Author: thesingerschapel

Our hope and prayer is that you got the most out of that extra hour of beauty rest this Sunday morning.  You will get up and go through your Sunday morning rituals of preparing for services at your church, making sure that everything looks just right.  I believe that we should do the best we can to look the best we can when we meet with our church family, but the most important part of our preparation may be things that are invisible.  Let’s talk about that…

Yesterday morning I was fortunate to feast on Romans 1 and found myself hung up on verses 19 and 20 which talk about “the invisible things” of God.  One of the obstacles that the lost and found world cannot get past is that we cannot see what God looks like.  Well, verse 19 tells us that there are things “which may be known of God”, because He has shown them to everyone.  In Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”  Jesus came to earth as a man, not a cow, bird, fish, planet, star, river, cloud or any other of His creation.  Verse 27 says “so God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created he them.”  When you look at God’s creation you can see what you cannot see about Him.  Man looks like God, with the after effects of the curse of sin.  God is the image of man in fullness of perfection.

But, what about those Invisible things.  We cannot see God’s physical body, but there are invisible things about God and people that we can see.  A person’s Intellect is invisible, until they open their mouth (Mt 12:34, Prov 10:14).  I say there are two things you cannot hide, money and ignorance.  They will always show up.  A person’s Intentions are invisible, evil or good (Col 3:17, I Jn 3:18, Ps 28:4), but they will eventually manifest themselves.  A person’s Immortality is invisible.  The condition of the soul is a hidden matter between the soul and the Savior, but may be seen in the fruits of their life (Gal 5:22-23, II Tim 3:1-5, Phil 2:12).  A person’s Influence may be invisible until many years pass by (Prov 27:17, Mk 10:28, Prov 12:11, Gal 5:7).  All of these things  are inanimate aspects that we cannot hold in their hand. BUT, we can see them in what is manifested, made, revealed… what is created in and by a person’s life.

Same with God.  We cannot see His face (Ex 33:20-23) but we can see Him in His creation, what is manifested, made and revealed for all to see.  His Intellect is seen in His WORD (Ps 199:140) and His physical creation (Psalm 8:3, 19:1).  His Intentions are revealed in the fruit of those that He has created (Psalm 51:10, Mt 12:34, Rom 2:6).  His Immortality was made known when Jesus rose again from the grave.  His Influence shows the ‘eternal power and Godhead’ of the creator (Ps 23:2, 139:10, John 10:27).  We can see all these invisible aspects of God in what he creates and has created.  The same can be said about us.  The invisible things of our lives, our intellect, intentions, integrity can all be seen in our inventions, what our life creates.

As we go about getting the ‘seen’ things of our self just right this morning, let us take stock of the Invisible things of our life.  Think about the manifestation of what you create; peace or conflict, selfish things or selfless things, eternal or temporal, deception or transparency, truth or fallacy, a worthy vessel or a whited sepulcher, friends or foes.  What we create reveals the invisible aspects of our life.  Be sure just as the heavens declare the glory of God, that your life declares the invisible parts of who you really are.

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

Earlier this week I had an impromptu conversation with a coworker of mine (we will call Ron) that made my spirit search for clarity from the Holy Spirit.  We are of a similar age where a body can begin to hurt for no apparent reason.  Go to bed, no pain.  Wake up, pain.  Ron recalled a statement his grandfather used to say, “As long as I feel pain, I know I’m alive.  If I stop feeling pain, that’s when I’m in trouble.  I’m dead.”  Does that strike you as odd?  I felt spiritual restraint against rebuttal and kept listening to see if he would offer any explanation for such a curious philosophy on pain.  Let’s talk about that…

Ron went on to say that his grandfather was in WWII.  He stormed the beaches at Normandy and fought the Battle of the Bulge with Patton and lost count of how many of the enemy he dispatched.  Ron’s recollections transported my mind to the horrors of hand to hand combat, near starvation, survival, kill or be killed, and all the unfathomable gory glory of war.  His grandfather was shot in the Battle of the Bulge.  When he and the 18 remaining G.I.’s in their battalion made it back to Patton, he cauterized the wound and marched them right back to battle where Ron’s grandfather was shot 9 times by a machine gun nest.  So, Patton gave him light duty guarding prisoners on a transport ship from France to England on crutches till he was well enough to march back again. Pain was the only thing that let him know this was not a nightmare, but a living reality.

Ron does not indicate any evidence, by conversation or testimony, that he knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior.  I believe he’s lost.  Pain is his indicator of being alive.  He does not know the promise that Christ came to give us life, and that we [sic] might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).  The pain of life is not our evidence of living, but, rather the peace which passes all understanding.  It is not hurt which gives us relief that we are still breathing, but it is healing which quickens us unto refreshment of heart.  Our assurance, the blessed hope (Titus 2:13), the divine love that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:5) endows the comfort that any pain we might experience in this life is temporary and not what life is about.  Being alive here is only the rehearsal for life eternal where God shall wipe away all tears from our [sic] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more PAIN: for the former things are passed away (Rev 21:4).  Ron doesn’t know about that, but, if the Lord will give me courage, opportunity and discernment, I will walk the tightrope of workplace witnessing and let him know that there is something more than pain that let’s us know we are alive.

Jesus Christ,  for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2), felt pain, the utmost, ultimate pain, on the cross to take away our pain.  To give us life.  His death gave us the opportunity to experience being truly alive.

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

 

 

Our hope and prayer is that the presence of the Lord has brought you communion, the power of God has given courage, and the accountability of the Holy Ghost has kept you clean before Him.  Let’s talk about that…

Since most of you were not with us last Wednesday night at Wahoo Baptist, I will share part of our preaching.  Matthew 8 gives us the scene of Jesus ministering to four sets of people with very different problems. But, all needed to find one common thing; the Will of God.  They all needed His Word and His touch.  Take the time to go back and study these accounts.  Today, though, let us focus on the first person in verses 1 through 3.

We read that there came a leper.  His horrible existence was marked by an incurable disease and isolation from all society.  His illness was part of the Curse of Humanity, sin, which brought all pain upon mankind.  But, he Came to Jesus.  Verse 2 says the leper Worshipped Jesus; Man’s Humility (I Peter 5:6).  He called Jesus Lord; Recognized His Deity, Divinity (Philippians 2:9).  The leper proposes unto the Lord, If Thou Wilt; Acknowledges God’s Authority, Sovereignty, and Seeks His Mercy (John 5:27).  Think of this regarding God’s Sovereignty… It is God’s Avenue of Approved Action or Allowed Suffering.  If ‘it’ is not His Will, He Won’t.  If it is, He WILL (Philippians 2:13).  When the leper says Thou Canst he is Exalting God’s Ability as Almighty.  He said, GOD CAN!!  The greatest soul-winner I have ever known, Brother Sammy Scruggs says ‘God can do anything but fail!’

The heart of the leper’s request was, Make Me Clean.  He needed God’s Purifying, His Purging.  Our logical reason focuses on the fact that Jesus, by His will and word, “be thou clean,” cured that leper and gave him a new life free from the pain of sickness.  Our message today is that our prayer to the Lord today might just need to be, Make Me Clean.  ‘But I’m not a leper…’  Maybe, but think of how the issues of our life could be cured if we prayed, Make my ___________ clean.  If the works of our hands were clean we would find a more pure service for Him.  If our walk was clean we would draw more men to the Cross of Calvary.  If our words were clean we would have fewer criticisms and conflicts, arguments and apologies.  If what we wore were clean our witness to the world would be noticeable and consistent.  If our thoughts were clean, oh my… oh me.  If only our thoughts were clean, what a ripe field for revival our churches would be.  Come to think of it, if our thoughts were clean then our works, walk, words, and what we wore would all be clean.  Let us band together in prayer this week that the Almighty God of Heaven upon His throne would make our thoughts clean.  I believe we would see that our life would be more Joyful and productive, more gracious and peaceful.  We can be certain He Can and He Will answer that prayer.

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

Our hope and prayer is that you have met God this week with great expectation of what He will do in, through and for your life.  Isn’t it curious, though, when God actually comes through with what we ask?  Did we really think He would…could answer a prayer so serious, so difficult, so impossible?  Can we really put that kind of expectation on God?  Let’s talk about that..

Psalm 62:5 says “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.”  We can set down a sure expectation on God to be true to His Word (Ps 119:160), to forgive those who repent (I Jn 1:9), and to save those who believe and call upon on His name (Rom 10:13).  We can expect God to shelter those who trust in Him (Ps 62:8), and to reward those who labor, give and believe (Ps 62:12, I Cor 3:8, Heb 11:6, Lu 6:38).  In soberness of spirit, we must also expect the just God of heaven to punish those who reject Him (Rev 21:8).  There are certain expectations we can place on God with confidence.

There are also expectations that we place on man.  We expect kids to behave like grown ups.  There are unrealistic expectations like Lost people acting like Saved people (Ps 62:3-4).  Unfounded expectations that our prideful flesh convinces us of (I Cor 10:12).  I remember when I was faced with the truth that God will not hear my prayer if I regard iniquity in my heart (Ps 66:18).  We have unrealistic expectations that God will bless us, use us, or condone us if we operate in any way that is contrary to His word.  GET THIS.  The Will of God will NEVER contradict the Word of God.  If someone says, I think it is OK for me to get a tattoo of scripture or a cross or blah blah blah then you can expect that person has no regard whatsoever to the truth of scripture (Leviticus 19:28).

There are some expectations that are reasonable.  We should expect God to be true.  We should expect God to lead us according to His Will, His Word, and His Spirit.  We should certainly have a realistic expectation for Saved folks to act like Saved folks and not the world.  How can born again believers be a set apart people whom lost people see a difference in, if they can see no difference in Saved people???  God expects us to obey, serve and trust Him.  He expects us to be conformed to His image and transformed by His Word.  Those are Great Expectations which lead us to an Expected end (Jer 29:11).

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

 

 

What a tremendous time to be alive.  I think about all the pivotal times in the history of this green and blue globe and I see no better time to exist.  There was a time when prophesies were unfulfilled, the future promises of God were much further away, and the coming of the Lord seemed a distant appointment.  But not in this day.  I am fully Persuaded that the coming of the Lord could be before I finish typing this blo

                                                                    Ha! Just kidding.  Let’s talk about that for a while…

There is nothing more pitiful than someone who is trying to convince you of something they do not believe themselves.  Pity the singer whose song is all about someone else’s life.  How empty are the words of the armchair quarterback, the Monday morning commentators who never felt the crushing blow of a linebacker. If we have not been through anything we can be little comfort or critical care for someone who is going through it.  Try this; a congress that tells a citizenry how valuable a healthcare system is when they will not use it themselves.  You get the idea.  One cannot effectively persuade another if they are not persuaded themselves.

In the midst of his Hall of Fame induction passage in Hebrews chapter 11, Abraham’s vision of promises not yet revealed is expounded in verse 13.  “…having seen them afar off, and was [sic] persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”   Abraham was persuaded by a promised son (Gen 21).  He was persuaded of a promised seed (Heb 11:11-12).  He was persuaded of a promised city (John 14:2-3).  He was persuaded by a promised country Here (Gen 12:1) and in Heaven (Lu 16:22). How else could Abraham be obedient unto the command to take his son, Isaac, up a mountain and lay him on the altar of sacrifice?  Because He who had begun a good work would be faithful to complete it.  He was Persuaded.

Abraham was not only persuaded by the promises of God, he embraced them.  He put his faith in them because the one who promised proved Himself faithful.  Not only that, Abraham confessed them.  He put the promises into practice as truth because the one who promised proved Himself true.

Our challenge of conviction:

• Do we worry because we are persuaded of God’s promises?
• Do we fail to witness because we are persuaded of God’s promises?
• Do we pray like we are persuaded of God’s promises? 
• Do we plan our life as if we are persuaded of God’s promises?
• Do we sing like we are persuaded of God’s promises?
• Do we preach like we are persuaded of God’s promises?

If I am persuaded His coming to rapture the church could be any moment (I Thes 4), I better start acting like it, praying like it, working like it, witnessing like it, looking for it.

We love you

BroAdamB

 

Good Sunday morning friends.  It’s early.  It was a late night.  But we have something to do and somewhere to go today.  We have something to tell today.  Somebody’s Coming.   Let’s talk about that…

We just concluded the 60th anniversary of the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  There was much anticipation, advertising and preparation.  It came, it happened and now it is past.  For centuries, millenniums, there was an anticipation, announcements about someone who was on the way. Isaiah said He would come from a virgins womb, and He did (7:14, 11:1, 62:11).  Jeremiah said which family tree He would come from, and He did (23:5).  Micah said which town He would be born in, and He was (5:2).  They all said, Somebody’s Coming!!!  And HE did.

One night on a hillside the Angels told some shepherds, He’s Here, and He was (Lu 2:11).  When he came into the synagogue on his eighth day Simeon said, He’s Here, and he was (Lu2:30).  John the Baptist looked up a dusty road and said, Behold, He’s Here, and He was (Jn 1:36).  At the end of His earthly ministry Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that asses colt and the multitudes waved palm branches and shouted, He’s Here!!  and He was.  Then He was crucified, buried in Joseph’s tomb.  He was gone.

But, He came back!  The resurrected Christ rose again and on a hill outside Jerusalem He ascended to the Heaven’s.  The angels said to His disciples, He’s Coming Back (Acts 1:9-11), and He will.  Paul told the church at Thessalonica, He’s Coming Back, and He Will (4:16-17).  Just as sure as it was prophesied that He was coming, He came.  Just as sure as the Angels announced His birth, He was here.  And, just as sure as Jesus said He was coming back, He Will.  NQC is over but Jesus is still coming.  We’ve got somewhere to go, something to tell, someone to bring with us.  Somebody’s Coming!!

God Bless You,

BroAdamB

 

 

Many of our Gospel music friends will be travelling tonight and tomorrow toward the natural wonder that is the Smoky Mountains.  Specifically, to the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the National Quartet Convention.  The A-Team will join you later in the week.  I made it a goal of my young life to Get There someday and I did. But, I was really supposed to be somewhere else.  Let’s talk about that.

Tim Riley used to have this saying when you were somewhere in the wrong place at the wrong time and mainly in his entire way.  It went something like this; think cruise ship horn, bull elephant and tuba… “Get SomeWHERE!”  When the shockwave hit you there was no thought of what to do. Your body just got somewhere else till your brain could figure out where you ended up but you were definitely somewhere else.

Jonah was a man that God wanted to go somewhere (Jonah 1:1-3).  Jonah, however had no intentions of going there.  He had his own set of reasons, rationale and running that would take him as far away as possible from where he was supposed to be.  It took quite a bit of harrowing life experience for Jonah to come around (read chapter 1).  Then in chapter 2 Jonah came to where he thought God’s idea was a great one.  The Word of God came through the Man of God and an entire regime and region came unto repentance and avoided destruction (read chapter 3).  Jonah had to get somewhere that God could use him in the way God wanted to use him.

It makes me think of an old black angus cow that I was helping my buddy, Ron Gilbert try to get into the right pasture after Irma blew through and got his herd all discombobulated.  She had gotten separated from her calf in a separate pasture and was highly agitated.  That ole mama cow did not know that all we were trying to do was get her somewhere that she would be much happier and doing what she was supposed to do with the cows she was supposed to be with.  She was having nothing of it.  She thought she knew where she was going and she sure didn’t need any of our kind of help.  Finally, Ron said, “Eh, just leave her in here. She’ll either figure it out or she can just stay in here but I’m not chasing her any more today.”  

Isn’t just like the children of God sometimes.  We have it in our mind that we know what is best, where will be best and when it will be best but usually we end up running back and forth against a fence that separates us from where we are really supposed to be.  If we would only allow the shepherd to show us the right gate to walk through we would be much better off.  Get Somewhere that God wants you to be or where you thought you wanted to be might just end up feeling like the belly of a whale, cramped, uncomfortable and separated from the security of His perfect will.

I pray this often: “Lord, let your will be done through me and not in spite of me.”

God Bless You!

BroAdamB

With two of the most powerful and destructive hurricanes in recorded history in our rear view mirror, the retelling of harrowing accounts of wind, rain, flooding, trees down and loss of electricity are numerous.  The first question most folks in our area are asking is, “Is your power back on yet?”  One lady posted a statement that struck me.  She realized how much she took for granted the simple task of flipping a light switch when she walked into a room.  It was her minds’ boggle that if she just kept flipping the switch, somehow the power would come back on.  Let’s talk about that…

In the Old Testament book of Judges chapters 13 through 15 we read about the powerful Sampson.  His supernatural strength was awe inspiring and effective.  That power was directly tied to a vow of sanctification his parents made unto the Lord that he would be a Nazarite (ch13:5). But Sampson dabbled in wickedness and swam off into open sin.  He broke so many of the vows that his office as judge and Nazarite required.  But, there was one thing that retained the power to conquer and overcome anyone or anything at any time.  One night he laid his head in the lap of that wicked temptress, Delilah.  He teased her thinking he was unstoppable and all powerful.  Then in chapter 16 verse 17 he told her the secret of his Power.  As he slept his head was shaved and Sampson’s power left him.

Verse 20 has come to my mind many times over the years when someone found themselves in a sin-weakened condition.  It says that Sampson “awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as other times before, and shake myself.”  But not this time.  Average men took him captive and put out Sampson’s eyes.  His Power was gone and he would be in darkness till the day he died.

Will we wake today and head to church this Sunday morning as so many times before, shake ourselves, and expect the Power to be there like flipping a switch, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (II Tim 3:1-5).  Can we know the Power of God in Sunday school, in the choir, in the pew, at the piano, with a mic in our hand, behind the pulpit, without living an obedient life that distances itself from sin and the snares of temptation.  Can we dabble in wickedness through the week and expect the Power on Sunday.  NO. Period.  Can we know the Power without prayer, purity or preparation.  No.  Just like that transformer on the pole out by your house sends Power to the circuits of your home, giving light, we must be tapped into the transforming power source, the Lord Jesus Christ, to have the light and power.  We hope and pray that your power is on.

God Bless You!

BroAdamB

Our prayer this morning is turned toward those who in the path of impending destruction.  It is said that in the life of a Christian we are coming out of a storm, in the midst of a storm or headed into one.  Hurricane Harvey and now Irma, have gotten the majority of our attention lately.  They show us how powerless we are in the face of such destruction.  We can only do what we can to prepare or get out of the way before the destruction comes.  Let’s talk about that…

In anticipation of arrival of the storm we become affixed to the weather alerts.  There are the initial signs of a storm, the qualifications of its strength, the historical perspective which shows what is possible path, and then the undeniable destruction that will come no matter what.  If the wind doesn’t get you, the debris it carries might.  If not that, then the storm surge will overpower those in its wake.  I have heard governors and law enforcement people say things like, “It is coming.  If you stay past the evacuation you are on your own.  Don’t call 911 because we are not coming to help you.”  YET, some choose to sit tight and ride it out though they may lose their life.  For what??  Stuff? Stubbornness? Stupidity? Silliness?

These storms and the recent eclipse have caused some to look up and possibly look toward heaven for answers, comfort and protection.  Nahum 1:3 says “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.”  Almighty God is trying every way possible to get the attention of people, but sadly many will not heed the warnings.

There is a day coming when I plan to be evacuated from earth (I Thes 4:15-18).  Thank the Lord we will not be traveling on an interstate to glory.  When the destruction of the tribulation sweeps over the whole earth, I will be safely in the shelter of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Just as sure as hurricanes strike land, the prophecy of the tribulation will one day become a physical reality and no one in it’s path will be spared from the destructive power that will be unleashed.  It will not be isolated to a certain region and there will be no way of escape for those who did not listen to the warnings (II Thes 2:7-12).  There will certainly be no party to ride out that storm.  It will be too late to call on God because for those who heard the warnings, He’s not coming until he comes in power to destroy all the armies of the earth under the direction of Satan himself (Zech 12, Joel 2, Mt 24:27-31, Rev 19).

Oh, that we would be have sleepless nights and tears over the lost all around us who are headed for a much greater destruction.  God, help us to call at all hours and plead for the lost to get out of the way of the storm.  HEED THIS WARNING!!  You might make it through a hurricane but you will not make it through the tribulation.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

We Love You, God Bless you!

BroAdamB

 

Our hope is that the Word of God has been your guide and stay.  We pray the song is your heart has been birthed from the inerrant Word of the Almighty God of heaven.  Let’s talk about that…

Friday night we had the extreme privilege to see the Whisnant’s close to our home.  What a wonderful time of refreshing and fellowship with some of the best people we know of anywhere.  As they sang song after song our hearts were filled to overflowing.  I looked at Addy and, as she always does, she was writing down the set list for the night.  She keeps them at every singing we go to as one her treasures.  The thought came to my mind; This is not just a good time of entertainment, it is an valuable investment in the lives of our daughters.  What do I mean?  They will never forget those gospel singings just I never have.  We take them to church, revivals, music and youth camps that all have one common denominator; The Word of God is the foundation.

I thought about all the songs the Whisnant’s sung that night and I believe that without exception, they all have their inspiration from a true scriptural foundation.  The songs come from the Word.  Then the Holy Ghost whispered to my heart; When you take your girls to church, to camp, and revivals they get the Bible.  But, if  you were to let them get their music from the carnal world, what would that tell them?  It reminded me how important it is to make sure that the investments we place into our family and our individual lives are based in The Word.

John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word”.  Everything in our life has a beginning.  Every life begins with birth.  Every relationship begins with an introduction.  Every career begins with a hiring.  Every tendency of habit began with a first try.  Every word we speak begins with a thought.  Every appetite begins with a taste.  Every fight begins with the flesh.  Every song and book begins with a writer’s inspiration.  What if we could look back on life and say that every aspect of our life began with a true foundation of The Word of God.  I sure wish I could look back and say that.  But, I can say that the most successful and satisfying parts of my life have birthed in the truth of scripture and bathed in prayer.  The Word was my beginning, and it will be my end.

Can we say that?  Is the Word the beginning for our life?  If we are honest, that may not be the case, but today is a new day.  What a perfect time to adjust, align and apply The Word to every part of our life.

God Bless You,

BroAdamB