A Great Opportunity for Churches!

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.

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.