Post by Brother Ben on Jan 5, 2006 8:34:20 GMT -5
If my people
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Shortly after 4:00 A.M. The Lord woke me to the words from the old negro spiritual, ‘Lord, woncha listen to ya children prayin, send us love, send us power, send us grace.’ My heart broke about many things that have been happening and this post was born.
Darlene and I have been receiving emails, PM’s, regular mail, and phone calls lately, some associated with this discussion board, and some not, that have literally broken our hearts about the state of our spiritual nation. Bear with me in my folly, but I went to the spiritual hospital this morning, and there lying in bed, with an I.V., and breathing tubes in the nostril, and panting for very life breath lie a dying man; his name, our independent Baptist church movement. Now before you think, “Oh brother, here goes Ben again on us poor ol’ Baptists,” no, I am not talking about the victorious church that Jesus built, nor am I talking about the few, dotted here and there, across our nation, and around the world, good IFB churches, I am talking about the church “movement” at large. I am not talking about Pentecostals, Methodists, Bible Churchers, etc., they have their problems, no I am talking about “my people.”
Back to my vision; like a dying man, panting for breath I see this man recalling his life because his time is short, he is remembering his energetic youth, his productive manhood, his romantic young love, and sadly the years of spiritual decline. He looks into my eyes. He cannot speak, he just stares into my eyes. Tears are running down his cheeks. An old quote I heard from a man of God comes to mind. “Behind every great movement of God, there is a figure, kneeling in prayer.” This dying man was born in that place of travailing prayer. The words of the ol’ negro spiritual come back again, ‘Lord, woncha listen to ya children prayin, send us love, send us power, send us grace.’
Recently, I started an area on the board called, Restoration Place. It was started because of a very grave realization I have. Before I say this I want your spiritual eyes to lift from that screen for a moment and look me in the eyes...I love you. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t have this board. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t spend the time I do, doing this. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t let my wife spend her time reading, praying, and posting like she does...I love you. I am not your pastor, but I am, in a way. I try to be the pastor I wish we all had. I am not blowing up my putrid ego, I am giving you my heart...I love you.
We as a spiritual nation, we IFB people are weak, we are carnal, we are sinful. We are idolaters, we are adulterers, we love the world, we play games, we have bitterness, we are spiritually sick, we are dying. Now, sit back and ponder. The doctor has spoken. There is not pill, there is no radiation, there is no herb. Your only hope is a eleventh hour miracle from the very God of Heaven. “God,” we should cry out, “Oh, God, help me, have mercy on me!” “What can I do?” It is silent, deathly silent...it is still silent...perhaps God isn’t listening...perhaps it’s too late...perhaps I’m not even saved!...then...like Elijah...there it is. Quietly, in your spirit...there it is. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
“Oh, thank you God! I love you God! Thank you for loving me! Thank you for hearing me! Thank you for answering me!” It’s true, He answers because He is faithful. He is the Everlasting God, keeping covenant for a thousand generations toward them that love him. He speaks again, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8) and again, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21) and “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” (James 1:22-24)
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” (Prov. 21:16) The word, “understanding,” here is talking about being a doer of the word, letting the word guide you. I don’t care what your degree is, I don’t care how long ago you report to have been saved. To God, if you are not a doer of the word, it is as you were altogether still in your sins, lost, and going to hell. If you do not understand (be guided by) the word, you are in the congregation of the dead. I believe in eternal security, to God only be praise, but you ought to live like you are going to go to hell if you quit. Peter said, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: “ ( 2 Peter 1:10) You had better make sure! You had better make it sure! “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” ( Phil. 2:12)
But you are going to have start with, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14)
“If my people,” It is us! We can’t blame so-and-so, or Bro. So-and so, or the So-and so Baptist church, no it’s us. If this passage is not personalized, then all hope is lost. The cure ain’t coming, we are going to dye. So...
1. Humble yourself. If this letter insults you, you are stuck. A rut is a grave with both ends knocked out. You, my friend, are going to dye. You had better be careful, (make sure) because you might even go to hell. It is time to stop playing games. There are two gospels in our churches, the saving one, and the false one. The enemy has seen to that. That’s why the tares...some in the pulpits, some in the pews! Humble yourself. Receive this admonition. Bow down. The way up is down. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10)
2. Pray. Fast and pray. Beg in prayer. Weep in prayer. Wail in prayer. Be fervent in prayer. Pray always, but pray. ‘Lord, woncha listen to ya children prayin, send us love, send us power, send us grace.’
3. Seek His face. A small child craws up in Daddy’s lap. Daddy is good, Daddy is strong, Daddy is kind, Daddy is just! Daddy loves me. I look up, His kind eyes radiate His sweet, compassionate love for me. Not like an Earthly daddy, some of them have failed miserabley, but not my Heavenly Daddy, no, He is altogether lovely. Look...look into His eyes, stoke His long soft beard. Kiss His tear stained face. Hear Him. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jer 31:3)
4. Turn from “your” wicked ways. You know what they are. Don’t look at someone else. Don’t say, “It is their fault.” Don’t wonder what someone else’s wickedness is, YOU turn from your wicked ways. Wicked means twisted. What way is all twisted up in your life. Take it to God. Don’t white wash it, that’s what’s wrong with the church. God doesn’t know what alcohalism is, he only knows what drunkenness is. God has never heard of an affair, He only knows what adultery is. Do you get my drift. Take your defiled wicked “thing” and lay it right down in front of Father, remember His is a kind loving Father, and say, “Look, Daddy, look what a mess I have made.” Weep, and ask Him if He can fix it. And leave it there!
5. Then will He hear from Heaven, forgive your sin, and heal the land.
You came to this board searching, seeking. We are all at different places in our walk, but this message is to ALL of us. If we don’t do something, who will? We can’t live where we were, that is what a Pilgrim Baptist is. No, you have to get on the ship, or you will die, you and all your little ones. You must get on board and sail toward the Lord. I realize in time, some will catch a skiff back to shore, we’ll miss you, we’ll pray for you, we’ll even shed a tear for you, but we must sail on.
Begin seeking the Lord for personal revival...TODAY.
With my heart extended toward you,
Bro. Ben
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Shortly after 4:00 A.M. The Lord woke me to the words from the old negro spiritual, ‘Lord, woncha listen to ya children prayin, send us love, send us power, send us grace.’ My heart broke about many things that have been happening and this post was born.
Darlene and I have been receiving emails, PM’s, regular mail, and phone calls lately, some associated with this discussion board, and some not, that have literally broken our hearts about the state of our spiritual nation. Bear with me in my folly, but I went to the spiritual hospital this morning, and there lying in bed, with an I.V., and breathing tubes in the nostril, and panting for very life breath lie a dying man; his name, our independent Baptist church movement. Now before you think, “Oh brother, here goes Ben again on us poor ol’ Baptists,” no, I am not talking about the victorious church that Jesus built, nor am I talking about the few, dotted here and there, across our nation, and around the world, good IFB churches, I am talking about the church “movement” at large. I am not talking about Pentecostals, Methodists, Bible Churchers, etc., they have their problems, no I am talking about “my people.”
Back to my vision; like a dying man, panting for breath I see this man recalling his life because his time is short, he is remembering his energetic youth, his productive manhood, his romantic young love, and sadly the years of spiritual decline. He looks into my eyes. He cannot speak, he just stares into my eyes. Tears are running down his cheeks. An old quote I heard from a man of God comes to mind. “Behind every great movement of God, there is a figure, kneeling in prayer.” This dying man was born in that place of travailing prayer. The words of the ol’ negro spiritual come back again, ‘Lord, woncha listen to ya children prayin, send us love, send us power, send us grace.’
Recently, I started an area on the board called, Restoration Place. It was started because of a very grave realization I have. Before I say this I want your spiritual eyes to lift from that screen for a moment and look me in the eyes...I love you. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t have this board. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t spend the time I do, doing this. If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t let my wife spend her time reading, praying, and posting like she does...I love you. I am not your pastor, but I am, in a way. I try to be the pastor I wish we all had. I am not blowing up my putrid ego, I am giving you my heart...I love you.
We as a spiritual nation, we IFB people are weak, we are carnal, we are sinful. We are idolaters, we are adulterers, we love the world, we play games, we have bitterness, we are spiritually sick, we are dying. Now, sit back and ponder. The doctor has spoken. There is not pill, there is no radiation, there is no herb. Your only hope is a eleventh hour miracle from the very God of Heaven. “God,” we should cry out, “Oh, God, help me, have mercy on me!” “What can I do?” It is silent, deathly silent...it is still silent...perhaps God isn’t listening...perhaps it’s too late...perhaps I’m not even saved!...then...like Elijah...there it is. Quietly, in your spirit...there it is. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
“Oh, thank you God! I love you God! Thank you for loving me! Thank you for hearing me! Thank you for answering me!” It’s true, He answers because He is faithful. He is the Everlasting God, keeping covenant for a thousand generations toward them that love him. He speaks again, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8) and again, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21) and “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” (James 1:22-24)
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” (Prov. 21:16) The word, “understanding,” here is talking about being a doer of the word, letting the word guide you. I don’t care what your degree is, I don’t care how long ago you report to have been saved. To God, if you are not a doer of the word, it is as you were altogether still in your sins, lost, and going to hell. If you do not understand (be guided by) the word, you are in the congregation of the dead. I believe in eternal security, to God only be praise, but you ought to live like you are going to go to hell if you quit. Peter said, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: “ ( 2 Peter 1:10) You had better make sure! You had better make it sure! “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” ( Phil. 2:12)
But you are going to have start with, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14)
“If my people,” It is us! We can’t blame so-and-so, or Bro. So-and so, or the So-and so Baptist church, no it’s us. If this passage is not personalized, then all hope is lost. The cure ain’t coming, we are going to dye. So...
1. Humble yourself. If this letter insults you, you are stuck. A rut is a grave with both ends knocked out. You, my friend, are going to dye. You had better be careful, (make sure) because you might even go to hell. It is time to stop playing games. There are two gospels in our churches, the saving one, and the false one. The enemy has seen to that. That’s why the tares...some in the pulpits, some in the pews! Humble yourself. Receive this admonition. Bow down. The way up is down. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10)
2. Pray. Fast and pray. Beg in prayer. Weep in prayer. Wail in prayer. Be fervent in prayer. Pray always, but pray. ‘Lord, woncha listen to ya children prayin, send us love, send us power, send us grace.’
3. Seek His face. A small child craws up in Daddy’s lap. Daddy is good, Daddy is strong, Daddy is kind, Daddy is just! Daddy loves me. I look up, His kind eyes radiate His sweet, compassionate love for me. Not like an Earthly daddy, some of them have failed miserabley, but not my Heavenly Daddy, no, He is altogether lovely. Look...look into His eyes, stoke His long soft beard. Kiss His tear stained face. Hear Him. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jer 31:3)
4. Turn from “your” wicked ways. You know what they are. Don’t look at someone else. Don’t say, “It is their fault.” Don’t wonder what someone else’s wickedness is, YOU turn from your wicked ways. Wicked means twisted. What way is all twisted up in your life. Take it to God. Don’t white wash it, that’s what’s wrong with the church. God doesn’t know what alcohalism is, he only knows what drunkenness is. God has never heard of an affair, He only knows what adultery is. Do you get my drift. Take your defiled wicked “thing” and lay it right down in front of Father, remember His is a kind loving Father, and say, “Look, Daddy, look what a mess I have made.” Weep, and ask Him if He can fix it. And leave it there!
5. Then will He hear from Heaven, forgive your sin, and heal the land.
You came to this board searching, seeking. We are all at different places in our walk, but this message is to ALL of us. If we don’t do something, who will? We can’t live where we were, that is what a Pilgrim Baptist is. No, you have to get on the ship, or you will die, you and all your little ones. You must get on board and sail toward the Lord. I realize in time, some will catch a skiff back to shore, we’ll miss you, we’ll pray for you, we’ll even shed a tear for you, but we must sail on.
Begin seeking the Lord for personal revival...TODAY.
With my heart extended toward you,
Bro. Ben
Thank you Brother for that message I needed that.
