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Start Bible Institute in Your Local Church

A Great Opportunity for Churches!

By Dr. Harold Willmington

Hosea the prophet wrote his Old Testament book in the 8th century B.C., just prior to the Assyrian captivity of the ten Northern Israelite tribes. At that time the entire nation had fallen into terrible immorality (Hosea 13:2). But the sin that would eventually destroy Israel was something far more serious. Note the words of Hosea’s indictment:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected
knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing
thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children (Hosea 4:6).

In other words, the ultimate transgression which would lead to Israel’s doom was not immorality or idolatry, but gross ignorance of God’s Word! Thus, the first two sins were but the bitter fruit of which the third was the poisonous root!Centuries later the apostle Paul may well have had Hosea’s tragic words in mind when he repeatedly warned the church concerning those conditions which would prevail in the last days:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils
(I Tim. 4:1 ) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (II Timothy 4:3, 4).

Are these the last days? It would seem so, as one considers the incredible and utterly inexcusable present-day ignorance in regard to the great truths of the Scriptures! In fact, the frightful words of Amos (an Old Testament contemporary of Hosea) could be said to describe our generation possibly more accurately than any other in church history.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in
the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the
words of the LORD (Amos 8:11).

During a luncheon in Wheaton, Illinois, a friend of mine, Warren Wiersbe, made this observation: “The fastest growing denomination in American today is the denomination of the Ignorant Brethren!”

For some time now, I have experienced a growing concern in regard to this tragic ignorance. But what is the solution? How can the level of Bible knowledge be raised? I am fully persuaded the best way (perhaps indeed the only way) to accomplish this is through the local church!

In 1976 I prepared a scriptural correspondence program known as the Liberty Home Bible Institute. God has supernaturally blessed this endeavor, for at the present time over 100,000 students have been enrolled from every state in the union and 39 foreign countries. It is at this time the world’s largest program of its kind. Thus, building upon this experience we have now prepared a program especially designed for the entire local assembly, the Willmington Church Bible Institute.

Editor’s Note: If you have an interest in exploring the possibility of starting a Bible Institute in your local church I would like to send you a copy of an advertisement Dr. Willmington published in our paper, The Biblical Evangelist. The ad is a detailed report on what a Bible Institute might look like on your church campus. The important thing for you to consider now is just how simple and inexpensive it is to start an Institute in your local church.

It is simply amazing how God has blessed Dr. Harold Willmington and this fine work. With a small investment of the Lord’s money you can have a fully operational school that will serve not only your local church but those in your community who might be interested in learning the Bible.

Interested? Email me: Dr. Robert L. Sumner, Editor of The Biblical Evangelist
TheBiblicalEvangelist@gmail.com and ask for this free report. We will email it to you.

Earthquake Sparks Important Bible Question

Ron English
Ron English

There are many questions of importance that we face throughout our lives and experiences. There are questions about health, romance, sex, money, jobs, war and peace and politics. There are questions about God, life and death. There are so many questions to ponder. But there is one question that was asked so important that one of the inspired New Testament writers recorded it in Scripture. The question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30, KJV).

The man asking that question thinking his prisoners had escaped from his jail was about to commit suicide. He understood that if his prisoners had escaped the authorities would administer a fate to him worse than death and at the end surely execute him. So he would avoid that and take his own life (Verse 27).

His prisoners were well-known Christians. The famous Christian, the Apostle Paul, had been converted to Christianity after hearing a fiery sermon by an early church deacon, Stephen (Acts 7). Before his conversion, Paul had been one of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem charged with the responsibility of arresting Christians and putting many of them to death. Now he was not only a believer, but a leading proponent for Christ.

This jailer had heard Paul and Silas singing in the night. No doubt he mused over their plight. Here were two men who had been arrested, beaten with many stripes and thrown into his prison where they would soon appear before the authorities for trial. He had been charged with the task of keeping them safe. To make sure they were secure he took them to the inner prison-the most secure area of confinement. Since he was certain there was no way for them to escape he drifted off to sleep.

But Paul and Silas didn’t feel like sleeping. Instead, at midnight, they sang songs, spiritual songs and prayed to God. In answer to their prayers there was a great earthquake. The very foundations of the prison were shaken. All of the doors to the prison were opened and every prisoner’s chains were loosened. No doubt these men could have escaped, but they did not choose to do so.

This calamity woke the jailer from his sleep and immediately he thought the worst. Surely his prisoners had escaped and the logical thing for him to do was kill himself. He couldn’t dare face his superiors with this massive failure to keep safely the men in his charge.

When Paul saw what the jailer was about to do, he shouted for him to stop, “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here” (Acts 16:28).

Here is where one must read between the lines of Scripture. And I have no problem doing this. The jailer, no doubt, was familiar with Paul’s background. He knew why Paul was beaten and why he was in jail. He knew that sooner or later Paul would be tried and most likely put to death. He had heard the two men singing and praying and praising God. All of this impressed him, made him consider his own spiritual condition.

It was then he fell down before Paul and Silas and formed that most important question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

That question lives on today. It has survived all the earthquakes, floods and wars and political divisions of all stripes. If the Bible is true (and I believe it to be so) the answer to this question is vital-a matter of spiritual life, or spiritual death.

Paul did not hesitate to tell the jailer what he must do. It was a simple answer. He did not suggest the man enroll in a study of sacred Scripture. He did not suggest he seek out a minister of his own faith. He simply said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31, KJV).

Jesus does the saving. The individual does the believing. You must know something of Jesus-who He is, what He did and what He will do in the future. All of this is clearly recorded in Scripture. The jailer would have already known this background through the news of the day and through the singing and testimony of Paul and Silas. He had some knowledge. Then Paul and Silas shared with him the Word of the Lord (Verse 32). Now he knew about the death and resurrection of Jesus. He had experienced the moving of God through the earthquake and the timely attention of Paul and Silas that saved his life.

He gladly believed on the Lord that night.   Later, apparently his entire household believed and was baptized (Acts 16:33, KJV).

Have you considered this great question? Have you joined the jailer and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? I hope so. If not, there will never be a better time than today. I am certain that the word of the Lord Paul shared with the Philippian jailer included the following: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:14-17 KJV).

This article first published in Ezine Articles

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http://www.sumnerwemp.com/witnessing/

Salvation Link: Titus 2:11

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Pants on the Ground

Why Pants on the Ground is So Hot, Hot, Hot…

General Larry Platt

When General Larry Platt pounced onto the American Idol stage for his debut he caught the judges by surprise and Americans roared from their sofas—why?

The answer may be simple.  America is neck deep in shell shock over so many disappointments with the falling economy, with the tragedy of Haiti, with politicians making promises they can’t keep.  People losing their jobs, kids flunking in school.  So many illnesses dragging folks down.  We needed a break.

People tune in to American Idol for a few minutes of escape.  Then here comes General Larry Platt.  Wow!  He shook up the place.  The song, not much of a song, was swept into our idled brains with the contagious enthusiasm of The General—the new black rapper from Atlanta tryouts.  We liked him immediately and his infectious song registered with positive vibes.

Many have actually observed young people with those ridiculous “pants on the ground” styles and the cap turned sideways look.  Adults mostly shake their heads in wonder.  Surely no woman in her right mind looks at one of those guys and says, “He is one more handsome dude!  I must see if I can wrangle a date.”  Who would want to walk along side of such?

So, The General expresses our sentiments.   Thank you General.  You are getting your 15 minutes of fame, but more than that, you are providing Americans with their 15 minutes of relief.  Thank you again.  I watched as Brett Favre and his team picked up the song after their astounding victory over The Dallas Cowboys; the ladies on the View had The General come on and sing.  His song is hot! Pants on the ground–could well be pants on fire! 

You know there is a story recorded in the Bible about a man who had a problem with his pants.  He mostly tore his clothes off and was known as a crazy man who lived in the tombs in the land of the Gadarenes—a place near the Sea of Galilee.

When Jesus saw this poor man in his awful condition He didn’t compose a song, or suggest he go in for professional counseling—He healed him on the spot.  The man was possessed with so many devils that when the demons left the man and entered into the hogs nearby—almost 2000 of them—even the hogs went crazy and rushed over the edge and into the water where they drowned.

The tragic case of the devil-possessed man was changed in an instant.  He wanted to follow along with Jesus and share his great blessing with the great crowds that would come to the meetings.  But Jesus told him to “Return to your own house, and show people who know you what great and wonderful things God has done unto you” (Luke 8).  Most of us would do well to impress the folks at home with our new found faith before we launch out into the deep waters of ministry.

Let’s enjoy The General and his amusing song for now, but let us not forget many people are hurting.  We should do what we can to help them.  The best thing you can do for any one who is hurting is point them towards the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He can help.  He can save.  He loves the sinner, but hates his sin.  Prayerfully read Romans Chapter 10.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  FOR OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH, HAITI, THE POOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING FROM THE AWFUL TRAGEDY THAT DESTROYED THEIR HOMES, INUJURED SO MANY AND TOOK THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS, THERE IS A WAY YOU CAN HELP.  SEND A DONATION TO: SAMARITAN’S PURSE: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

VISIT THEIR SITE AND REVIEW THE WONDERFUL WORK THIS ORGANIZATION IS DOING IN HAITI AND OTHER TROUBLED SPOTS AROUND THE GLOBE.  The son of Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, directs this fine work.  Within hours of the earthquake in Haiti the Samaritan’s Purse Team was packing up supplies, water purification plant and doctors to go there and provide relief.  Pray for Franklin and that mighty team of workers.  God bless them one and all.  Your gifts make their work possible.  May God bless and protect all of the men and women who went there to help.