Steven Ridings’ Blog

I am finding more and more Baptists are aligning themselves to beliefs that I personally do not consider identifying marks of true Baptists. In fact, I find some modern Baptists identifying with blatant heresy.

Today marks an anniversary in Christendom; the Synod of Dort. I have seen some Facebook status’ by “Baptists” that this is a significant day in “our” history. While I find it to be a significant day in the history of Christendom, I fail to see how it is in the historical line of true Baptists. Unless, you believe that Baptists are Protestants.

This began on Facebook. I wanted a more interactive forum to discuss this.

How do you believe about Creation? Was it six LITERAL days (Sun-Fri, rest on Sat) or was it SIX days separated by some Gap of time?

RULES OF DECORUM:

1. Be polite and deliver with a Christian spirit.

2. Use scripture with EVERY comment/response.

Let’s hash this out……

James 1: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

I often feel like James writing to the persecuted, scattered Jews. Giving profound words of encouragement and praying intently with God’s people. But, James experienced the problems he was writing about. James was a minister in the midst.

We have a couple families beginning to feel the crunch of the economy, and I feel sometimes my words are really not helpful. “We’ll pray for you, and please let us know how we can help meet your needs.” It is easy for me to encourage or preach, but I wonder how well I’d do in the shoes of the tested church members. I wonder if I’d stay faithful to God or remain patient in His plan….

I believe we will see many more trials of job loss, financial ruin, marriage dissolutions, illness and disease as the time of Christ’s return nears. Will I remain faithful? God promises great reward to those who do. I pray the trials of our friends, will prepare me for my own trials to come.

I thought I’d give the sermons from last weekend to give you a little more insight. 

2 Timothy 1:7 was the theme verse. God has given us POWER (WEIGHT), LOVE (WAIT-Service), and SOUND MIND (WAIT-Patience). 

Friday night the subject was the Power of God

Living in the Power of God

Ephesians 6:10-13

INTRO

Acts 17:28

For in him we live, and move, and have our being;

In physics, power is the rate at which work is performed or energy is transmitted. P= W/T 

POWER= GOD’S WORK IN MY LIFE OVER TIME!

1. An Enabling Power v. 10
        a. John 15:5
             i. Apart from me you can do nothing…

2. An Enlightening Power v. 11
     a. Psalm 119:105
           i. Light for each Step; light for the broader view.

3. An Engaging Power v. 12
      a. Joshua 1:6-7
           i. I will go with you

4. An Encouraging Power v. 13
      a. Psalm 119:14-16
            i. Delight in God’s Ways/Word

Saturday night was Servanthood…. (as an illustration, I washed the feet of the Retreat organizers)

A Life of Passion

John 13:1-17

Intro: 2 Kings 3:11; before God used Elisha to perform great works, Elisha was Elijah’s servant. We must submit to servanthood before God will use us for greatness. Servanthood is not a step to greatness, but is the heart of greatness.

         True Servant hood:

1. Is Portrayed by the Master v5, 12-16
2. Is Profitable to Mankind V7-8
3. Provides joy to the Minister V17

Sunday morning the subject was Patience

A Life of Patience

James 1:2-4; Isaiah 40 

Godly Patience:

1. Is Presented in Temptation. V2

     a. When temptations come, we have the choice to resist temptation and reject patience.
2. Is Provided in Trials. V3

     a. As your faith is tried, God’s patience is strengthened.
3. Is Perfected in Trusting. V4

     a. As we trust God, let Him take us through trials, His patience is completed in us.

Obviously, the outlines don’t speak as well as the sermons, but I hope this will give you an idea of the thoughts that were presented.

TRAINING 323

2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power of love and of a sound mind.

I am in the Oakland airport ready for home. I spent a wonderful weekend ministering to a group of young adults at Hartland Christian Campground. This weekend retreat was organized 19 years ago by my dear friends Wayne and Linda Beene while he was Pastoring here in Cali. Since his retirement, the Mauldins have carried on the Beene’s vision of ministering to 17-30 year olds. I attended this retreat a few years and was very blessed to “return an investment” into a ministry that impacted my life so much. It was at this retreat a few years ago that I realized God was calling me into the ministry. 

I was very humbled by the invitation of the FMBC Antioch Young Adults. I pray that God’s Word encouraged and challenged all those who attended.

Consider Christ

Hebrews 12:1-3

Intro: Presidential Candidates are asking us to Consider their Policies, Positions, and Proposals. They are asking us to consider them for the highest office in the land.

In a recent article regarding the decline of Baptisms/Salvations in the Southern Baptist Convention, one writer explains “We must recover a Gospel centrality”. Have we come so far in programs and “ministries” that we’ve failed to preach the Gospel? 

I ask you to Consider Christ.

1.   Consider His Position V2

a.   Timeless

                                              i.     Jn 8:58 Jesus said “Before Abraham was, I Am”.

                                            ii.     Ps 106:48

                                          iii.     Heb 13:8

                                          iv.     Is 44:6.

b.   Truthful (“Faith”)

                                              i.     It must be Declared

                                                     1.    2 Thessalonians 2:14-15

                                            ii.     It must be Defended

                                                    1.   Because Doctrine is being diminished

                                                         a.   http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20080624/d_cover24_pewreligion.art.htm

                                                    2.   Because the Gospel is being downplayed

                                                           a.   Frank Page says of the SBC: “pitiful” growth stats

                                                    3.   Because our Youth are being deceived

                                                    4.   Because the claims of Christ are being despised

2.   Consider His Place V2

       a.   Adored

              i.     Heb 10:12

              ii.     Rev 5:11

              iii.     Heb 1:6 

                    To the:

•  
  •  
    • Artist= All together lovely one
    • Architect= Chief Cornerstone
    • Astronomer= Bright Morning Star
    • Angler= Fisher of Men
    • Baker= Bread of Life
    • Banker= Hidden Treasure
    • Biologist= Life
    • Builder= Sure Foundation
    • Capitalist= Un Searchable Riches
    • Carpenter= Door
    • Christian= Son of the Living God
    • Drifter= Anchor
    • Doctor= Great Physician
    • Editor= Good Tidings of Great Joy
    • Educator= Great Teacher
    • Farmer= Sewer and Lord of the Harvest
    • Friendless= Friend that is closer than a brother
    • Florist= Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley
    • Geologist= Rock of Ages
    • Horticulturist= True Vine
    • Judge= Righteous Judge
    • Juror= Faithful and True Witness
    • Jeweler= Pearl of Great Price
    • Lawyer= Counselor and Advocate
    • Lonely Maiden= her betrothed
    • Mother= lovely Son
    • Mariner= Great Polar Star   
    • Needy= Source of supply
    • Occultist= light of the eyes
    • Outcast= Friend of Sinners
    • Philosopher= Wisdom of God
    • Photographer= Perfect likeness of God
    • Pilgrim= The Way
    • Potter= Vessel of Honor
    • Preacher= Word of God
    • Printer= True Type
    • Sculptor= Vessel of honor
    • Sinner= The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the World
    • Student= Incarnate Truth
    • Theologian= Author and Finisher of our Faith
    • Thirsty= Water of Life
    • Toiler= Giver of Rest
    • Unclean= Fountain of cleansing
    • Widow= Righteous Judge
    • Weary= Rest for your Soul

                 1.   COEXIST bumper sticker

             b.   Approachable

                                              i.     Heb 4:14-16

3.   Consider His Passion V3

• Consider= judge/analyze, meditate
• Endure= Remained under
• Herod, Satan, Pharisees, Thief on the Cross
• Psalms 69:20

Why Did He Endure?

a.   His Reunion With The Father

                                              i.     John 17:20-21

                                            ii.     2 Cor 4:16-18

b.   His Redemption of The Lost

                                              i.     Luke 19:10

                                            ii.     Colossians 1:19

                                          iii.     2 Pt 3:9

1 Peter 2:1-3

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Peter has spent the entire first chapter telling us who we are and what we have in Christ. Now (“wherefore”), he challenges us to grow in our relationship w/ Christ through study and prayer.

Picture Peter pointing BACK to verse 1 as he is writing verse 2 with all of chapter 1 in mind. Because of who we are in Christ, pour yourself into the word of God. As you spend time in the Word, God will reveal sins and failures in our lives which are hindering our growth. NOW:

1 Things we must reject

Malice, Guile, Hypocricies, Envies, and Evil Speaking

As we put off the former behaviors we must put on the Word of God.

2 What we must receive

The Milk of the Word as babes in Christ

The Meat of the Word as a growing Disciple of Christ

God’s Word is our strength and substance as Children of God. Are we malnourished children of God?

GET IN THE WORD!!

By the request of our Church, we honored our Military this past Sunday. I hope we’ll build upon Sunday’s focus for future Patriotic Services. We need so much, to support those who’ve surrendered their lives to serve in the military. They pay a great price for our Liberty. We must never forget why we are free.
This is my outline from Sunday. God spoke through this feeble preacher. I pray we realize that God will send Revival to America, if HIS CHILDREN will seek His face and repent.

America’s Only Hope
2 Chronicles 7:12-22

 
Introduction: The average age of the great civilizations in history has been 200 years. We need to understand that America is living on borrowed time, based on history.
30% of all births in America are illegitimate.
 

• America has 6% of the world’s population yet, 80% of the worlds divorces.
• We lead the industrialized world in murder, rape and violent crimes.
• The life of an animal has become more sacred than the life of an unborn child.
• We have become a culture of Moral regression, sexual revolution, and spiritual rebellion.
• Before America is conquered from without, she will be conquered from within.
• I don’t believe America will die the death of homicide, but suicide.
• America’s biggest problem is not the economy, but sin.
• Iran, Iraq, North Korea, China, and Russia are not our greatest enemies. It is sin.
• America’s greatest threat is not other nations, but the judgment of God on our sin.
• America’s only hope is repentance, regeneration, and revival from heaven.

1.The People that desire Revival V14    
    a. Specific Prescription for a Special People
    b. Revival must begin with the People of God, because that is where the judgment of God will begin
1 Peter 4:17
    c. Revival is not for the sinner, Revival is for the saint
Psalms 85:6 Wilt thou not revive US again: that THY PEOPLE may rejoice in thee?
It is not the LOST that need revival, it is the LAZY, LIFELESS, LUKEWARM Christian that stands in need of Revival! 

2. The Pride that deters Revival V14
“Humble Themselves”
Humble- bend the knee
Proverbs 6 God Hates….
1 Timothy 6:3-4- Rejecting the teachings of God
Pride- Paralyzes, Polarizes, Politicizes.
GOD HATES PRIDE
LUKE 18-PUBLICAN/PHARISEE. VS 14- Publican justified, Pharisee dignified
Adam/Eve, Cain/Abel, Satan/Heaven, Jacob/Esau

AMERICA HAS TOLD GOD “NO THANK YOU, WE DO NOT NEED YOU”

3. The Prayer that draws Revival
Agonizing
Revival comes from Agonizing not from Organizing

Leonard Ravenhill says “the Lord’s Church is dieing on its feet because it’s not living on its knees”
You can pray without revival, but you can’t have revival without prayer
 

We Say:  
We need more money for schools so we legalize gambling
We need to stop teenage pregnancies, so we hand out free contraceptives and abortions
We want to balance the budget so we reaise taxes
We need to reform healthcare so our government takes over 1/7 of our economy in socialized medicine
We need to stop the spread of AIDS so we say practice safe sex

OUR SOLUTIONS ONLY CREATE BIGGER PROBLEMS
Our only hope is God and our only solution is REVIVAL

4. The Purity that demonstrates Revival
Prayer without repentance is a waste of time.
PSALM 66:18
Isaiah 59:1-3

ONE OBSTACLE TO REVIVAL
NOT HUMANISM, SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM IT IS SIN

ONE SOLUTION TO SIN
REPENTENCE

I.     Quit robbing God- Give your tithe
II.   Quit neglecting God- Give your time
III. Quit ignoring- Give your talent
IV. Quit disobeying- Give your treasures

  
We are more concerned with:
Gold than God
Ritches than Righteousness
Health than Holiness
Prosperity than Purity
  
5. The Promise that delivers Revival
·      If God sends revival, we are promised:

 God’s Favor
       Hear from Heaven
  
God’s Forgiveness
       Forgive their sins
  
God’s Fruitfulness
     Heal their land

Woodrow Wilson
“Our civilization cannot survive materially, unless it is redeemed spiritually”
 

Isn’t it amazing how some in the media feel it is up to them to set the course of society? They actually think they are an authority on life issues, social issues, morale, political, RELIGIOUS! 

Did you catch Larry King Live tonight? Bill Maher was his special guest. In my personal opinion, Larry King is the face of the spineless, moral bankrupt media in our Nation. “News” broadcasters have become nothing more than slanted, opinionated entertainers; giving their spin on what they deem is important to us. 

For me, Bill Maher is the one who many Saturday nights (while he had a show on ABC in the late 90′s) caused me to stay up late and study my Bible in frustrated response to his atheistic, disregard for the Almighty. Tonight, after he refuted the Bible as God’s Holy Word, and blatantly stated his disbelief in God, he cried out to God for help in finding a spouse. So, what is it Bill? Is God real or not? Or, is you alleged, arrogant, public disbelief in Him just a convenient way for you to stir the small percentage of extreme liberal freaks in our Country. With this bent, you are pleasing some Media Executives somewhere who are letting you waste airtime on their network each week.

Bill Maher and Larry King are just more evidence of the weakness of Christians in America, and the disdain for God and His Word by the ungodly minority of our Nations wealthy.