An Impenitent Heart

Well, the first thing we need to do is to describe what is an impenitent heart. And everything I have read here [Isaiah 57:4-14] with regard to these charges brought against the people of Israel was in the way that they worshipped, the false worship, coming in some other way than what God had ordained. That is important, because we need to deal with a society today where everywhere there are professing Christians who would tell you I have repented and I am believing God. And yet when you weigh their profession of faith and... against the Scriptures and you listen to them talk about what is their righteousness and their works, I have to conclude based on the Scriptures that we are dealing with an impenitent, religious generation. That is who Isaiah faced and that is who we face. There is nothing new under the sun.

Now we could go to a dictionary, a Bible dictionary if we want and so-called and look up what it is to be unrepentant or impenitent, but I believe the Scriptures themselves are their own best interpreter. And so I want to look at a couple of verses with regard to what is an impenitent heart. And we will begin, there is a lot we could cite, but we will begin in Proverbs chapter 27 and verse 22. I love the language of Scripture. It is picturesque. It is designed to give us a visual of some of these things. And God by his Spirit has so written this Word to give us these pictures. And here is one right here in verse 22 in Proverbs 27. We read:

“Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.”

That word bray it means to literally pound or grind. How hardened is the heart of a sinner in its impenitence? Well, here it is describe as a fool that if you were to take and put that fool in a mortar along with wheat... of course, when you take wheat and put it in a mortar and beat it with a pestle, it is designed to separate the wheat from the chaff. But such is the hardness of the sinner’s heart that with all of the evidences, even with all of the warnings of God’s providence and his Word, all the declarations of the gospel, left to himself that one will never change. That one will remain what he is in his blindness and ignorance and never sense the urgency of even the desperate state of their own soul. That describes an impenitent heart.

Continue reading or listen to the full sermon by Ken Wimer here.

Worldliness (Trailer)

Worldliness: something to keep in mind during this Christmas season. Watch, listen or download the full message by Dr. Peter Masters here.

How Being Unthankful Can Send You To Hell

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. -Romans 1:21

Watch, listen or download the full message by Dr. Liam Goligher here.

A Shocking Christmas Message

Watch the full message by Shane Idleman here.

“Born Again” — What Does That Mean?

These days, almost everyone talks about being born again; but virtually no one knows what the Word of God teaches about the new birth. Therefore, I want to address the subject in simple, clear, unmistakable terms. When you leave here today, I want you to understand what the new birth is and how it is accomplished. More importantly, I want you to leave here born again. May God be pleased to make it so for Christ’s sake.

The religious world around us, in its apostate rejection of the truth of God, has made the new birth to be nothing more than making a decision, walking an aisle, and saying a prayer. Because of their abuse and error regarding the doctrine of the new birth, our tendency is to shy away from using the term “born again,” lest we be identified with those who deny the gospel of Christ. But, no matter how much men may pervert the language and the doctrine of Christ, our Lord’s admonition to Nicodemus still stands. It is as necessary and urgent today as it was when he first made it more than two thousand years ago. — “Ye must be born again!”

Some of you have never made any profession of faith in Christ. I want you to hear this message. — “Ye must be born again!” Perhaps, some of you have been in the church for years who are yet without Christ. You made a profession of faith a long time ago; but you are yet without life before God. May God the Holy Spirit cause you to hear this message and grant you his grace this very hour. — “Ye must be born again!”

Continue reading or listen to the full message by Don Fortner here.

Thanksgiving

Thank You for wonderful things from above.
Thank You for life, Father; thank You for love.

Thank You for laughter, thank You for tears.
Thank You for happiness down through the years.

Thank You for peace, Father; thank You for joy.
Thank You for gifts that earth cannot destroy.

Thank You for friends, Father; thank You for foes.
Thank You for secrets no earth-child knows.

Thank You for songs in the darkest night.
Thank You for turning despair into light.

Thank You for dying, Lord, on Calvary's tree.
Thank You for saving a lost lamb like me.

Thank You for keeping me day after day.
Thank You for keeping me straight on the way.

Lord, when in glory, I see Your dear face,
I'll thank You again for undying grace!

—Selected

Source: http://www.mwtb.org

America Revival Or Ruin

by E. A. Johnston

When I was a little boy in the 1950s, things were different in America back then. I remember this country when Hollywood had censors, politicians had a conscience and America had a moral compass. Hemlines were lower and morals were higher and sin was called sin and not social disorders. Of course, we didn’t have the technology that we have today. Back then if you said Microsoft they thought you were referring to your mattress. And we didn’t have wifi. We had hifi. It was a time when only women wore earrings and only sailors had tattoos.

I remember America when it still had a strong work ethic and business abounded in honesty and integrity and a man’s word and handshake was as good as gold. And I remember in America when a parent did not have to worry about what their children saw on TV and marriage was between a man and a woman. There was such a thing as shame in society back then.

I remember America when the Church still had authority and there was still a fear of God in the land. I remember a nation that stood on biblical principles and looked to God for guidance and to the Church for direction. It was ok to pray in public school back then and the 10 Commandments were publicly displayed. And if any Atheist cried out against it, there were more than enough Christians to shout that person down because God had the majority in the nation back then.

And I remember an America that was looked up to by other nations and we were a country that held on to the principles of our founding fathers and old glory was never stomped on and set fire to because we respected too much what it stood for. Back then there was such a thing as a weekly prayer meeting in the church and people actually came to pray. And they weren’t embarrassed to cry when they prayed and they prayed loud and long and did so until they grabbed hold of God and the fire fell and consumed the sacrifice. The Church back then didn’t operate on money and manpower, but by God and Holy Ghost power. Back then the Church influenced society instead of society influencing the Church.

And I remember preachers who preached about the blood and the cross and they warned that hell was hot and a future judgment awaited all mankind. Those kind of preachers weren’t afraid of men, but they sure feared the almighty.

I keep using the word remember because all I have is my memory of these former things. Today America is facing ruin and only a heaven sent revival will save this nation from complete destruction.

Continue reading or listen to the full message here.

Seven Ways to Show Gratitude (Trailer)

Watch, listen or download the full message by Dr. A. T. Stewart here.

Hated by the World (Trailer)

Watch or download the full message by Russ Sukhia here.

Endless Thanksgiving (Trailer)

Watch, listen or download the full message by Dr. Philip Ryken here.

Being Born Again (Trailer)

Watch, listen or download the full message by Dr. Peter Masters here.

Thanksgiving or Thanksliving

Watch, listen or download the full message: "Sweet, Savory Thanksgiving" by Joel Beeke here.

Why You Must Be Born Again

Listen or download the full message by Don Green here.

But I Don't Feel Thankful

by Jim Elliff

"But I don't feel thankful." I can hear this perfectly logical complaint coming from my kids when I make them say "Thank you" for some act of kindness done toward them. Should we really act grateful when we are not?

But perhaps the better question is, "How could we be so blind to all that God has done that we would ever be ungrateful?"

When the Pilgrims ate the first Thanksgiving meal in 1621, they were being thankful even though they had seen horrific tragedies from the very beginning of their experiment in this new land.

"The Mayflower remained in New England with the colonists throughout the terrible first winter. Although the ship was cold, damp and unheated, it did provide a defense against the rigorous New England winter until houses could be completed ashore. Nevertheless, exposure, malnutrition and illness led to the death of half the group, both passengers and crewmen. There were four deaths (and one birth - Peregrine White) during the month they spent at the tip of Cape Cod. The remainder of the winter saw the deaths of another 40 or 41 colonists. At the lowest ebb, only seven people were healthy enough to tend the sick. On January 14, a fire destroyed the thatched roof on their first structure or "rendezvous" but fortunately none of the sick people that lay within were hurt. A second fire a month later was put out without incident." (Plimoth Plantation web site, www.Plimoth.org).

Experiencing the loss of loved ones and all normal conveniences and even basic necessities has a way of heightening one's appreciation for God's most mundane mercies.

It all has to do with our starting place. What do you think you deserve? If you deserve to be six feet under with your soul writhing in hell, then you're bound to have an elevated motivation to be thankful for any mercy at all. Even a few drops of water on the tip of the rich man's tongue, as in Jesus' Luke 16 story, could elicit thanks, if you felt what you really deserve.

The problem with being thankful is not so much one of manners as it is of alertness to the facts, that is, simply having open eyes to what is true. And it is true that you and I deserve nothing good. No, more than that, we deserve everything bad—an eternity in hell.

Sure, it makes sense to teach our kids to say "thanks" even when they don't feel like it. It is a reasonable service to others and makes our world much more pleasant to live in.

But we could probably nip ungratefulness in the bud if we could ever learn well what we deserve because of our sins.

Try this mental exercise this Thanksgiving when you are feasting on turkey and dressing and enjoying a warm and comfortable home or apartment. Stop for a moment and look around you at the abundance, the family, the nice clothes you have and all you enjoy, and then say to yourself, "I deserve hell." Repeat it several times and believe it because it is true.

Then thank God for even the next breath you are given. Because it is only "in Him" that we "live and move, and have our being." (Acts 17:26)

Copyright © 2002 Jim Elliff

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How Will You Vote?

The Issues:

There is a God. He is holy, just, righteous, true, all-powerful, all-knowing, full of love, light, mercy, and compassion (Psalm 22:3; 116:5; Genesis 17:1; 1 John 1:5; 4:16). Everyone must personally deal with Him (Romans 14:11,12).

You have a never-dying soul which is going to be either eternally saved in heaven or eternally lost in hell (Matthew 25:46).

You are a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

God, being holy, cannot allow you into heaven until your sins are removed. You cannot work enough, give enough, or be good enough to remove even one sin from yourself (Ephesians 2:8,9). But God, in His great love, has reached out to you—"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 3:16,17). You see, God's love and mercy has provided a way for you to be saved (Romans 5:8). But if you reject His free offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, your sins remain on you, and God has no choice but to send you to hell. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).

The Promises:

God, who can never lie, has promised many wonderful things to those who accept His offer of salvation. Here are a few:

Cleansing. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

Eternal Life. "The Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Peace. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

Freedom. "Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

An Inheritance. "An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4).

Power. God the Holy Spirit lives in all believers to help, guide, and empower them (Ephesians 1:13; Romans 8:9; John 14:16,17).

The Decision:

You know the issues. You know what's been promised. Now you must either cast your vote for Jesus, by repenting of your sins to God and placing your trust in Jesus for salvation (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9), or you cast your vote against God's provision and reject His salvation. It is either one or the other (John 3:36). Don't be deceived into thinking that there is a third choice. There is no other way. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6).

Face this vital matter right now. "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). Read and carefully consider the issues stated before. Look up the Scriptures—they are God's Word. Weigh the facts carefully and soberly. Then cast your vote below. You must choose one or the other.

I admit that I am a sinner in God's sight, and accept Christ who died for my sins and rose again to be my Saviour. I will therefore live with Him forever in heaven.

I do not accept Christ as my Saviour. I reject the loving payment He has made for my sins, and choose instead to bear the punishment myself. I will therefore spend eternity apart from God in the torment of hell.

Source: mwtb.org

What is Salvation?

Watch, listen or download the full message: "A Demoniac Transformed - Part 1" by Richard Caldwell Jr. here.