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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

We all know that there are times when that core thread of love is the only thing that keeps us out there when our question is, “Why am I doing this?”  Let us look at love.

Paul was writing to a carnal, sensual, flesh led people in the Greek region of Corinth right outside of Athens.  Their identity of love was of self fulfillment.  Their particular brand was ‘Eros’ love.  Paul was giving direction on how charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, should be the guiding force of the ministry of their church and how differently it was displayed and recognized.  Charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, is a love that causes us to love when our flesh normally would not love.  Our flesh loves attention, an audience, possessions… basically, it wants what it wants what it wants, when it wants it and how it wants it and will do whatever it takes to get it.  But, charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, as described in I Corinthians 13 is not interested in acclaim nor high education on display (v1).  Charity is greater than biblical knowledge and even faith (v2).  Charity is not about giving things away or wearing ourselves out for a cause (v3).  Charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, is patient and kind, not envious nor proud (v4), not unseemly but unselfish, thick-skinned and holy-minded (v5).  Charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, does not seek to see what it can get away with but enjoys whatsoever things that please the Lord (v6).  Charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, believes that what the Bible says is truth, hopes in its promises, and will stand for it in spite of ridicule or embarrassment (v7).  The greatest attribute of charity, Holy Ghost prompted love, is that it never, ever, ever, never fails (v8).

Years ago, two men imparted wise words about the love this passage is  speaking of, charity, that have stuck with me.  “Stay away from performance based relationships.  They will never last.”  Gerald Wolfe, June 2000, Ketchikan, Alaska.  “No one cares how much you know till they know how much you care.”  Pastor Rick Proffitt, August 2010, preaching at Middle Tennessee Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

My Daddy, Lloyd, gave me the greatest lessons on charity that I have ever learned as he has lived as a husband, father, deacon, teacher, salesman, and most of all a friend.  My Mama, Debra, has been the object of my daddy’s love for almost 50 years.  I watched her love her elementary students that did not receive love at home, give as the Lord directed her, and dutifully care for her mother as Alzheimer’s stole her away.  She also loved me when she would utter these words, “THIS HURTS ME MORE THAN IT HURTS YOU!”  My daddy had to show that kind of love a lot more often as I recall.  My Chikadee, Angel, my Snuggle Buggle, Abby, and my Sugar Booger, Addy, bring out love in me that I would never know without them in my life.

As we celebrate love this week I pray the Lord will bring to the forefront of our minds the love that He wants us to live, charity, Holy Ghost prompted love.

Long Live Old Time Religion,

BroAdamBorden

Good Sunday morning friends.  Praise the Lord who has given us life, and health, and strength and another day to live for Him.

We had the distinct pleasure of enjoying a singing with Greater Vision this past Friday night at Calvary Baptist in Statham, Georgia.  Matt Dibler, who is music minister there, and I agreed at the end of the evening that we did not realize how much we both needed such a wonderful service. Gerald, Rodney and Chris did their usual outstanding job as they sang through their library of favorite songs.  Rodney sang my very favorite song of his, “He’ll Carry Me” and Chris did my favorite song he has written, “For All He’s Done”. Then Chris sang a great song Rodney wrote years ago, “Like I Wish I’d Lived”.  This particular night they guys sang that song with just Gerald at the piano.  The lyrics took me back to a life changing memory I want to share with you.

In the fall of 1990 I was a freshman at Snead State Community College in Boaz, sweet home Alabama.  I was taking a night class on computer coding.  Picture 3 foot tall computer towers with a 10 inch black screen, green letters on the screen, a real floppy disk and not a cell phone in the room.   Sitting on my right was a young man whom I had graduated High School with named Chad Wilmore.  In fact, we had gone to school together since 7th grade.  After about 3 weeks of that night class Chad began to talk to me very curiously.  He said, “Adam, have you ever heard that Jesus Christ died for your sins?”  Of course.  “Do you know that Jesus loves you and if you believe on him…” Whoa, What?  That is when I interrupted Chad and said, “Chad, I know what you are talking about.  I’m a Christian.  I got saved when I was 6 years old.”  He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and said, “Really?  Hmm.”  He turned back to his computer and I sat there the rest of the class bewildered and convicted.  As I tried to hide the tears that ran down my cheeks I thought about how Chad had watched my life since we were 13 years old and not one thing he saw indicated that I knew Christ or considered myself a Christian.  That night Chad Wilmore changed my life.  I knew that I could not go back and fix all my mistakes but I could begin to live like I wish I had lived through those school years.  I will answer before the Almighty for the works I did not do back then and I do not look forward to it.

I did what Abram did in Genesis 12 when he told Sarai his wife to hide their relationship in order to blend in and save his neck.  I just wanted to fit in and that decision cost me dear, precious time I cannot regain.

My mind went back 26 years and I wept bitter tears as Chris sang his song but they turned to tears of hope and dedication as I prayed the lyrics to the Lord.  My question is this; does anyone in your everyday life recognize that you believe in Jesus Christ.  It is a simple but sobering question.  Lord let us live today like we wish we had in the past.

Thank you Lord for Chad Willmore,

BroAdamB

evangelistadamborden.com

What a wonderful Sunday morning!  I’m at my desk reading the word and listening to The Taylors sing “We Are Not Ashamed of The Gospel.”  Hallelujah!!!  I love the Word of God and I love Southern Gospel music.  Let me take this blog-portunity (I made that up) to testify of how your songs had an impact this weekend.

Friday night and Saturday our church, Wahoo Baptist, hosted our 9th annual Winter Youth Meeting.  Youth groups from at least 5 states that I know of swelled a crowd of around 1,200.  ***HOLD ON:  “I Choose To Stand” from the Mylon Hayes Family just came on the Gospel Greats.  GLORY!!***  Anyway, Friday night by the third congregational song from the Red backed Church Hymnal, #346 “I Know My Name Is There”, a young teenage girl hastened to the altar and prayed to receive Christ as her Savior.  Thank you Gerald for keeping that collection of music going.

Then, our pastor, Mark Stroud, called up any youth who wanted to form a choir to sing.  500+ young people gathered and sang Southern Gospel music.  While the choir sang from memory the Nelons song “Jesus, What A Wonderful Name” a young man came to the altar and was gloriously saved.  THEN, they kicked into Chris Allman’s song “For All He’s Done” and we saw scores of those youth worship with hands upraised with many flooding the altar with their youth group to thank the Lord for all He has done for them.  AND THEN, Ms. Natalie Raynes led out the verses on the Kingsmen song “I’ve Never Seen The Righteous Forsaken” and by that time it was ON!  Keep in mind, all those young people and the musicians (especially the bass player) knew these songs by heart.  There was no rehearsal.  Let all that sink in.  Your music means more than you know to those kids.

On Friday night Pastor Tim Gammons from Winston-Salem, North Carolina preached an incredible message from Genesis, “What we need is a Phineas”.  At the end of that Friday night service another young man came to the altar under conviction to be saved.  I cannot even tell you all that went on in Saturday’s services but suffice it to say there was more good Southern Gospel music from the Victory Trio from Valdosta, GA and the Doug Raynes Family.  Brother John Dorsey’s message, “What Fire Are You Warming From” (Mark 14:53-62) and Dr. Tony Hutson’s preaching on the “The Mark” from Genesis 4 brought at least 10 more to salvation.

My testimony to you is that in these very last days that worldliness is not what we need to reach young people.  We need your music, we need the power of the Word of God, we need Pastors and Youth Pastors who hold the line, not blur the lines.  Keep bringing good Southern Gospel music to the table.  It reaches far beyond your concert stage.

GOD BLESS SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC

BroAdamBorden

evangelistadamborden.com