Author: thesingerschapel

This is the day the Lord has made.  Let’s make up our mind to give Him the proper place of preeminence in our lives.  Let’s talk about the Place that we give to the Lord in our lives…

In Matthew 9 Jesus was called to the home of a certain ruler who explained that his daughter was dead.  But, the man believed that if Jesus would lay His hand upon her she would live again.  In verse 18 this man Made a Place of Worship.  He invited Jesus to his place (I Sam 7:3).  All through scripture Jesus was moved by great faith.  When He heard this ruler’s request Jesus immediately arose and in verse 19 Jesus Came to the Rulers (Jarius) Place.

The funeral music was already in full swing when they arrived with very vocal grief, music, emotion and activity, but, the parents of the girl were silent.  Jesus declared that they were too quick to judge the situation (I Thes 4:13).  In verse 23 Jesus demanded they Make a Quiet Place (Is 32:17).  As the shallow, negative, hopeless crowds laughed Jesus Gave Place for Hope (Ps 71:14).

In verse 25 Jesus Gave Place for a Miracle.  What was dead is now alive.  What an encouragement of faith that can give us.  What is lost can be found.  What is hurt can be healed.  What is broken can be fixed,  What is ignorant can be educated.  What is sin-stained can be cleansed.  What is indebted can be paid… IF we will Give Place for the presence of Jesus, for the touch of Jesus in our lives, and as we read in the Luke 8:54 account the word of the Lord.   Let us Give Place for the Lord today.

God Bless You All,

BroAdamB

Happy Resurrection Morning!  Our hope and prayer is that you are surrounded with family and friends, in awe of the power of the resurrection of Christ.  By the way, He is the only perfect, only praise-worthy, only coming again, only Risen Son of God.  Let’s talk about another son…

In the gospel of Luke chapter 15 we find the stories of three lost items that were found; the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.  We know him as the Prodigal Son who demanded his inheritance and left his loving father to go his own way.  It did not take long for the money to run out, the friends to walk out, and all the grand plans to peter out.  So, he went home to a forgiving father.

Did you know there was another father and son with some similar circumstances but very different outcomes.  This is the tale of two sons.

2 Sons; The Prodigal & the Propitiation

One son left home mad at dad.  The other Son left home with Father’s blessing.  One son told his dad, “I wish you were dead.”  The other Son  told his father, “I will go to die.”  One son went to sow wild oats.  The other Son came to sow seeds of the Gospel.  One son left to do his own thing. The other Son  came to do will of the Father.  One son went to live a riotous life, The other Son  came to live a holy, sinless, perfect life. One son went on to spend all his riches. The other Son  left all his riches in heaven.  One son wanted to be a big man. The other Son  humbled himself as a servant.  One son had lots of good time friends that left him. The other Son  had 12 disciples; among them 1 devil and only 1 at His cross.  One son starved for a piece of bread, The other Son  was the bread of life.  One son realized how wrong he had been. The other Son was the personification of complete righteousness.  One son went ended up in the pits of the world. The other Son  descended to the pits of Hell to get the keys to death, hell, and the grave.  One son went home with scars, The other Son  went home with scars.  One son went back home with nothing. The other Son  went back home with the blood.  One son became most famous prodigal. The other Son  came to redeem all prodigals.   One son had a father waiting at home for his son to return. The other Son  had the Father waiting in heaven for His son to return.  One son heard his father say all is forgiven.  The other Son told his Father all of humanity is forgiven.  Both sons were glad to be home.  Both Father’s were glad their sons were home.

Prodigals may not always be in a far country but it could be that their “heart is far from me[God]…” (Mt 15:8).  There is still a Father waiting for them to come walking down the road toward home where all is forgiven and a new beginning awaits.

Praise the SON OF GOD this Sunday morning for His resurrection power!

BroAdamB

Our hope and prayer is that the Lord is amazing you with how He provides.  Let’s talk about that…

We were blessed to be able to attend the Middle Tennessee Baptist Church Teen Camp Meeting from Thursday night through Saturday morning this week and then we travelled to Pontotoc, MS to sing with the Old Time Preachers Quartet.  What great preaching and singing we heard and wonderful fellowship we enjoyed.  So many memorable messages were preached but I want to share the theme of the one that sticks out in my mind.  Brother Rudy Smith from Mt. Sinai Baptist in Pickens, SC (mtsinaibaptistch.net) preached out of I Kings 18:8-12 on the subject, When you get to the bottom of your barrel, you come to the top of His!  My soul what a thought.

Brother Rudy retraced the steps of the children of Israel through scripture who had done all they could do in their own strength and had reached the bottom of the barrel but then God allowed them to reach down and scoop out a handful from His (Ex 14, 15, 16, II Kings 4, 19, Luke 5, John 6, Acts 16, II Cor 12).  Oh, how many times I have tried to work things out and plan and plot out a path only to come up short with my ability, my tenacity, my ingenuity, and my influence.  But God said, “Just reach down one more time and see what I can do,” and my hand was filled with provision.  Hallelujah!

My friend, I have scraped my hand around the bottom of the barrel plenty of times in my life; the bottom emotionally, financially, spiritually, and in company.  As brother Rudy preached the paint off the walls my mind went back to all those times that I could not go on and The God of Heaven would pull up the boards from the bottom of my barrel and reveal that it was sitting on top of His full barrel.  He proved it to me many times this week.

If you are scrounging around for provision, encouragement, the joy of your salvation, fellowship, or funds, God can provide if we will seek Him and follow His commands.  His barrel will waste not, and His oil will not fail (I Kings 18:16).

God Bless You, and may Long Live Old Time Religion

BroAdamB

evangelistadamborden.com

Our hope and prayer is that your faith and trust in Jesus has been the reason you have made it to another Sunday morning without being overcome.  Way back when we believed On the Lord Jesus Christ he gave us a reason to believe in His promises.  Let’s talk about that…

I have had a message burning a hole in my pocket all week long that I want to share with you in part.  Our Sunday school lesson last Sunday morning was in Acts 16.  When brother Jody Whitmire read through verse 31 a key word jumped off the page.  Paul and Silas were locked up in the belly of the prison after they had been beaten for refusing to stop preaching the gospel of Christ.  What better to do in a situation like than to sing.  Can you hear it?  “Silas, let’s do this one…I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided…”  The Father in heaven got to tapping his foot and egging them on in such a manner that broke apart the prison they were in and caused the shackles to fall from their feet.  The poor guard assumed all the prisoners had escaped and began to pull his sword to end his life until Paul called out with a loud voice to stop him.  That shaken guard fell at their feet and begged the question, “What must I do to be saved.  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved.“

I want you to know there is a difference between believing In and believing On.  (John 6:28-29, Romans 10:9-11).  For example, I can believe In a chair.  I can believe it exists, has a purpose and a design, that it has legs, a back, a seat and that it can to what it is supposed to.  I can believe in all that information but until I sit down I have not believed On that chair.  When I believe On the chair I trust it’s purpose and design, I trust it is strong enough to hold me up, to do what it is supposed to do.  The longer I sit in it I understand that I can rest On that chair.

When we believe On the Lord He puts something In, the person of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16-17, I John 3:23-24, 4:13-15).  Then when what is In us begins to reveal the glory of God, the truth of scripture, the blessings, the peace, the direction, the comfort of His presence In us then what is In us might just get On us (I Pet 1:21, I Cor 2:3-5, Eph 3:16-19, Lu 4:18-19).  Then others see what is On us and want to know what is In us. How can we sing when we are bound and locked in the prison of circumstances with every reason to complain, gripe and give up?  Then they just might ask, “What must I do to be saved?”  and we can say, “Believe On the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Remain Calm & Believe On.  I ought to put that on a t-shirt.

BroAdamBorden

Our prayer is that the Lord will use you to help someone who is weighed down today and that He will send someone to lift you up as well.  Let’s talk about that…

Many in the Gospel music family have been sharing and praying for the need of a young man named Eli Fortner.  Our guitar playing and singing friend is in a serious medical situation.  After battling through years of issues, Eli received a kidney transplant several years ago from his Dad, Roger, and has enjoyed great health. But, in recent days his body has begun to reject that kidney.  FB posts and by any means possible Eli’s friends have spread the word and called on the God of Heaven to touch our friend and minister healing.  The basic reality is that he needs a miracle.  It’s a good thing the Lord specializes in miracles.

It has been so encouraging to see the earnest plea’s for prayer.  That is what we are supposed to do according to the scripture, right?  In Galatians 6:2 Paul instructs us to “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  Prayer is the most powerful tool we have when it comes to helping others.  Paul told the Philippians in chapter 2 verse 4 to, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”  We can admit that when it is us going through the problem that it is easy to forget everyone else that needs prayer.  The compassionate prayer for others shows a great faith that reassures us with the thought that “what He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.”

My challenge to you is this; How is your prayer list today?  Just this week I compiled my three lists that were floating in my Bible into one big list.  Many of you are on that list.  Preacher friends, music friends, church friends, lost friends, widows, little kids, those I’ve been blessed to lead to the Lord, all make up that prayer list.  When I got through re-copying that list I began to write down some specific needs of our family.  Know what I found?  My list wasn’t near as long as my anxiety would tell me it was and they were all things that my God is able to supply, fix, provide, bless with, and put his blessing on.  How is your prayer list today?  If you have a need you would like us to add to our list contact me and I promise that we will Take it to the Lord in prayer.  Let’s pray…

Lord bless our friends on this day you have given, and please touch Eli Fortner for your glory.

BroAdamB

Good Sunday morning friends.  This sanctified day is holy for the child of God. Our prayer is that the weight of God’s holiness will give you strength and conviction of heart.  Let’s talk about being holy.

This blog message will be the first one that is liable to make some of you MAD.  But, it is my duty according to the calling that the Lord to obey his leading.  I am burdened about being holy.  I am burdened for the people of God to be holy.  I Peter 1:13-16 is our text today which is in the context of Leviticus chapter 11 and 20 where God makes this statement, “be ye holy; for I am holy.”  My simple question is this; is your life Holy before the Lord.  I am not referring to the righteousness that Christ clothes us in.  I am talking about being holy.  Which brings me down to the nitty gritty.

I am getting sick to my stomach with Church folks doing things like getting tattoo’s.  There are only a few reasons why this is happening without any recourse.

#1 The tattoo’d have not read their Bible.  Leviticus 19:28 clearly says “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”  I Corinthians 3:16 still says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

#2 The tattoo’d think they are not under the commands of the Old Testament.  Newsflash, Thou shalt not kill is in the Old Testament.  When Jesus Christ fulfilled the law (Matt 5:17) it was the ceremonial, sacrificial and dietary laws.  The Moral laws of God are still in effect, Old and New Testament.

#3 The tattoo’d know that tattoo’s are wrong and are aware of what the Bible says and they are in open rebellion to the God of heaven and His holy word.

Then, I am further nauseated by this idea that God breaks up one marriage to put another one together with his blessing and/or guidance.  We all know that it happens under the worst of circumstances but divorce is not in God’s plan and Jesus explained His position on it in person in Matthew 19:7-8.  Please, for the love of the Lord, do not disgrace the name of Christ and proclaim that after you have been through two or three that God brought you number 4 when you said He already brought you numbers 1 through 3.  “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”  Aren’t you thankful that Christ will never divorce His bride?

While I’m at it, let me just go ahead and address the appearance of evil.  If our dress, our associations, and actions resemble the world more than the bride of Christ (James 4:4, I John 2:15) we are the enemy of God.  I saw not too long ago a picture of a “Gospel” group that was pictured with their signature sharpies in their mouths like cigars.  Are we serious?  Why not see how holy we can live instead of how close we can be like, look like, sound like the world.  Be ye holy, for I am holy. 

I love you and I know this seems pretty rough, but I must fulfill the instruction of my calling (2 Tim 3:16), “…for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”  You may never invite me to preach at your church or revival meeting but under the leadership of the Holy Ghost I will preach the whole counsel of the Word of God no matter what and no matter where.

GOD HELP US TO BE HOLY!

BroAdamB

Our earnest hope and prayer for you today is that the Lord has given you the grace and power to overcome this week.  Pressures, payrolls, pains, powers & principalities, and personal issues can sometimes sweep over us but we have a biblical undergirding that tells us we can overcome.  Let’s talk about that.

I have heard the tag line many times; Overcome or Overcomer.  I vacillate between those two positions.  For example, when we were kids we would go swimming in Weiss Lake every day of the summer.  The aquatic form of king of the hill was to try to climb up on a tractor tire inner tube and stand up without falling.  It was toil, success, and failure.  You either overcame and stood tall as Grand Champ of the Goodyear or splashed down in defeat.  Sometimes our balance, or lack thereof, determined our position.  Other times it was our conniving cousins who caused our tumble into the overcoming water.  Then to add insult to injury in our weak moment they would shove our head under the water.  That was the ultimate in being overcome. Overcome – under water.  Overcomer – standing tall on the inner tube.

John 16:33 is the key verse for the child of God when it comes to Christ’s overcoming power. Jesus is imparting truths to His disciples concerning the Holy Spirit, resurrection, joy, the Father, peace and tribulation.  THEN the Lord puts it all under one overriding heading, “I have overcome the world.”

But, what about those times we find ourselves under the water.  Romans 12:21 gives us an admonition.  “Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”  So it is sin that is our conniving counterpart trying to affect our footing.  The enemy and our own sinful nature not only knock us down but try to get over us as we try our best to climb.  Being overcome is described accurately in II Peter 2:19 as being put in bondage. But we do not have to be overcome.  I think of that Collingsworth Family song, You’re About To Climb.  As we toil in the waves Jesus is walking on the water cheering us on!  “You can make it.  Climb! I have overcome Satan, I have overcome Sin, I have overcome the grave, I have overcome the world so you can too! Climb!”  I have some things that I need to overcome and I need the help of the Lord to help me out of the water to stand tall as an overcomer.  I think you probably do, too. He has overcome so we can, too.

LORD HELP US TO OVERCOME ALL THAT WOULD TRY TO PULL US DOWN!

BroAdamB

Good Sunday morning friends.  When I get to this sacred time I feel like all the headaches and frustrations of the past 6 days are somewhat relieved.  Some things do not go away just because it is Sunday, especially personal conflicts but somehow assembling with our church family helps to make things more bearable.  Maybe it is because we are reminded of the forgiveness that Jesus Christ has graced us with.  Let’s talk about that… forgiveness.

Dr. Luke relates to us in chapter 17 verses 1 through 4 Jesus’ words on the scope that our forgiveness should encompass.  There is a companion account in Matthew’s gospel chapter 18.  Jesus gets very real right from the start.  To ‘get sideways’ with other humans on planet earth at some point in our life span is unavoidable.  It happens with elementary school kids on the playground, with brothers and sisters, parents and kids, church members, preachers, politicians, singers, Black Friday shoppers, athletes, SEC football fans (i.e. Iron Bowl).  It happens.  Sadly, sometimes it extends itself for months, years, lifetimes.  But, it does not have to be that way.

I think the words we need to heed most are found in verse 3, “Take heed to yourselves“.  The absolute easiest thing to do is point a finger at the other person firmly shifting the blame away from our squeaky clean self.  My good friend of 22 years, Joel Key, has a saying (actually he has many).  He says, “There are 3 versions of every story; Your version, My version, and the Truth”.

Our text commands that if someone comes repenting to forgive them.  I am not going outside the bounds of scripture in saying that if the other person never comes asking, forgive them anyway.  Oh, but brother Adam, you just don’t know what they said, what they did!  Correct.  But, remember, Jesus Christ forgave every single offensive sin, every sinful word, every sinful thought, you and I would ever commit on Calvary’s cross before we ever saw the light of day.  He did that for the sins of the whole world whether they would love Him or not (I John 2:2).  Every day I come to him to repent of the sins that offend his holiness, He faithfully and justly forgives  every single time (I John 1:9).  It is good to pay off a debt but it is greater to have a debt forgiven that seemed impossible to repay.  Forgiveness frees not only the offender but the offended.  Besides, it is a command.  Just forgive.

Lord, we ask that you help us to forgive as you have forgiven us.

BroAdamBorden

broadamb@gmail.com

Good Sunday morning friends.  It is SUNDAY!!  Don’t waste it.  In fact, let’s talk about that.

The Apostle Paul had a litany of learning experiences in the years of his Christian walk.  His summation of life is laid out in II Timothy 4:7-18.  He said in verse 7 he had fought a good Fight.  In verse 10 he knew what it was like to be Forsaken by friends in the ministry.  Verse 14 he named a Foe who had done him much evil.  But, in verse 16 he expressed Forgiveness to any who had left him in his time of need.  Paul fully knew who his ultimate Foe was, Satan, the lion that is seeking whom he may devour, and that the Lord was his deliverer in verse 17-18.  As he often did, Paul closed his letter to Timothy by listing his precious Friends.  Paul did not waste any of it.

Your admonishment this morning, is this;  Do Not Waste Anything.

Don’t waste the Trials.  Give God Praise in them, for them, and after them.  Paul began all but three of his letters with praise.  Don’t waste the opportunity of Prayer.  Colossians 1:3 “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Praying always for you.”  Don’t waste the Practical life application of your trial.  Do something for someone, listen, visit, cook a meal, do someone’s laundry, clean their garden, encourage.  I think of Jeff Easter, who has never wasted one bus breakdown.  He has taken every opportunity to get greasy under a bus to help everyone else with their own to get them down the road.  Ms. Angel has  been able to help so many walk through breast cancer because of her trial just like Sheri Easter and Kathy Jeter helped her from the start.

Don’t waste the Time.  If you are young, don’t waste it.  This is as young as you are ever going to be (I Tim 4:12).  Middle agers, your babies will only be small once.  “I wish I had worked more overtime” said NO ONE on their headstone.  Elders, you still have time to impart wisdom and love like no one else can.  Nobody loves like grandparents.

Don’t waste the Teaching.  I know people who have been to Sunday school for decades but they cannot give you one scripture reference for the cardinal doctrines of the faith.  Sunday sermon after sermon goes by when the man of God studies and seeks the Spirit of God for the needs of the flock but it is gone from consciousness once we get to our lunch destination.  I remember hearing Maze Jackson preach out of Genesis, “Somebody Touched Heaven For Me” in 1988.  We subscribe to every podcast, devotional blog, facebook blah blah dribble, and yet I believe I can say that much of it is wasted in preference to opinion, social acceptance or selfish activity.  Don’t waste it.  We learn sound scriptural teachings to benefit someone else.  Don’t waste it by keeping it to yourself.

LONG LIVE OLD TIME RELIGION

BroAdamBorden

Let us look at the parables of Jesus in Matthew chapter 13.  Scofield labels verses 24 through 30 as the “Second mystery, the tares among the wheat.”  In verse 36 Jesus’ disciples ask Him to explain the meaning of that particular parable.  Anyone who has ever heard Dr. Bailey Smith preach more than once has most likely heard his message on this passage. Let me expound from a personal, agrarian point of view.  In my boyhood days, daddy and I would plant fields of corn or grain sorghum to feed my FFA show stock and quarter horses in the winter.  There would be no wicked sower to come and sow wild seed in our dressed corn patch but still the bane of grain growers, Johnson grass, would grow up right along with our precious feed corn.  That wicked sprout looked so much like those grain sprouts that the untrained eye could not easily spot the difference.  In the corn patch it was easier to pull or hoe out the weed because of the width of the rows as long as you got it early.  But, in a wheat field it is almost impossible without pulling up the wheat along with it.  Johnson grass is a fake, a fraud, a poser. It looks the part early on but it bears no fruit and entangles its roots with the good grain until it causes unavoidable damage.

I wonder how many in our churches today are tares.  They can dress it up, sing up a storm and play the part a church member but the reality is they are one of the Johnson Grass gang.  Fake, fraud, living a lie and perhaps, sown by the enemy to bring destruction to the true and faithful through the entanglement of improper relationships or sinful strongholds.  Some may just be lost, unsaved church members.  I recall a night many years ago with Gold City in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  The afore mentioned Dr. Bailey Smith brought his famous wheat and tares message.  At the end he asked each person to turn to the person on their left and right and give a truthful statement of whether they knew for sure if they were saved.  I turned to my right and looked one of my best friends in the eye and declared with assurance that I was saved.  With a sobered expression Channing Eleton looked back at me and said, “I am not sure.  I am really not sure I am saved.”  I told him there was one way to know for sure.  I bowed beside him in the altar and Channing asked the Lord to save his soul.  No one looked the part, acted the part, or prepared more professionally than Channing but he came to a point that could not go no further without a confrontation with the truth.  We have heard stories like this that have happened to pastors, deacons, evangelists, aged church members, preachers kids and preachers wives who have played the part just pretending.  Just ask my wife, a preachers daughter and a preachers wife who was saved just back on November 11, 2012.

Time to examine the field.  Wheat or Tare.  Harvest time is coming.

BroAdamB