Truth Magazine

By Tommy L. McClure

During the last one hundred years many great and good accomplishments have been made by man. Life expectancy is much longer due to the advances in medical science. In the field of travel, advancement has been made from the “ankle-express” and horse-and-buggy methods to space flights. The electronics industry with all its computerized systems is enough to stagger the imagination. One might think: There is nothing man cannot dol Lest we become “carried away” with all of man’s wonderful accomplishments, let us pause to reflect upon things man cannot do!

Man Cannot Overthrow The Work Of God

The Jewish council, angered because the apostles had preached Jesus Christ in spite of their prohibition, discussed ways and means of putting than to death (Acts 4:18-20; 5:27-33). Then Gamaliel, a respected doctor of the law in apostolic times, wisely said:

Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. . . .Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel of this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God (Acts 5:35-39).

Note: “If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it.”Gainaliel was never more right in his lifel Pharoah tried to hold the Israelites in bondage, contrary to God’s will; Pharaoh failed (Ex. 5-14)! Sanballot, Tobiah and Geshem tried to stop the re-building of the wan of Jerusalem; they failed (Neh. 4-6)1 Nehemiah said, “. . . they perceived that this work was wrought of our God” (Neh. 6:16). The Jews tried to rid the world of Jesus Christ by crucifixion; they failed (Mt. 27,28)! They later tried to stamp out the church and the declaration of the gospel of Christ by bitter persecution; they failed (Acts 8:1-4)1 Every man who has oppressed the work of God has failed, every man who opposes the work of God will fail! ff it be of Go4 ye cannot overthrow it!

Man Cannot Get Away From God

The Psalmist said:

Whither shall. I so from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there thy hand shall lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me (Psa. 139:7-10, ASV).

When God gave Jonah the unpleasant task to “go to Ninevah, that great city, and cry against it” because of its wickedness, “Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord” (Jon. 1:1-3). Did he succeed? No! When the fish vomited out Jonah upon the dry ground, God was there with the same instruction! “And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee” (Jon. 3:1,2). Jonah could not flee or hide from God! “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). Though men cry for mountains and rocks to fall upon them (Rev.6:16,17), though they attempt to flee from His presence (Rev. 20: 11), both small and great will stand before God and be judged according to their works (Rev. 20:1215; Acts 17:30,31; Rom. 14:10-12; Eccl. 12:13,14). Friend, try as you may, you cannot get away from God!

Man Cannot Please God Without Faith

“But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Men who were pleasing to God in Bible times were, without an exception, men of faith! Unbelief has always been displeasing to God! Faith is the motivating power which causes men to do what God commands and be what God wills. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, one who acts by faith acts in accord with God’s word, the expression of His will. The man of faith does not put his will up against the will of God. His attitude is: “Not my will, but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42). The one who says, “I know the Lord said, ‘He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,’ but I think man can be saved without baptism, “is setting his will up against the will of the Lord. Such indicates unbelief, not faith! The person who, in religious matters, acts without authority from God is acting by opinion rather than by faith! Nadab and Abihu who made an offering which God had not commanded them were so displeasing to God that they were devoured by fire from the Lord (Lev. 10:1,2, ASV). Yet, some preachers — false apostles, deceitful workers, ministers of Satan pretending to be ministers of Christ (see 2 Cor. 11: 13-15) — will tell people they do not need authority from the Lord for what they do in worship and religious work!

Man Cannot Serve Two Masters

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24). “Mammon” refers to riches to which many have become servants. If they think they are the Lord’s servants while serving mammon, they have some more thinking to do!

One cannot serve the Lord and the devil at the same time. Paul said, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the -cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and the table of devils” (1 Cor. 10:21). If one cannot have fellowship with the Lord and devils at the same time, he certainly cannot serve both at the same time. Friend, are you trying to hang on to the Lord with one hand and the devil with the other? You may as well try to ride two horses running in opposite directions at the same time — the Lord and the devil are not going the same way!

Man Cannot Love God And Not Love His Brother

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God loveth his brother also” (1 Jn. 4:20,21). The person who hates his brother does not love God! If he claims that he does love God, he is a liar, according to John! John also tells us that the destiny of “all liars” is “the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). It is, therefore, a very serious matter to claim love for God while harboring brotherly hate in the heart.

Man Cannot Truly Love And Not Give

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (1 Jn. 3:17,18).

Note John’s question: “How dwelleth the love of God in him?” That is a rhetorical question in which the answer is evident and implied. The evident, implied answer is: The love of God does not dwell in the man who has ability to help his needy brother but refuses to do so! Love is measured by giving. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that man need not perish (Jn. 3:16).Jesus so loved the world that He gave his life a ransom for many (Mt. 20:28). The man who truly loves his wife will give to her that which she needs-and more! Love which goes no further than the tongue or lips is not truly love. True love expresses itself in deeds and gifts, not just words of “sweet nothings.”

Man Cannot Escape Death

“What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?” (Psa. 89:48) “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death. . .” (Eccl. 8:8). In Adam all die (1 Cor. 15:22). It is appointed unto men once to die, after which comes the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Friend, do not think you will live on this earth eternally! You will die, just as the millions before you have diedl What then? Are you ready to pass from this world into eternity? The foolish farmer was not prepared for God’s pronouncement: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. . . ” (Lk. 12:20). The rich man at whose gate Lazarus was laid was not ready for death, but he I also died, I as did Lazarus, “and in hell (Hades) he lifted up his eyes, being in torments. . .” (read Lk. 16:19-31). If we could know, surely and certainly know, that we will die one minute before midnight this day, would we make any changes? If the answer is, “Yes,” we had better get busy making those changes, for we don’t know that we won’t die then or before! Like David and Isaac said: “. . . there is but a step between me and death” (1 Sam. 20:3), and “I know not the day or my death” (Gen. 27:2).

Man Cannot Succeed Without Christ

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6). Orthodox Jews and others who claim to believe in God while rejecting Jesus Christ are headed for serious failure! Jesus said, “He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him” (Jn. 5:22). He told His disciples, “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me” (Lk. 10: 16). One who honors not the Son honors not the Father, regardless of all contrary claims! One who despises the Son despises the Father, regardless of all his declarations of love for God!

A study of this matter which does not include what Jesus said about the vine and the branches would be incomplete. To His disciples, He said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). Just before this, He had told them, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (Jn. 15:4). Friend, without Christ (which includes entering into and abiding in Him by doing what He says) we cannot succeed! He is our life (Col 3:4), savior (Matt. 1:21), hope (1 Tim. 1:1; Col. 1:27), light (Jn. 8:12), way to the Father (Jn . 14:6), mediator (1 Tim. 2:5), high priest (Heb. 4:14), example (1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Pet. 1:21), spiritual healer (Mt. 13: 1; 9:10-13), fortification against temptation (Heb. 2:18), peace (Eph. 2:11-17), victor (Rom. 7:21-8:4; 1 Cor. 15:53-57), source of living water (Jn. 4:10-14), bread of life (Jn. 6:48), advocate (1 Jn. 2:1), propitiation (1 Jn. 2:2), shepherd (Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 5:4), helper (Heb. 13:5,6), law-giver (Jas. 4:12; 1 Cor. 9:21; Heb. 1:1,2), etc., and He will be our judge (Acts 17:30; Mt. 25:31-46; Rom. 14: 10; 2 Cor. 5: 10) and His word will be the standard (Jn. 12:48)1 Succeed without Him? In the words of the good song:

Without Him I could do nothing; Without Him I’d surely fail.

Without Him I would be drifting like a ship without a sail.

Without Him I would be dying; Without Him I’d be enslaved.

Without Him life would be hopeless, But with Jesus, thank God, I’m saved

(Songs Of 7he Church, 363).

Man Cannot Carry Anything Out Of This World

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim. 6:7). If a man were to acquire all the sold and silver this earth contains, not one ounce will he take with him when he departs this life. The story goes that a multi-millionaire died. During his funeral, which was elaborate indeed, one man asked another,”Do you know how much he left?” The answer was as truthful as it was terse. “Yes, all of it!” Bonds, stocks, mansions, ranches, off wells, office buildings, gold, silver, precious stones, Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals — he left them all?

If one thinks he can buy his way into heaven with earthly wealth, he is sadly mistaken. “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death” (Prov. 11:4). Redemption comes not by means of silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18,19)!

Man Cannot Tame The Tongue

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (Jas. 3:7,8). After reading this passage, some have erroneously concluded that James is teaching that it is useless to attempt to control the tongue. This conclusion is at variance with many other plain passages! “Keep thy tongue from evil. . .” (Psa. 34:13). “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Prov. 21:23). “1 said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me” (Psa. 39:1). James himself said, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (Jas. 1:26).

Surely, then, James is not teaching that the tongue cannot be controlled, he is teaching that it cannot be tamed! Animals have been tamed to the extent that they will not harm us, even though they are uncaged and unguarded. Not so the tongue-though kept under restraint for years; in an unguarded moment, it will leap forth and do untold harm! Let’s bridle our tongues and keep them bridled-keep them under restraint, under control, and never leave them unguarded for a moment. After all, God has given us an excellent cage for the tongue-the front teeth!

Men Cannot Hide His Sins From God

To the men of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, Moses said, “. . . . be sure your sin will find you out” (Psa. 32:23). The Psalmist said, “O, God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee” (Psa. 69:5). Solomon said, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:14). The Hebrew writer said, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). The Lord, through Jeremiah, said, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord” (Jer. 23:24). And, “For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes” (Jer. 16:17). The “bottom line” is: sinners will not get away with their evil deeds! God sees! God knows! God will judge! And, that judgment will be right-in righteousness (Acts 17:31)!

Man Cannot Please God In The Flesh

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8). What does “in the flesh” in the above passage mean? Obviously, it does not refer merely to being in the fleshly body; otherwise, no one could please God in this life. The Bible shows that some have pleased God while in their bodies of flesh-Enoch (Heb. 11:5), John and others (1 Jn. 3:22), Jesus (Jn. 8:29). Paul’s prayer for the Colossians was: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. . . ” (Col. 1:10). Surely, Paul’s prayer was not idle, wishful thinking!

Some have told us that “in the flesh” refers to the unregenerate or unconverted state. One such man stated in debate that if the unconverted man pays his debts, it is a sin, but if he does not pay his debts, it is a worse sin! Everything the unconverted does — whether he rocks his baby, loves his wife, ploughs his field, or paints his house — is sin, according to these religionists! Then, the same religionists will turn around and contend that after one is converted, becomes a child of God, his sins will not damn his soul-that all the sins he might commit, from idolatry to murder, will not jeopardize his soul! Swallow it if you are so determined; but it smells too much like “‘turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” (Jude 4), to suit me!

The text under consideration concerns those who “mind the things of the flesh” (Rom. 8:5). These are said to be “carnally minded” as opposed to being “spiritually minded” (Rom. 8:6). While “carnally minded” — while they “mind the things of the flesh” — they are opposed to God, not subject to His law, and cannot be (Rom. 8:7)! Why? Because, following the lead of the “carnal mind,” they engage in the works of the flesh, catalogued by Paul, as follows: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. . . ” (Gal. 5:19-2 1). Anyone, alien sinner or child of God, who does such is not pleasing to God and cannot please God while so engaged! He is “in the flesh” because he is engaged in the “works of the flesh” and “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8).

Man Cannot Change His State After Death

In the Lord’s account of Lazarus and the rich man (Lk. 16:19-31), the Lord taught that when the beggar died he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom and there comforted, but the rich man in hell (Hades) lifted up his eyes in torment. He requested that Lazarus be sent to dip his finger in water to cool his tongue. The request was denied and the rich man was told:

Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (vv. 25,26).

A great gulf fixed! No crossing it in either direction!

Friend, if you think you can leave this world in a sinful condition, and later be paid and/or prayed out of the fires of a supposed “purgatory” (?), you need to re-think the matter in the light of the Lord’s plain statement-a great gulf (chasm, or broad, yawning space) is fixed (set forth, made fast or firm), and none can cross it (the chasm cannot be bridged)! Nor will hell (Hades) be vacated of its guilty millions, and its miserable inhabitants be received into heaven, as the doctrine of Universal Salvation asserts.

Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the movement in which people incorrectly style themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” taught that man will have a second trial or chance and the second will be more favorable than the first (Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 143-153). If so, the text (Lk. 16:19-31) would have been a fine place to teach it I Father Abraham should have told the rich man, “Patient, my son! A second, better chance awaits you!” Of the five brothers, he should have said, “No need for concern! If they come to that place of torment, they will later have a second, better chancel” No such thing was said- rather the very opposite! Destiny is determined in this life, not after death. Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Today is the time to hear His voice (Heb. 3:7). The dead are to be raised to life or damnation, not to a second, better chance (Jn. 5:28,29). We will be condemned or rewarded for the deeds of this life (Mt. 25:31-46). The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment (Mt. 25:46) and suffer the second death (Rev. 20:11-15), not to be offered a second chance!

Man Cannot Avoid The Judgment Of God

Speaking to those who condemned others for sins of which they themselves were guilty, Paul said, “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” (Rom. 2:3) Criminals may escape the judgment of our judicial system, but none will escape the judgment of God! He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). All shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and every one shall give account of himself to God (Rom. 14:20-12). God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil (Eccl. 12:14). Before the Son of man shall be gathered all nati6ns for judgment (Mt. 25:31-46). This, friends, is the meeting we all will attend! Let us wisely use the time God has granted to prepare for it!

Conclusion

Thus, in spite of all of the wonderful accomplishments man has made in the physical realm, and in spite of all the high estimates he may place on his abilities, there are many things man cannot do. The list has not been exhausted in this study. It is hoped that this writing will spur the readers to further study, greater work for the Lord, more sober thinking, and more godly living!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, pp. 483-484, 500-501
August 15, 1985

By Mike Willis

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures (Psa. 23.2)

In David’s description of the Lord as his Shepherd (Psa. 23), he describes how the Lord takes care of His sheep. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” The Lord provided green pastures for His sheep to eat and still waters from which they could drink. Sir Richard Baker had many insights into the implications of this analogy when he wrote as follows:

He leads me not into pastures that are withered and dry, that would distaste me before I taste them; but he leads me into “green pastures,” as well to please my eye with the verdure as my stomach with the green herbage . . . . As they are pleasant to look on, so they are wholesome to feed on: as they are sweet to be tasted, so they are easy to be digested; that I am not, methinks, in a kind of paradise and seem not to want anything . . . . And now see the goodness of this Shepherd, and what just cause there is to depend upon his providence (Sir Richard Baker as quoted by C.H. Spurgeon in Treasury of David, Vol. 1, pp. 408-409).

While growing up in East Texas, I raised some cattle. Anyone familiar with cows knows that, to a cow, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence than in the pasture in which she is grazing. That the grass is knee deep where she is grazing does not matter. The cow will poke her head through the fence and stretch to reach the grass on the other side. If the fence post is rotten or the wire poorly nailed, the cow’s weight will finally push the post over or break the fence and she will be on the highway right of way where many dangers threaten her.

When I read the phrase, “he maketh me to He down in green pastures, ” I think of the similarities between those cattle and some Christians. We Christians sometimes begin to think that the “green pastures” (hence, better) are not within the “fence” of God’s word but rather in the kind of life which God’s word condemns or forbids. We look at the devil’s pastures with longing eyes; we go to the edge of the Lord’s pasture, poke our heads through the fence and lean against the posts. We try to go as far as our consciences will allow us to go in approaching the “gray area” leading up to an out and out sin. We rationalize our way, assuring ourselves that we will not break down the barrier between us and sin. Soon we find ourselves having gone too far, grazing in the forbidden pastures of sin that we, at an earlier time, were so confident that we would never go. Those Christians who think that the “green pastures” are outside the fence of God’s word, like our old cows, will eventually find or make a hole in the fence and graze in the devil’s pasture.

Where Are The Green Pastures?

Because our course of conduct is related to our evaluation of what is best, we need to re-examine whether or not we truly recognize that the green pastures are in the manner of life which God has commanded. Our loving, heavenly Father commands out of His concern for our well-being., He created us and knows what is best for man. His revealed word directs us to walk in the manner of life which is best for us. There are many areas of application which others might choose to expand, but I have chosen these.

1. The Green Pastures Are Not In Worldliness. The movie and television industries have glamorized the playboy lifestyle to such a point that some gullibly begin to think that is the best kind of life. Some imagine that green pastures are in a life with a scenario that is something like this:

A handsomely dressed man calmly and confidently enters a bar and orders a drink. While waiting for the drink to come, he fights up a cigarette. An attractive woman is sitting alone in the bar, so he strolls over and offers to buy her a drink. After a few minutes of chit-chat, he invites her to his apartment. . . .

This is the pasture which the devil is trying to convince us is greener than the one which the Lord has provided.

Green pastures are not found in a sexual interlude that is a one-night stand with a mate whose name one cannot remember! Recent articles written by psychologists who have interviewed those who say that they are satisfied with sex have reached the conclusion that sex without commitment is not gratifying. The devil’s “green” pasture of fornication is full of venereal disease, illegitimate babies, abortion, divorce, and guilt. What the devil has pictured as gratifying leaves one’s soul empty and full of remorse.

Green pastures are not found in a liquor bottle. The gaiety which the advertisements associate with drinking is deceptive. The consequences of this drug are monstrous. The devil’s “green” pasture of drinking is full of alcoholism, automobile accidents, brawling, quarreling, financial problems, family conflict, hangovers, absenteeism from work, etc. The devil has deceived many a man and woman into thinking, “I can control my liquor” and “I know when to stop.” The anguish associated with alcohol is sometimes not realized until one is sober enough to realize that the automobile accident he caused took the life of another person.

2. Green Pastures Are Not In Denominationalism. Through the years, some preachers among us have become so enamored with denominationalism and its scholars that they have become convinced that the Lord’s church is a barren desert and denominationalism contains the green pastures. Those preachers who become convinced of this begin condemning “sectarianism” and “isolationism” in the churches of Christ. They view as “church of Christ traditions” such Bible doctrines as baptism is immersion in water, baptism is for the remission of sins, that there is only one church, that instrumental music in worship is sinful, and other doctrines which Protestantism, generally rejects. In contrast, the denominations are admired for their broader fellowship, their preaching on love and grace, and their emphasis on the spirit of Christ rather than on the law of Christ.

The devil’s pastures are not as green as they look. Denominationalism is struggling for survival, with most mainline Protestant churches registering a decline in membership in recent years. One cannot escape spiritual conflict by becoming a member of the denominations. They are warring within themselves on such issues as: (1) whether or not the Bible is inspired of God; (2) whether or not the Bible is inerrant; (3) whether or not miracles were performed; (4) whether or not women should be ordained as preachers, bishops, and deacons; (5) whether or not homosexuals should be ordained as preachers. Many of the moral issues which trouble our brethren are accepted as righteous conduct in the denominations, including such things as: (1) unscriptural divorce and remarriage; (2) social drinking; and (3) mixed swimming.

Many of the doctrinal issues which have divided us do not trouble denominationalists because they simply accept a very liberal view on each of those issues. For example, denominational folks do not trouble themselves about whether or not instrumental music in worship is acceptable to God, for they have accepted special singing groups, entertainers to draw a crowd, perversions of the Lord’s supper (ranging from the items to be used to the frequency of its observance), and other unauthorized items of worship., Discussions of the organization of the church, as in the case of the sponsoring church conflict among us, mean nothing to those who have already accepted conventions, associations, dioceses, bishops (in the denominational sense), archbishops, pastors, popes, and other offices never mentioned in the word of God. Hence, if one is going to be attracted to denominationalism, he must first rid his mind of the concept that book, chapter, and verse are required for all that we do and say in religion (1 Pet. 4:11).

Those who might be looking at the pastures of denominationalism with the thought that they might be greener than the pastures in which the Lord has led us need to look at the troubles with which he will be faced in denominationalism. Denominationalism is not a greener pasture; it is a barren desert leading to disobedience of God’s word.

3. Life Without Regular Worship In 77te Assembly Is Not A Greener Pasture Sometimes Christians begin to think that their life would be better if they just decided to quit going to church. Then, they would have time to go fishing or golfing on Sunday; they would not have to listen to someone appealing for them to increase their giving, urging them to attend worship more frequently, exhorting them to visit the sick, and many other things. Consequently, some Christians just decide to leave God and the church out of their lives and live the life of a hedonist-to find all the self-gratifying pleasure they can find in the here and now.

The hedonist’s life is not a green pasture. He, his family, and friends face all of the same problems every other person faces. He has sicknesses and death, has more family problems than most Christians, feels that life is vanity and a striving after the wind, has dissatisfaction rather than contentment, and many other problems.

The hedonist does not enjoy the inner peace of a man who has found contentment in a life of faithful obedience to God. He has not escaped the vicissitudes of life. He is simply trying to live life on his own strength, without God. Frequently, he is not very successful in achieving true happiness and joy in life, even if one only considers the here and now. He seeks help and counsel from his psychiatrist, is deluded to think he has found security through his insurance programs, and never allows himself to think about life after death.

The life without God is not a green pasture. There is no inner peace available for his guilty conscience, no assurance of the ultimate triumph of righteousness in times of injustice, no hope beyond the grave for comfort in the face of death, and no understanding of the purpose of life. The life without God and His church is not a green pasture; it is a barren desert.

Create In Me A New Spirit, O God!

A Christian has changed his thinking to the conclusion that God leads us into the green pastures. The best kind of life is the path in which God has revealed for man to walk in His word. Like Moses, we must conclude that God’s commandments are for our own health, physical and spiritual (Deut. 6:24; 10:13).

When man recognizes that the fences built around man by the word of God are for man’s own protection, like the fences built around the play area at a day-care center, he will better appreciate his God and the Word. He will see the harmful consequences of alcohol from which God sought to protect him by His restrictions on drinking; he will see the horrible results from immorality from which God sought to protect him by His restrictions on sexual immorality; etc. Recognizing these dangers and fearing many others, he will gladly walk in submission to the Lord’s will without viewing His commandments as a grievous burden to be borne.

I remember hearing a preacher once say, “I drink all of the whiskey I want to drink. I curse God all that I want to curse God. I go dancing anytime I want.” I thought, “What an immoral man! What is he doing in the pulpit?” Then, he added, “I just do not want to drink, curse, or dance.” Indeed, his spirit had been born again, made new, or regenerated (Jn. 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:7; Tit. 3:5).

Many who have been baptized have never been born of the Spirit. They view the commandments of God as restrictions imposed on them by a God (or a church) which does not want men to have any fun. They do not realize that in sowing sinful habits, they will reap physical and spiritual destruction. This attitude ultimately leads to apostasy! Does this describe your thinking toward God’s commandments? Or do you feel like David when he wrote, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures”?

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, pp. 482, 503-504
August 15, 1985

By Bobby Witherington

In his tract, “God’s Simple Plan of Salvation,” Mr. Ford Porter says: “Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried and was raised for your justification. Now call upon Him.” Mr. Porter then cited Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. ” Now please note carefully the following words from his pen: “The first prayer for a sinner to pray is given in Luke 18:13 — ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ Now you are a sinner and surely you are sorry because of it. Right now, wherever you are lift your heart to God in prayer. It does not take a long, loud prayer, for God is anxious to save you. Just say: ‘Oh God, I am a sinner and I am sorry, have mercy upon me, and save me for Jesus’ sake.’ Now just take Him at His word.”

Charles Colson, a self-described “hatchet man” for former President Richard Nixon, a member of his cabinet who served prison time because of his involvement in the Watergate episode, wrote a book entitled Born Again, in which he detailed his experiences following Watergate — experiences which supposedly led to his “rebirth.” It was a time of deep soul searching, and apparently Mr. Colson was doing just that. He went to a friend’s house on the Maine coast, and spent time in study and meditation. Now please note his words on page 130 of his book, Born Again: “And so early that Friday morning, while I sat alone staring at the sea I love, words I had not been certain I could understand or say fell naturally from my lips: ‘Lord Jesus, I believe you. I accept you. Please come into my life. I commit it to you.”‘ From that time forward, according to Mr. Colson, he has been a child of God. He believes he “prayed through.”

Long have we heard about the mourner’s bench system of salvation, in which penitent sinners are called to the mourner’s bench and where long, fervent prayers are prayed that the sinners might be saved right then and right there and without their complying with the terms of pardon. In such instances those who “got saved” were the ones who kept praying until they had “prayed through.”

Now-a-days we do not hear so much about the old time “mourner’s bench,” but the mourner’s bench system of “praying through” is as popular and prominent as ever. It is not unusual for one to turn his TV on, especially on Sunday night, and to see a prime time religious showman addressing a huge crowd. At the conclusion of the message, aided by special music, the preacher gives his “altar call.” Numerous ones generally “go forward,” meet the preacher before his elevated platform, and there they pray together. Then the “saved” (?) supplicants are encouraged to go home and “join the church of your choice.” And, backing up a bit in our narration of what occurs, while the persons seeking salvation through prayer are making their way to the front, the TV preacher solemnly looks into the TV cameras directly to his TV audience, who are then told to give their hearts to Jesus, accept Him as their personal Savior, and join with him in prayer. And presto I right there before the TV they are saved and from thenceforth bound for glory.

Well do I recall my days as an ironworker in which, on one occasion, I was talking with a co-worker who seemingly specialized in showing others how irreligious he could be. A column, whose anchor bolts were insufficiently anchored, had just fallen to the ground-along with its human cargo. Fortunately the workman (me!) landed in soft mud and was uninjured. But I reminded my coworker that he could have been on that column, and the landing site could have been a hard surface, and that he could have been killed. “Then, ” I queried, “where would you spend eternity?” His reply? “I could have gotten saved between the time I fell and the time I hit the ground!” Apparently in some instances it doesn’t take long to “pray through.”

Do you ever wonder why there is so much indifference toward the Bible and religion in general? One reason should be apparent. So many people have heard this death-bed, last-minute, split-second, “pray though” philosophy for so long that they don’t see the need to make prior preparation!

I would not for one minute, yea, for one second, minimize the importance of prayer. There are no prayerless Christians. Show me a person who does not pray, and I will show you one who is headed for hell. And if I knew how I would word it plainer! But the question this article is assigned to deal with is. this, “Can a sinner be saved by ‘praying through’?”

Of course, I trust that it will be understood that I am referring to an alien sinner-one who has never gotten “through.” I am keenly mindful of the fact that we all sin, and in that sense, are sinners. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” And, further, “if we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 Jn 1:8,10). The “we” and “us” of those verses refer to those to whom Christ was preached in order that they, like the Apostles, could have fellowship “with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 Jn. 1:3). And when children of God sin, they had better pray! Peter put it to Simon this way: “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). Indeed, what hope could any child of God have if he did not “have an advocate with the Father”? (1 Jn. 2:1) Incidentally, I must say that it worries me more than just a little when I hear gospel preachers (?) suggest that Christ’s perfect, personal righteousness is so credited to the Christian’s account, that when God looks at him He only sees the personal righteousness of “his only begotten Son,” who has spread such an umbrella of grace on the Christian that even God doesn’t see his sins-especially if they happened to be sins of ignorance, or maybe of “doctrine” instead of “gospel.” Who are we to give anyone comfort in any sin-ignorant or presumptuous, “gospel” or “doctrine,” big or little? Instead of quibbling over what sins somebody might get by with, we ought to proclaim God’s hatred of sin and His way of escape for both His children and for aliens. If God wants to exercise clemency in some instances, then well and good! That is His prerogative. But it is not my place to preach clemency. Brethren, let us quit sounding a lot of “uncertain” sounds; instead let us do our dead level best to “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2). That is our role. God can surely take care of His role, without any help from us!

But hold on. I was assigned the topic “pray through”! Well, hopefully, we have shown which sinner is under consideration; that is, can an alien sinner be saved by “praying through”?

Most denominational preachers, when asked this question, answer in the affirmative. And then they will generally quote Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” For them, that settles it. The case is closed. But hold on! Is that verse, in context, discussing prayer? No! This verse, in context, sets forth God’s divine impartiality. Note verse 1, “whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ” Who all does “whosoever” include? As many as are indicated in verse 12, which says, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” Hence, “whoever,” be he a “Jew” or a “Greek,” that “shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.” Contextually speaking, the subject of Romans 10:13 is not prayer; rather it is briefly comprehended in the question, “Can people of all nations be saved?” And the answer is a happy “yes.” Verses 14,15 follow with a number of rhetorical questions, like: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent?” Incidentally, the “sent” preachers of verse 15 refers to those original proclaimers of the “gospel of peace,” men whom the Lord selected, qualified, and set, and whose message we are still dependent on for salvation. Now notice verse 16, “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report.” This verse clearly reveals that the hearers of the message have a responsibility to the message-namely, they must obey it.

But what does it mean to “call upon the name of the Lord”? It surely means more than merely saying “Lord, Lord,” for Jesus asked, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46)

Calling On The Name Of The Lord

When Peter addressed the multitude on Pentecost he quoted from the prophet Joel — Joel 2:28-31; cf. Acts 2:16-21. The last statement from Joel which Peter quoted is Acts 2:21,”And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” Hence, with this wonderful promise Peter began his sermon, and then he preached the sermon so his audience would learn how to “call upon the Name of the Lord.” He preached Christ, His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and coronation to the “right hand” of God. The message resulted in many being pricked in their heart, and asking, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). If Peter had been a modem denominational preacher, he would have said, “Just accept Jesus into your hearts as your personal Savior, and then pray the sinner’s prayer.” But Peter was not a denominational preacher; he was a gospel preacher! So an audience who at that point had faith (implied by their being “pricked in their heart”), but faith only, Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). In Acts two calling “on the name of the Lord” included faith, repentance, and baptism. Yes, we can read about prayer in this chapter, for after they “were baptized” (Acts 2:42), they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

On a later occasion, to a temporarily blinded Saul, whose penitence was implied in his going without food or drink, and who prayed, Ananias said, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16; cf. 9:9,11,18). In Saul’s case “calling on the name of the Lord” was not praying, for he had been doing that already. It is entirely possible that he had spent the full three days praying. But he didn’t “pray through”! He had to arise and be baptized! Backing up a bit in our narration of Saul’s conversion, we observe that Ananias, when first told to go to Saul, reminded the Lord about Saul saying, “and he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name” (Acts 9:14). Ananias surely wasn’t talking about prayer in that verse, for the Jewish leaders had no objection to prayer itself. In fact, they loved to “pray standing in the synagogues and in the corner of the streets” (Matt. 6:5), and for a pretense would “make long prayer” (Matt. 23:14). Saul did not go to Damascus to merely persecute people who prayed; he went there to apprehend those who had obeyed the gospel of Christ-those who, in so doing, had “called upon the name of the Lord.”

Other Considerations

“My little children, these things write I under you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn. 2: 1). Yes, “we have an advocate with the Father,” but “we” who? “We who are a part of that “spiritual house” and that “royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:5,9). Being a part of that “royal priesthood,” we can approach God through our High Priest who “ever liveth to make intercession for them” that come unto God through Him (Heb. 7:25). Yes, because “we” have “an high priest” we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Heb., 4:15,16). But over what is Christ “high priest”? He is “high priest over the house of God” (Heb. 10:21), and “the house of God . . . is the church of the living God” (I Tim. 3:15), and the church, or body, is composed of those who have been baptized (1 Cor. 12:13)!

Look At John 9:31

To the Pharisees the man whose eyes Jesus opened said, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth” (Jn. 9:31). Someone may reply, saying, “that man was not inspired.” So what? The question is, did he state the truth? How could he, a Jew, “know” that God heareth not sinners? Could it be because his “Bible” said, “He that turneth Away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination” (Prov. 28:9)? But compare the words of the formerly blind man in John 9:31 with the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21, wherein Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Look at these verses closely and you will observe that the man whose eyes Jesus opened said the same thing in John 9:31 that Jesus said in Matthew 7:21. So we conclude by observing that those who say the alien sinner can “pray through” are not merely wrong; they are people who have not yet gotten their eyes open-which means they are “blind leaders of the blind” (Matt. 15:14). So unless you love the “ditch,” don’t follow them. Obey the gospel, and then continue “instant in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 15: pp. 468-469, 472
August 1, 1985

By Harold Fite

Through our sophisticated communication systems the world has shrunk. Via satellite we can receive pictures from outer space. Through the marvel of television we can visit interesting places throughout the world without ever leaving our living rooms. By telephone we can talk to friends in Europe or the Orient as if they were next door.

While technology in this field is brilliant, it is not without its intermittent failures. There are a number of things which can hinder its efficiency: atmospheric conditions and water in the underground cable can produce static which prevents one from seeing and hearing clearly. There is nothing wrong with the system, but foreign matter can prevent sharp reception.

Prayer is our method of communicating with God. This system far surpasses the accomplishments of our hi-tech age. But our communication with God can be hindered so as to negate the power, purpose, and blessing of prayer. The fault does not lie with God or the system — but with us!

Our problem is neither poor grammar nor the inability to form flowery phrases. Impressive language has never been the criterion by which God answers prayer. G.C. Morgan said, “A man may offer a prayer, beautiful in diction and perfect in the number of its petitions, but if it gives him gratification afterwards, that prayer cannot have been truly prayed.” It makes no difference to God whether our prayers are “long” or “short.” It is not the number of prayers, nor the eloquence and length of them that causes God to hear; it is the disposition of heart that counts.

Our prayers are hindered by an insincere heart. Prayer without sincerity becomes a useless ceremony and an empty directive. When prayers are spoken to display personal piety we become like the hypocrites. Jesus said, “For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward” (Matt. 6:5).

When we pray “vain repetitions,” we identify ourselves with the heathen: “they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (v. 7). Both are obstacles which impede the progress of prayer.

Our prayers are hindered by doubt. “For he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed,” James said. “Let not man think he shall receive anything of the Lord; a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (Jas. 1:6-8).

Doubt reflects a lack of faith in God’s promises and in His ability to answer prayer. A “double-minded man” is a man with two hearts. That man is not going to receive wisdom or any other thing for which he might ask.

We have the assurance that if we ask according to His will and keep His commandments, He hears us and grants our petitions (1 Jn. 5:14, 15; 3:22). The fact that God listens is the basis of our prayers, and “according to his will,” is the principle determining His answer. There is not basis for doubt.

If radio’s slim fingers
Can pluck a melody
From night, and toss it over
A continent or sea —

If the petaled white notes
Of a violin
Are blown across a mountain
Or a city’s din –

If songs, like crimson roses
Are culled from thin blue air,
Why should mortals wonder
If God hears prayer?

-Edith Fuller

Let us ask, nothing doubting, recognizing that He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).

Prayers are hindered by wrong motives. Oftentimes we ask for things to feed our selfish pleasures. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that you may spend it in your pleasures” (Jas. 4:2, 3).

I have seen those who are resentful of the prosperity of others and who become obsessed in possessing what others have. This insatiable desire to have what the world has drives and torments the individual. He is filled with quarrels, conflicts, and strife. His worldly lust is the cause of this inward turmoil, and is the reason for the rejection of his prayer.

A Christian who tries to use prayer to obtain selfish worldly pleasure is “ask(ing) amiss.” His attitude has robbed his prayer of power.

Poor husband-wife relations hinder prayer. “Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Pet. 3:7).

Failure to honor the wife as the weaker vessel becomes the obstacle that impedes the husband’s prayer. One cannot act wrongly toward his wife and be right with God. The wife is the weaker vessel-not morally or intellectually, but physically. The knowledgeable husband will be considerate of his wife, recognizing that she has been redeemed by the blood of Christ, that she also is an heir of the grace of life.

But should the husband take advantage of his weaker vessel and become harsh, careless and brutal in his treatment of her, his prayers become ineffective. Likewise, should the wife use her limitation of strength selfishly to impose unjust and unreasonable demands on the husband, her prayers will be hindered. “Cold wars,” animosities, and fightings in the home are devastating to effectual prayer. The husband and wife cannot use one another as verbal punching bags and expect their prayers to be heard. This kind of environment is not conducive to prayer in the first place, much less to the answering of prayer. “Static” in the home will produce “static” on the prayer line.

Sin hinders prayer. “Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:1, 2).

God will not hear impenitent children of God! Our lives must be consistent with our prayers. If not, we must make proper corrections. God will forgive any sin which the child of God confesses (1 Jn. 1:9). We must work toward that which we pray. When our prayers are not supported by righteous living, prayer becomes a mockery. Remember, it is the prayer of the righteous man that avails much (Jas. 5:16).

Our prayers are hindered when we are not at Peace with our brother. Before prayer we are to be reconciled to our brother (Matt. 5:23), and if we expect the Father to forgive us of our sins, we must forgive others (Matt. 6:15).

Prayer when understood and properly applied is a marvelous tool God has given us. It not only allows us to talk with God, but it cultivates our spiritual nature, secures blessings, obliterates anxiety-producing that peace which passes all understanding. May we be constantly on guard against those things which hinder our prayers.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 15, pp. 466-467
August 1, 1985