The Oracles of God (I preached this at the Annual Southwest Association Meeting)

SUBJECT: The Oracles of God

TEXT: Romans 3:1-2

INTRO:

A. Paul has just written that the Jews are no different than the Gentiles when it comes to sin.

1. All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.

2. All who are saved are saved by grace through faith.

B. So, what is the advantage of being a Jew?

1. Unto them were committed the oracles of God.
2. In other words, God committed His word to them.

I. Just as the Oracles of God were committed to the Jews, so have they been committed unto us.

A. God has committed His word to us.

1. The Gospel we preach is straight from the scriptures. (I Corinthians 15:3-4)

2. The scriptures that we have were given by the inspiration of God (II Timothy 3:16-17)

a. Profitable for doctrine - a system of teaching.

1. Doctrine is important.

2. Doctrine is most powerful when taken from the scriptures.

3. Preach the scriptures to make sure you are giving doctrines the same priority that God has on them.

b. Profitable for reproof.

1. No one likes to be reproved.
2. But when you reprove according to the scriptures, your reproof has authority behind it.

c. Profitable for correction.
d. Profitable for instruction in righteousness.
e. That the man of God may be perfect.

1. Perfect = complete.
2. So that we can be complete Christians.
3. The real deal... like Job. (Job 1:1 says he was perfect and upright, one who feared God and eschewed evil.)

f. Thoroughly furnished unto good works... fully equipped.

3. God has given us His word, and His authority to preach the word. By extension, when we preach His word, we are preaching by His authority. We are not alone in the pulpit.
4. God expects that we will preach His word. (II Timothy 4:2)

a. Preach it!
b. Know it!
c. Disciple people from it!

B. God hasn't just given the word to the preachers, He has given it to His people.

1. The Old Testament wasn't given to the Jewish priests, it was given to the Jewish people, and they were expected to know it and teach it to their children. (Deuteronomy 6:7-8)
2. We need to teach our people the word, and teach them to study it.

a. So they'll know it.
b. So they'll be capable of discussing it.
c. So they'll teach it to their children.

II. The Word Liberates Us

A. Romans 3:10 - There is none righteous, no not one.

1. It liberates us from working for our salvation.

a. We are sinful.

b. God knows we are sinful.

c. We can't earn salvation, and God knows it.

d. So He paid for our sins on the cross that those who repent and believe can be saved.

2. It liberates us from responsibility for others' sin.

a. They are sinful.
b. God knows it.
c. It's not your fault that others sin, regardless of whether people try to blame you for their sin.

B. Romans 3:24 - Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1. We are sinful.
2. Despite our sinfulness, God saved us.
3. Despite their sinfulness, God can save them. Don't let the sinfulness of others deter you from sharing the Gospel.

C. The word liberates us from the responsibility of the results of our evangelism.

1. In sales, failure to close a deal is failure, period.

a. It doesn't matter if the customer absolutely does not want to buy... if you fail to sell, you are a failure.
b. Aren't you glad God doesn't hold us to that standard?

2. Romans 8:29 - For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

a. We don't have to figure lost people out.
b. God has them figured out (foreknow).
c. He has already been working His plan in their life (predestinate).
d. All He requires of us in obedience in sharing the Gospel with them.

III. The Word Grows our Faith.

Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

A. The more we know His word, the more we know God.

B. The more we know God, the more we trust Him.

C. The more we trust Him, the more faith we have.

APPLICATION: Build your ministry around the word.

Associations Are Great Support Vehicles for Churches

Over the course of the 20th Century, the American Baptist Association was founded, grew, and and gained strength and momentum as the churches of the Lord came together to fellowship in the Truth and the work of the Lord. The ABA went from being non-existant, to having several hundred churches, and even grew to include a couple of junior colleges, which eventually led to the founding of seminaries in various states. The mission program flourished, and though not as well funded as today's may be, saw many men heading to fields both stateside and foreign to reach people with the Gospel.

The association eventually grew to support Sunday School literature, a publishing house, a bookstore and several state newspapers to keep the brethren abreast of developments in the associated work, as well as strange doctrines and practices that might be creeping into the Lord's churches. Most of these newspapers also included great Bible teaching from the great leaders of the Missionary Baptist movement (B.M Bogard, A.J. Kirkland, I.K. Cross, etc).

The association never was intended to lord over the churches, rather it was subject to them and the votes of their messengers. Associational bodies were to be held accountable for the way funds were used. The split in 1950 had to do with some officials within some of the associated offices trying to cover up a major shortfall in Sunday school funds, whether monies sent to an associational school should be diverted to support a fledgling publication, and whether messengers should be ostracized for raising the questions of the afore mentioned practices and instances. When this came to a head, the association split, and the churches who still believed the association was subject to the churches continued with the American Baptist Association.

The years following the split saw great growth in mission work with many new churches being planted. In Texas, the Missionary Baptist Association was formed and began to implement mission practices and policies that would eventually see a flourishing state missions program. The churches grew in strength and number.

Today, many of those churches are looking back on the good 'ole days. Seminaries are running with near-empty classrooms and bank accounts and the associational spirit seems to be in decline. Some have taken the attitude that they can do things better on their own without involvement in associated work. Less than half of associational churches actually support the association's mission program.

Some have advocated that the association sell the bookstore. Some criticize the Christian education literature (Sunday School) put out by the Sunday School committee.

Others refuse to participate in the association because the association has churches in it that do not do things "the way I do." Others claim the associational mentality has departed from the scriptures. A host church employs an orchestra or a guitar player to perform a special, and suddenly the whole association is judged. Members of a certain church applaud a sermon, speech or special, and suddenly the association is accused of leaning charismatic. Others refuse to fellowship due to the wide array of views held in the association.

Labeling the American Baptist Association as departing from the truth is slanderous to the many churches of the association who are holding true to the scriptures and carrying out the work of the Lord. Accusations that association-supported missionaries are not doing the work of the Lord and are just living off the easy associational money is libelous to the many men who have dedicated their lives to the Lord's work.

The beauty of the American Baptist Association is that participation is on a voluntary basis. I like that. I am not saying that it is sinful to not participate. What I am saying is that participation in the association is beneficial for all involved.

More churches supporting the missions program means more funding for missions which means more missionaries can be fully funded on the field. More churches supporting the publishing house through the purchase of literature means more funding for the literature which means a higher quality of literature can be produced.

More churches attending associational meetings (ABA National, state, ABA Mission Pre-Associational, Baptist Sunday School Committee, etc) means the association becomes more accountable to the churches. It is through these meetings that the associational mission and educational efforts are steered.

More churches using associational literature can improve Christian education and discipleship in the churches using the literature. Sure, you can have good Sunday School without it. Literature, however, is a great aid to teachers who have not had the benefit of seminary education. It's a great tool that helps get more church members involved and helps the pastor be able to accomplish more by employing more teachers.

More associational support for seminaries will help produce better educated pastors and teachers. Don't tell me that these seminaries are educating men away from God's truth. That is a slanderous false accusation aimed at good men who have committed their lives to God's word. The support for seminaries goes beyond financial support. It means believing in what they are doing and encouraging young or new preachers who are entering the ministry to seek seminary education. It means supporting those students in seminary so that their families do not fall apart on account of poverty while they are being trained for ministry.

The American Baptist Association is an association of great churches who have an incalculable potential for the Kingdom of God. When I look out on the association, I see more than 300 churches in the Texas state work and 1,200 churches in the national work who are led by good men of God, who are sacrificing more than we'll ever know for the ministry of the Gospel. These men are discipling people who will in turn do things for God and others that we will never see. These churches are highly capable of associating and kicking the work of the Lord into high gear. I love the churches of the ABA, and the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas and feel blessed to be a part of this group. There is no better association of true churches in the world, in my opinion. (That's not to denegrate other Baptist associations, I just really love my associations.)

Now I understand that there are some looney liberals in our ranks, as well as some jerks. I don't care. I love this association, and would like to see more churches participate in our fellowship. Back when I was a kid, my grandparents had peach trees. We'd go out and harvest the peaches, and come back with about three or four bushels. (It wasn't really what I'd call an orchard.) Still, we'd pick the peaches. Usually, we'd find a worm in a few peaches. Those few worms did not stop us from picking and consuming peaches. Neither will a few liberals, modernists or jerks stop me from enjoying the fellowship of our association.

Currently, we have 1,200 churches in our association (an estimated number). If we come together in truth and begin truly supporting our associated work, ministries and Sunday school programs, I believe we can see our churches once again on the march, increasing both in number and strength. We'll see men surrender to the ministry and lead the Lord's churches. The number of pastorless churches will decline, and new mission works will open up as more men surrender to these ministries. The good ole days aren't behind us. They are still ahead. God Kingdom is not in decline, it has yet to be established on earth. Good things are ahead, let's move forward!

Pre-Associational meeting

The pre-associational meeting in Hillsboro was rather harmonious with brethren congenially asking questions and missionaries giving reports.

For those who would like to know that happened, here is the rundown.

Bro. Paul Clark, pastor of Walnut St. MBC of Hillsboro, gave a devotional, noting how Paul and Barnabas split, but meybe they were both right. Maybe both men had God's will in mind.

After that, the missionaries gave their reports and requests. Those proceedings went as follows:

Life Touch MBC in Irving is requesting support for Pastor Larry Chalker.
Bro. Chalker gave his report. Bro. Rusty Denny from Mt. Pleasant MBC in Dennison spoke to Bro. Chalker's report, noting that Bro. Chalker, like most pastors, is experiencing a lot of turnover in his congregation. Bro. Chalker agreed, saying that new people will be reached, but other members will leave.

Alto MBC in Alto is requesting support for Missionary Jose Estrada.
Bro. Charles Williams spoke for Bro. Estrada, who then gave his report. Bro. Estrada is working with the Hispanic people in Alto and Price. I don't think anyone asked him any questions.

Corinth MBC in Timpson is requesting support for Missionary Mario Gamez.
Bro. Tom LeBreton spoke, then Bro. Gamez gave his report. Bro. Gamez is in the process of turning over the work in Center to a local pastor, while he continues to work in Tatum at Bethel (where they are about to acquire a building in town) and is about to start a new work with Bro. Ray Williams at Unity MBC in Longview. No questions were asked.

Bethel MBC in Huntsville is requesting support for Missionary Marvin Gardner.
Bro. Donny Howard spoke for Bro. Gardner, who then gave his report. He was questioned by Bro. Michael Roberts as to why Vanderbilt was holding off on organizing until they could support a full-time pastor. Bro. Gardner said that he knew the day was coming when we "wouldn't be here no more" and wanted the church to be able to call a fulltime pastor. When asked why couldn't he organize and then request support like Bro. Chalker or Bro. Ricky Payne. Bro. Gardner said that he didn't want to do that.

Meadowbrook MBC near Wills Point is requesting support for Pastor Rickey Payne.
Bro. Payne reported that he has gotten a part time job, but the church needs support at Wills Point. He noted that offerings are steadily improving, he just needs one more year. Bro. Bobby Sparks asked Bro. Payne why he was up again this year after saying he wouldn't last year, then said that Meadowbrook should begin to pay their own way (It wasn't in those words, but that was the jist of the comment).

New Requests
Rocky Springs MBC in Dialville is requesting support for Missionary Leland Acker.
Bro. Swilling spoke for me, I gave my report, no one said anything.

First MBC in Mabank is requesting support for Pastor Robert Boone.
First MBC went through a split a while back (maybe a year or two? I don't know.) and Bro. Robert Boone was called to be their pastor afterward. He requested support so he could spend more time on the field. He was questioned by a brother whose name I do not know, and was told that the membership of churches should step out on faith and pay their own way.

Tyler Road MBC is requesting support for Missionary Ricky O’Neal – Berean Ministries
Bro. Ricky O'Neal gave his report, which was spoken to by Bro. Reed (not Bro. Marion Reed, but another Bro. Reed from Arkansas). Some of the brethren were complimentary of his work, but questions were raised as to whether this would fall under "state missions" seeing how his ministry extended beyond the borders of Texas.

Rocky Springs MBC in Dialville is requesting support for Jim Slocumb – TMD
Bro. Swilling spoke for Bro. Slocumb, who then gave his report. A few brethren spoke on his behalf, no one asked any questions and no issues were raised.

After the meeting with missionaries, Bro. Marlin Freeman from Heritage MBC in Center spoke, saying that there were two ministries and two TBI students requesting funds. He went out of his way to say that he was not disparaging them, but would rather see a new mission policy enacted that would allow for the current strategies in state mission work. Bro. Marion Reed said he will present a new mission policy to the messengers at the meeting in Henderson, which will be referred to the churches to be reviewed for one year. It will likely be voted in in Dennison in 2009. We thanked Walnut St. MBC and Bro. Clark for hosting us, and went to eat at the Black Eyed Pea.

Missing this meeting

Well, the Annual Messenger Meeting of the Southwest Association of Missionary Baptist Churches takes place this week, and I'm not getting to go because it happens on a weekday, and I have to work.

Almost everything in our association happens on a weekday. The Missions Conference in February happens on a Tuesday, as do the pre-associational meetings for the ABA and MBA of Texas. The ABA meeting takes a week (I understand that) and the MBA of Texas meeting falls on a Tuesday and Wednesday.

I once asked, "Why don't we do more things on Saturdays to allow bi-vocational ministers to attend?" The answer I received was "Saturday events are hard on preachers."

Okay. I see that. I'm not above taking vacation time. I'll be at the MBA of Texas pre-associational meeting on Oct. 7, and will be at the state meeting in November. I look forward to fellowshipping with you all.