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Reading
[Archie Norman]
01/27/2010
By Norman, Archie
“Have you read…?” Usually these words are asked by a friend who has read the latest inspirational book and becomes passionate about recommending it to all his friends. In some way the book has touched his life and inspired him so that he thinks it will help everyone else. If the book also has a famous personality promoting its cause it can lead to the best sellers list and maybe even cult status. It’s a “must read.”
The Christian life can definitely benefit by reading many of the current books being promoted in Christian circles, as long as a spirit of discernment is used. Often though as I peruse the Christian bookstore I find myself reading a few pages form a book and wonder if the book is going to benefit me enough to make the purchase. I start thinking of my extensive library and how many books I once purchased that now stare at me off the shelf and are very unimpressive in the present day, to say the least. Many of them that seemed relevant at the time are now out of date and interest.
This has led me to go back to my library and consider how many books I own are worth rereading and recommending to others now. While the number of such books is limited I was pleasantly surprised to review the ones who have stood the test of time. With that in mind I would like to challenge to go back and read some out of date books rather than the latest fad that people are raving about that may or may not become a classic.
At the top of my list would be biographies of famous Christians that sometimes is a single edition or the ones that compile a collection of famous people. My two favorites are 1) Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians by James G. Lawson and 2) They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edmund. They write about Christians, many you have heard of from other sources, and share particularly how each found eternal salvation in Christ and also rest and fruitfulness in Christ in this life. As I read I learned that people in every generation have common issues which relate to us in the present.
1. People are the same. When God’s grace reaches down to save it is a miracle. God’s Spirit convicts of sin and reveals Christ no matter how undeserving the person is. Often it is the results of someone else praying and the person overwhelmed with the mercy and grace of God.
2. Struggles are the same. Most of these great people had a keen desire for holiness and in most case went to great effort to achieve a holy life which would end in frustration and failure. While they were going through this struggle often they were experiencing success in ministry, but little joy in a relationship with Christ.
3. Answers are the same. No matter when the person was born, whether a man or woman, God sent the same answer. Each experienced coming to the end of self effort and finding faith in the finished work of Christ to sanctify. At that point the person always found the Spirit of the living God began to live in victory through them.
These special servants of Christ from the past seem to stand in sharp contrast to many of the gurus of the church today with the message that if you just keep expecting God to bless everything will work out. Those from the past had a faith that was forged in the heat of affliction and whose faith struggled until it found rest in Jesus Christ. Those faithful saints had no desire to receive the esteem of the world nor did they have an expectation of this world’s goods being a testimony of God’s blessing. Their passion rubbed off on me and I reintroduced myself to their sacred testimonies.
So take a moment and think about reading a book whose influence will outlast its shelf life. Save the high price of the latest popular author and go online and buy a used book that will increase your passion for the Savior. None will measure up to the Bible, but they might stir you to read your Bible more.
Fasting
[Archie Norman]
01/14/2010
By Norman, Archie
God has been leading me to understand the importance of prayer and fasting in the Christian life and our church is presently sharing in a seven day fast. On the second day of my fast one of our men gave me an excellent book, “The Power of Prayer and Fasting,” by Ronnie Floyd who has defined fasting as “the abstinence from food with a spiritual goal in mind.” Here are the notes from my sermon Sunday morning to help you as you seek special times to be with the Lord.
- Principles of fasting
- Fasting is expected but not commanded in the New Testament Mt. 9:15, Acts 13:3, I Corinthians 7:5, II Corinthians 6:5, 11:27
- Fasting is for spiritual edification, not personal recognition (This does not mean “not telling anyone” because we know of people fasting together in the NT) Acts 13:3
- Benefits of fasting
- Readjusting of priorities – elevate fellowship with God over our desire for food
- Refocusing of heart – Most things in our lives do not cause us to love God more which is the great commandment
- Redirection of Spirit over flesh – after eating a big meal my body and mind are sluggish and my spirit is insensitive. The exact opposite happens in fasting
- Motivation to fast
- When you need God’s direction Ezra 8:21
- When you need God’s intervention Esther 4:3
- When you need God’s deliverance II Chronicles 20:3
For those on medication, expectant mothers, or with health problems consider the different types of fasts:
- Absolute fast – water only
- Partial fast – juices
- Daniel fast – vegetables and fruits
May I challenge you to start with a day fast as God leads and then progress to longer times? While fasting stay away from TV and the computer and spend extra time in the Word and prayer and journal what God speaks to your heart and lessons you learn. God bless.
Is it True?
[Archie Norman]
11/04/2009
By Norman, Archie
Sermon Notes from 11/1/09
Is it True?
Colossians 2:9-10
I. The assault against this truth
A. My fearful reminders
*rejection, failure, insecurity
B. My feeble efforts
II. The assurance of this truth
A. In Christ - the only measurement that counts
*of myself
*of others
*of God
B. In Christ - He is...
- our Savior who delivers us - Luke 2:11
- our Head who protects us - Colossians 1:18
- our Bridegroom who loves us - Ephesians 5:25
- our Mediator who defends us - I Timothy 2:5
- our Life who lives through us - Colossians 3:4
- our Lord who favors us - Psalm 24:10
- our King who comes for us - Revelation 19:16
Desire
[Archie Norman]
10/27/2009
By Norman, Archie
Are you tired of your lack of hunger for God and your lack of spiritual victory?
Does the failure of your fellow Christians to overcome sin grieve you at your lack of power in intercession?
Does the indifference of the lost people around you to be moved towards the gospel weigh you down in Spirit?
When the answer to these questions move from the realm of cordial agreement to Holy Spirit conviction we will pray. Not daily prayer time, but intense fervent crying out to God will result and we will not be turned away. It will not be a temporary calling to God for relief, but a pleading and tarrying for the powerful transformation that only being in the presence of Jesus can bring. We will be sickened by our quest for solutions through human reasoning or the expert opinions of the experts and we will commit ourselves to finding answers in the presence of the Almighty God.
Have you reached that point? I would love to hear from you.
Words
[Archie Norman]
09/03/2009
By Norman, Archie
Over time some words in the English language get high jacked for usage which makes the word unusable in its original intent. A prime example is the word “gay” which used to mean “carefree”, “bright”, or “showy” which is now used almost exclusively to describe the homosexual community. As a result if someone should describe a group of young people as “gay” in the sense they were happy it would be totally misrepresented.
I think the time has come to admit that the term “fundamentalist” falls into this category. Originally the word was meant to describe conservative Christianity and the desire to preserve the theological purity of the Scriptures by establishing key truths which all redeemed people could agree. In the early 1920’s modernistic thought was creeping into churches which resulted in conservative preachers insisting on adherence to essential truths which included the inerrancy of Scriptures, the virgin birth and deity of Christ, the vicarious work and atonement of His death, bodily resurrection and His coming return to earth. As long as there was agreement on these foundational beliefs it allowed for other nonessential views of Scriptures to be debated and for the various denominational differences to be overlooked.
Originally fundamentalists were rejected and denounced by mainstream Christianity and by the world based on their allegiance to Christ and their determination to stand on truth. In recent years the landscape of religious views in general have changed and led to an unfavorable view by the general public concerning fundamentalism based more on terminology than stance. Now there is not just fundamental Christianity but also fundamental Islam, fundamental Judaism, and even fundamental atheists to contend with. The word has been used to describe an extremist view point in any religious connotation rather than an adherence to truth.
In addition there are problems in our own ranks regarding what a fundamentalist is. The splinter groups abound who no longer base their beliefs on the original principles, but have added a litany of other criteria which determine the good standing of others who say they are fundamentalists. No longer can you declare you believe in the inspiration of Scripture you must also choose to believe in one translation of the Bible to be legitimate. You must not only separate from those who do not believe the fundamentals you must also separate from those who do not hold to your standards of dress, music, and other preferences.
Such tomfoolery affected us when we came to accept a small church plant south of Atlanta fifteen years ago. The area had been the hotbed of many large independent Baptist churches in the 1970’s but some had gone out of business or were in decline for a number of reasons. As a whole Southern Baptists were flourishing by adopting many of the independent methods while toning down on some of the issues which were “pet” preaching topics in independent Baptist churches. The sad irony was that the young generation who had grown up in independent Baptist churches began to flock to the Southern Baptist churches and became some of their best leaders and workers.
Fortunately I had a group of men who committed themselves to operating the church on Biblical principles rather than the traditions passed along through a movement. Through an allegiance to the Bible the church grew because the Lord honored the Word and the leadership stayed on course. In the early days we had independent Baptists visit who became vocal opponents to dress or music or some other nonessential and decried we were not true “independents.” Until that point in time I had been trained by and supported the independent Baptist philosophy of ministry, but in exasperation one day I simply led our folks to make a change. We became “dependent” Baptists with a list of seven things that described our church.*
Some suggested we did not want the stigma of being identified with the independents but I assure you that is not the case. We are still maligned because of the offense of the cross and our narrow mindedness concerning Biblical principles. If any thing we are like the soldier during the Civil war who wore a Confederate jacket and Union pants only to be shot at by both sides. We are too liberal for the independents and too fundamental for the progressives. We rectify the situation by being friends with all who love the Lord Jesus and taking our critics with a grain of salt.
It is my belief that the same thing has taken place with the fundamentalist movement and it may take more than a name change to turn things around. Fundamentalism by its own creed has led to a multitude of leaders who have smaller followings than the previous generation and there is a void in leadership. In the 70’s, right or wrong, there were men who made great impact on a younger generation. We have since found out that many were flawed in character and other ways which led to a fragmented fundamentalism. If we are honest most of us now who are identified as fundamentalists are more influenced by evangelical leaders whose writings are Biblical and well thought out. Many visit and glean from their conferences, mostly in secret lest they be labeled with compromise.
For those of us past the halfway point of our ministries this issue is not perplexing because we have learned to live in our own little world with friends who accept us and our positions. Our concern should be with the next generation. Many of our once strong training centers of education have either reached a plateau or are in danger of going out of business. It would assume that those with any growth are much like many independent Baptist churches that are increasing from the decline of others of like faith. More and more students are choosing a different career path and many of those choosing ministry have become followers of evangelical leaders and schools.
There is a part of me that wants to fall back on the sovereignty of God and the future work He is going to do in His church. The other part wants to cry out to God for an answer. It is my conviction that the original intent of the fundamentalists was right and that without such devotion to doctrine we are on a slippery slope where there is no absolute truth. I am sure there would be some who would desire to lead fundamentalism to the glory years of the past, but at the moment I do not see that person on the horizon. In His grace God placed a hand on us once; will He choose to do so again?
*A dependent Baptist church is explained in the following way:
1. Totally dependent on Jesus Christ to direct our congregation as Head of the church.
2. Totally dependent on the Bible to reveal God’s plan for our congregation.
3. Totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to empower the ministry and witness of the church.
4. Totally dependent on God’s power to change lives and produce eternal results.
5. Totally dependent on preaching as God’s method of building a strong work.
6. Totally dependent on the principles of God’s word as truth that is an anchor for the soul.
7. Totally dependent on God to provide our financial needs through God’s people.
Recovering Perfectionist
[Archie Norman]
08/24/2009
By Norman, Archie
My name is Archie and I am a recovering perfectionist. I have been enabled most of my life by the things I have had others impress upon me:
· Do your best.
· God deserves excellence.
· Give 110% (I am pretty good at math but this was outside my range of comprehension.)
· You can do better.
· Do not settle for second best.
For a time my disease (meant to be humorous) almost drove me over the edge of sanity and some may think it was successful. No matter what I saw the Lord do in my life there always seem to be more that could have happened if I had only prayed more or worked harder. For some reason I never found myself comparing myself with those who were less successful, rather always looking at those who were more successful. Trust me when I say that such comparison is both unscriptural as well as very frustrating.
Unfortunately it did not just affect me but included all those I came into contact with. I most regret those years before I was diagnosed when I used my perfectionism to guilt my wife and children and constantly leaving them with the sense they could never be good enough. With thanksgiving I say that once I entered recovery they for the most part overcame my foolishness.
Having been a Pastor for 30 years I cannot know for sure that the people I ministered to were always as fortunate as my family. I shudder at the times I used the Scripture as a tool not to produce conviction but instead as a means to manipulate people into trying harder, giving more or increased productivity. Hopefully the grace of God overcame my ignorance and most of them have found the right way.
It was the amazing life in Christ that set me free, that has allowed me to labor more abundantly than before, yet not me but the grace of God in me. (I Corinthians 15:10) Occasionally I find my flesh attempting to draw me back into the twisted “work harder” mentality as a logical way out of some mess I am in, but I rejoice that the power of the Spirit is greater. I have learned that grace is sweet and more powerful and life changing than any of my addiction to human ability and effort. No way am I going back.
Beach
[Archie Norman]
07/31/2009
By Norman, Archie
Last week Kim and I enjoyed a week at the beach which was profoundly restful and replenished us to come back to the daily grind. One morning as we sat in the beach chairs with the breeze gently blowing, a little blond child who looked to be about four or five caught our attention. She was busily using her little pail, shovel, and water can to tirelessly build a sand castle. She seemed so intent on her work and the importance of doing her very best in spite of the fact that in time the ocean would wipe out her creation. Without much reflection I said to Kim, “Isn’t that cute, she really thinks she is accomplishing something.”
At that point a thought struck me which led to a great deal of reflection. Does God ever look down at what we are doing and think, that is so cute, they really think they are doing something that matters? When we think of the vastness of God’s universe and the might of His power it is a little overwhelming to think that I could do something that matters. How easily the work of our hands can be brought to nothing. The business that prospers and then folds, the ministry that is thriving and suddenly collapses, or the family we are so thankful for that is disrupted by divorce or a prodigal child are just a few examples of how fragile our efforts on earth are.
Then it dawned on me that this train of thought was not about a little girl on the beach or does the efforts of people matter, but is more personal. The cold, dull truth was that I was questioning whether my work mattered! The call, the commitment, the ministry; is it cute to God or is it valuable to God? Honestly for a few moments the answer I was coming up with was not pleasant and had me spiraling downward in my spirit. It seemed like I was headed to a funk when God rescued me.
For a brief period of time I was listening in my mind to a lie, “Your work does not matter.” God rescued me with the truth that had been planted in my heart from His living word. I recalled I Corinthians 15:58 that our labor is not in vain in the Lord and that even a cup of cold water given in the name of the Lord has a reward. (Matthew 10:42) I was reminded that every one of us would give an account of ourselves to the Lord and that those things done for Christ through the Spirit would survive the fire as gold, silver, and precious stones. In a few moments the reality hit, no my work does not matter, but what He does in me and through me counts for eternity. A life of fruitfulness and faithfulness matters to God.
Does it seem strange to you that Satan could take something as innocent as a child playing by the ocean to push lies into my mind? Everyday we are confronted with choices that often lead us into doubts and confusion about God. Only the truth will work to dispel the error, not prayer or counsel or any other means will overcome. So continue to hide the truth in your heart because you will need it. The welfare of our souls are at stake.
Freedom
[Archie Norman]
07/06/2009
By Norman, Archie
Freedom
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
I have to confess that I have meditated often on this verse and still remain puzzled at its simplicity which so often is overlooked by Christians. Obviously this knowledge is more than the ability to recite the truth rather it is the ability to experience truth through the prism of faith. There is a multitude of people who can recite truth because they have studied the Bible for years, but make no headway escaping bondage because the truth is not taken hold of in the inner person.
In recent days I have had my share of rough spots, but they are nothing compared to what some of the people I am Pastor to are facing. Through those experiences I am reminded of the truths that sustain us in times of trouble.
1. Jesus Christ has a reason for where I am.
In former times I have often thought of trials as tools God is using to teach His children lessons. My finite mind concluded that the sooner we learned the lesson the quicker we would come out of the trial. Troubles are times where God does stretch our faith and wonderful Teachers, but it is also God’s way of reminding us that His thoughts are so above ours thoughts and His ways past finding out that all we are to do are to marvel at His work and wisdom.
2. Jesus Christ will work for my good and His glory.
This is the truth whether we come to see from the human perspective how it can be. God is not obligated to explain His work to us and when He does, it is an act of mercy so that we might praise His greatness. During trials Satan and even friends will attempt to scrutinize this truth and bring the child of God into a world of doubt and confusion. Grounded in faith the Believer continues to rely on truth.
3. Jesus Christ is all I need.
God help us to know this as a reality and not just to pay lip service to the truth as a platitude. In the midst of trials God has a plan to bring us to rest in Him where the by product is contentment. Never have I known God to change my circumstances while in the midst of resisting His plan or while scheming how I am going to work my way out of the jam. Often times I have tried to convince God that I am surrendered in the midst of trials, but He fully knows that moment when I am satisfied with Christ and satisfied in Christ. Such is the wonder of the crucified life.
In 1838 the slaves of Jamaica were freed and a small group of them gathered on the beach with a wooden coffin. They placed in it the weapons of slavery; chains, whips, leg irons, shackles. At midnight they lowered the coffin into the ground and sang:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
You and I have been set free through Christ from the tyranny of Satan, sin, and self. We are able to bury the weapons of our slavery through the truth and live in freedom. For the one the Son sets free is free indeed.
Man Sent from God
[Archie Norman]
06/18/2009
By Norman, Archie
John 1:6 “There was a man sent from God whose name was John…"
When the world clamors for a man they seek one who is polished and refined. His words of oratory drip like honey and soothe the ears of the masses. His look is the look of a god and his very presence is met with adoring fans.
God’s man is drastically different. He is dressed in the leather girdle and camel’s hair of John the Baptist. His sermon of “Repent” is a word that role like thunder from a heart that burns because he has been in the presence of God. The world would prefer his head on a platter rather than to accept the denunciation of their sins.
While the world will reject such a man, God will raise him up at His opportune time.
Grace That Negates Obedience
[Archie Norman]
06/05/2009
By Norman, Archie
In case you have not noticed obedience is not talked about much anymore. Free to love, free to be who I am in Christ, and I am enjoying my relationship to Christ now that I am out from under the bonds of legalism is the cry of the people today. Our flight from legalism has landed us in the land of challenging everything we have learned about the Christian life previously. Suddenly every principle we have taught for generations is excused away by the argument that God is more concerned about our relationship than He is about us following rules. Church attendance, tithing, witnessing, searching the Scriptures have been replaced by simply basking in the Father’s love.
Immediately I brace myself for a debate on those other things being man’s regulations and not all that important in the scheme of things. Some will brush me off as one of those Pastor’s promoting organized religion who must maintain loyalty to his church, but let me be clear that rules are not a substitute for relationship. No behavior or obedience is going to gain me favor with God, but my assessment is that when we taste of grace it empowers us to live a life of obedience. Jesus’ admonition that if you love me keep my commandments, or Paul’s reminder to the church at Rome that their obedience was a testimony around the world (16:19) indicates obedience stems from our walk with Christ.
As a father I love my three children unconditionally and they have brought a great deal of joy to my life. Recently my wife and I were going through some old photos and our eyes glistened with tears just by remembering those times with our children. Now that they are young adults we still enjoy our relationship to them and long for the very best of God’s blessings to follow them. With that said, there have been times my children have made poor choices which broke my heart and left me interceding for God’s mercy in their lives. I did not love them one bit less, but I must confess I did enjoy them at that particular time less. When they were younger and I had to administer discipline I am fairly confident they enjoyed me less.
Fully understanding that I am not God, the Scripture indicates that God is my Father and that relationship mirrors life on a human level. While there is not one thing I could do to separate from his love or to destroy our relationship, it is far fetched to believe that there is nothing I could do to disappoint Him or to warrant His loving discipline and correction. In the same manner I can please Him by my faith when I trust Him enough to follow His instructions regarding my life. I have no power of my own to obey, and even if I could the result would be a work of the flesh. When grace enters my life the energy of the indwelling Spirit allows me to fulfill the law of God. A life of obedience is the product of God in me, not my effort to live by rules.
Maiden Voyage
[Archie Norman]
05/05/2009
By Admin, Admin
I assume writing should be like the old adage regarding preaching, “Do not stand up to preach because you have to say something, but stand to preach because you have something to say.” My desire in writing is to share what God has burdened my heart about in the hopes the reader will be challenged to think Biblically rather than to simply fall in step with everything that is being propagated even in Christian circles. We are living in a society that allows every voice to be heard which demands we as Christians have a spirit of discernment or we will be lead astray. Here are a few of my core convictions regarding the times in which we live:
- Our nation is in trouble not because of the condition of politics, but the condition of the church. We have signed our petitions, promoted our candidates, and organized our causes while neglecting prayer, repentance, and a call to holy living. We have made our church life palatable to the unsaved while teaching believers that success is more important than righteousness.
- Christianity in America has scoffed at the fundamentalism of 20-30 years ago because of the abuse of legalism. In our haste to escape we ran to a message of grace which over time has cheapened grace. In simple terms the average Christian believes legalism is anything you tell me to do that I do not want to do and grace is the freedom to do as I please. God’s grace liberates a Christian to live out the Christian life through the influence of the indwelling Spirit.
- The preaching of a gospel without repentance has filled our churches with people who have no concept of the new birth. They have given mental assent to the facts of the gospel without the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to bring them to faith in Christ. They continue to look at salvation as an escape from a future hell with no liberation from the power of sin in this life. Then we are troubled when the latest poll suggests that the moral behavior of those who profess to be Christians is no different than their unsaved counterparts.
- As a majority the church has equated finances and numbers with the blessings of God without considering that even cults are blessed in the same fashion. I say that not out of jealousy because I pastor a small struggling church, rather our local assembly has been blessed in those areas. My point is that we may have our silver and gold now but in many cases we have lost the power of God which sets captives free.
- While all of these things seem very negative there is hope. First God is going to build His church. Real revival is the answer and while we may doubt that possibility because some have concluded we have gone too far, there is another option. A remnant of people will get so dissatisfied with the status quo that we will become desperate enough to turn from wickedness and seek the Lord.
- There are two other alternatives. God may move His base of operations away from America to another location like He has done throughout history. As we witness the decline of the church in America we may see the rise of the church elsewhere such as we already sense in Africa, Korea, or wherever God finds a willing people. There is also the possibility we are just winding down and Jesus is getting ready to come back. I think most of us would choose the latter.
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