

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 

And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

Jeremiah 13:23 KJV

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Numbers 12:3–9 KJV

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 

And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 

And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 

My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 

With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

The Prohibition is Mixing With Unbelievers, not Different Races

2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

What Does The Bible Really Say About the Curse of Canaan?

Genesis 9:25–27 KJV

And he said, Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 

And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; And Canaan shall be his servant. 

God shall enlarge Japheth, And he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; And Canaan shall be his servant.

Errors Preached From This Text

While belief in Ham’s curse can be traced to early Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, its popularity grew exponentially in America prior to 1865. The curse served as a prooftext for pro-slavery preachers, enabling them to make heavenly sounding justifications for the hellish enslavement of dark-skinned image-bearers.

Baptist pastor and Southern Seminary trustee Iveson L. Brookes (1785–1868) taught that “Negro Slavery is an institution of heaven and intended for the mutual benefit of master and slave, as proved by the Bible. . . . God himself . . . authorized Noah to doom the posterity of Ham.”

Patrick Mell (1814–1888), the fourth president of the Southern Baptist Convention, proposed: “From Ham were descended the nations that occupied the land of Canaan and those that now constitute the African or Negro race. Their inheritance, according to prophecy, has been and will continue to be slavery . . . [and] so long as we have the Bible . . . we expect to maintain it.”

Satan is a master of Scripture-twisting.

Sadly, quotes like these were commonplace across denominations in the 1800s. And though slavery was abolished in 1865, echoes of this false doctrine continued to reverberate throughout America’s culture and churches. Prominent pastors used it to support segregation, and its sentiments fuel modern-day white supremacist theology. Just recently I had to take down racist posters promoting these lies near our church building.

Look At This in Context – The Ravings of a Drunkard.

Genesis 9:20–24 KJV

And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 

And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 

And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. 

And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. 

And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

What Does The Bible Really Say About Segregation?

Acts 17:26 KJV

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Famous Preachers of the Last Century Used This Verse to Support Segregation.

O “Never Had I Been So Blind”: W. A. Criswell’s “Change” on Racial Segregation Curtis W. Freeman The Fiery Sermon n February 21, 1956, W. A. Criswell addressed the South Carolina Baptist evangelism conference. Criswell was pastor of the largest congregation in the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the denomination’s most popular preachers. Standing in the grand pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Columbia before an overflow crowd, he exhorted his listeners, many of whom were fellow ministers, to be true preachers of the gospel. But he warned them that a passion for evangelism comes at the cost of undergoing a “baptism by fire.” Describing the sort of fiery ordeals they must face, Criswell segued into a heated attack on the forces of desegregation. He expressed astonishment at the cowardice of ministers “whose forebears [sic] and predecessors were martyrs and were burned at the stake” but who themselves refuse to speak up about “this thing of integration.” True ministers, he argued, must passionately resist government mandated desegregation because it is “a denial of all that we believe in.” This rhetorical move portrayed Southern Baptists as the de facto established church of the South and gave the ministers the privilege to speak for all white southerners. He denounced as “foolishness” and “idiocy” the recent ruling of the Supreme Court that was meant to ram integration down the collective throat of the South. Irritated with the carpet bagging supporters of civil rights, he exclaimed: “Let them integrate. Let them sit up there in their dirty shirts and make all their fine speeches. But they are all a bunch of infidels, dying from the neck up.”11 Criswell saved some of his harshest invectives for the National Council of Churches and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He challenged his fellow Baptists to hold the line against those “two-by scathing, good-for-nothing fellows who are trying to upset all of the Curtis W. Freeman is Research Professor of Theology and Baptist Studies at Duke University Divinity School.

W. A. Criswell’s “Change” on Racial Segregation 2 things that we love as good old Southern people and as good old Southern Baptists.” With a jab aimed at ecumenical church leaders who were pushing integration, he asserted, that half of the things they say “are just as blasphemous and unbiblical as they can be.” “Let them stay where they are,” he exclaimed, “but leave us alone.” Still, he confessed, it was not easy to withstand such fierce criticism, claiming that integrationists had done their best to make him feel “like a dirty, low-down, mangy louse of a dog.” Criswell admitted that in many respects their shame technique was working. Then in an ingratiating attempt at humor he invoked a thinly veiled racial epithet as a punch line that came close to violating the most sacrosanct rule of polite southern social etiquette: “Why the NAACP has got those East Texans on the run so much,” he jibed, “that they dare not pronounce the word chigger any longer. It has to be cheegro.” The ugliness and insensitivity of his remark was not easily forgotten or forgiven.2

https://jsr.fsu.edu/Volume10/Freeman.pdf

The Context Has Nothing to Do With Segregation.

Acts 17:24–26 KJV

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 

Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

This Bigotry Shows Up In Other IFB Extra -Biblical Teaching.

By way of various stages and generations, the “rhythm and blues” of America’s black people originates in the African jungle. The people captured from Africa for slavery in America in the 18th and 19th centuries took with them nothing but their religion. A central element in their religion was their music. (For the details concerning the “primitive” origins of rock, I am indebted to a tape of a speech by G.J. Nijhof, entitled “De Wereld Achter de Grammafoonplaat.” No details as to place or date of the speech is mentioned on the tape I have.)

In our western society today, we are accustomed to distinguish between religious music (that is, church music) and amusement music (for example, “Mary had a little lamb”). The music of the African bush did not know this distinction. To the natives of Africa (and it’s true also of the natives of Australia, America and India), all music was religious; their music was part of their religion. In fact, it was the medicine man (priest, sorcerer, call him what you will) who was the chief musician. The purpose of the music was to get the tribesmen into contact with the gods, be it to drive the evil spirits away or to attract the favour of the good gods. How did the medicine man use music to get his tribesmen into contact with the gods? He did so through the beat. The incessant repetition of sound, without a break, combined with volume, has an effect on the human being.

https://www.christianstudylibrary.org/article/rock-music-christian-or-not

Conclusion:

When the time comes to hire an assistant Pastor or a Senior Pastor, we must not just assume that all folks who preach the KJV and generally Okay. Ask the following questions and listen carefully to the answers:

 • Is Interracial Marriage wrong? Why/ Why not?

 • What the is Curse of Canaan? How Does it affect us today?

• Is Racial Segregation part of God’s plan?  

When the time comes you may want to word it differently in order to get honest discussion… but Satan is Subtle! Now we know what the Bible REALLY says about Race.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:43 PM May 31, 2023.

Prayer for Effect

Prayer For Effect

Pastor Don Carpenter

Pray / Plan / Build / Nehemiah 1–11

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Leave Your Prayer List

The sexton of a metropolitan church noticed scraps of paper in a certain pew in the sanctuary after each Sunday service. One day he made bold to examine the crumpled pieces of paper. He found such notes as: “Mary—ill; Bob, needs job; her rent due; my needs …” After a few weeks of this, the faithful custodian shared the mystery with the pastor, who alerted several members who sat in the area where messages were found to please identify, if possible, the person who was leaving tidbits of information each Sunday. The quiet plan succeeded. In due time, the minister adroitly engaged the lady in conversation in his study conversation in his study about the intriguing practice of leaving notes addressed to various people in her pew.

Smiling, the gentle lady declared that the bits of paper had deep meaning for her. “You will think it silly, but sometime ago I read, ‘Take your troubles to church with you.’ So I write down my concerns, burdens, and needs on little pieces of paper, take them to church, pray about them, and leave them there. I feel God is taking care of them!”

Tonight we start a new series entitled “Pray/ Plan/ Build” focusing on the incredible story of Nehemiah as he rallied a beleaguered nation to rise up and rebuild after years of defeat and humiliation. In the next few weeks may God stir our hearts to be like this hero of the faith, moved to do great things for our great God. It all starts with the urgency of prayer. and what kind of prayer taps into the most power of God. Following his example, let us learn how to pray for affect!

We Need to be Intellectually Affected

Psalm 37:4–5 KJV

Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 

Commit thy way unto the LORD; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

A. ASK about the state of God’s work!

Nehemiah 1:1–2 KJV

THE words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 

That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

 1. Be alert as to how we are perceived in the community

 2. Understand that our impact depends upon our perceived health

B. Note AFFLICTION– distress/misery because of the enemy’s victory

Nehemiah 1:3 KJV

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

Acts 4:18–23 KJV

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. 

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

C. Note REPROACH

 1. Disgrace

 2. Because of lack of victory

 3. God gets glory when we produce fruit, not when we are barren.

D. Note the condition of the ministries of God now – Jerusalem’s walls were burned

We Need To Be Emotionally Affected

Nehemiah 1:4 KJV

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

James 4:7–10 KJV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

A. Sit down – in amazement

B. Weep – let it affect you!

C. Mourn – as you would lose a loved one

D. Fast – to distressed to eat!

E. Pray – driven to action

Abraham Lincoln:

“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of those about me seemed insufficient for the day.”

We Need To Be Personally Affected – Driven to prayer

A. Acknowledge God’s greatness

Nehemiah 1:5 KJV

And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

 1. The God of Heaven

 2. Creator

 3. Great… in scope and dimension

 4. Terrible – One to be feared

 5. Covenant Keeper – you are going to hold Him to it!

B. Acknowledge our total dependence upon God

Nehemiah 1:6 KJV

Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.

 1. Listen to me!

 2. Look at this!

 3. Pray day and night

Luke 11:6–8 KJV

For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 

And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

C. Pray with a penitent heart

Nehemiah 1:7 KJV

We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

1. Repentance follows when you get a clear vision of who God is.

Isaiah 6:5 KJV

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

2. Effective prayer comes from the righteous.

James 5:16 KJV

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

D. Remind God of His promises – Pray Biblically

Nehemiah 1:8–9 KJV

Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 

But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

E. Make it personal

Nehemiah 1:10–11 KJV

Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

1. Your church

2. Your soul winning

3. Specific requests that line up with God’s will and work.

Acts 4:29–31 KJV

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

George Mueller was known for his powerful prayer. In the course of his ministry to the orphans of England, he never asked for financial assistance from men – only God… and he constantly received what was needed to the penny.

Once while on his way to speak in Quebec for a engagement. On the deck of the ship that was to carry him to his destination, he informed the captain that he needed to be in Quebec by Saturday afternoon.

As the captain related the story, he said “’It is impossible,’ I said. ’Do you know how dense this fog is?’”

“’No,’ he replied, ’my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of life. I have never broken an engagement in 57 years; let us go down into the chart room and pray.’

He knelt down and he prayed one of the most simple prayers. When he had finished I was going to pray, but he put his hand on my shoulder and told me not to pray. ’As you do not believe He will answer, and as I believe He has, there is no need for you whatever for you to pray about it.’

“I looked at him and George Mueller said, ’Captain, I have known my Lord for 57 yrs. and there has never been a single day when I have failed to get an audience with the King. Get up, Captain, and open the door and you will find that the fog has gone.’

“I got up and the fog indeed was gone, and on that Saturday afternoon George Mueller kept his promised engagement.”

SOURCE: Jeff Strite in “The Power of Persistent Prayer” on www.sermoncentral.com.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:51 AM January 4, 2023.

From Sweet to Bitter

From Sweet to Bitter

Pastor Don Carpenter

The Story of Ruth / Ruth 1

According to the first verse of the book of Ruth, the story took place during the time of the judges. That’s why Ruth comes right after the book called Judges in our Bibles. The time of the judges was a 400-year period after Israel entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua and before there were any kings in Israel (roughly 1400 b.c. to 1000 b.c.).

Although some generations may be left out of the genealogy in Ruth 4:18–22, Boaz, who marries Ruth, is linked as a descendant from Rahab, the converted prostitute who lived when Israel first came into the Promised Land (Joshua 2:1, 3; 6:17, 23). We learn this from the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:5. This signals to us that remarkable things are in the offing. Why would a prostitute and a Moabitess be mentioned back to back in the genealogy of Jesus? Why would they be mentioned at all? We are getting in at the ground level of something amazing.1

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (pp. 21–22). Crossway.

God at Work in the Worst of Times

You can see from the last verse of the book of Judges what sort of period it was. Judges 21:25 says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” It was a very dark time in Israel. The same gloomy pattern happened again and again: The people would sin, God would send enemies against them, the people would cry for help, and God would mercifully raise up a judge to deliver them (Judges 2:16–19).

From all outward appearances, God’s purposes for righteousness and glory in Israel were failing. But what the book of Ruth does for us is give us a glimpse into the hidden work of God during the worst of times.

Consider the last verse of Ruth (4:22). The child born to Ruth and Boaz during the period of the judges is Obed. Obed becomes the father of Jesse, and Jesse becomes the father of David who led Israel to her greatest heights of glory. One of the main messages of this little book is that God is at work in the worst of times.

Putting in Place the Ancestry of Christ

Even through the sins of his people, God plots for their glory. It was true at the national level. And we will see that it is true at the personal, family level too. God is at work in the worst of times. He is at work doing a thousand things no one can see but him. In the case of this story, God is at work preparing the way for Christ in a manner no one can see. The reason we know it is because the book ends by connecting Ruth and Boaz with David the king. The last words of the book are “Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David” (4:21–22).

Jesus identified himself as “the son of David” (Matthew 22:41–46). He forged a link straight from himself, over all the intervening generations, to David and Jesse and Obed and Ruth. Knowing how this book ends gives us a sense, as we begin, that nothing will be insignificant here. Huge things are at stake. God is putting in place the ancestry of Jesus the Messiah, whose kingdom will endure forever (Isaiah 9:7).1

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (pp. 22–24). Crossway.

Caught In The Crossfire

Ruth 1:1–5 KJV

NOW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 

And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 

And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 

And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 

And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

As a means to that end—and everything is a means to glorifying Christ—the book of Ruth reveals the hidden hand of God in the bitter experiences of his people. The point of this book is not just that God is preparing the way for the coming of the King of Glory, but that he is doing it in such a way that all of us should learn that the worst of times are not wasted. They are not wasted globally, historically, or personally.

When you think he is farthest from you, or has even turned against you, the truth is that as you cling to him, he is laying foundation stones of greater happiness in your life.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

What William Cowper says in these lines is a description of how God brings about the eternal salvation of his people. It’s the way he governs history, and it is the way he governs our lives. The book of Ruth is one of the most graphic stories of how God hides his smiling face behind a frowning providence.1

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (pp. 24–25). Crossway

 • This chapter is about a woman named Naomi – which meant Kind and Sweet.

 • This was during the time of the Judges when God would use trials to get the Israelites to repent and turn to Him

Naomi knows who causes famines. God does. Perhaps she learned this from the Scriptures, which say in Leviticus 26:3–4, “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase.” In other words, God rules the rain. When the rains are withheld, this is the hard hand of God.1

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (pp. 25–26). Crossway.

 • The man, Elimelech left the promised land to run to Moab because of a famine.

 • There were several warnings not to be comfortable in the Pagan lands.

Judges 10:6 KJV

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.

 • It is very possible that he was running from the chastisement that was supposed to get him closer to God.

“The efforts which we make to escape from our destiny only serve to lead us into it.”

The American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that in his book The Conduct of Life, and it’s just as true today as when the book was published back in 1860. Because God gave us freedom of choice, we can ignore the will of God, argue with it, disobey it, even fight against it. But in the end, the will of God shall prevail; because “the counsel of the Lord stands forever” (Ps. 33:11) and “He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth” (Dan. 4:35, NKJV).1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Be Committed (p. 13). Victor Books.

 • Elimelech’s decisions effected three people beside himself… his two sons and his wife Naomi.

Elimelech made the wrong decision when he decided to leave home. What made this decision so wrong?

He walked by sight and not by faith. Abraham made the same mistake when he encountered a famine in the land of promise (Gen. 12:10ff). Instead of waiting for God to tell him what to do next, he fled to Egypt and got into trouble. No matter how difficult our circumstances may be, the safest and best place is in the will of God.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Be Committed (p. 15). Victor Books.

 • He died in the pagan land… the very fate he was trying to avoid in the promised land.

 • The two sons married pagan wives and stayed another 10 years.

 • The two sons died and left behind mom and their wives.

t is the message of the book of Ruth, as we will see, that all things mysteriously serve God’s good ends. Thousands of Christians who have walked through fire and have seen horrors embrace God’s control of all things as the comfort and hope of their lives. It is not comforting or hopeful in their pain to tell them that God is not in control. Giving Satan the decisive control or ascribing pain to chance is not true or helpful. When the world is crashing in, we need assurance that God reigns over it all.1

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (p. 27). Crossway.

Nothing Left to Give

Ruth 1:6–13 KJV

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 

Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 

The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 

And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 

And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 

Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 

Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

Deuteronomy 25:5 KJV

If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.

 • The Lord had visited the promised land giving them bread.

 • Naomi was going back and intended to leave her daughters in law behind.

 • They begged to come- Naomi thought this was yet another group of people depending on her and she had nothing to offer… nothing left

 • Naomi had become so overwhelmed she lost sight of any positive news. She forgot about Boaz.

There’s a lesson here. When we have decided that God is against us, we usually exaggerate our hopelessness. We become so bitter we can’t see the rays of light peeping out around the clouds. It was God who broke the famine and opened the way home (1:6). It was God who preserved a kinsman to continue Naomi’s line (2:20). And it was God who constrains Ruth to stay with Naomi. But Naomi is so embittered by God’s hard providence that she doesn’t see his mercy at work in her life

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (p. 33). Crossway.

 • Ruth had become a believer and wanted nothing in return but to love Naomi.

Ruth 1:16–18 KJV

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

The more you ponder these words, the more amazing they become. Ruth’s commitment to her destitute mother-in-law is simply astonishing.

First, it means leaving her own family and land. Second, it means, as far as she knows, a life of widowhood and childlessness, because Naomi has no man to give her, and if she married a non-relative, Ruth’s commitment to Naomi’s family would be lost. Third, it means going to an unknown land with a new people and new customs and new language. Fourth, it was a commitment even more radical than marriage: “Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried” (1:17). In other words, she will never return home, not even if Naomi dies.

But the most amazing commitment of all is this: “Your God [will be] my God” (1:16). Naomi has just said in verse 13, “The hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” Naomi’s experience of God was bitterness. But in spite of this, Ruth forsakes her religious heritage and makes the God of Israel her God. Perhaps she had made that commitment years before, when her husband told her of the great love of God for Israel and his power at the Red Sea and his glorious purpose of peace and righteousness. Somehow or other, Ruth had come to trust in Naomi’s God in spite of Naomi’s bitter experiences.1

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (pp. 34–35). Crossway.

Call Me Mara – Bitter

Ruth 1:19–22 KJV

So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 

I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

 • Is this really Naomi? (What on earth happened to the kind sweetness?)

 • The Almighty has dealt bitterly

 • I went out full and returned empty.

 • The Lord testified against me.

 • Embittered Eyes Become Blind

 • Naomi and Ruth Settled in Bethlehem

It was God who took away the famine and opened a way home. Naomi “had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food” (1:6). Just as surely as God brought the famine, God took it away. Naomi could see that. But she could not see all that God was doing. Later she will be able to look back, in the same way we can when we read the book a second time, and see the pointers of hope.

For example, notice the delicate touch of hope at the end of 1:22: “And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.” If Naomi could only see what this is going to mean. The barley field is where Ruth will meet Boaz, her future husband.

Not only that, Naomi needs to open her eyes to Ruth. What a gift! What a blessing! Yet as she and Ruth stand before the people of Bethlehem, Naomi says in verse 21, “The Lord has brought me back empty.” Not so, Naomi! You are so weary with the night of adversity that you can’t see the dawn of rejoicing.1

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (p. 39). Crossway.

On April 20, 2001, the Peruvian Air Force shot down a missionary plane, mistaking it for a drug courier. In the plane were the pilot Kevin Donaldson and a missionary family, Jim and Veronica Bowers and their two children, seven-month-old Charity and six-year-old Cory. Veronica had Charity in her lap sitting in the back of the Cessna 185. As the bullets sprayed the plane, one of them entered Veronica’s back and passed through her and into her daughter. Both died. The pilot, with shattered knees, crash-landed the plane in a river, and the other three survived.

Seven days later at the memorial service in Fruitport, Michigan, Jim Bowers gave his testimony and explained why the sovereignty of God in the deaths of his wife and daughter was the rock under his feet.

Most of all I want to thank God. He’s a sovereign God. I’m finding that out more now.… Some of you might ask, “Why thank God?” … Could this really be God’s plan for Roni and Charity; God’s plan for Cory and me and our family? I’d like to tell you why I believe so.

He goes on to give fifteen reasons. In that context, he says, “Roni and Charity were instantly killed by the same bullet. (Would you say that’s a stray bullet?) And it didn’t reach Kevin, who was right in front of Charity; it stayed in Charity. That was a sovereign bullet.”

But what about the Peruvian fighter pilots? Didn’t they have wills? Didn’t they make mistakes or, perhaps, even sin against an innocent missionary family? Jim Bowers said, “Those people who did that simply were used by God. Whether you want to believe it or not. I believe it. They were used by Him, by God, to accomplish His purpose in this, maybe similar to the Roman soldiers whom God used to put Christ on the cross.”

We will see from the story of Ruth and from the cross of Christ that in this life our hope in the next depends on God’s reign over all things. It may be hard to embrace when the pain is great, but far worse would be the weakness of God and his inability to stop the blowing of the wind and the flight of a bullet.1

1 Piper, J. (2010). A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (pp. 27–29). Crossway.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:52 PM October 12, 2022.

Rescue Compassionately

Rescue Compassionately

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / 2 Corinthians 5:11; Galatians 6:1; Jude 22–23

 Don Richardson was a missionary to the cannibalistic, headhunting Sawi tribe of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Try as he would, he could not find a way to make the people understand the gospel message, especially the significance of Christ’s atoning death on the cross.

 Sawi villages were constantly fighting among themselves, and because treachery revenge, and murder were highly honored there seemed no hope of peace. The tribe, however, had a legendary custom that if one village gave a baby boy to another village, peace would prevail between the two villages as long as the child lived. The baby was called a “peace child”.

 The missionary seized on that story as an analogy of the reconciling work of Christ. Christ, he said, is God’s divine Peace Child that He has offered to man, and because Christ lives eternally His peace will never end. That analogy was the key that unlocked the gospel for the Sawis. In a miraculous working of the Holy Spirit many of them believed in Christ, and a strong, evangelistic church soon developed – and peace came to the Sawis. Peace Child. (Glendale, Calif.:Regal, 1979)

This is soul winning, not because evangelism took place, but because the minds and hearts of a lost people were captured and persuaded to be receptive to the truth. Tonight is the last message in our series “Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism”. Let us consider what we have learned over the last 8 weeks.

We discovered that the one place in the Bible that mentions winning souls was not directly talking about leading someone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 11:30 KJV

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

We discovered that a soul is one’s heart and mind, and to “win” it is to grab hold of it, capture it. We learned that just grabbing a soul is not virtuous of itself. It has to be done as part of the fruit of the righteous.

We learned that the definition or indicator of this righteousness was not some man made external standard, but the fruit of a Spirit controlled heart.

James 3:13–18 KJV

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Since discovering these truths about what soul winning actually is, we went on to learn practically how to do it. We learned to Speak Graciously, Teach Meekly, Answer Softly, Live Peacefully, Love Truthfully, Communicate Sensitively and Reach Out Sympathetically. Tonight we will look at reaching people when the need is urgent and the stakes are especially high. We will learn how to Rescue Compassionately.

Make Your Case

2 Corinthians 5:11 KJV

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 • Based on what we know. 

 28.1 ???????a; ????a; ???????a; ??????a, ??? f: to possess information about—‘to know, to know about, to have knowledge of, to be acquainted with, acquaintance.’1

 1 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 333). United Bible Societies.

 The verb knowing here has the idea of experiencing or being aware of something. It is more than merely knowing about something. It includes an awareness of responsibility. Mft has “with the fear of the Lord before my mind,” while NAB reads “standing in awe of the Lord.”1

1 Omanson, R. L., & Ellington, J. (1993). A handbook on Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (p. 98). United Bible Societies.

 • Based on the terror of the Lord.

 1. phobos (?????, 5401) first had the meaning of “flight,” that which is caused by being scared; then, “that which may cause flight,” (a) “fear, dread, terror,” always with this significance in the four Gospels; also e.g., in Acts 2:43; 19:17; 1 Cor. 2:3; 1 Tim. 5:20 (lit., “may have fear”); Heb. 2:15; 1 John 4:18; Rev. 11:11; 18:10, 151

1 Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, pp. 229–230). T. Nelson.

  • Our accountability as believers

Acts 20:26–27 KJV

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

  • Compassion for the plight of the unbeliever

John 3:36 KJV

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 • We Persuade – make our case

peitho (?????, 3982), “to persuade,” is rendered “agreed” in Acts 5:40, where the meaning is “they yielded to him.” See assure, believe, confident, friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.1

1 Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 20). T. Nelson.

Make Your Repairs

Galatians 6:1 KJV

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 • If someone is overtaken=

“overtaken” in any trespass, Gal. 6:1, where the meaning is not that of detecting a person in the act, but of his being caught by the trespass, through his being off his guard.

1 W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 454.

 • You which are spiritual=

(and presumably that should be everyone’s goal)

The spiritual among the Galatians, namely, those who were still living their lives in dependence upon the Spirit, are exhorted to restore those Galatians who had abandoned that method for the one taught by the Judaizers.1

1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 165.

 • Restore – Repair

 The word restore is from katartiz? (?????????). This word has the following meanings: “to repair, to restore to a former good condition, to prepare, to fit out, to equip.” It is used of reconciling factions, of setting bones, of putting a dislocated limb into place, of mending nets, of manning a fleet, of supplying an army with provisions. It is used by Paul usually in a metaphorical sense of setting a person to rights, of bringing him into line. Those Galatians who had not abandoned their dependence upon the Holy Spirit, now are asked by Paul to set those Galatians right who had been seized unawares by sin because they had deprived themselves of the ministry of the Spirit.1

1 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 165.

The following is from a sermon David Dykes, “How Should We Treat Someone Who Messed Up?” 8/11/2010

 One of the most touching moments in NBA history took place in a 2003 playoff game between the Portland Trailblazers and the Dallas Mavericks. Actually, it happened before the game began.

 Natalie Gilbert was a 13-year-old 8th grader who had won the chance to sing the national anthem a capella before the game. Even though she had been in bed all day with a flu, she was determined to do her best. She was obviously nervous, and a few lines into the song, Natalie forgot the words. She stood there embarrassed in the spotlight in front the crowd and a national television audience. It had to be the most agonizing moment in Natalie’s young life – and everyone there was embarrassed for her as well.

 But after only a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Maurice Cheeks, the Trailblazers head coach walked to Natalie’s side, put his arm around her and helped her with the words. They started singing together, and soon the entire crowd was singing the national anthem. His act of helping Natalie brought the entire crowd into the song. There was thunderous cheering when they all reached the words, “o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

 Natalie messed up, but fortunately there was someone there to help her recover, and she finished strong. Wouldn’t it be great if Christians would could come along side our brothers and sisters who have messed up and help them recover spiritually so they can finish strong?

 Everybody messes up, even Christians. But we don’t have a very good reputation for how we treat them. Someone has said that “the Christian army is the only army that shoots its wounded.” When a Christian sins, and it becomes public knowledge, we often refer to them as “fallen.” They haven’t fallen from salvation, they’ve fallen down in their walk with God. But instead of extending a hand to help them up, many Christians react by kicking them when they’re down.

Make a Difference

With Compassion

Jude 22 KJV

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

 ????? or ?????; ?????, ??? n: to show kindness or concern for someone in serious need—‘to show mercy, to be merciful toward, to have mercy on, mercy.’

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains. New York: United Bible Societies.

 Because the words of the apostates were confusing, probably many believers were in doubt as to whether to follow them. Such persons, Jude wrote, should not be slandered or criticized. They should be dealt with in love and mercy—the same way in which the Lord dealt with them (cf. v. 21). They needed encouragement, not criticism. They needed to be built up, not torn down.

Pentecost, E. C. (1985). Jude. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 923). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

With a Sense of Urgency

Jude 23 KJV

and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire” refers to sinners whom we consider hopeless. It seems impossible that they will ever be saved. And yet I have seen some of these folk come to know Christ by hearing God’s Word by radio. Jude admonishes us not to give them up—“others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.” What a tremendous statement!

In Zechariah 3:2 we read this: “And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” When God intended to save Jerusalem, He said, “I am just taking a brand out of the fire.” Apparently there is no one who is beyond redemption, if they want to be saved.

McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible commentary (electronic ed., Vol. 5, p. 874). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Conclusion:

So what have we learned? God is very much interested in us becoming soul winners. But the Biblical kind of soul winning is not just the ability to get someone to repeat a prayer or even just to get someone to genuine faith in Jesus as Savior. It is the skill, wisdom, and spirit control needed to grab a wayward heart and mind as redirect them to the glory of the Savior. The lost need to be won, and the believer needs to be won. May God give us the drive and discipline to be Soul Winners that are so much more than evangelists.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:53 PM October 5, 2022.

Communicate Sensitively

Communicate Sensitively

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / Ac 17:15–34

Find what is in common and build on that.

Tonight we continue our series Soul Winning: Much More Than Evangelism.

We discovered that the one place in the Bible that mentions winning souls was not directly talking about leading someone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 11:30 KJV

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

We discovered that a soul is one’s heart and mind, and to “win” it is to grab hold of it, capture it. We learned that just grabbing a soul is not virtuous of itself. It has to be done as part of the fruit of the righteous.

We learned that the definition or indicator of this righteousness was not some man made external standard, but the fruit of a Spirit controlled heart.

James 3:13–18 KJV

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Since discovering these truths about what soul winning actually is, we went on to learn practically how to do it. We learned to Speak Graciously, Teach Meekly, Answer Softly, Live peacefully, and Love Truthfully.

Tonight we will study how to reach across cultural barriers. We will learn how to Communicate Sensitively.

The Puritan Preacher Jonathan Edwards said this:

If man does not give his highest respect to the God that made him, there will be something else that has the possession of it. Men will either worship the true God, or some idol. It is impossible it should be otherwise; something will have the heart of man. And that which a man gives his heart to may be called his god.

In our passage tonight, the Apostle Paul was running for his life. He ended up in Athens just to escape his enemies. He was not planning on starting a church there or even giving the gospel. He did however, make use of the unusual opportunity given him.

 Paul’s message is a masterpiece of communication. He started where the people were by referring to their altar dedicated to an unknown god. Having aroused their interest, he then explained who that God is and what He is like. He concluded the message with a personal application that left each council member facing a moral decision, and some of them decided for Jesus Christ.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 472–473). Victor Books.

Be Aware Of Your Spiritual Surroundings.

Acts 17:16–17 KJV

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

 The city. Athens was in a period of decline at this time, though still recognized as a center of culture and education. The glory of its politics and commerce had long since faded. It had a famous university and numerous beautiful buildings, but it was not the influential city it once had been. The city was given over to a “cultured paganism” that was nourished by idolatry, novelty (Acts 17:21), and philosophy.

 “The Greek religion was a mere deification of human attributes and the powers of nature,” wrote Conybeare and Howson in their classic Life and Epistles of St. Paul. “It was a religion which ministered to art and amusement, and was entirely destitute of moral power” (pp. 280–281). The Greek myths spoke of gods and goddesses that, in their own rivalries and ambitions, acted more like humans than gods; and there were plenty of deities to choose from! One wit jested that in Athens it was easier to find a god than a man. Paul saw that the city was “wholly given to idolatry,” and it broke his heart.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 471). Victor Books.

 • He saw the city wholly given to idolatry

 • He reached people where they were, Jews in the Synagogue and Gentiles in the market.

Be Aware of Your Audience

Acts 17:18–21 KJV

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Paul had to confront two opposing philosophies as he witnessed in Athens, those of the Epicureans and the Stoics. We today associate the word Epicurean with the pursuit of pleasure and the love of “fine living,” especially fine food. But the Epicurean philosophy involved much more than that. In one sense, the founder Epicurus was an “existentialist” in that he sought truth by means of personal experience and not through reasoning. The Epicureans were materialists and atheists, and their goal in life was pleasure. To some, “pleasure” meant that which was grossly physical; but to others, it meant a life of refined serenity, free from pain and anxiety. The true Epicurean avoided extremes and sought to enjoy life by keeping things in balance, but pleasure was still his number one goal.

The Stoics rejected the idolatry of pagan worship and taught that there was one “World God.” They were pantheists, and their emphasis was on personal discipline and self-control. Pleasure was not good and pain was not evil. The most important thing in life was to follow one’s reason and be self-sufficient, unmoved by inner feelings or outward circumstances. Of course, such a philosophy only fanned the flames of pride and taught men that they did not need the help of God. It is interesting that the first two leaders of the Stoic school committed suicide.

The Epicureans said “Enjoy life!” and the Stoics said “Endure life!” but it remained for Paul to explain how they could enter into life through faith in God’s risen Son.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 472). Victor Books.

 • Some saw Paul as a Babbler

“Babbler” (NIV, NASB) translates a Greek expression applied originally to birds pecking up grain but came to apply to worthless persons; an English equivalent to the reproach might be “birdbrain.” But in the same verse Luke lets these critics demonstrate their own stupidity: they think Paul is preaching gods (plural), because he preaches Jesus and resurrection—“Resurrection” (Anastasis) was also a woman’s name.1

1 Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Ac 17:18). InterVarsity Press.

 • He was brought to Areopagus (and Paul was willing to go in spite of his Jewish background (also known as Mars’ Hill to the Romans)

This description of the regular activity at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) helps establish the irony of Paul’s discourse. While the Athenians put Paul and Christianity on trial, Paul puts their philosophies on trial. Thus, what looks to the Athenians like confused thinking actually points to the incoherence in their philosophies.1

1 Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 17:21). Lexham Press.

 • They viewed his doctrine as strange and new. Paul saw that as an opportunity, not a barrier.

 • Athenians loved to talk and ponder the abstract. Perhaps this was seen as lazy or ostentatious by Jewish folks.

Athens was proverbial for the curiosity of its inhabitants. By the first century, Athenian desire for entertainment also extended to gladiatorial shows, drawing the criticism of several famous moralists.1

1 Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Ac 17:21). InterVarsity Press.

Be Aware of Common Ground

Acts 17:22–23 KJV

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

 • Very religious/ fearful/ superstitious.

 • They had many Gods with labels.

During a plague long before Paul’s time, no altars had successfully propitiated the gods; Athens had finally offered sacrifices to an unknown god, immediately staying the plague. These altars were still standing, and Paul uses them as the basis for his speech. Paul does avoid, however, the practice of some of his Jewish predecessors and some second-century Christian successors, of accusing pagan philosophers of plagiarizing their good ideas from Moses!1

1 Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Ac 17:23). InterVarsity Press.

 • There was one to an unknown God – Paul used that as a starting point.

 • They said they wanted to know what Paul knew, so they admitted their ignorance in this area. Paul, not out of judgement but love, offered to remove their ignorance of the Unknown God.

 The word {ignorance} was originally used of a small bird that went around picking up grain, and later was applied to persons who picked up food scraps and other odds and ends in the market place. Still later it came to be used figuratively of any person who picked up odd bits of information, and especially of one who was unable to put them together properly.

1 Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 336). United Bible Societies.

Be Basic and Logical in Your Introduction of Cross Cultural Truth without insulting your audience.

Acts 17:24–26 KJV

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 

Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

The essence of Paul’s message to the Athenians may be summed up in the following way: (1) this unknown god whom you worship is the true God though you do not know it; (2) you can learn much about this unknown God by observing what he has done in the creative order; (3) this true God will remain unknown to you until you meet him in the person of Jesus Christ.1

1 Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 340). United Bible Societies.

  • God made everything.
  • God rules everything
  • Therefore things created by man cannot contain Him.

The affirmation that God is both Creator and Lord of heaven and earth leads naturally to the conclusion that he does not live in temples made by men. Made by men (literally “handmade”) designates that which is material in contrast with what is spiritual.1

1 Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 340). United Bible Societies.

  • Since He is the one that gives life and breath, he does not need human sculptors for His existence.
  • All men have the same blood designed by God.
  • All men are designed to feel after and find God.

Acts 17:27 KJV

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

An expression for felt around for him may come from the activity of blind persons feeling around in order to identify some object or so as to determine where they are.1

1 Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 342). United Bible Societies.

Acts 17:28–29 KJV

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

 • All men depend on God for existence

 • Therefore it is illogical that God would depend on an idol builder for His existence.

 • Even Greek philosophers said that humans are God’s offspring, affirming that man is dependent upon God for existence, not God upon man.

Be specific and direct when calling for a response.

Acts 17:30–31 KJV

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

 • Now that ignorance has been removed, God calls for repentance.

 • We will all face judgement

 • God has given us hope by raising Christ from the dead.

Expect Results

Acts 17:32–34 KJV

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 

So Paul departed from among them. 

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

 • Mocking

 • Curiosity

 • Belief/Conversion

Cyprian of Carthage said this:

To him who still remains in this world no repentance is too late. The approach to God’s mercy is open, and the access is easy to those who seek and apprehend the truth.

Acts 17 is a monumental passage worthy of many hours of study. God wants us to be soul winners, to capture the hearts and minds of people for righteous purposes. When faced with a cross cultural challenge it is best to communicate sensitively. 

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 5:41 PM September 21, 2022.

Answer Softly

Answer Softly

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / Anger / Proverbs 15:1–2

While church planting in Washington State, I worked as a Transitional Housing Coordinator with Inland Counseling Center, a Mental Health Provider.  It was a wonderful place to work because they not only gave me a chance to reach a very needy population, they also were a teaching facility for those pursuing their Masters of Social Work Degree. We were constantly learning the newest and latest techniques in the Mental Health counseling field.

Every once and a while, a staff member would be spotlighted for doing something right so that others can learn from it. One Wednesday staff meeting I was surprised to find myself in that spotlight. Apparently a Nurse was listening outside my closed door as I was counseling with an angry client with a history of physical violence. You see he was getting real loud and on the edge of a temper tantrum because I would not give him more money than was in his budget. He had a history of drug abuse. I met his aggressive and violent voice with a calm and tender answer. Soon his speech matched mine and the situation was under control.  

“Where did you learn Pace and Lead?” the nurse asked. I explained that it was not a new technique, it was Proverbs 15.1-2 that I was implementing. The entire staff learned that day that what was just being discovered, God had told us about in the Bible thousands of years ago. It is a profound thing to learn to Answer Softly.

Today is our fourth lesson on Soul Winning. Remember, to win a soul is to capture a mind and heart and grab hold of it. The Bible tells us that when a righteous person does so for righteous purposes, it is a demonstration of wisdom.

Proverbs 11:30 KJV

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

We learned that the evidence of righteous motivation is seen not in an external check list of appearance standards arbitrarily made up but rather a Biblical list of character traits that will accompany righteous wisdom.

James 3:17–18 KJV

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

We went on to learn that to win a soul we needed to always speak graciously – with unmerited favor. We also needed to add a little salt to make one thirsty for the truth.

Colossians 4:5–6 KJV

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Last week we learned that not only do we need to be gracious in our speech when dealing with outsiders, but we need to teach with gentle meekness when addressing believers who have lost their way.

2 Timothy 2:23–26 KJV

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Tonight we will address how to respond when things get heated. We will see that when we face an increasing volume and rising anger, we must be disciplined to Answer Softly.

A Soft Answer Puts Wrath In Reverse

 Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

 A soft answer turneth away wrath…

 A soft answer turns away wrath: Soft in relation to speech means “gentle,” “kind,” or, as reb says, “mild.” It is a response without anger or harshness. The importance of kindness and respect in the use of speech is expressed again in 24:26 and 25:15.1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (pp. 326–328). United Bible Societies

J Vernon McGee makes the following observation:

 I’m sure that the people who come to your mind at this proverb are Abigail and Nabal. We have seen several proverbs that are applicable to them. Abigail was the beautiful, lovely wife and woman. Nabal, her husband, was the fool but a very rich man. Someone has written a book called “Beauty and the Beast,” and it is the story of Nabal and Abigail—Abigail is the beauty and Nabal is the beast. You will recall that when Abigail heard that her husband had sent an insulting answer to David, who had in kindness and consideration taken care of his flocks, she hurriedly ordered the servants to gather a great deal of food for David. Then she went to meet David and fell down on her face before him. She recognized him as the future king, and she spoke to him of the fact that his life was bound up in the bundle of life with God—a beautiful expression. She gave a soft answer, and it did turn away wrath. On the other hand, grievous words stir up anger—which certainly was true of the words of Nabal.1

1 McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: Poetry (Proverbs) (electronic ed., Vol. 20, p. 132). Thomas Nelson.

1 Samuel 25:23 KJV

And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

1 Samuel 25:32–33 KJV

And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: 

And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

1 Kings 12:7 KJV

And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

Proverbs 14:3 KJV

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Proverbs 25:15 KJV

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Turns away translates the causative form of a verb meaning “to turn back.” The thought is that the anger of the first speaker can be set aside or calmed by a gentle response.1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

Wrath is anger or fury. cev says “A kind answer soothes angry feelings,” and spcl has “A friendly reply calms anger.” In some languages it may be necessary to expand this line to say, for example, “Reply to a person with gentle words and you will calm their anger.”1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

Harsh Words Excite Anger

 Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

 …But grievous words stir up anger.

Stirs up or “excites” contrasts with turns away in the first line. The verb refers to causing something to rise, in this case the angry emotions of the other speaker, as reb says: “but a sharp word makes tempers rise.” gecl translates this full saying “A reconciling answer cools down anger, but a hurtful word heats it up.” See also tev.1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

A Wise Tongue Uses Knowledge Correctly.

 Proverbs 15:2 (KJV)

 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright…

The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge: The Hebrew of this line, as the rsv footnote shows, has “makes knowledge good” in place of dispenses knowledge. However, hottp rates the text as “A” and interprets the line as “The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge.” The tongue of the wise refers to the speech or teaching given by the wise, as in tev. tev follows the recommendation of hottp with “make knowledge attractive.” We may also translate this line, for example, “The speech of the wise ones makes knowledge lovely,” “Knowledge is made beautiful in the words of wise people,” or “When a wise man talks, everybody is glad and wants to know more.”1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

A Foolish Mouth Gushes Foolishness

 Proverbs 15:2 (KJV)

 …But the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Proverbs 14:17 KJV

He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: And a man of wicked devices is hated.

Psalm 10:4 KJV

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Proverbs 1:7 KJV

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:22 KJV

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge?

Fools are described in 1:7 and 1:22 as people who hate wisdom and instruction. Pour out renders a verb meaning to flow or bubble up in reference to water. In relation to speech it is used figuratively to mean “burst out with speech.” See tev “spout nonsense.” One translation renders this line as “but when a fool talks, he just throws empty words around1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

We rarely use the word “gushes” for something good, whether we are speaking of blood or emotion, and this is also true when we are talking about folly. The image compares speech to water or some other rushing liquid—too much spouting out too quickly, neither controlled nor contained. Knowledge, by contrast, is (lit.) “made good” by the tongue of the wise, perhaps by taking the time and effort to make it attractive; when it comes out, its product is worth keeping. It comes out in moderation, not excess, so that nothing is lost.1

1 Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (pp. 394–395). Zondervan.

So there it is more wisdom regarding winning a soul, or capturing a heart and mind. We will not do so by bombastic, insulting, intimidating, and bullying speech toward those who do not believe like we do. When faced with the fleshly wrath of a poor soul who has been deceived or stirred up by the forces of darkness, or angered because of mistakes we have made, do not play that game. Do not answer in kind. Continue on the path of Grace speech. Continue in the stream of unmerited favor and answer softly.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:23 PM August 24, 2022.

Teach Meekly

Teach Meekly

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / Humility / 2 Timothy 2:24–26; James 3:13; 1 Peter 3:15

A.W. Tozer, a great Pastor and Bible Scholar that began his ministry over 100 years ago had warning that rings true today.

 We have gotten accustomed to the blurred puffs of gray fog that pass for doctrine in churches and expect nothing better. From some previously unimpeachable sources are now coming vague statements consisting of a milky admixture of Scripture, science, and human sentiment that is true to none of its ingredients because each one works to cancel the others out. Little by little Christians these days are being brainwashed. One evidence is that increasing numbers of them are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe, but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible of clear definition. Moral power has always accompanied definite beliefs. Great saints have always been dogmatic. We need a return to a gentle dogmatism that smiles while it stands stubborn and firm on the Word of God that lives and abides forever.

–A.W. Tozer

This is the third week of our series “Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism” Our cornerstone text for the whole series is 

Proverbs 11:30 KJV

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

Our first week we discovered that the soul winning that Solomon was talking about was much more than getting someone to pray a prayer with you, writing their name in your Bible, and taking credit for their salvation. We learned that to win a soul was to capture a heart and mind. One could do it for wicked purposes and it was still technically soul winning. We saw that this verse was speaking of capturing a heart and mind as a result of righteousness. We then saw that God outlines exactly what heavenly wisdom, the wisdom that is involved in righteous soul winning, looks like.

James 3:17–18 KJV

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Now that we understood what righteous soul winning was, we endeavored to learn how we can accomplish that. Last week we discovered the fact that we needed to always speak Graciously. That is, we need to speak with unmerited favor toward those hearts and minds we are trying to capture.

Colossians 4:5–6 KJV

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Today we are going to address the issue that A.W. Tozer raised in our opening quote. Many folks have had their theologies muddled with part scripture and part opinion only to end up mixed up and often stubborn and dogmatic. How can these poor misguided folks be rescued from the snare of ignorance and deception that grips their very soul? We must win their souls! We must in wisdom and righteousness follow the path God has laid out and learn what it means to Teach Meekly.

Avoid Strife Triggers

 2 Timothy 2:23–24 (KJV)

 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 

 And the servant of the Lord must not strive…

William Barclay makes the following observation:

Timothy is told to flee from youthful lusts. Many commentators have made suggestions as to what these youthful lusts are. They are far more than the passions of the flesh. They include that impatience, which has never learned to make haste slowly and has still to discover that too much haste can do far more harm than good; that self-assertion, which is intolerant in its opinions and arrogant in its expression of them, and which has not yet learned to see the good in points of view other than its own; that love of debate, which tends to argue long and act little, and which will talk the night away and be left with nothing but a litter of unsolved problems; and that love of novelty, which tends to condemn a thing simply because it is old and to desire a thing simply because it is new, underrating the value of experience.1

1 Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 202). Westminster John Knox Press.

The Lord’s Servant Must Not Strive!

“Strive” is machomai (???????), “to fight, wrangle, quarrel, dispute.” “Must” is dei (???), “it is a necessity in the nature of the case.” There is a moral obligation attached to this duty1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

James 3:13–16 KJV

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

1 Timothy 3:3 KJV

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Isaiah 53:7 KJV

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.

Avoid Foolish Questions

“Foolish” is m?ros (?????), “dull, sluggish, stupid.” 1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 140). Eerdmans.

Proverbs 15:14 KJV

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: But the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Avoid Unlearned Questions

What is forbidden us is controversies which in themselves are ‘stupid and senseless’ and in their effect ‘breed quarrels’. They are ‘stupid’ or ‘futile’ (jb) because they are speculative. For the same reason they are ‘senseless’ (apaideutos), literally ‘uninstructed’ or even ‘undisciplined’, because they go beyond Scripture and do not submit to the intellectual discipline which Scripture should impose upon us. They also inevitably ‘breed quarrels’ because when people forsake revelation for speculation, they have no agreed authority and no impartial court of appeal1

1 Stott, J. R. W. (1973). Guard the Gospel the message of 2 Timothy (p. 77). InterVarsity Press.

Pursue Teaching Virtues

 2 Timothy 2:24–25 (KJV)

 …but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; …

Be Gentle

“Gentle” is ?pios (?????), “affable, mild, gentle.” Expositors says that ?pios (?????) implies gentleness in demeanor, as praut?s (???????), meekness of disposition.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

Matthew 5:9 KJV

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Be Apt to Teach

They must be apt teachers; they must not only know the truth but also be able to communicate it, and they will do that not so much by talking about it as by living in such a way that they show Christ to others.1

1 Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 203). Westminster John Knox Press.

1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Be Patient

1 Peter 3:8 KJV

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

They must be forbearing; like their Master, if they are criticized they must not respond with similar criticism; they must be able to accept insult and injury, slights and humiliations, as Jesus accepted them. There may be greater sins than touchiness, but there is none which does greater damage in the Christian Church.1

1 Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, pp. 203–204). Westminster John Knox Press.

Be Meek

Ephesians 4:2 KJV

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Philippians 2:3 KJV

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

They must discipline their opponents in gentleness; their hands must be like the hands of a surgeon, unerring to find the diseased spot, yet never for a moment causing unnecessary pain. They must love people, not browbeat them into submission to the truth.1

1 Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 204). Westminster John Knox Press.

Correct Those That Oppose Themselves

Isaiah 42:3 KJV

A bruised reed shall he not break, And the smoking flax shall he not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

“Those that oppose themselves” is antidiatith?mi (?????????????), “to place one’s self in opposition.” Those who place themselves in opposition to the true servant of the Lord and to true doctrine, “are to be dealt with as tenderly and considerately as they who err from right living” (Expositors)1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

“Instructing” is paideu? (???????). Vincent suggests “correcting” as the better rendering here. The context bears him out.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

Pray For A Targeted Outcome

 2 Timothy 2:25–26 (KJV)

 …if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 

 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Not Winning the Argument, but Winning The Soul.

A servant of God must instruct those who oppose him, for this is the only way he can rescue them from Satan’s captivity. Satan is a liar (John 8:44). He captures people by his lying promises, as he did Eve (see Gen. 3; 2 Cor. 11:3). A servant’s purpose is not to win arguments but to win souls. He wants to see deceived persons brought to repentance (“I was wrong—I have changed my mind”) and the acknowledging of the truth1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 248). Victor Books.

Repentance

1 Timothy 2:4 KJV

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Acknowledging the Truth

“Acknowledging” is epign?sis (?????????), “precise, experiential knowledge.”1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

Ezekiel 36:31 KJV

Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

Recovery From the Devil’s Snare

The word recover (2 Tim. 2:26) describes a man coming out of a drunken stupor. Satan makes people drunk with his lies, and the servant’s task is to sober them up and rescue them. The last phrase in 2 Timothy 2:26 can be interpreted three ways: (1) they are delivered from the snare of the devil who took them captive to do his will; (2) they are taken captive by God’s servant to do God’s will; (3) they are delivered out of the snare of the devil, who took them captive, to do God’s will. I prefer the third interpretation.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 248). Victor Books.

Craig Larson talks about being at a lunch party on a warm, Chicago day in early September with a dozen of his fellow workers. The windows were left open, and soon a bee found its way in. After buzzing around for a while, it landed on some food on the table. Then someone took an empty bottle of sparkling grape juice and put the mouth of the bottle near the bee. Without a moment’s hesitation, the bee flew to the mouth of the bottle and climbed inside the narrow opening. Immediately, Larson’s colleague put the cap on the bottle and screwed it shut. The bee spent the rest of the party drinking at the bottom of the bottle, and as far as anyone knew, the bee was never released.

The people at that table were not concerned about the bee. Their purpose was not to make sure it enjoyed itself and had a good time. No! Their only concern was capture and control.

That’s the way it is with Satan. He is not concerned about us. His purpose is not to make sure we have a good time. No! He despises us, and his only concern is capture and control.

(From a sermon by C. Philip Green, Pitfalls of Leadership, 7/29/2010)

So here we are as God’s servants. We see folks who have been dazed and confused by smooth talkers and Bible bullies. It would be easy to look down on them as ignorant simpletons and just scream and insult them back in line… which may work for while, but you will not win their soul. Remember this imperative: God’s Servant MUST NOT STRIVE! As soon as we do we undo anything God would want to do through us.

James 1:20 KJV

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Let us therefore avoid stupid questions, and with a gentle demeanor, patiently and meekly teach, praying that God would lead them to repentance and restoration. This is how to win a soul when you teach meekly.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:42 PM August 17, 2022.

Righteous Soul Winning

Righteous Soul Winning

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / Proverbs 11:30

In the mid 1800’s Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, used our text verse to coin a term “Soul Winner”. Soul winning became a verb synonomous with evangelizing. When ever we think of someone who has a passion to share the Gospel with the lost, we call that person a “Soul Winner”. Revivals, Missions Conferences and Bible Conferences have used our text verse as a rallying cry to stir up believers to get involved in evangelism.

Those of us who have been saved a while can agree that Satan knows Scripture too and he knows how to corrupt and manipulate us to miss the mark. Everything he does is to counterfeit the real. This passage is no different. He has used superficial understanding and fleshly motives to corrupt what God is trying to communicate here. This is the reason we are going to take 9 weeks to examine the Biblical Concept of Soul Winning. It is so much more than evangelism.

A word of caution is in order at this point. We are going to get deep into the weeds of words, meanings, understanding and misunderstanding of concepts and practices. If you are only casually listening, there is a real danger you will misunderstand the material. I strongly suggest you take notes, go to forum.ebcct.org to review my notes, and re-watch our recorded live feed on Facebook. The truths we will discover in the next couple of months will help you in every facet of your relationships with others.

As we take this verse apart, we will ask and answer three questions that are vital to us understanding this verse. Once we do that we will discover a truth from this verse that is often ignored and that will help us tie it all together.

 Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)

 … he that winneth souls is wise.

What Is A “Winner”?

laqach (??????, 3947), “to take, receive, take away.” This word occurs in all Semitic languages and in all periods of Hebrew. It occurs about 965 times in the Old Testament.

Primarily this word means “to take, grasp, take hold of,” as when Noah reached out and “took hold of” the dove to bring it back into the ark (Gen. 8:9)1

1 Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 1, p. 255). T. Nelson.

What Is A Soul?

nepesh (???????, 5315), “soul; self; life; person; heart.” This is a very common term in both ancient and modern Semitic languages. It occurs over 780 times in the Old Testament and is evenly distributed in all periods of the text with a particularly high frequency in poetic passages.

Mind

Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 1, p. 237). T. Nelson.

Genesis 23:8 KJV

And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

Deuteronomy 18:6 KJV

And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose;

 Deuteronomy 28:65 (KJV)

 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

 Jeremiah 15:1 (KJV)

 Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

 Ezekiel 23:18 (KJV)

 So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.

 1 Samuel 2:35 (KJV)

 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

 2 Samuel 17:8 (KJV)

 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Heart

Exodus 23:9 KJV

Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

 Leviticus 26:16 (KJV)

 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

 Deuteronomy 24:15 (KJV)

 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

 2 Samuel 3:21 (KJV)

 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

 Psalm 10:3 (KJV)

 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, And blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

 Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

So to review – to win is to snatch, grab hold of , take or take away. A Soul is not just a person, but in this context it is ones heart and mind. So the act of soul winning is not limited to getting someone to bow their head and to repeat a prayer… it is the act of snatching someone’s heart and mind and capturing it. This kind of thing takes skill. This leads us to a somewhat startling question and answer.

Is It Possible To Be A Wicked Soul Winner? YES!

2 Samuel 15:6 KJV

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Proverbs 6:24–25 KJV

To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

So it is possible to “win” a “soul” – to catch or snare them, in order to fulfill ones personal lusts for money power or influence. It is possible to be wicked soul winner.

We Independent Fundamental Baptists have “soul winning” clinics and courses dedicated to teach folks how to trick people into praying a prayer and then boasting on the numbers of souls “won” when in reality, the tricks employed did not lead them to true salvation, but rather tricked them into an outward symbol with no inward reality. So what is the missing factor? What truth will bring us away from a fleshly wicked trickster approach at manipulating the gullible to seeing genuine Godly influence and conversion? The answer is found in the first part of this verse … the part that is often ignored or glossed over.

 Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)

 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

Godly Soul Winning Is The Fruit Of True Righteousness.

Discern Between Earthly and Heavenly Wisdom

James 3:13–18 KJV

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

If we take tree of life as indicated above, this line may be expressed, for example, “The good person’s fruit is a tree that gives long life.” Using non figurative language we may say, for example, “The acts of a good person are a source of life” or “What a good person does gives life to others.” We may also say, for example, “The way honest people live gives life to others.”1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 260). United Bible Societies.

H. A. Ironside, a famous preacher and commentator from the early 1900’s said this

 … all who are truly wise according to God will be channels of blessing to others—winners of souls. Searching is the truth here stated. Wisdom consists not in the knowledge of Scripture, or divine principles, precious as such are and must be; but in the ability to walk in the power of these things, and to so minister to men and women, yea, and children too (preeminently, one might say), that they shall be won for Christ and His truth. Tested by this, how few are the wise! It is evident that soul-winning is not the slipshod business many would make it out to be—the mere hit-or-miss ministry that is so common to-day. On the contrary, it is a divine science, requiring much earnest preparation of heart in the presence of God; careful study of the need of the souls of men and of the truth of the Scriptures as given to meet that need.1

1 Ironside, H. A. (1908). Notes on the Book of Proverbs (pp. 128–129). Loizeaux Bros.

Jesus Said His Disciples Would Catch Men

Luke 5:10 KJV

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

This Involves a Conversion of Thought.

James 5:19–20 KJV

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

So what have we learned this evening?

 • To win is to catch, grab hold of, snatch, take.

 • A Soul is one’s heart and mind.

 • To win a soul not not limited to evangelism.

 • It is possible to be a wicked soul winner.

 • Godly soul winning starts with a person already made righteous, following godly motives and tactics, reaching out in love to influence a heart and mind for good.

James 3:17–18 KJV

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

In the next 8 weeks we will examine how to follow James 3:17-18 as we seek to capture hearts and minds or God’s glory. We will learn to:

 • Speak Graciously

 • Teach Meekly

 • Answer Softly

 • Live Peacefully

 • Love Truthfully

 • Communicate Sensitively

 • Reach out Sympathetically 

 • Persuade Passionately

May God be with us all as we hone the art of righteous soul winning.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:03 PM August 3, 2022.

Samson The Sanctified

Samson the Sanctified

Pastor Don Carpenter

Bible Boneheads / Judges 13

Sanctification is a fancy church word that simply means cleaned up and ready to use. Your laundry that has been washed, dried, and ironed is sanctified because it has been cleaned and prepared for use.

My son is a tennis shoe freak. It started out with a pair of Jordan sneakers. He has lots and lots of shoes. When he started working almost every payday that’s what he wanted a new pair of shoes. Now he has more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

Those shoes are always spotless and ready to wear. He buys the right type of cleaner and never allows a pair to get dirty. He wears them, cleans them, and puts them in the box, ready to wear the next time.

This is sanctification. Being cleaned up and prepared for use.

The old fashioned biblical message of sanctification and purity is simple and often ignored. People are looking for something more exciting, more appealing, and easier to take. Rather than preaching on sin, people would desire tips on achieving financial success, marital bliss, and an elevated sense of self-worth. The late Dr. Paul Tassel at the 1990 National G.A.R.B.C. Conference lamented that we Baptists have been scrubbing our hands too long by pursuing sanctification, and it is time that we get on with the operation. This is a common misconception. People assume that purity is old and dry… and that there is no power of God demonstrated in careful separation.

There is another crowd among us who is seeking manifestations of God’s power. People who would not “quibble” over doctrine or standards as long as there was some evidence of supernatural activity.

My friends, what we need now is what they needed in our text this evening – an encounter with the supernatural. The people of Israel fell into sin and judgment once again. This time, God used the Philistines to oppress His people for forty years. The people needed God to raise up a deliverer. They needed to experience a genuine encounter with the Supernatural.

Manoah’s wife was childless. It was impossible for her to conceive, yet God chose to entrust this couple with the next deliverer for Israel. They were about to experience a genuine encounter with the Supernatural.

So as we examine the events of this chapter, may God give us eyes to see the principles we must learn as we also desire the power of God. These are the things we must remember as we see the pure beginnings of Samson the Sanctified.

Sanctified Before Birth

A promise of deliverance 

Judges 13:1–3 KJV

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

  1. From barrenness

  2. From the Philistines

The mother was to remain pure

Judges 13:4 KJV

Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

** Apparently God sees an unborn Baby as fully human, capable of being sanctified and prepared for service***

 • Beware = to keep, tend, watch over, retain

 • Pure from anything associated with wine

 • Pure from strong drink

 • Pure from dietary defilement

For an Israelite, this was purity from pagan influences

The child was to be distinct

Judges 13:5 KJV

For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

1. A Nazarite for life – separated for a purpose

2. The sign of his distinction was outward

è God sees both inside and outside!

è During the Tribulation, people will be damned to Hell because of an outside mark!

Purity Was The Secret to Power

A. Manoah was jealous of his wife

Judges 13:8–10 KJV

Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. 

And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her. 

And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

1. Wanted more than the tired old message of separation

2. Wanted to meet the messenger

3. God’s messenger came back first to his wife alone

B. The message does not change

Judges 13:12–14 KJV

And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? 

And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. 

She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.

1. She must beware (retain) the things she already was told

2. The standards are restated

Jeremiah 6:16 KJV

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

C. It is possible to completely miss the message

1. Trying to learn some hidden nugget or secret

Judges 13:17–18 KJV

And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? 

And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

2. Seeing divine power but forgetting divine commandments

Judges 13:20–22 KJV

For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. 

But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD. 

And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

Obedience Builds Two Way Trust

Judges 13:23–25 KJV

But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. 

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. 

And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

A. No fear because God accepted the sacrifice – vs 23

Judges 13:19 KJV

So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

1. The sacrifice was an outward sign of their belief

2. Faith saved them

Genesis 15:6 – And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

B. No fear because God gave them the commandments

1. She did have a son

2. God began to stir in Dan

There was a farmer who was known to be a hard man. He was abusive and foul-mouthed to both man and beast. In time he became friends with a Christian, who influenced him to consider becoming a Christian, and he did. His life was immediately marked by dramatic change. He cleaned up his language and his behavior. He treated his employees well. He was gentle and patient with his livestock. And he was loving and considerate toward his wife.

One day he became frustrated while working and fell back into his old ways. He cursed the livestock. He spoke harshly to his hired hand. And then, he caught himself and went to the farmhouse where his wife found him sitting at the kitchen table distraught and broken over his failure.

When she asked him, “What’s the matter?” He blurted out, “I’m no different than I used to be”

“Oh, but you are different than you used to be ” She said. “Then you would never have been sorry or thought you had done wrong. Then you would not be contrite and wanting to be a better person. I see every sign that the Holy Spirit of God is working in you.”

(From a sermon by Monty Newton, “Desiring Good and Doing Bad” 7/4/08, SermonCentral.com)

When God calls someone to service, He calls them to sanctification and purity. The Power of God flows best through a pure vessel. As we learn about the boneheaded things Samson does, let us remember his beginning as Samson, the Sanctified.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:48 PM May 4, 2022.