The Motivation of Hell

“The Motivation of Hell”

Rev. 20:11-15 

SUBJECT: HELL/EVANGELISM

THEME: Effective evangelism is hard work and many grow weary in this area of ministry. Even though we have a command to reach the lost with the gospel, we sometimes require additional insight to motivate us to the work. Perhaps a better understanding of Hell will stir us to become more consistent evangelists for our Lord.

RELEVANCE: Our compassion for the perishing multitudes must be stirred by the reality of Hell, to encourage us to become involved or remain with the task of Evangelism. Sometimes we become cold towards this area of ministry, sometimes we treasure our relationship with a lost person more than we cherish their soul’s salvation. Multitudes are dying and going to Hell, who will give themselves to consistently get in their way and point them to Christ.

INTRODUCTION:

This scene in Revelation 20 portrays the grand event of the Great White Throne judgment! This event occurs just prior to the establishment of the new heaven and new earth (Re. 20:11-15). Only the unsaved are resurrected to this judgment. The saved will already have been resurrected and would have reigned and served with Christ for a thousand years on the earth (Re. 20:1-5).

This judgment is for the evil works of the unsaved (Re. 20:12-13). Since everyone’s works are sinful before God, and since these unregenerated individuals did not receive Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin during their earthly lives, they will be judged and suffer eternal punishment for their evil deeds and rejection of God.

Notice the final destiny of the unsaved person is unmistakenly spelled out for everyone to see! Rev. 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is why we need to be motivated to share the Gospel and send out missionaries! The world and our neighbors are destined for a Devil’s Hell forever! We must be stirred to reach them with the gospel of Christ. Does not God deserve the worship, obedience, honor, and service of these people also? Are not the gravity and weight of sin more incredibly significant than we could ever imagine or quantify? Does not a love for our fellow man compel us to engage them with the hope of the gospel? Isn’t it right for the Supreme Judge of the entire world to hold everyone accountable for their deeds?

MESSAGE:

I.  What Is Meant by “Hell”?

Hell is the place of imprisonment and punishment for those who revolt against God.

A. HELL WAS ORIGNALLY CREATED FOR SATAN AND THE REBELLIOUS ANGELS. Matthew 25:41, Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

1.    This fire was prepared for the devil and his angels, not originally for people. God’s initial intention was not for people to suffer this fate, but rather that those fallen creatures who choose a lifestyle of rebellion and indifference effectively align themselves with the devil and evil share this ultimate destination.

2.    We must emphasize that people are not passively ‘sent’ to Hell; rather, by continually rejecting God, people ultimately choose to distance themselves from God’s presence, which results in eternal separation. God respects and accepts their choices!

B. UNSAVED PEOPLE WILL BE COMMITTED TO HELL ALSO (Mt. 25:41-46). Luke 16:22-24, And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

1.    The Lord Jesus authoritatively describes the stark reversal of consequences after death for a poor beggar named Lazarus and an unnamed rich man. We witness the concepts of the afterlife, conscious torment, and the finality of earthly choices.

2.    Abraham’s bosom is a symbolic expression to denote the place of bliss. To any Jew, the thought of enjoying fellowship with Abraham would suggest inexpressible bliss. We take it that Abraham’s bosom is the same as heaven.  

It must have come as a shock to the disciples when Jesus said that this rich Jew went to Hades. They had always been taught from the OT that riches were a sign of God’s blessing and favor. An Israelite who obeyed the Lord was promised material prosperity. How then could a wealthy Jew go to Hades? …They are a test of a man’s faithfulness in stewardship. To whom much is given, of him will much be required.^[1]

3.    The idea that non-believers go to Hell is one of the most heavily debated concepts and beliefs varying widely; perspectives on this topic differ significantly. We emphasize that salvation requires definite faith in Jesus Christ. So, we reject any notion that God still accepts people even if they did not hear the gospel. We believe even these individuals will face eternal separation from God because of our inherent sin, the sheer gravity and seriousness of offenses, and the just nature of God. One additional note is significant, there is NO Bible evidence to contradict or even modify these conclusions.

C. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TAUGHT AND WARNED PEOPLE MUCH OF AN ENDLESS HELL.

Yes, Jesus taught a place of final judgment and punishment for the unrepentant, using imagery like Gehenna, eternal fire, and outer darkness. The Lord Jesus was not passive or inactive about this important matter! See Matt. 5:22; 12:23; 13:42, 50; 18:8-9; 23:33; 25:41, 46; Mk. 9:43-48; Lk. 16:19-31. 

1.    “Outer Darkness”: A place of final judgment, crying, and a definitive split with God. Jesus describes Hell as a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” away from God’s company…a total departure from God’s light and joy. Cast out into dark night is another revealing portrayal of Hell outside where a rejected guest is thrown accompanied by deep sorrow in the heart and sharp pains or regret. See Matt. 8:12; 22:13, and 25:30.

2.    “Everlasting Punishment” (Matt. 25:46): Jesus during the Olivet Discourse, describes a judgment separating the nations into two groups. Also in Matthew 25:41, Jesus speaks of “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”. See Mark 3:29.

Jesus most often referred to the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem when speaking of Hell. Historically, this valley was a trash dump where fires burned constantly, serving 1st-century Jews as a stark symbol for God's judgment and destruction.

3.    So, the Lord Jesus was completely bold enough to Teach on Hell and Judgment!

·        Yes, Jesus did speak about hell using vivid imagery to warn listeners about spiritual danger and final judgment as direct warnings.

·        When emphasizing these same warnings today we must note that Jesus spoke of judgment directly to urge immediate repentance and to recover people from spiritual ruin, rather than out of an obsession with punishment.

4.    Bible students estimate that Jesus spoke about heaven or the Kingdom of God about 3 to 4 times more often than Hell. He mentioned heaven, eternal life, or the Kingdom over 160 times in the Gospels, while His direct references to hell (or Gehenna) range from roughly 12 to 30 times.

Jesus described a real place of endless, conscious torment for those who reject God. He like John the Baptist warned about an “unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12; Mark 9:43) and a “fiery furnace” (Matt. 13:42) where people would experience unimaginable anguish—God’s severe punishment of the unrepentant!

D. IN THE O.T. THE WORD HELL (SHEOL) HAS TWO MEANINGS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND. Hell in common usage designates the place of future punishment for the unsaved unbelieving. The word has other meanings we must differentiate to prevent mistakes and confusion.

    1. The Grave Itself—Sometimes it Refers the Place Where the Bodies of the Dead Are Laid—the Grave. Psalm 6:5, For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? (Ec. 9:10; Is. 38:18,19). 

In some cases, it refers to the grave, in others to the place of disembodied spirits without any necessary implication as to their happiness or unhappiness. 

     2. The Realm of Departed Spirits—Usually, Though, it Means the Place Where Departed Spirits go to Reside. This is commonly called the afterlife, the underworld, or Sheol/Hades. This neutral, shadowy resting place or the grave where all the dead go…the subterranean realm of the dead. (See Ge. 37:35; De. 32:22; Ps. 9:17; 16:10; 55:15; 30:3; Pr. 9:18; 15:24; 23:14; Is. 5:14; 14:15; Eze. 31:16; 32:21,27).

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1433.

 

Overwhelmed and Overcome

Listening With Your Heart 2

Jer. 17:9; Luk. 8:14-15 and Rom. 10:17

SUBJECT: Evangelism and Personal Work

THEME: It is vital we maintain a correct attitude toward God and His work. We must keep our hearts respectful, clean, compliant, and obedient towards the duties, tasks, and responsibilities of evangelism.

INTRODUCTION:

God frequently refers to “heart surgery” as influential imagery pointing to spiritual rejuvenation, where He cleans our sin and replaces our stubborn, unenthusiastic, and sinful ‘hearts’ with spiritually compliant ‘hearts.’ As a result, we become far more spiritually minded than carnal minded.

When it comes to sacrificial service to the Lord…giving of ourselves, strength, gifts, skills, opportunities, and resources to God’s ministry…there is again excessive reluctance among God’s children. Maybe it is fear or a lack of self-confidence, but there is an incredible necessity for hardworking and steady Christian servants.

MESSAGE:

As God’s Servant, Use His Word to Examine Your Heart

We are susceptible to contracting various unhealthy heart conditions, but God’s word can be trusted to help us sort out our real condition.

A.  THE WEIGHTED DOWN HEART (Worried)

Luke 21:34, And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

B.  THE CHOCKING HEART (Overwhelmed)

Luke 8:14, And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

This part of the Parable of the Sower, portrays people who hear God's word but allow worldly distractions, worries, and riches choke their spiritual growth so they fail to mature. They permit themselves to become overwhelmed with concerns….

1.     “Cares and riches and pleasures of this life” are daily worries typically stemming from our survival, the pursuit of money, professional goals, and the love of temporary fun or the pursuit of more comfort.

2.    “Are choked” denoting our spiritual vitality is squeezed out, much like an unimportant plant starved of light and water by giant weeds. Our spiritual growth and faith are effectively suffocated and seriously hindered or even stopped by reservations, limited resources, and requirements related to this earthly experience.

3.    “Bring no fruit to perfection” is failing to produce a mature, faithful, and productive spiritual life for God glory. Just like weeds starve real plants of necessities, everyday stress and greed crowd out our focus on God, stopping us from baring fruit to adulthood.

These may be those who are interested in Jesus’ message but who cannot accept it because of their devotion to material things^[1]…. Those who fill themselves with the recreational fun, getting richer, and pursuing the problems of our focus will never mature as a Christian becoming more unfruitful. Others, such as the rich ruler (Luke 18:18–30), were interested in Jesus but would not accept Him because of the strong pull of materialism.^[2]

4.    Choking, in one respect, can also refer to biting off more than you can chew!  Or trying to take on more than you can legitimately handle. It is basically a condition when nothing else can get in and nothing else is coming out. Beloved, when we feed ourselves with the wrong spiritual food it could lead to a chocking heart—overwhelmed—an unproductive and stagnant life. You can’t get anything into them, and you can’t get anything out of them. When we take on too much in Christian service we can again end up in the same situation. Do what God has committed to you personally, regard what He gifted you to do, and grow in that and He may eventually give you more.  But don’t bite off more than you can chew! Sometimes we do this out of great love but beware it could be our pride that’s driving these activities!

These distractions will stop growth in the Lord and compliance with His will. We may hear the message of God (Bible reading, preaching, a lesson) but if we focus too much on money, work, stress, and fun, our faith stops growing. The division of our priorities edges out God’s plans putting worldly things first leaving no room in our hearts to obey God or help others. We had our devotions…we attended the Bible study…we were present for the lesson, but our minds were on something else. It is far better to be present (fully aware, attentive, careful regarding the present moment) and not worrying about the future (see Matt. 6:34; Psa. 118:24; Lam. 3:22–23; Jam. 4:14).

5.   God’s Treatment for the Overwhelmed Heart (Luke 8:15)!

·        Luke 8:15, But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

·        The fourth group consists of those who listen, retain the Word, and … produce a crop (v. 15), that is, they bear spiritual fruit, evidence of their spiritual life. Their hearts were changed for they were noble and good.^[3]

·        Believers with an honest and good heart can hear (paying attention) God's Word, retain it, and patiently produce good works. They have a receptive mind that approaches the message with sincerity and a genuine desire to understand and apply it!

·        “An honest and good heart”—Prepare your inner self to genuinely value God’s word above worldly distractions.

·        “Keeping the word”—Hold fast to what you have heard from God’s book instead of letting daily anxieties crowd it out.

·        “Patience”—Allow spiritual fruit to grow over time through steadfast endurance rather than seeking instant worldly satisfaction. We deliberately choose to pay close attention to “thus saith the Lord” and the needs of others instead of allowing ourselves to rush into action on autopilot.

6.   Practice Refocusing your Actions to Clear away the Pesky “Thorns.”

·        Identify distractions: Recognize which specific daily cares, material pursuits, or pleasures are draining your time and focus.

·        Prioritize time: Intentionally set aside quiet time for Scripture and prayer to keep your heart fertile and receptive.

·        Simplify focus: Actively minimize unnecessary commitments that choke your spiritual vitality.

·        Behave mindfully: Pay thoughtful attention to the Lord sensing His will and mindfully considering the needs of others, rendering appropriate care, noting their feelings, and being present in the moment.

Again Luke 8:15, says we must receive the word in an “honest and good heart,” keeping it, and bringing forth fruit with patience. They not only received the word but allowed it to mold their lives. They were teachable and obedient, developing true Christian character and producing fruit for God.^[4]

 

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^[1] John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 225.

^[2] John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 225.

^[3] John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 225.

^[4] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1397.

Protecting God-Centered Beliefs

 

“Protecting God-Centered Beliefs”

Spiritual Leadership in the Church Series

1 Tim 1:18-20

THEME: Faithfully fulfill the ministry committed to your charge.

RELEVANCE: discouraging and difficult tasks should not be permitted to force us to abandon the ministry committed to us.  We must be steadfast and faithful to our charge to keep the faith by teaching sound doctrine, proclaiming the Gospel, and defending the Faith.

INTRODUCTION:

In 1 Tim 1 Paul explained the three responsibilities of a pastor and people in a local church. Accordingly, he gave Timothy a third responsibility to fulfill besides teaching sound doctrine and proclaiming the Gospel…defending the Christian Faith.

MESSAGE:

Defend the Faith (1 Tim. 1:18-20).

·       From the high point of praise to God, Paul turned his attention back to Timothy. This young preacher faced a difficult challenge in the church at Ephesus, but Paul knew he could handle the situation. What Timothy needed in the meantime was encouragement and wise instructions.

·       Like a coach preparing his eager young fighter for the match of his life, Paul put an imaginary arm around Timothy's shoulders and passed on a few last-minute instructions.

A.  ON THE BASIS OF DIVINE APPOINTMENT. (1Tim. 1:18)

1. A Reminder that He Was Under Orders.  “This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy”

                    a. A Charge for the Soldier.

·       Again, Paul used military language to enforce his statement, for the word "charge" (1 Tim 1:18) means "an urgent command handed down from a superior officer" (1 Tim 1:3).

·       These instructions (see 1Tim.1:3,5) refer to the job Timothy was sent to do in Ephesus -- that is, quieting the false teachers.

·       Paul was expressing again his confidence in entrusting Timothy with an important ministry. Further instruction for Timothy's work in the church is given in the remainder of this letter.

·       How Important Is Trust When Encouraging Others?

1.    “A key to empowering others is high belief in people. …The truth is that empowerment is powerful—not only for the person being developed, but also for the mentor. Enlarging others makes you larger. Dan has made me better than I am, not just because he helped me achieve much more than I could have done on my own, but also because the whole process made me a better leader. That is the impact of the Law of Empowerment.” ---Maxwell, J. C.

2.    What Motivates People? 

o   Significant contributions. People want to join in a group or pursue a cause that will have lasting impact. They need to see that what they are doing is not merely wasted effort but is making a significant contribution. People must see value in what they are doing. Motivation comes not by activity alone, but by the desire to reach the results.

o   Goal participation. People support what they create. Being part of the goal-setting process is motivating and it allows people to feel needed. They like to feel they are making a difference. When people have given input, they have a stake in the issue. They own it and support it. Seeing goals become reality and helping to shape the future is fulfilling. Goal participation builds team spirit, enhances morale, and helps everyone feel important.

o   Positive Dissatisfaction. Someone said that dissatisfaction is the one-word definition for motivation. Dissatisfied people are highly motivated people, for they see the need for immediate change. They know something is wrong and often know what needs to be done. Dissatisfaction can inspire change or it can lead to a critical spirit. It can lead to apathy or stir one to action. The key is harnessing this energy toward effective change.

o   Recognition. People want to be noticed. They want credit for personal achievements and appreciation for their contributions. Often giving recognition is another way of saying thanks. Personal accomplishment is motivating, but it is much more so when someone notices the accomplishment and gives worth to it. Recognition is one way to give meaning to a person’s existence. 

o   Clear expectations. People are motivated when they know exactly what they are to do and have the confidence that they can do it successfully. No one wants to jump into a task that is vague or a job whose description is uncertain. Motivation rises in a job when the goals, expectations, and responsibilities are clearly understood. When delegating responsibility, be sure to give the necessary authority to carry out the task. People perform better when they have some control over their work and their time.

                    b. Some Care for the Son. (1 Tim 1:18) “my son Timothy”

1.    Paul kept in mind the relationship he shared with Timothy and assured young Timothy that the elder's instructions were based on his love for him.

2.    Fred Smith says, “Leadership is getting people to work for you when they are not obligated.” That will only happen when you climb to the second level of influence.

o   “In my book, Be a People Person, I continually emphasize that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

o   Leadership begins with the heart, not the head. It flourishes with a meaningful relationship, not more regulations.”  –J. Maxwell

3.    Leaders on the “position” level often lead by intimidation.

·       They are like the chickens that Norwegian psychologist T. Schjelderup-Ebbe studied in developing the “pecking order” principle that today is used to describe all types of social gatherings.

o   Schjelderup-Ebbe found that in any flock one hen usually dominates all the others. She can peck any other without being pecked in return. Second comes a hen that pecks all but the top hen, and the rest are arranged in a descending hierarchy, ending in one hapless hen that is pecked by all and can peck no one. Cocks do not normally peck hens, but they have their own pecking order. So a breeding flock usually has two hierarchies, one for each sex.

4.    In contrast this is a person on the “permission” level will lead by interrelationships. The agenda is not the pecking order but people development.

·       On this level, time, energy, and focus are placed on the individual’s needs and desires. A wonderful illustration of this truth is found in the story of Henry Ford in Amitai Etzioni’s book, Modern Organizations: “He made a perfect car, the Model T, that ended the need for any other car. He was totally product-oriented. He wanted to fill the world with Model T cars. But when people started coming to him and saying, ‘Mr. Ford, we’d like a different color car,’ he remarked, ‘You can have any color you want as long as it’s black.’ And that’s when the decline started.”

5.    “People who are unable to build solid, lasting relationships will soon discover that they are unable to sustain long, effective leadership. … Needless to say, you can love people without leading them, but you cannot lead people without loving them.”  --- J. Maxwell

2. A Reminder of His Supernatural Calling.  “According to the prophecies which went before on thee”

A. Paul Also Reminded Timothy That God Had Chosen Him For this Ministry.

·       Apparently, some of the prophets in the local assemblies had been led by the Spirit to select Timothy for service (see Acts 13:1-3 for an example of this procedure). .

·       The word for “which went before” means “previously made and leading the way to,” implying that a series of prophecies had been given about Timothy in connection with his receiving his spiritual gift (see 1Tim. 4:14). These prophecies specifically and supernaturally called Timothy into God’s service.

                    B.  Other Believers Also Recognized Timothy as God’s Choice for this Ministry!

·       Paul made it clear, however, that his choice of Timothy was not made solely on the basis of their friendship or his hunches about Timothy's abilities.

·       Other believers had noted qualities in Timothy that Paul was happy to affirm and to put to work for the gospel.

·       Some have suggested two possibilities for these previous prophecies about Timothy:

o   (1) These were Old Testament promises prophesied by the prophets, promises that Timothy claimed.

o   (2) These were prophetic utterances at Timothy's ordination (Acts 14:23; 1 Tim 4:14).

o   It seems likely that the "prophecies" refer to Timothy's ordination. Paul highly valued the gift of prophecy (1 Cor 14:1). Through prophecy, important messages of warning and encouragement came to the churches. Timothy had been set apart for ministry when elders laid their hands on him (see 1Tim. 4:14). This was not an ordination service as we think of it today. This was probably a "commissioning" for missionary activity rather than an ordination into a church office.

o   Apparently at Timothy's "commissioning," several believers had prophesied about his gifts and strengths. These words from the Lord must have encouraged Timothy throughout his ministry. We can only guess who gave the prophecies and what they said; in any case, Paul reminded Timothy of these statements to encourage him.

C. The Reminder of Divine Appointment Assures the Servant through the Difficulties.

·       It was not easy to serve God in pagan Ephesus, but Timothy was a man under orders, and he had to obey.

·       The soldier's task is to "please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim 2:4), and not to please himself.

·       Furthermore, Timothy was there by divine appointment: God had chosen him and sent him. It was this fact that could give him assurance in difficult days.

·       If you are God's servant called by the Spirit, obeying His will, then you can "stay with it" and finish the work.

3. A Reminder of His Duty as a Warrior.  “that thou by them mightest war a good warfare”

A. These Assurances Enabled Timothy To War The Good Warfare.

·       By following this charge and these prophecies Timothy would be enabled to fight the good fight. Timothy was to hang on to these two immediate sources of reinforcement as he carried out his tasks: Paul's instructions and the prophecies from other believers.

B. This Warfare is Against the Spiritual Enemies of Christ! (1Tim. 1:18)

·       war a good warfare. Paul urged Timothy to fight the battle against the enemies of Christ and the gospel. Cf. 2 Cor. 10:3–5; 2 Tim. 2:3,4; 4:7.

·       Paul employed a military metaphor to describe Timothy's work in Ephesus; it would indeed be a fight, but victory would achieve the good of the believers and the church -- it was the worthwhile fight of the faith.

·       We are reminded of Paul's words to Timothy as Paul neared death, "I have fought a good fight" (2 Tim 4:7).

·       Paul often used military language to refer to our spiritual struggle (see Eph 6:11-16; 1 Thess 5:8; 2 Tim 2:3).

C. Some Have Forgotten or Forsaken the Fight for the Faith!

·       Now another philosophy has arisen. It was voiced recently by an independent, fundamental Baptist mission leader. The statement was made, "I am a fundamentalist but I am tired of fighting." Which really is to say, "I want to be a passive Fundamentalist. My question is, Has the devil gotten tired of fighting the Church and hindering the work of God? Has Satan and the Church signed a peace treaty? Has the conflict between righteousness and evil been settled? Can we retreat from the field of battle and lay aside our armor?

·       I am told in Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." A close look at the parts of armor described makes one realize that God is not dressing us for a "pajama party." God has conscripted us to stand for His cause and has not given me any mustering out date this side of death or the Rapture.

·       Are the New Testament words that warn of conflict and spiritual warfare obsolete and not applicable for our day? Has Satan ceased his hostility toward the Church?

·       Listen to Paul, "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare" (1 Tim. 1:18). "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called" (1 Tim. 6:12). "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:3). "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:4).

·       Who is the man who wrote this fighting language? The same man who said, "Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears" (Acts 20:31). This same man said, "I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart, for I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:2,3). This man Paul was a courageous soldier and at the same time a compassionate soul winner.

·       Are Paul's words just for his day? I think not. I read in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Yes, the battle still goes on.

·       What prompted Isaac Watts to pen those beloved words,

·       "Am I a soldier of the Cross, a follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own His cause, or blush to speak His name? Must I be carried to the skies, on flowery beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend of grace, to help me on to God? Surely, I must fight, if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord. I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy Word."

·       A "Passive Fundamentalist" is a contradiction to the Word of God.--- (Allen Dickerson, "Passive Fundamentalism," Maranatha Baptist Watchman)