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Kitchens Creek Baptist Church
7231 Monroe Hwy @ Kitchens Creek Rd
Ball, Louisiana 71405

Email: Pastor Milton W Howard
PO Box 740

Ball, Lo
UiSiAna  71405

Newspaper Articles
The Town Talk

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02/17/19
Text Box:  "God's Salvation"
 

(Luke 2:25-30) "There was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon...waiting for the consolation of Israel...he came by the Spirit into the temple...he took him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said...mine eyes have seen thy salvation" 

Simeon found Christ in the temple, according to the promise of God.  It was the gracious promise of God that brought him to the right place.  They find Christ who are led by the Spirit to Him.  We never come of our own will or understanding.  We must be drawn by the Spirit to Christ. 

Simeon shows us that Christ is God's Salvation.  He is Salvation itself.  The essence of what He is lies in Who He is.  He is God's Salvation.  There is no Salvation when the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ is left out.  Had He not been man, He could not have died.  Had He not been God, His death would have had no value to redeem us.  He is the only Salvation there is.  This is God's Salvation. 

Simeon came to the temple day after day looking for God's Salvation.  There were many who rose up in that day saying they were the Messiah.  But when God the Holy Spirit moves on us, we will never be content with another salvation. 

A man as devout as Simeon could have had Salvation by the Law if there were any there.  If church going could save him, he would be saved.  He almost lived in the Temple.  He saw the sacrifices every morning and evening.  He did not find Salvation until he found it in Christ.  Christ is God's Salvation. 

Here is the Salvation which God has promised from all eternity to bestow on His people.  This is the Salvation of which the prophets spoke.  This is the Salvation to which all those symbols pointed.  This is the Salvation to which the Law pointed.  The Law of God was never given to save us, but to point us to Christ.  The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all that Law for us. 

If you have seen Christ you have seen all His work of redemption.  You know who He is, you know why He came, you know how He came, you know what He did, you know where He is now, and WHAT He is doing for us. 

He is complete Salvation.  "He that believeth in Him hath everlasting life."  We are saved from sin.  He purchased with His blood all that was required for our redemption.  Because He lives we live.  "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." 

Do not look for any part of this Salvation to finish yourself, for this is God's Salvation.  This is Good News.  This is the Gospel. 

So, take God's Salvation into your arms as your own, embrace Him, and you will have all the life you need.  No wonder Simeon could say, "Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace…For mine eyes have seen thy salvation." 

May you find all your Salvation in Christ.  To Him be glory forever and ever. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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01/13/19
Text Box:  "Who Is This?" 

(Matthew 21:10)  "And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?" 

My constant prayer is that something will move this great area in which we live! 

The greatest danger we face is indifference to the power of the Gospel.  We need our heart our home, our church, and this area moved to worship God.  And there is only one thing that will do this – a reigning Saviour riding in triumph.  Jerusalem was never moved until the Lord Jesus Christ rode into is as King. 

There is a lot of Jesus preaching today, but not the Lord Jesus Christ of the Scriptures.  There is a lot of salvation preaching, but not the salvation of the Scriptures.  There is a lot of God preaching, but not the God of the Scriptures. 

On most religion today, you can write Ichabod, for "the glory of the Lord is departed."  There is no glory in a place unless Christ alone is preached as the sinner's only hope. 

All down through the ages, that which disturbed this world was when people put their lives on the line for this Gospel – when people stood up and preached in the middle of the night to the few who had the courage to come together to see Christ lifted up in the preaching of the Gospel. 

What will stir this place is to cry, "Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."  When Christ is exalted in the pulpit, and in the hearts of the congregation, people will come to hear, and the Gospel will get hold of them. 

A reigning Christ will move this town.  A reigning Christ will become important to our children, friends, and neighbors.  A reigning Christ will be worth living and dying for.  This is when they will ask the question, "Who is this?"

Do we know who Christ is?  Is what we believe according to the Scriptures?  Will we stake our life on it?  Will we stake the eternal welfare of our soul on it?  Will we stake the eternal welfare of our children on what we believe?  Is it according to the Scriptures? 

The best and only good thing we can do for our fellow-man is present Christ to him.  But, to do this, we will have to know Who this is

If I have one more sermon to preach before I die, I want it to be about my Lord Jesus Christ. 

I love to tell sinners that "God was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  I love to declare that Christ came to this earth as a Substitute for His people.  I love to declare that His holy life is accounted our righteousness – that His sufferings and death constitute a complete atonement, satisfying the wrath of God for all our sins.  I love to declare substitution, for this is the heart of the Gospel – the sinner in Christ's place, and Christ in the sinner's place – our debts to God paid by Christ – "the chastisement of our peace laid upon Him" that we might "be justified by faith." 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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12/30/18
Text Box:  "Why Christ Came" 

(1 Timothy 1:15)  "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 

There are a lot of things in this world that are very doubtful.  Sadly, we must realize that a lot of what people are telling sinners is suspicious and questionable. 

It will be in our best interest to search the Scriptures and try and prove what we are being told.  There are no contradictions in the Scriptures.  The eternal welfare of our soul depends on what is written in God's Word. 

The faithful saying of God's Word is, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" – and it never changes.  The God with Whom we have to do never changes.  Salvation never changes.  Christ Jesus never changes.  Man never changes.  The way of salvation never changes.  The way we meet God's requirements never changes. 

This "saying" is the same in any culture, any society, and any walk of life.  I can say to all men every where, without any fear of saying something wrong, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 

I have learned some things in my life that I want to share with you this morning 

The first thing I want to tell you is that I am a great sinner.  I am not proud of this, but it is true.  I pay my debts.  I am a preacher of the Gospel of Christ.  But, nevertheless, sin is mixed in everything I do.  In my life, I have never had a thought, never spoken a word, and never done one thing that was not stained with sin.  I have been saved by the grace of God.  I have been redeemed through the shed blood of Christ, yet sin is always present with me.  The foolish imaginations of my mind increase with the years.  I open this Bible to read the blessed Word of God and sin grabs me.  I bow to pray, and my mind wanders up and down every road of iniquity.  I join together with the saints of God to worship the Lord, and my heart is filled with unholy imaginations.  With Paul, my soul cries, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" 

But I have learned something else, and that is that God is love.  That gives me a hope.  By nature I am guilty, without hope, lost, and condemned, and sentenced to death for sin.  Divine justice demands the death of every sinner.  But, "God is love."  There is hope for sinners like me.  Because of His great love for sinners, God sent His Son into this world to die on that Cross so that the sinners that He loves with an eternal love, can be eternally saved by Him. 

Then I learned that the Lord Jesus Christ is the all sufficient Substitute and Saviour of sinners.  The Lord Jesus Christ has never saved a good person.  Christ did not die for just and holy people.  Christ does not show mercy to those who according to their own thoughts have no need of His mercy.  "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."  God shows mercy to me in Christ.  God saves me in Christ.  God pardons me in Christ.  God accepts me in Christ. 

If you come to Christ as a sinner, a poor bankrupt sinner, He will save you also.  As a guilty sinner, simply trust in Him – the all-sufficient Saviour – and you have eternal life. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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12-16-18
"Jesus - Saviour"

Text Box:  (Matthew 1:21)  "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." 

It was the angel of the Lord that spoke this Name to Joseph.  The angels bow at the mention of this Name.  They regard this Name with reverent love.  Here is a Name that has with it a peace that passes all understanding.  The angel said, "fear not," for no name can remove fear like that Name.  Here is the end of despair and the beginning of hope.  Let a sinner hear of "the Saviour" and he sees a reconciled God and fears no longer. 

The Name Is Of The Lord.  It was the Lord God of Heaven that chose the Saviour, that appointed Him, and the sent Him to save.  The Christ of God has other names – but this Name sums up His Person and Work. 

This is the best Name He could have.  To the best born of woman, God gave the best Name a person could have.  The Father knew all about Him, and gave Him the best Name for His work.  Our Lord is most of all a Saviour, and it is His glory to be a Saviour.  It was the Father that "made Him both Lord and Christ."  It was the Father that "set Him forth to be our propitiation." 

This Name identifies Him with us, and this is what we most need.  This Name, chosen by infinite wisdom, must be true, for it is verified by facts.  In giving Him this Name God authorized Him to do a work; and because He did that work, God accepted it. 

We are given the reason for this Name – "He shall save His people from their sins."  The Name means Saviour.  The angel said, "He shall save."  "Save" means deliverance and preservation.  By using this great word, the eternal God guarantees the success of the Saviour, for God Himself declares that He "shall save His people from their sins." 

We know He can fulfill His mission because of who He is.  The next verse tells us "They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."  He alone can be Jesus our Saviour because He is "Emmanuel, God with us."  Being God He is able to save, being man He is willing to save.  Man cannot satisfy Divine justice, and God cannot suffer for sin.  But the God-Man suffered the penalty of sin, and satisfied the divine justice of God. 

The Name, which is given by God, is accepted by those who know it.  Those who are taught of God recognize that Christ is salvation.  When Simeon saw Him that day in the temple, he declared, "Now let Thy servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen Thy Salvation." 

He "saves His people".  He saves all that come to Him.  He saves all that the Father gave Him – all that belong to Him. 

Who are they?  They are sinners.  For, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."  These are those who need to be saved.  The self-righteous are not His people.  If you are not a sinner you are not His people.  He came to save sinners, not to give Himself as a reward for our righteousness.  He comes not to reward virtues, but to forgive sins. 

Go up to Heaven and ask every one there how they got there, and without exception they will say, "They overcame by the blood of the Lamb."  They will tell you "They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb", for "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 

Milton W Howard Is Pastor Of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church In Ball

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12-09-18
Text Box:  "They Testify Of Me"

(John 5:39)  "They are they which testily of Me.

 The Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of Hole Scripture.  There is only one theme in this Bible.  It is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the constant theme in every one of its sacred pages.  Every page speaks of a Substitute.  Every page speaks of a Saviour.  Every page speaks of a Redeemer.  Every page speaks of the Christ of God.  From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the whole Bible speaks of Him.

 At Creation we see Him as one of the sacred Trinity.  We catch a glimpse of Him in the Promise of the woman's seed.  We see Him Typified in the Ark of Noah.  We walk with Abraham as he sees the Messiah's Day.  We dwell in the Tents of Isaac and Jacob, feeding upon and trusting in the gracious promises.  We hear Israel talking about Shiloh.  And in all the types of the Law – the ceremonies, rituals, and sacrifices – we find our Redeemer pictured, promised, and prophesied.

 Whether we found them to be Prophets or Kings, whether Priests or Preachers, they all looked the same way.  They all looked one way.  They all stood as the Cherubims did over that Ark of the Covenant, desiring to look inside, and to read and know the great mystery of God's great Propitiation, which is in Christ Jesus.

 But in spite of all this, still in the New Testament we find in greater clarity our Lord Jesus Christ, the one pervading Subject.  He is not like a gold nugget the gold miner might find occasionally, just scattered around in some places, but He is the Mother Lode.  He is the Solid Gold Foundation upon which the whole thing stands or falls.

 The whole Substance of the New Testament is Jesus Christ and Him crucifies.  Even in the last Words of the closing sentence of the Bible we find it graced with the Redeemer's name.

 This is how we ought to read Scripture.  This is the light by which it must be read.  We should consider the Word of God to be as a mirror into which Christ looks down from Heaven; and then when we look into that mirror we see His face reflected.  We do see it darkly no doubt, but one day we will see Him face to face.

 This Bible contains the Love Letters of the Lord Jesus Christ which He wrote to us.  They have the sweet fragrance of His love to us on them.

 The pages of this Bible are the garments of our great King.  They speak of Him.  Tell of His  person, of His holiness, of His love.

 The Scriptures are as the Royal Chariot in which the Lord Jesus Christ rides, and it is paved with love for the Daughters of Jerusalem.

 The Scriptures are as the Swaddling Bands of the Holy Child Jesus.  They are all wrapped around Him.  When you unroll them, you find the Saviour.

 The Heart of the Word of God is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the key that will unlock this Treasure Chest to us.  If you miss Him you miss it all, for "They are they which testily of Me.

 Milton W Howard Is Pastor Of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church In Ball

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11-04-18

Text Box:  "Having This Hope" 

(1 John 3:3)  "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 

There is not much possibility of unhappiness, when we know that "now are we the sons of God."  A knowledge of this relationship brings joy to our soul.  Moses sang, "Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord!" 

Those who are the sons of God are a blessed people.  But the believer's joy is not so much in what he has, as in what he shall have.  "We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."  To the unbeliever, all that is to come is in darkness, but to the believer, only the present is darkness.  All the future is light.  There is a glory which is yet to be revealed.  So, when you are down, refresh your soul with the thoughts of the future.  We do get comfort when we see how God has dealt with us – how He brought us out of that pit, and set or feet on that Rock.  But most of our comfort comes from seeing what shall be revealed.  John speaks of that man that hath this hope in him. 

This is hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is that hope of the one in Christ.  This hope is being like Christ.  The thoughts of many concerning glory are very strange.  They speak of sitting around in an eternal party.  Seldom is Christ mentioned.  The Heaven the believer looks for is the Heaven of being like his Lord – to be free of sin.  He desires perfect holiness. 

This hope is based on divine love.  Look how this chapter begins, "Behold, what manner of love the, Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."  It is because of the love of God that we have been "called the sons of God".  We have been adopted into the family of God, so we will be like our Elder Brother.  We will have what He has, and be what He is. 

This hope is to be like Christ.  The world does not know Him.  If He came now it would still not know Him.  He is hidden from the world.  He will be manifested to angels and men; and when He is manifested, we will be manifested too.  Knowing that we are united to Christ, when we see Him as He is, we will be like Him. 

This hope lies completely in Him.  If hope lies in us it is a delusion.  If our hope lies in this church it is a lie.  If our hope stands with one foot on the work of Christ and the other foot on our own merits, it will fail us.  Hope in Christ is the only hope which can be acceptable to God.  Our only hope of Heaven will be through Him alone.  Here our hope begins, and here our hope ends. 

This hope does not puff up, but purifies.  It will not let you pat yourself on the back.  It stops all boasting.  When the Lord makes a person His child, when He shows a person His great love to him, He humbles him.  An expectation of Heaven and absolute perfection never exalts a person.  If your religion gives you something to brag about, it is not of God. 

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 

Milton W Howard Is Pastor Of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church In Ball

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10-14-18

Text Box:  "Salvation by Grace" 

(Ephesians 2:8-10)  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." 

In this passage of Scripture, the Apostle Paul tells us HOW God saves sinners, WHY God saves sinners the way He does, and WHAT is the sure result of God's saving grace. 

HOW does God save sinners?  Paul says, "By grace are ye saved through faith."  Salvation, from start to finish, is the work of God's free grace in Christ.  Grace planned the way of salvation by the Substitutionary Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace chose those who would be saved in eternal election.  Grace brought the Lord Jesus Christ down from Heaven to die in our place at Calvary.  Grace calls sinners to Christ by its irresistible power.  Grace gives us life.  Grace preserves us in life.  And that same grace of God will present us holy and without blame before the presence of His glory in Heaven. 

All the many blessings of Grace in Salvation come to all of God's chosen "Through faith."  Faith is not our Saviour.  Christ alone is the Saviour of His people.  But faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is necessary unto salvation.  Every one of God's elect people looks to Christ in faith and receives salvation from Him.  Faith is the channel through which salvation comes. 

Paul further declares that this faith is "Not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."  He is telling us that Grace is the gift of God – Salvation is the gift of God – and Faith is the gift of God.  None of these things are or can be attributed to us.  We believe according to the working of God's almighty power within us.  Faith is not the work of the sinner.  It is the work of God in the sinner.  

WHY does God save sinners by grace, and not by works?  It is "That no flesh should glory in His presence."  Salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast."  If there was anything, which we as sinners could do, that would contribute anything toward our salvation, then we could claim a part of the glory of our salvation for ourselves.  But, God will have all the glory.  He will not share His glory with another.  Salvation is by grace alone, without works.  It is not the work of man; neither is it a co-operative work of God and man together.  It is not God doing His part and man doing his part.  Salvation is the work of God alone.  "We are His workmanship."  God has made us "New creatures" in Christ Jesus by the almighty power of His Sovereign Grace.  Let all the proud, foolish thoughts of self-salvation by the works of the flesh be forever put out of your heart and mind. 

WHAT is the sure result of God's saving grace?  "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  Even if we could do some good works, they will not save us.  But we can rest in this, that when the grace of God comes to us, bringing salvation to our heart, good works will follow.  When grace reigns in the heart it produces good works. 

Salvation is accomplished by the grace of God – it is given through faith in Christ – and is not the result of good works by us, but produces them. 

Milton W Howard Is Pastor Of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church In Ball

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09-09-18

Text Box:  "Have Mercy On Me" 

(Mark 10:46-47)  "They came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me." 

Bartimaeus is an example provided by the mercy of God, for all who desire to see Christ in all His glory.  He is a picture of what the sinner is by nature – hopelessly blind, unless the healing Saviour intervenes, and gives sight.  He was a man that was prepared to do everything necessary for the sake of his soul's salvation.  He would not be discouraged. 

He had heard that from the seed of David there had arisen a great Prophet who worked miracles, and preached glad tidings to the poor.  He was convinced that this One who was passing by was the Christ of God.  This blind man could see the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.  He was convinced that Jesus was the promised Messiah. 

He was determined that if Jesus came his way, he would cry out for mercy, because he knew that the Messiah would come to open blind eyes.  So, when he heard that Jesus passed by, he cried out to Him, "Thou son of David, have mercy on me." 

Every example in the Scriptures of Christ healing a person is a picture of how He saves a soul.  I wish you would consider the claims of Christ, and that you would cry out to Him.  You have done a lot of commendable things in the name of religion, but have you cried to Christ for mercy? 

You may not be able to see, but you can cry for mercy.  You may not be able to get up and get into that pool of Bethesda, but you can claim hopelessness and helplessness.  You may not be healed of your issue of blood, but you can touch the hem of His garment.  You can hear this Gospel when it is preached.  You can believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Bartimaeus had no sight, but he had ears and a voice, and he used what he had.  When the Saviour passed by, he cried to Him with all his might.  And the cry of a sinner for mercy never disturbs God's preacher.  When the Spirit of God brings this Gospel home to your heart, nothing will stop you from crying for mercy. 

It was after he continued to cry that Jesus "stood still".  If you think He does not hear you, "cry the more a great deal."  Do not give up in despair.  Do not be afraid to come, for, "He calleth thee."  The only reason we cry for mercy is because He calls us. 

When He calls you, you will come to Him.  You will not go to another.  When the Spirit of God brings Jesus near you, and brings you near to Jesus, then this word is for you, "Be, of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee." 

And Christ said,  "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." 

Milton W Howard Is Pastor Of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church In Ball

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08-12-18

Text Box:  "He Shall Glorify Me"

 (John 16:14)  "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." 

The Lord Jesus Christ is speaking of the Holy Spirit.  In the Acts of the Apostles, their Epistles, and in the Revelation, we have the full revelation of the truth of God by the Holy Spirit taking the things of Christ, and revealing them to us. 

The different offices of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit are usually distinct and clearly defined, but they are joined.  It is the work of the Godhead.  The Lord Jesus Christ bears witness to the Spirit, and the Spirit of God continually bears witness to the Lord Jesus, and glorifies Him. 

When the Spirit convinces the world of sin, it is that the convinced sinner may learn the preciousness of that Saviour of whom the Spirit bears witness.  When He convinces the world of judgment, it is not only that the Judge may be honored as He deserves to be, but also to make clear to the sinner how that judgment may be avoided through the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.  When He convinces the world of righteousness, it is the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ by which alone saved sinners are able to appear before God without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing

The Holy Spirit always works to lead sinners to admire, and adore, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  His omnipotence bows to this end, that the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in the hearts and lives of sinners saved by His grace.  And any teaching, which does not glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, is not the teaching of the Holy Spirit of God. 

This is the greatest, yet simplest test, by which we can judge what is right and what is wrong.  Never be afraid to judge all preaching by this test, and to reject that which does not meet this test perfectly.  We can safely listen to any preaching which lifts up the Lord Jesus Christ, and close our ears to all other. 

The Holy Spirit does not go outside of Christ to find things to use to honor Him.  He uses that of Christ to honor Him.  "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive, of mine."  We can never honor Christ by bringing anything to Him.  If we want to honor Him we must honor Him with that which is His own already.  We can do it no better than by the preaching of His own Person, His own Manhood, His own Godhead, His own life, His own death, His own resurrection, His own ascension, and His own coming again in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. 

He glorifies Christ by taking what is His and presenting it to the hearts of believers.  "He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."  The work of the Holy Spirit of God is to shine upon the beauties of Christ so that we can see them. 

"He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you," no matter who or what you are.  If you are one of His, you will see Him – see Christ as the Spirit shows Him to you – and God is glorified in the believer by their seeing the Lord Jesus Christ as He is revealed to them by the Holy Spirit. 

The desire of the believer is that the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in this world.  To glorify Christ we must rely on the Holy Spirit.  We need His help.  We need this Word.  We need the Spirit of God to teach us this Word.  Without the Spirit we will see words, events, historical facts, religious icons, ceremonies, rituals, and priesthoods, but the Spirit of God will show us Christ in everything. 

Milton W Howard is Pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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07-29-18

"Am I Good Enough?" 

How good do I have to be to go to Heaven?  This is a serious question that many ask themselves often.  They wonder if they are good enough to get there.  Even if we do not know what God's Word says, we have been taught by tradition that if we are good we go to Heaven and if we are bad we go to Hell.  Right?  Well if I have to be good to go to Heaven, how good do I have to be?  Will God accept from my sincerity?  Will God accept me if I do the best I can and live a good Christian life?  What if, starting today, I live a good life and serve the Lord?  Will God accept me if I do these things? 

The Bible says no!  "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight" (Romans 3:20).  The very best that we can do is not acceptable in God's sight.  "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). 

It is not possible for any of us to please the Lord God of Heaven in ourselves – do anything that is good in the sight of God.  The Holy, Just, and Perfect God demands absolute perfection of us, and cannot and will not accept anything less than perfection from us.  "It shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein" (Leviticus 22:21).  In order to get to Heaven we must be as good as God – perfect in all things – perfect in heart, perfect in thought, perfect in works – perfectly holy. 

But no man is perfect.  We are all sinful.  We are all corrupt.  Is there no hope for us?  Must we all perish in our sins in an eternal Hell?  No! 

Blessed be the Lord our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, He has made a way to make fallen, sinful, depraved sinners perfect, perfectly holy, and perfectly accepted.  Every person who is in Christ is perfect in Him and will be presented to the Father in that last day, "Holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight."  This perfection is not the result of anything in us, or anything done by us.  It is the work of God's free grace in Christ. 

(Ephesians 5:25-27)  "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." 

Our Lord took our sins and imputed them to Christ, making Him to be sin for us, and He has taken Christ's perfect righteousness and imputed it to us, making us to be the very righteousness of God in Him.  By the shedding of His blood at Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ has put away our sins, so that the Law of God can no longer charge us with sin.  "He was manifested to take away our sin" (1 John 3:5). 

That perfect life of obedience to the Father's will, which He lived as our Representative and Substitute, has been imputed to every sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.  That is how we are made perfectly righteous, In Christ! 

Would you be made perfect?  Take all your sins and your righteousnesses and pile them up to be burned and trust Christ alone. 

Milton W Howard is Pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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07-01-18

"What We Preach"

Text Box:  (Luke 24:47)  "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." 

These are some of the last words spoken by our Lord to His disciples before He returned to Heaven, impressing on them His purpose and desire that their lives be devoted to the preaching of His Gospel to all the nations of this earth.  Throughout the New Testament, the stress is laid on preaching, which is the great battering ram that shakes the gates of Hell.  It is God’s chief method of calling souls to Himself.  “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 

Today many rituals, ceremonies, human learning and literature, have the place of the preaching of the Gospel.  But God’s purpose and way has never changed.  Until we are given different instructions, “repentance and remission of sins” are to “be preached in his name among all nations” in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

We are to preach repentance as the gift of God.  Christ, was exalted, with His Father’s right hand, to be a Prince and a Savior, “to give repentance” and “forgiveness of sins.”  When you find a sinner turning from his sin to Christ, you can rest assured the power to do it came from God.  It is a gift of Grace.  It is not in our heart to repent. 

We first learn what sin is.  We learn something about what God requires of us.  We learn that Christ alone, through His shed blood alone, can do for us what must be done.  We learn that it was our sin that nailed Christ to that cross, so we come to Christ.  And coming to Christ is a turning from sin; and that is repentance. 

Repentance is the token of the pardon of sin.  If any person’s heart is turned away from sin, if he prostrates himself in the dust before God because of his offenses, if he looks with true sorrow for sin to Christ on the cross, crying, “Lord, remember me,” “Lord, save me,” “God be merciful to me a sinner,” it is not a question whether forgiveness may or may not be granted to him, but it is a fact that he is already forgiven.  “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” 

I can only declare to you that sin is taken away, when I have declared to you repentance in His name.  To those who come to Christ, there is the promise of full pardon of every sin you have ever committed, whether in thought, word, or deed.  This is true pardon.  Pardon for everyone.  “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth from all sin” all who repent and believe in Him.  It takes away every sin that closed to us the way to God. 

The believing sinner turns his weeping eyes to Christ on the cross, gazes with both sorrow and joy on the blood that flowed from His wounds, and puts all his hope in God’s appointed propitiation, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”  Then we sing with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities.”  “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” 

This blessing of God never changes.  God never goes back on His promise, and the saved never goes away from Christ.  He never goes back to sin.  “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow met: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.” 

Milton W Howard is Pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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Text Box:  06-03-18

"Him Hath God Exalted"

(Acts 5:31)  "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." 

The Apostles had been asked, "Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."  They replied, "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree."  They were witnesses for the risen and reigning Prince and Saviour.  They were the representatives of the Messiah the Prince.  They acted under His authority.  Their preaching and teaching was done by divine command.  They declared that that Jesus, whom, the chief priests had crucified, was still alive reigning in glory, enthroned at the right hand of God, and that they were only fulfilling His royal commands when they were "standing in the temple, and teaching the people." 

They also declared that Jesus was both Prince and a Saviour.  He had been exalted with His Father's right hand to "give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."  This was the reason they were preaching in His name.  This is our authority.  That is the sinner's hope.  "We ought to obey God rather than men."  And we will continue preaching repentance and remission of sins, by Christ Jesus, until we have filled the whole world with this message of hope. 

God has exalted Jesus that He may be both a Prince and a Saviour.  As a Prince, He is worthy of all praise and honor.  As a Prince, His every word is to be instantly and implicitly obeyed.  He is a prince before whom all who love Him bow.  The Lord Jesus Christ is a Prince among men, a Prince in His Church, and a Prince in the highest heavens.  He is "King of kings and Lord of lords."  And He is also a Saviour to be trusted – a Saviour who exactly meets our need.  His name is called Jesus, because He came to save His people from their sins.  That is why He took on Himself our nature, lived in perfect obedience to the Father's will, died a shameful death on the cross to offer the one sacrifice for sins that alone could bring salvation to all who believe in Him. 

God exalted Him, to be a Prince and a Saviour, and we must receive Him in both characters, or not at all.  Some want Christ as Saviour who will not have Him as Lord.  It is not possible for anyone to receive Christ as Saviour and not receive Him as Lord.  One of the first instincts of a redeemed soul is to fall at the feet of the Saviour, and cry, "Lord, who wilt thou have me to do?"  A person who is saved by grace does not need to be told that he is under an obligation to serve Christ.  The new life in him tells him that.  Instead of looking on it as a burden, he gladly surrenders himself – body, soul, and Spirit – to the Lord who has redeemed him, which is his reasonable service

To receive Christ as our Saviour depends on Him being our King, for salvation includes deliverance from sin's dominion over us.  To be delivered from the power of the prince of darkness, the Prince of light and life and peace must come into our soul.  He casts out the intruder, and sets up His throne in His own rightful place as our Lord and Master. 

He would not be our Prince if He were not our Saviour, and He would not be our Saviour if He were not our Prince.  But what a blessed combination these two offices make.  The believer who receives Christ both as Prince and Saviour has the blessed experience of bowing to the will of His Prince, and, at the same time he daily realizes in his soul the cleansing power of the precious blood of Jesus.  God hath exalted Him "to give repentance and forgiveness of sins." 

Milton W Howard is Pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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05-06-18Text Box:

"Delivered From The Fear Of Death" 

(Hebrews 2:15)  "Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." 

To fear to die is natural, because we were not created to die.  There was no reason for unfallen man to die.  It is sin that has placed the seeds of corruption in this flesh, and now it is appointed unto men once to die.  Never try to avoid this fear by forgetting all about death.  Many have peace only because of they never allow themselves to think about death.

To fear death is not wrong.  It is this fear that restrains this flesh.  But this fear also causes many to endure needless sorrows.  They die a thousand deaths dying one.  Many who are well make themselves sick thinking about death. 

This fear of death is very dishonoring to God.  It looks like we can trust Him in fair weather, but not in storms.  It looks like we can trust Him while we are well and strong, but cannot trust in Him when health and strength are failing.  Remember what David said, "He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death."  What an honor to God when we can say with Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."  But a fear of death makes it look we do not trust Him.  "Perfect love casteth out fear." 

This fear of death also dishonors what we claim to believe in the eyes of those who are not believers in Jesus.  The calmness with which the believer looks toward death, even the holy joy with which he anticipates it, is one of the things which the ungodly cannot comprehend.  The person who contemplates death with joy is a living sermon. 

Looking to Christ delivers us from this fear of death.  There is no true deliverance from the fear of death except by looking unto Him whose death conquered death.  "Through death he has destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." 

Christ takes away the fear of death by taking away from us sin, which is the sting of death.  To die forgiven, "accepted in the Beloved," is not really to die, but to leave this world and go to the Father.  It is unforgiven sin that makes it hard to lay down in death.  But when sin is forgiven, and we have peace with God, we long to sleep in Jesus.  We know the truth of Christ's words, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life."  This comes from resting completely on that sacrifice which He offered on the cross when He made a full atonement for all who believe on Him. 

Christ takes away the fear of death by changing the very character of death itself.  He said, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."  Those in Christ never die in the sense in which others die.  The unbeliever dies in order to endure the penalty of sin, but for the believer, that penalty was borne by Christ.  All our iniquities, and the penalty of them, were laid on Him.  Death to the believer is no penalty.  It is a passing from this life to another.  This is a removal of the chains that bind us.  This is liberty.  This is not an execution, but a deliverance.  It is the believer's entrance into the glory of God. 

Let your eyes always look to Him, then the fear of death will not make you subject to bondage. 

(Romans 8:38-39)  "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Milton W Howard is Pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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04-08-18

Text Box:  "Wrong Thoughts Of God" 

(Psalm 50:21)  “Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself.” 

Man was made in the image of God, and, when he was in his perfect state, he could have learned more of God.  Before sin corrupted, we were more like God.  But flesh could never reflect the majesty of the Eternal.  Even had we remained as pure as the holy angels, we would have felt ourselves to be less than nothing in His eyes.  But now fallen in sin, how unlike God we are.  Sin has made us the very opposite of God.  The greatest mistake we can make is to think that God is like us.  “Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself.” 

The wicked think God is insensible to moral emotion.  They do not care whether a thing is right or wrong.  Right gives them no joy, and evil no pain.  They continue in their wickedness, and because God does not strike them dead, they think He is like them.  They think He is not angry at sin.  But, to God, sin is “exceeding sinful.” 

The wicked think God is careless in His work.  If they were in charge of this world, they would neither fear God nor man.  They think God has no regard for His own Law.  He will allow men to do as they wish.  There is no way God would ever punish every sinful action, and word, and thought.  They think God is as lax as they are, and will never call people to account for their actions.  Everlasting punishment might be for somebody, but not for them. 

The wicked think God is deceived by appearances.  They go to church and think that by doing it, they wash away their past sins.  When death approaches, they get some good man to pray for them, and that makes everything OK.  But God is not deceived by outward appearances.  He looks on the heart, and for the holiness found there by the new birth. 

The wicked think God is an accomplice in their sins.  They blame His providence for putting them in the circumstances where it was necessary for them to do wrong.  How many people blame their sin on “I could not help it?”  How many blame their actions on need?  This is saying that God is like you. 

Because you think God is like you, there is no reverence for Him.  There is no worship of Him.  His Word means nothing to you.  You reject both God and His salvation. 

Because you think God is like you, there is no repentance.  As long as you think that God is as bad as you are, you will never turn from your sin.  It is the holiness of God that brings people to know their guilt. 

Because you think God is like you, there is no faith in Him.  You cannot have faith in one you do not respect.  If I can bring God down to my level, then I cannot trust Him.  If He is like my depraved imagination pictures Him, faith in Him becomes an absurdity, and it is not possible for me to believe in Him.  You cannot trust the God you imagine.  But when we know Him as He is, we will bow to Him.  

How is God?  We can answer this with the Scriptures.  “As high as the heavens are above the earth so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.”  “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?”  I am glad God is not like us.  He is a merciful God. 

Milton W Howard is Pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church, Ball

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03-05-18

Text Box:  "Do You Believe On The Son Of God?" 

(John 9:35)  "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" 

I have a question for you today – the most important question you will ever have to answer – "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" 

When you look at this man to whom our Lord spoke, it is hard to find a more determined person.  What he believed could not be beaten out of him.  He believed Jesus to be a Prophet sent of God, and he stuck to it. 

This is a personal question – "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"  Our Lord did not preach a sermon, but asked a question.  He did not ask him if he went to church or read his Bible, but "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"  This is the question that will help you realize your standing before God. 

This question led this man to see a very serious flaw in his condition.  He was spiritually ignorant.  He did not know the Saviour even though He was standing in front of him – talking with him.  He said, "Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?"  It is not have I believed, but do I believe now. 

This is the vital point – "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"  The Pharisees would not believe Christ – they hated Him.  They put this man out of the synagogue because he spoke of Christ.  This man had suffered for Christ's sake, but it is not enough to suffer for truth's sake.  The question is, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"  There are those who give their body to be burned for Christ's sake, but if you do not have faith in Him, you are not be saved. 

This man could have said, "I believe that you are a Prophet."  But the question is, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"  To believe that Jesus is a good man, and a great Prophet, and that He was sent of God, is not enough.  This man said, "I was blind, but now I see."  But he still had not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Christ Himself asked, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"  It is not if He has healed your blindness.  The question is has He saved your soul.  Morality is good as far as it goes, but without holiness no man shall see the Lord, and holiness far exceeds mere morality.  Morality is what the Pharisees had.  But what we need to stand before God far exceeds what they had.  Holiness can only be produced by a real change of heart, and that real change of heart can only come through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, which manifests itself through faith in Jesus Christ. 

"Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" is the most important question you will ever have to answer.  You can take the stand in court and refuse to answer certain questions taking the 5th amendment.  But you cannot escape this.  You can go to Hell as a Baptist, or whatever, but if you believe on Jesus Christ, "you shall never perish, neither shall any pluck you out of his hands."  

This is a reasonable thing to do.  This man had been blessed of God.  He had received his sight.  If God has blessed you to bring you to this point, why will you not believe on Christ?  Can you not see He is God over all?  You say you believe the Bible.  Then why do you not believe on the Son of God?  You say that the testimony of God in Scripture is true – then why do you not believe it?  Why do you not trust your soul to Him who you know is able to save you?  "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." 

Milton W Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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02-11-18

Text Box:  "Grace Abounding" 

(Romans 5:20)  "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."  

Since the Garden of Eden, there have been 2 forces working in the world – sin and grace.  All the sorrows, sicknesses, and deaths in this world are the result of sin.  It rules our every action, thought, and word.  The only power to overcome sin is described in the Word of God as grace.  Grace is not something we do.  It is the free favor of God, who, delighting in mercy is always ready to pass by transgression, iniquity, and sin, and to save His people from the consequences of their guilt.  This favor of God never changes; and when once it purposes to bless a person, it will bless him, and none can take that blessing away. 

But Paul says, "The law entered, that the offense might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."  Though the Law was given by Moses to show us the holiness of God, and His hatred of sin, and how it is removed, by blood sacrifice, the text speaks of the Law coming to our hearts.  The Law engraved on the two tables of stone – the Law recorded in the Bible does very little for us.  But when the Law enters our heart, it does some things to us. 

The first thing the Law does is reveal our sin.  It does not create sin, but it shows what is there.  Paul says, "I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."  But, as soon as he found that there was a Law against a certain sin, he wanted to do the very thing that he was forbidden to do.  Our wicked heart is full of enmity against God, while all the time we think that we are good.  But the Law comes, and the sin in us is revealed.  You never know a wall is crooked until you put a plumb-line on it.  The plumb-line does not make the wall crooked; it just shows it to be.  That is when we see our true condition, and that is what drives us to Christ.  The Law will not allow us to rest in our self-righteousness, because it shows us we have none. 

The Law causes grief.  When the Law came, it did not just come with a plumb-line as the pattern of straightness, but it also came with a heavy whip – and that whip was laid on us – and every time it fell it stung to the quick. 

The Law shuts our mouth.  We no longer criticize God's justice.  There is no comfort in the Law.  It kills us.  It strips us.  It brings us down.  But it does this so that God can make us alive – clothe us with Christ's righteousness, and lift us up. 

The Law drives us to despair of ourselves.  Until the Law comes we think we can keep it as good as everybody else, and with a little polishing, we can be good enough to win the favor of God.  But the Law enters and smashes all our hopes. 

The Law curses us.  The Law can only say to the sinner, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." 

But the Gospel comes to that person, and replies to the curse of the Law, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."  The Gospel says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  It says, "there is therefore now no condemnation to them, which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." 

Milton W Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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01-28-18
Text Box:  "Touching Christ" 

(Luke 8:46)  "And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." 

When our Lord preached, His preaching was very plain and clear.  He did not beat around the bush and dodge the issues. 

Of all those gathered around our Lord this day, only one is mentioned – and this one is only called a "woman" – "somebody".  Today you are reading this short word – and in a few minutes you will be through.  But, you will not be as you were.  This Word will have its perfect work.  Some will be moved by it.  "Somebody" will be rejoicing in Christ.  Somebody will say, "I have touched the hem of his garment, and I have been made whole."  That is what makes it worth all, for in this pile of rocks called humanity, God has His precious jewels. 

All we do has no meaning unless we touch Christ.  This has to be our only desire.  Peter said, "The multitude throng thee, and press thee."  For many that is enough.  All of this religious doing means nothing if none are moved to touch Christ in faith. 

Some go to church because they think they are supposed to.  There is no interest in being there.  Some go just to maintain their place in the community, or to keep someone else from getting their pew. 

What a sad thing it will be when we come to judgment and find out that custom has nothing to do with it.  That is when we will find out that to have heard the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ is a serious matter.  We will have to answer before the great Judge of all the earth for what we have heard. 

For some it is enough to go through the motions of religion.  You are content with the form of godliness, but reject the power.  There were many around Jesus in the crowd, but only one touched Him in faith.  Christ said, "Somebody hath touched me," and that is the heart of the matter.  In all your religion, never be satisfied until you have touched Christ.  Never be satisfied with just watching what goes on. Unless you touch Him, it is only form without power.  It is a dead performance. 

This woman must touch Him but it was not an easy thing to do.  To touch Christ we have to get through all of our religion to get to Him.  Religion is a great obstacle to the salvation of our soul.  This disease had taken all her strength.  It left her helpless, just as our sin keeps us from God.  It bars the gates of Heaven to us.  God hides His face from us because of it. 

But, all that stood in her way is what qualified her to come to Christ and touch Him.  There is no great show in what she did.  It is not how much I touch, but Who I touch.  It is not how much I look, but to Whom I look.  It is not how much I believe, but Who I believe.  It is not how much faith I have, but the Object of my faith.  Our plea must not be our goodness, but our guilt. 

The emptier I am, the more room there is for my Master.  The more I lack, the more He will give.  A touch of Christ will heal your sin-sick soul.  The precious blood of Jesus will cleanse you from all sin, and make you white as snow. 

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

Milton W Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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01-14-18
Text Box:  "Forgetting God" 

(Hosea 13:6)  "They were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me." 

Hosea was a faithful prophet of God for 70 years during the time of Isaiah.  Israel was given over to idolatry, and that brought them into a state of utter immorality. 

Hosea calls Israel by different names – each connected with failure – sin – rebellion – idolatry – and corruptions – calling for wrath and judgment.  But His message is also a message of immutable grace – unfailing mercy – and indestructible love. 

I think this is the most disturbing thing – to think that we would forget God.  What if your children forgot you – would it grieve you?  But we do not have the claims on our offspring that God has on us – yet we forget Him.  We forget our Maker – our best Friend – and our greatest Helper.  And this is an accusation that can be made against most of us.  It is surely true of those who continue in their sin and do not look to Christ alone for salvation. 

The Lord our God – who bought us with the blood of His dear Son – counts us so dear to Him that a wandering thought in our mind becomes a crime against Him.  To give up of any part of our heart to the love of the world – to self – to sin – to Satan – becomes to Him the cause of great grief and sadness. 

When did Israel forget God? – If we can find that out, it will help us to guard against similar sin.  They forgot God in prosperity, that is when their heart was exalted and they forgot God.  It was when they were delivered after 40 years of wandering in that desert, and came into Canaan that they forgot God.  It seemed that the greater God's goodness was to His people, the less was their gratitude to Him. 

In every trouble of that wilderness, God provided a remedy.  When they were hungry He sent the manna from Heaven – He sent the quail.  He sent water from a Rock when they were thirsty.  He saw the morning and evening lambs which were offered in sacrifice for their sin.  But when they came to Canaan – to the land of milk and honey – they forgot God. 

How many times have we been down and remembered God – and then prospered and forgot Him?  When we had less we had more – for then we remembered God.  We had time for God. 

This forgetfulness begins by forgetting times of worship.  Then our heart turns from God. I tell you, this is so gradual, that we are not even aware of it.  Then we start to mind earthly things, and that brings on spiritual poverty.  That is when we start bringing earthly things into God's house.  Then we give up all together. 

If we have forgotten God, we have forgotten the many deliverances we have had in days past.  We have forgotten the wiping away of our tears of sorrow.  We have forgotten the precious blood of Jesus that spoke peace to our soul.  We have forgotten the Holy Spirit, who came and gave us joy and rest in Jesus Christ.  We have forgotten the glorious covenant of His grace – ordered in all things and sure – on which our hopes of Heaven are based. 

There is a cure for this forgetfulness.  The first step in taking a medicine is to realize there is a need for it.  Go back to the cross as though you have never been – and cry for mercy.  Look to Christ alone as your only hope, and continue to hang on to Him. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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12-31-18
Text Box:  "A True Child Of God"

(Matthew 18:3)  "Verily, I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 

I know that all who are reading this article are convinced that it is appointed unto all men once to die, and that after death comes the judgment – and that the consequences of that judgment will be eternal separation from God, or eternally joined around that throne singing praises to the Lamb.  I am also sure that no matter what kind of life you live – all are hoping to go to that place, which the Scriptures call Heaven, when you die.  I also know that my heart's desire, and my prayer to God for you all, is that you will be in the kingdom of our heavenly Father. 

But, though we all hope to go to Heaven, I am afraid that many who hope to go to this blessed place after death are not now in the way to it while they live.  You call yourself Christian, and are offended if anyone doubts you are Christian.  Yet, there are so many, who call themselves Christian, who have no clue as to what real Christianity is. 

The hope most have is that they belong to this or that denomination – that this or that man is their pastor – that they have been baptized – that their name is on some church role – so their name must be in the Lamb's Book of Life.  They build their hope of salvation on a very rotten foundation – on the fact they are good neighbors – honest moral people – help the poor – and are considered by this world as being good Christians.  These have a Christ in their heads – but they have no Christ in their hearts. 

The Lord Jesus Christ knew this.  He knew how desperately wicked and deceitful men's hearts were.  He knew how many who would get close, and would be turned away with "I never knew you".  The Lord plainly tells us of the great change that must be worked in us, and what must be done for us before we can have any hope of entering into the Kingdom of Heaven. 

He said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).  He said, "We must be converted and become as little children".  There must be a great change in our soul.  We must be loosed from this world – as uncaring of this world – as uncaring for earthly things, as this child, or we will not enter into His kingdom.  I am not saying we must shut ourselves away as hermits – because we cannot leave our wicked hearts behind, when you leave the world.  But we will turn loose of this world – use it for what it was given, and nothing else – as a means to the end. 

We must see that we are unable to save ourselves, as a little child is unable to provide for himself.  We must come to the point where we know that we are not "rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," but that we are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17)

Life is short – death is imminent.  Today, tonight, or tomorrow we may be called to stand before God.  How will we stand?  Know this – "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven." 

Do you have a well-grounded hope that God has made you new creatures in Christ Jesus?  Are you perfect before God?  Do you stand in His Righteousness, or are you still going about trying to establish your own righteousness?  Are you as that Publican who would not even so much as lift up his eyes to Heaven – but beat on his breast crying for mercy?  If not, then remember – "Ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven."  May the Lord God impress this upon your soul. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
KitchensCreek@bellsouth.net

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12-10-17

Text Box:  "CHRISTMAS" 

(Matthew 1:21, 23)  "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins...Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." 

Think about that.  The infinite Jehovah God with us.  No wonder the angels burst into song when they sang "Glory to God in the highest."  This is worthy of a new star in the Heavens – worthy of preserving on record for us to read today – worthy of the martyrs' death. 

The Apostle Paul said, "This is worthy of all acceptation." 

This is the great mystery of the church – "God was manifest in the flesh."  He, who was born in Bethlehem is God, and He is "God with us." 

But there are so many things to do this time of year that we get caught up in them and seldom take the time to stop and think what this time means. 

Have you stopped to think why the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world?  He came into the world to redeem sinners by the offering of Himself on the cross – suffering the wrath of God for our sins as our Substitute.  He did not come to prescribe a duty we must perform ourselves, but He came save His people from their sin. 

The Saviour came not only to provide salvation, but He is that salvation.  "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ...(Who) loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (1 Peter 1:18-19). 

Though the world is brought to think about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ at this time, we must never think that there is any spiritual value or even any spiritual meaning in observing Christmas, or that we will stand any more in the favor of God by doing it. 

We know that our Saviour was not born on what is known as Christmas Day, yet many people's religion requires that they keep this day holy.  

As for me, I wish there were more Christmas Days in the year.  This seems to be one of the days in the year when cease-fires are declared in wars, and when men everywhere join together in a moment of peace.  And we could use more of that.  We know for sure that there is enough work to do every other day, and a little rest now and then hurts no one. 

Christmas Time, and especially Christmas Day, is a good time for us – a time of rest for us – a time for us to gather with family and to visit with friends. 

There is no harm done in taking a time to consider the incarnation and birth of the Lord Jesus.  I believe that true believers everywhere can take all the good that is signified by Christmas, and leave all of its superstitions to the superstitious. 

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Like 2:11). 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840

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11-12-17
Text Box:  "FOUR WORDS"

 

(Galatians 3:13)  "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." 

When the Lord Jesus Christ hung on that cross, He was made a curse for us – the object of God's wrath and judgment.  We who believe will never endure the curse of God's wrath.  Being made a curse for us, "Christ hath redeemed us."  He did not make our redemption possible, nor did He make us redeemable.  "Christ hath redeemed us."  The us are those who have looked to Him – believed in Him – trusted Him. 

The work of Christ is the theme of Holy Scripture, the foundation of our faith, and the only hope we have of eternal salvation.  This is the Good News that we proclaim.  We say to every sinner, who will believe, that, "Christ hath redeemed us."  The Work is accomplished.  It is finished. 

I want to give you four words which will help you remember this work of Christ in redemption.  They will comfort your heart and fill it with thanksgiving and praise to Him. 

The first word is SOVEREIGNTY.  Redemption was an act of Divine sovereignty – "He laid down His life for us."  There was nothing in us that obligated Him, or moved Him to die for us.  He voluntarily laid down His life for us, because it was the free and sovereign pleasure of His love to do so.  "The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). 

Christ, the sovereign God, determined everything about His death – that He would die, who His murderers would be, when He would die, where He would die, how He would die, for whom He would die, and the results of His death. 

The second word is SUCCESS.  Because He is the eternal, sovereign God, we are assured that His death and redemptive work is not a failure – "He shall not fail."  What He determined to accomplish at Calvary, He accomplished.  He completed His mission.  He has successfully put away sin, brought in an everlasting righteousness, and redeemed unto Himself a people.  

The third word is SUBSTITUTION – He died as the Substitute for a particular people.  Those for whom Christ stood as a substitute at Calvary, bearing their sins and enduring the wrath of God in their place, shall never perish.  They are redeemed!  Their sins have been put away.  He who was made sin for us has made us the righteousness of God in Him.  

The fourth word is SATISFACTION – His substitutionary sacrifice for our sins has completely and perfectly satisfied the wrath and justice of God that is against us.  His sacrifice was infinitely meritorious, so that every sinner who believes on Christ is freely justified and fully pardoned.  And now, God looking on the merits of His Son, pardons every sinner who looks on His Son in faith.  

Think on these four words – Sovereignty, Success, Substitution, Satisfaction – as they relate to the death of Christ.  They will help you remember the death of Christ according to the Scriptures and comfort your soul.  

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
KitchensCreek@bellsouth.net

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10-22-17Text Box:

"Hardness Of Heart"

 (Mark 3:5)  "And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand." 

A man was present in the synagogue this day with a withered hand.  And by the grace of God the Saviour was in the same synagogue that same day.  What gracious providence that the Lord God would bring the needy where the Saviour was present. 

There were also Scribes and Pharisees that had gathered in the synagogue – you would think to worship God – and especially when they saw a miracle of divine goodness – but they gathered to watch the Lord Jesus Christ, "whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him" (Vs. 2).  But the only thing they could hold against Him was that He had healed a man on the Sabbath.  They overlooked the miracle – and probably covered their face with shame when they saw such sacrilege on such a sacred day. 

Our Lord asks them a question which could only be answered one way – "Is it right to do good on the Sabbath-day?" (Vs. 4).  But to answer it correctly would have condemned these good religious folk – so, "They held their peace".  These who always had an answer for everything, and were so precise in all their religion, would not answer the simplest question. 

Mark describes the Saviour as looking round upon them all with anger and grief  (Vs. 5).  The Lord of glory – the meek and lowly in heart – is described as being angry.  His meek and lowly heart could only have been stirred with anger by some overwhelming cause as He looked at each person.  He did not speak a word – more words would not have had the slightest effect upon them.  "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:31).  He saved His words for the poor man with the withered hand.  The wrath of a lion is great – but it is nothing compared with that of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).  Our Lord was angry that they would willingly close their eyes to a truth so plain. 

Mingled with this anger there was grief.  He grieved because their hearts were so hard – a hardness of heart which comes through the continuance in sin.  He knew that the hardness of their hearts would one day bring upon them an awful misery.  Their blind hatred of Him – their unbelief of Him – was securing their own destruction.  They were willfully rejecting the Light, which would have illuminated them.  They were destroying their own souls out of hatred to Him. 

We may grieve the Saviour while all the time being good Bible readers, as the Scribes were – and while practicing all the outward forms of religion, as the Pharisees did.  Some will say they are neutral – they say, "I'm not into religion," and think that excuses them.  But, in the eternal world there is no provision made for neutrals.  Those who are not with Jesus are against Him. 

And remember, this hardness of heart may not overcome you at once – it creeps over men by small degrees.  The hardest hearted person in the world was not always that way.  That is why we must "exhort one another daily … lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." 

Our Lord had not broken God's Law of the Sabbath – He had only exposed the error of these religious folk.  Had they not found fault with the Sabbath, they would have found something else – because they hated the Lord Jesus Christ. 

We need a new heart, and it takes a miracle of grace to "take the stony heart out of our flesh, and will give us an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19).

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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10/08/17
Text Box:  "Your Own Salvation" 

(Philippians 2:12)  "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." 

I want us to center our attention this morning on these three words, "Your own salvation".  May the Holy Spirit impress on our minds and hearts the great importance of "Your own salvation".  There is nothing than should more concern you today than this.  "Salvation" is a word that we do not always understand, but, "Salvation" is something that concerns everyone of us.  We all fell in sin.  We have personally sinned against a Holy God.  We have violated the Holy Law of God.  We will all perish eternally unless we find this thing called "Salvation". 

Salvation is deliverance from the guilt of sin.  This is the guilt of our past sins.  But Salvation is the deliverance from sin.  It blots out our transgressions so that we can stand accepted before the Great Judge. 

Salvation is deliverance from the power of sin.  We are the bond-slaves of iniquity.  But this salvation delivers us from the power of sin.  Our desires change, and when our desires change, our actions change.  We learn that it is wrong, we hate it, we turn our back on it. 

Salvation is the deliverance from the present wrath of God.  We think that the wrath of God only comes when we die, and we do not think we are going to die.  We have not faced that reality yet.  We do all we can to prolong this life because we do not want to face the coming wrath of God.  But the wrath of God is now, and this present wrath of God abides on the unsaved every moment of his life. 

Sinners have been "weighed in the balance and found wanting."  If this moment you are not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, the condemnation of God already rests on you.  You may be enjoying a few days of "peace" now, but it is the peace of a condemned criminal, and the execution has been set, and the gallows are waiting for that moment.  Your sentence is written in tables of stone with a pen of iron, and there will be no escape from it. 

Salvation is deliverance from the future wrath of God.  That wrath will descend upon the souls of man.  To die without salvation is to enter into an eternal damnation – eternally separated from God, because where death leaves us, judgment finds us, and where judgment finds us, eternity will hold us for ever. 

But salvation delivers the soul from eternal death.  Being justified by faith in Christ, we no longer have sin to be punished – we are no longer charged with an offense.  The Lord Jesus Christ bore the wrath of God in our place "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."  Against the one who believes, there remains no record of guilt.  Where are they?  They have been taken away.  By whom?  By the Lord Jesus Christ, covered with His blood. 

So salvation is a deliverance form the guilt, dominion, curse, punishment, and ultimately from the very existence of sin.  That is why it is so important.  God thought it was important because He gave His son to save rebellious sinners.  Christ thought it was important because He bled and died to accomplish it.  The angels of God think it is important for "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."  Lost souls think it is important, for they see things in another light in Hell.  "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul?"  I think it is important because that is all I preach. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.

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09/10/17

Text Box:  "The Only Rest"

(Matthew 11:28)  "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 

There is a lot of Christianity in name and show – but so little of it in the heart.  If going to church – being called Christians – being baptized in the name of Christ – if that makes us Christians, then most can say they are a Christian.  But if it has to do with a work in the heart – an inward principle of faith worked in us by the grace of God – a change of our whole nature – a putting off the old man with his deeds – a turning from sin unto God – a cleaving only to the Son of Righteousness – few know what it is. 

If it has to do with a new birth – knowing the wickedness of our sins – truly seeking deliverance from them – if this is true Christianity – if this is what it means to be a child of God – then few are true children of God. 

Many are content with the outward show – having the name only – while they are dead in sins.  Very few are weary and heavy-laden with their sins – and I know this because very few come to Christ for rest.  They will say they are sinner – but they are not burdened with their sins. 

Usually if we ever feel the slightest weight or guilt of wrong-doing, we will immediately flee to religion – to some work we have done – to someone who will cry "Peace! Peace! to us, when there is no peace".  And we will then go away with a false sense of security – content until the next bit of depression or guilt hits us. 

Religion sends the burdened soul from duty to duty, until it is worn out from doing – and still there is no rest in the soul.  For nothing will ever give the soul any rest until it goes to the Lord Jesus Christ – for there is the only true rest that lasts. 

They are not weary and heavy-laden who think themselves good enough, and deserving of God's favor.  These think if they are sincere – say their prayers – read their Bible – make it to church occasionally – it is sufficient.  But this is not what He requires – He wants the heart – and unless you honor Him with that, He does not pay any attention to your mouths.  Do not deceive your souls.  Come to Him as a poor – blind – naked – miserable – sinner – and He will give you rest. 

You are weary and heavy laden under sin when your sins are grievous to you.  This is when you know how hateful they are to God – how they open you to His wrath and hatred – and how you would willingly avoid them – and hate yourselves for committing them.  This is when we may be said to be weary of our sins.  How terribly they appear when we are first awakened to a sense of them – and cry out under them. 

We do not come to Christ with our own works – but with a full dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ – looking on Him as the Savior who died to save sinners.  Go to Him – tell Him you are lost, undone, miserable sinners – and you will find Him an able and a willing Saviour.  It pleases Him to see sinners coming to Him in a sense of their own helplessness. 

 When We Come To Christ We Will Find Rest.  And if the Lord Jesus Christ gives you rest, be assured it will be a real rest – a lasting rest.  It will be the kind of rest from the burden of sin your soul needs.  Come to Him in faith – in all your rags – in all your filthiness – in all your distresses – and you will find the Lord Jesus Christ ready to give you rest. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church.

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08/13/17

Text Box:  "Trusting Christ" 

(Romans 10:13-17)  "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  How shall they hear without a preacher?  How shall they preach, except they be sent?...So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." 

When God is going to save a person, He sends a messenger who preaches the Gospel to that person.  When the Gospel is preached, that person hears of only One who can save – the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Spirit of God points us to Christ.  The Law of God points us to Christ, and when we hear of Christ, we believe on Him and we call on Him. 

We stand before God, not because of anything we do, but by faith.  Salvation is not an option of either keeping the Law or believing on Christ.  Salvation has always been in Christ alone.  Many ignore the righteousness of God, which is Christ, and try to establish their own righteousness.  If what we know about the Law of God, the Law of Moses, and the Ten Commandments, does not point us to Christ, all we know is error. 

The Law of God shows us what is required and the punishment for not doing it – it does not give life.  It points us to Christ who alone can do for us what must be done before God.  The Law of God comes to those who are alive, and shows how to maintain that life – by perfect obedience to it.  But, since we have all failed in perfect obedience to it, the Law of God "brings forth death".  The Gospel comes to us as "dead in trespasses and sins" and gives us life through the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Word of God shows us that all who "Call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  But we cannot call upon someone we do not trust, and we cannot trust someone of whom we have not heard, and we cannot hear without a preacher, and that man cannot preach unless he is sent of God. 

God requires of us 2 things – A righteousness which we do not have and a faith which we cannot produce. 

Faith is not something which we develop or work up, but it is given to us by God through hearing the preaching of the Gospel.  True faith produces a heart that seeks after true holiness.  The true faith of the elect of God – that faith which saves the soul – is a faith which produces a living union with a living Redeemer. 

Faith receives a complete Christ as He is revealed in the Scriptures – Prophet, Priest, and King. 

This is not "trying Christ", or "experimenting with Christianity."  Saving faith always and only looks to Christ.  It is not an isolated act that happened to us many years ago.  It is a principle of life, and it continues to the end.  You will never be moved from the hope of the Gospel. 

This is the faith of the elect of God.  It looks to Christ alone. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church.
He can be contacted at www.KitchensCreek.com.
Radio broadcasts M-F: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF 840 AM

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07/08/17

"The Chief Corner Stone"

Text Box:  (1 Peter 2:6-8)  "Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

Every time you see the Lord speaking, He is dividing those who are listening to Him into two groups – believers and unbelievers – obedient and disobedient.  There is nothing scarier than to be an unbeliever and to have to face God without Christ. 

Most of us have been in church all our lives.  We have heard of this matter of God's punishment on sin mentioned since infancy, but we have become immune to it.  But, when we doubt the truth of God in His Word, we have opposed His authority and deny His Godhead, and deny Him the rights of His throne. 

When He sets forth His Son to be a propitiation for sin, the only One who can cover our sin in His sight – when He sets Him forth and we refuse to receive Christ and look to Him – this rejection is flagrant disobedience. 

Unbelief of God's Word is the root of all other sin.  When we reject the Gospel, we reject everything He said, for everything He has said, is saying, and shall say, points to the Lord Jesus Christ.  God has made Christ the chief corner stone, and you either bow to Him or you must face God in judgment all alone. 

Every time this Rock of Christ is been presented to you, you find something you do not like about it, so you cast it aside because it will not fit into your life.  When we take that Stone and look it over and say it will not work for us in our plan, we call God a liar.  If you stumble on this Stone, you will be broken, but it will not affect this Stone in the least.  Philosophies have come and gone, and the Gospel is still preached. 

Heresy strikes at the very foundation of Christianity.  It strikes at His substitution and His sacrifice.  Heresy has made the cross a beautiful thing that people bow to and worship.  Satan is so subtle.  One of his greatest tools is religion.  We are encouraged to give God's glory to things.  But, God is still on His throne, and the Lord Jesus Christ is still the only way to Him. 

In spite of all that men and devils have done, not one elect soul has been, or will be lost.  Jehovah has set His King upon His Holy Hill of Zion, all His decrees shall be fulfilled, the throne of Christ shall stand, and the covenant sealed with his blood will be sure to His chosen seed.  Not one soul redeemed by His blood will be taken from the Saviour's hand. 

There is only One who can meet God's demands.  The justice of God can only be satisfied by One of infinite nature becoming the propitiation for our sin – the Lord Jesus Christ. 

This rejection of Christ will cost you everything.  All opposition to Christ is futile, because God made Him the Chief Corner Stone, the Stone of stumbling, a Rock of offense.  There is a way of salvation by Christ Jesus, the incarnate God, and I beg you to receive it. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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05/21/17Text Box:

"When They Heard This" 

(Acts 2:37)  "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 

Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost is one of the best that has ever been preached.  Through it 3000 were brought to conviction, to conversion, to faith in and union with Christ.  It is plain and clear.  It hit them hard.  It was very personal.  It was to the point.  It was full of Scripture. 

It was a powerful sermon because Peter believed what he was saying.  He knew that these, with wicked hands, had crucified our Lord and Saviour.  He knew that the Lord Jesus Christ had risen from the grave, and returned to Heaven. 

It was a powerful sermon because it was full of Scripture.  He quotes Psalm after Psalm, for that is the best way to preach. 

It was a powerful sermon because he was filled with the spirit.  He had heard "the sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind," which "filled all the house where they were sitting."  He was so filled with God's Spirit in his preaching that many cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 

"They were pricked in their heart" – and this is painful.  The best preaching is that which pricks our heart.  This is the only kind of impression that is a saving impression.  It is not if I please your ears, your eyes, your sense of smell, but if your heart is pricked. 

Many attempts are made to make people religious from the outside.  It is done with clothes, and how you wear you hair.  How can our heart be affected by what we wear?  None have ever been brought to Christ that way. 

Some say salvation comes by eating or not eating, by drinking or not drinking.  Our Lord said, it is "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man, but that which cometh out of the mouth, that defileth a man."  It is the heart which must be changed.  If your conversion is produced in the flesh, it will only be concerned with fleshly things.  Never be satisfied with a religion which does not affect your heart.  Never be satisfied with worship that is not from the heart.  If you are to be blessed by the hearing of this Gospel, then you must be pricked in your heart. 

When Peter preached in Acts 5:33, we find that, "When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."  Did you notice the difference in some being pricked in their heart, and the others only cut to their heart?  Being only cut to their heart, it did not go all the way – and since it did not go all the way, they were not converted, but tried to kill the preachers.  These are the 2 impressions the preaching of the Gospel always makes.  If the Sword of the Spirit does not prick you in the heart, no lasting, saving work will be done. 

When these heard that Jesus was the Christ, they bowed to Him.  That is what Peter told them.  He told them who Christ was, what He came to do, WHAT He did, WHO sent Him, and WHERE He is now.  He spoke of Christ.  That is all he talked about, for it was the preaching of Christ alone that pricked their hearts.  And this is what we are to preach, for nothing will more pierce your heart than the discovery of God's great love in giving His well-beloved Son to die for you.  If that does not prick your heart, nothing will. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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04/16/17
Text Box:  "By Grace Through Faith"

(Ephesians 2:8)  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" 

Today's religion has become no more than an ethical system – its purpose being to teach morality to mankind.  But according to the scriptures, the true Christianity is that supernatural, saving, transforming work of God, through the sacrifice of Christ, which in sovereign grace is freely bestowed on all who believe.  In its spiritual blindness, the world, led by blind preachers, sees religion only as the rule of life. 

Salvation is by grace through faith.  It is the result of the transforming work of God for man, and not the result of the work of man for God.  It is what God does for him who trusts the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The neglect of this fundamental truth is the key error of modern day religion. 

When we deny that the death of Christ was a substitutionary death for sinners, we reject the only grounds upon which the saving work of God can be applied to the sinner.  Until God becomes real to the heart through Christ, all His ways and works are unknown.  And not knowing God, we have no idea of grace and the necessity of salvation by grace.  Those who are blind are unconscious of their blindness until they are saved by the power and grace of God through Christ. 

This work of grace is declared in the Word of God by the finished work of Christ.  This is all His redemption, reconciliation, and propitiation, as they are related to a world lost in sin.  What Christ did for us is the good news of the Gospel of saving grace.  Preaching the Gospel is the proclamation of the mighty, transforming grace of God, which brings eternal life and glory to all who believe. 

This work of grace is declared in the Word of God by the convicting work of the Spirit.  By this work of God, the Gospel of His saving grace is revealed to the mind and heart of the unsaved by the Spirit of God by which the sin-blinded mind understands the way of salvation in Christ Jesus. 

This work of grace is declared in the Word of God by the saving work of God the Father.  This includes every aspect of the work of God that is accomplished at the instant the sinner believes on Christ. 

This work of grace is declared in the Word of God by the keeping work of God.  The believer is kept always and only through the grace and power of God.  By the saving work of Christ on the cross, God is presented as not only being free to save sinners, but He is presented as being free and just in keeping those whom He has saved.  He alone is able to keep us from falling. 

This work of grace is declared in the Word of God by the delivering work of God.  The person who is delivered from the guilt and penalty of sin is delivered from the reigning power of sin. 

This work of grace is declared in the Word of God by the presenting work of God.  The final work of the grace of God is to present us faultless before the presence of His glory.

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball

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04/09/17

(Psalms 103:1)  "Bless the LORD, O my soul." Text Box:

This Psalm was written by David in his later years – when he had a greater understanding of the preciousness of pardon and the wickedness of sin, than he had in his younger years.  It finishes with the same words with which it started – "Bless the LORD, O my soul."  We begin by blessing the Lord, and after reviewing all He is and all He does, we end our praise and worship of Him the same way.  In this Psalm there is not one word of petition or supplication, but it is a song of praise. 

David sings this Psalm from his inmost self.  His way of praising the Lord is with this word Bless.  There is a lot of difference in God blessing us and us blessing God.  He blesses us by bestowing on us mercies and favors – pardoning our sin – and giving us promises of a future hope, but when we bless Him we add nothing to Him.  For us to bless God is to show gratitude for what He has done for us. 

To bless the Lord is to acknowledge His divine excellencies – which make Him the best and greatest of Beings – the only Object worthy of praise.  To bless the Lord is to give Him the praise of all His glorious attributes.  To bless the Lord is to embrace every opportunity we have of declaring to all around us, the goodness and grace of His conduct towards men.  To bless the Lord is to do it from a heart full of gratitude.  To bless the Lord is to do it with our life – in holy conduct – and with a desire to be cleansed from all iniquity. 

This blessing of God must come from the soul.  When we give Him the soul in a duty, we give Him the best.  This is more than saying some things with the mouth.  My prayer is to bless the Lord, O my soul

If the Law of Justice demands that I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength – how much more will the law of gratitude bless the God of all grace.  David calls on all his inner parts to bless Him – Conscience – Judgment – Imagination – Affections – Memory – Thoughts – Hope. 

The Psalmist calls on all that is within him to "Bless his holy name."  Eleven times Jehovah is used in these 22 verses.  Some praise His divine goodness – but the mature in grace praise His holiness.  His Name shows the revealed character of God – and Holiness is the glory of this Name.  Nothing more exalts the glory of divine grace and redeeming love towards a soul than the consideration of God's Holiness. 

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits"  David is showing us how we must stir ourselves up from within when we are going to worship God.  We must not forget what He has done for us.  Our memory is treacherous about the good things God has done for us.  We have to be constantly reminded of His benefits

And David is praising God for the most important of all God's blessings on us.  "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities."  Pardon for sin is a preparation for all that follows.  For until iniquity is forgiven, all other blessings are unknown.  This forgiveness is continual, for He still forgives.  It is divine, for He gives it.  It is far reaching, for it removes all our sins, for if just one small iniquity – in thought, word, or deed – were left unforgiven, we would be just as bad off as if we bore the whole weight of our sins. 

(1 John 1:9)  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.

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Text Box:  "A Man With A Need"
(Mark 10:47)  "And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth"
 

I have spoken to you several times concerning this man, Bartimaeus – a blind man of Jericho, who was sitting by the side of the road begging when Jesus passed by on His way to Jerusalem. 

Mark says of him that "when he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David have mercy on me."  Those around the Lord Jesus Christ tried to quieten him down, but the Word of God tells us that "he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on Me."  There was no stopping this man who knew something of his need, and that his only hope was a word from the Lord of Glory. 

Whenever a sinner gets to the door of mercy and begins to cry out unto the Lord, all the beasts of Hell set themselves against him.  Satan will do all he can to drive that seeking sinner away.  And if Satan gets his way, the sinner will do all he can to flee from the only One who can "do him good." 

One of the first weapons used by Satan is trying to convince the sinner that this Bible is not true – that there is no God, no Heaven, no Hell, and no life after death.  But if the Holy God of Heaven has started you seeking the Saviour, all of Hell will not prevail against you. 

Another weapon used by Satan is pleasure.  Once you start to seek Christ, you will be invited to places that you never even heard about before.  You will suddenly have friends you never heard of before.  But if the Lord put the cry in your heart, you will cry out even louder. 

Another weapon used by Satan is the ridicule of this world.  You will be called a fanatic.  You will be scorned.  "But what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and loose his soul?" 

Another weapon used by Satan is religious people you have always looked up to.  The religious will tell you that you are not good enough to be saved by Christ.  The religious hates for a person to get a true sense of sin and to see his need of a Substitute to come before God, because the religious is looking to his religion to help him out in need.  His religion is a system of works and ceremonies performed by the flesh.  A believer is one who looks to Christ alone as his only hope. 

How this world hates for a man to come to his senses.  How this world hates for a person to start putting the correct value on eternal things.  That is why Heaven is taken by force.  A seeker must overcome all these obstacles.  Never give up until you have taken hold of Christ to the saving of your soul. 

This man Bartimaeus took these weapons that Satan used against him and turned them to his own use.  He knew that the Word was true.  He cared not for the cares of this world, when he compared them to the value of his soul.  He knew that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."  He knew that "This man receiveth sinners."  He knew that being a sinner was the only qualification he needed to come to Christ.  

The more you can prove your case hopeless before God, the more right you have to come.  Sinners are the only ones who can come and who will be received and saved. 

So look away from yourself and look to Christ "all the ends of the earth, and be ye saved."  

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
www.KitchensCreek.com

Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840

 

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Text Box:  "He Forsakes Not" 

(Psalm 9:10)  "Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."  

In spite of the fact that we are a "Christian" nation, few know anything about the God we claim to worship.  I hear so much about "our tradition", "our belief", "our church", and "my concept" but so little about what God's Word says. 

We are afraid to take a stand because of the fear of hurting feelings – the fear of offending.  But, where is the fear of offending God in all of this?  This is the best sold book in the world, yet the least known, the least read.  It is bought as a table decoration, or a place to keep family records, but not to know the One of whom it speaks. 

Oh, to know the mighty workings of God.  What a comfort to us to know something of what God did in days gone by.  The more you know of God's attributes, the more you understand of His acts – the more you know of His promises and His covenant, the more difficult it will be for Satan to tempt you to despair. 

Satan is constantly attacking God's people.  And the greatest attack he uses is the one referred to in these words of the Psalmist – to think that God has forsaken us, and will be gracious no more.  David had been there.  He saw his enemies and it looked like they were winning.  They seemed to be more than his friends.  

But always remembering this comforting promise – "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee."  He says to us, "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God."  The Lord has not forsaken them that seek Him. 

(Isaiah 49:15)  "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." 

If we could ever find a hint in this Word that He has ever forsaken one of His own, then we might shut our Bible in despair.  Trusting a God that cannot and will not keep a promise is not worth trusting.  The shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ would be worthless if it failed to bring one blood-bought soul safely home to glory.  The Holy Spirit of God would be powerless if He could not cause us to hear when He calls. 

It is an unchanging God, an everlasting covenant, a sure mercy that delights our soul.  Take that away and we have just another religious organization – a foundation of wood, hay, straw, and stubble.  But this foundation stands sure.  "The Lord knoweth them that are his," and He will bring them to glory. 

So when Satan comes and tells you God has forsaken you, send him on his way.  "Thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee," nor will He ever do it.  So, seek the Lord.  Peace is only found in God through His mercy and grace to us in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Take this promise home with you, go to bed tonight with it, get up in the morning with it, and carry it with you to work. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
www.KitchensCreek.com
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840

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11/19/16
"Something I Know"
Text Box:

(Jeremiah 10:23)  "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." 

Jeremiah says, "O Lord, I know" – and he uses his knowledge as a source of comfort in his hour of need.  What Jeremiah knew was this – The affairs of this world are not under the control of men – no matter how much we think they are.  There is a power which rules – and overrules – and works according to its own perfect will – no matter what we may desire or determine to do.

At this time Nebuchadnezzar was about to carry the Jews away into captivity to his own country.  But the Prophet comforted himself with the knowledge that whatever Nebuchadnezzar would do – he was only the instrument in the hands of God for the accomplishment of the divine purpose.  Jeremiah knew that every step of Judah's way was mapped out, and that the Lord God would make it all work for His own glory and the good of His people in the end.

Though the responsibility of our actions lies at our own door, at the same time, God is omnipotent.  He is still working out His wise designs – as He has always done.  He is all the time manifesting His sovereign will among men – even as the potter forms the vessels on the wheel according to his own will.

This truth ought to be remembered by us – because it tends to take from us all fear of man.  Why should we be afraid of a man that will die?  If we are a child of God how could we ever fear harm when we remember that ancient promise – "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord" (Isaiah 54:17).

(Proverbs 21:1)  "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

Suppose that the Lord does allow Nebuchadnezzar to destroy the land that He gave to His people by covenant – it is God who permits it – so do not think so much of the instrument employed by Him as of the Hand in which that instrument is held.  Do not be angry or afraid of the second causes of your trouble – but believe that the Lord permits this to be for our good – so we submit ourselves to Him.

It is an easy thing to trust God when everything goes smoothly – but true faith trusts God in the storm.  Faith in a calm may be, or may not be, genuine faith – but faith in the storm is true faith – that is the faith of God's elect.  It proves it has divine life in it.  Circumstances will crush that faith, which has to do only with flesh and blood.

It is still true that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" – and that "no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly".

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840

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11/12/16
"He Cried Out"

Text Box:  (Mark 10:47)  "And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me."

This is the third time I have spoken to you from this passage of Scripture.  The message here is very important. 

This man began to cry out when "he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth."  He had a great desire to be heard of the Lord – such a desire that he forgot everything else in order to be heard. 

We tend to make a lot of excuses as to why we will not seek the salvation of our souls.  This man could have blamed his lost condition on his hard luck at being born blind – and looked to that as making him worthy to receive mercy from the Lord.  God does not pity people who are down on their luck.  He has mercy of those who come to Christ.  Nor are those who are down and out the only ones who need salvation from the Lord. 

We who possess all of our faculties tend to think we are OK, and that the only ones who need salvation are those who are worse off than we are.  We tend to think that because we have fine buildings to go to on Sunday, fine clothes to wear to church, and fine robes to dress the choir in, we are doing all right.  We even carry this to the extent that if one comes along who does not meet up to our standard of finery, we will not let him in the door. 

But the Lord Jesus Christ receives sinners.  That is the only qualification for coming to Christ – being a sinner.  Rich sinner, poor sinner, seeing sinner, blind sinner, clean sinner, and dirty sinner – they all come to Christ.  "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."  And sinners are the only ones who can come to Christ. 

This man was a beggar in the streets.  He was looked down on by all the hard workers of his day.  We have been led to believe that dirty hands manifest a clean heart.  That the harder we work here the better place we will have in Heaven. 

This man's business was begging, and he was going about his business the day Jesus passed by.  But, had he stuck to his begging this day, and not cried out to the Lord when He passed by, he would still be blind, he would still be standing before the Holy Bar of God, unable to see God's Glory in Christ.  He would still be lost in his sins.  But, he forgot his begging in order to find his eyesight – a picture of how we forget our doing in order to find mercy. 

When will you have time to stop all of your doing in order to find Christ, and when you find Him, cry out to Him for mercy?  It would be worth your while to stop your doing, trying to please God by your doing, and come to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Religious doing will not put us in good standing with God, but will only leave us without Christ.  

This soul salvation – pictured here – will never be a hindrance to you in this life.  It will never be a burden to heavy to bear.  It will make life worth living.  It will bring joy and rejoicing to your heart. So, do as Bartimaeus did, cry out to the Lord, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me." 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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10/22/16

                                                                                               Text Box:  "And When He Heard"

 (Mark 10:47)  "And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me."

 The last time I spoke to you it was concerning Bartimaeus' cry for mercy.  Today I want us to look at what he heard that brought him to cry for this mercy.

 Did you notice how short this sermon was that this man heard?  We tend to think that the length of the sermon has something to do with its importance.  We tend to think that for a person to be saved, he must almost become a theologian.  But this is all that this blind beggar heard.  "He heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth."  That was enough – and what he heard caused him to cry out to God for mercy.

 This is so different from us.  Some of us have heard preaching so long that we could probably give a pretty good imitation of it.  We have heard so much teaching that we are probably the most biblically instructed people in the world today.  We know the letter of the Law almost to perfection, but with all of our learning, we have not been led to cry out to the Lord.

 What we have learned is only theory if it does not cause us to cry out to the Lord to save our souls – to cry out as this poor blind beggar, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."  We hear these same things repeated so many times that they become unimportant to us, and indifference is the greatest danger to our soul.

 What is done in our churches today is nothing more than a theatrical performance which we judge with a critical ear.  What we hear in the sermon is so soon forgotten.

How I wish that the message of the Gospel of God's Grace would pierce your heart in such a way that you would cry out unto the Lord who alone could heal it.  What good is a cloud if it brings no rain?  What good is the sun if it gives no light or heat?  What good is smoke if there is no fire?  This poor beggar, with but one short sermon, never quits crying out until the Lord meets His need.

He cried for mercy for himself – "Have mercy on me."  Can you see your own need before the Holy God of Heaven?  Do not pass this off to someone else.  I am the one with sin.  I am the one who cannot stand before the Lord God of Heaven.

I pray that God would make this effectual to your heart.  I am responsible for the faithfulness of my preaching, but you, as the hearer, are responsible for your hearing.  I cannot hear for you.  I cannot cry out for you.  I cannot believe for you.  I cannot wash away your sins.

I pray that you can see "Jesus of Nazareth passing by," and will cry out to Him as the "Son of David" to "have mercy on you".

When he cried out, the Scriptures say that, "Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called."  And when he came, Jesus said to him, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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10/08/16

Text Box:  "Have Mercy On Me" 

(Mark 10:47)  "And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me." 

I love this passage of Scripture – so much so that one day between 7:30 AM and 8:30 PM, I preached from this passage thirteen times to thirteen different groups of people.  It is a passage that speaks to every one of us – everyone who is blinded by sin – and in need of a Saviour to give sight to the spiritually blind. 

One thing we can learn here is that where we find the Lord Jesus Christ, a great work is going to be done.  We do not worship a God who sits by helplessly wondering what we are going to do.  When the Lord has a lost sheep that He is going to save, He always sends the Shepherd. 

When the Lord Jesus Christ is present, there is a great change in those around Him.  Even blind beggars are touched by His presence.  Even the most worthless to society is moved to cry out with hope when he hears the Good News that Jesus of Nazareth passes by. 

When Christ is present, all cry out to Him.  There is not one mouth that is silent.  If there is no spiritual movement in our hearts and in our congregations, it is because the Lord of Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ is not present.  When He is not exalted, He leaves.  But when the Lord Jesus Christ works among us, we will soon see our hearts revived – raised from the dead. 

Wouldn't you like to know when He passes by?  Wouldn't you like to feel His holy influence on all this that we call religion?  Wouldn't you like to see the spiritually blind eyes opened?  Wouldn't you like to know that the spiritually deaf ears could now hear?  Wouldn't you like to see the spiritually lame and halt, jumping with joy before the Lord of Glory?  Wouldn't you like to see the Lord Jesus Christ working effectually to make hopeless sinners feel their need for Him, and come to Him that they might be saved? 

These things do not just happen.  It was providence that brought this poor blind beggar to the place where grace brought the Lord Jesus Christ to pass by.  Four things were necessary.  First – the Lord had to be passing by this place.  Second – this blind beggar had to be sitting by the road to Jericho begging.  Third – this blind beggar had to have a need.  Fourth – the Lord Jesus Christ had to be willing and able to provide for his need. 

All of these things came together to give this poor beggar his sight.  He did live in Jericho, he was by the wayside begging, he was blind, the Lord was passing that way, and He was willing and able to meet the need of that one who cried out to Him.  Had the blind beggar not cried out, Christ would not have stopped to help him.  "He is able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God by Him." 

As you read this today, the Lord is passing by one more time.  Do you have a need?  Are you blind and unable to "see the kingdom of God?"  There is only ONE who can give us light.  Christ alone can "give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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09/24/16

"Power To Forgive" 

Text Box:  (Matthew 9:6)  "The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins."

Did you hear what these words said to us?  The great Physician's mightiest and greatest works have been seen by the people.  He has the power to forgive sin!  Even while He lived on this Earth – even before He poured out His life's blood on that Cross as a ransom for us – even before that blood was sprinkled on the mercy-seat – He had power to forgive sin.  Does He not have power to forgive sin now that He has died? 

What power He must have if He can forgive sin – if He can discharge and take away the sin debt of His people.  Only the one to whom the debt is owed can discharge the debt.  Only the God of Heaven can write on that debt, Paid In Full!  The Lord Jesus Christ has the power to "forgive sins," because He has finished transgression and made an end of sin.  He has destroyed sin by His death on the cross. 

If you ever doubt this, look at the fact that He rose from the dead.  Look where He is raised to.  "He is seated at the right hand of God in Heaven."  He is there pleading before the eternal Father, pointing to His wounds, pleading the merit of His suffering as our Substitute, for us. 

(Acts 5:30-31 "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." 

(Isaiah 1:18)  "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." 

The crimson fountain of His blood removes our sins that are "red like crimson".  But it matters not how great our sin may be, the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to pardon us, and many more such as we are. 

(1 Timothy 1:15)  "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 

He only has to speak a word to pardon us.  He needs not do any thing else but this. He has done it all.  He cried, "It is finished." All the atoning work is done.  He can today forgive your sins and cause you to know that your sins are taken away.  He can breath into your soul today a peace with God "Which passed all understanding" – a peace which can only come from a perfect pardon.  Do you believe that?  Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive sin?

(Romans 10:9)  "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." 

Did you hear what Jesus said to me, They are all taken away!

 Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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08/27/16

"They Testify Of Me" Text Box:

(John 5:39)  "They are they which testily of Me. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the Bible.  There is only one theme in this Bible.  It is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the constant theme in every one of its sacred pages.

Every page speaks of a Substitute.  Every page speaks of a Saviour.  Every page speaks of a Redeemer.  Every page speaks of the Christ Of God.  From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the whole Bible speaks of Him.

At Creation we see Him as one of the sacred Trinity.  We catch a glimpse of Him in the Promise of the woman's seed.  We see Him pictured in the Ark Of Noah.  We walk with Abraham as he sees the Messiah's Day.  We dwell in the tents of Isaac and Jacob, feeding upon and trusting in the Gracious Promises.  We hear Israel talking about Shiloh.  And in all the types of the Law – the ceremonies, rituals, and sacrifices – we find our Redeemer pictured, promised, and prophesied.

Whether we found them to be Prophets or Kings, whether Priests or Preachers, they all looked the same way.  They all looked to Christ.  They all stood as the Cherubims did over that Ark of the Covenant, desiring to look inside – to read and know the great mystery of God's Great Propitiation, which is Christ Jesus.

But in spite of all this, still in the New Testament we find even in greater clarity our Lord Jesus Christ, the one pervading subject.  He is not like a gold nugget the gold miner might find occasionally, just scattered around in some places, but He is the Mother Lode.  He is the Solid Gold Foundation upon which the whole thing stands or falls.

The whole substance of the New Testament is "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified".  Even in the last Words of the closing sentence of the Bible we find it graced with the Redeemer's name.

This is how we ought to read Scriptures.  This is the light by which it must be read.  We should consider the Word of God to be as a Mirror into which Christ looks down from Heaven; and then when we look into that Mirror we see His face reflected.  We do see it darkly no doubt, but one day we will see Him face to face.

The pages of this Bible are the garments of our great King.  They speak of Him.  They tell of His person, of His holiness, of His love.

The Heart Of The Word Of God Is The Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the key that will unlock this Treasure Chest to us.

If you miss Him you miss it all.  "They are they which testily of Me."

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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07/16/16

"The Shepherd Of The Sheep"

Text Box:  

(John 10:2)  "He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep." 

In the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ is described as our Shepherd, and three words are used to describe the characteristics of our Shepherd.  These words describe His relationship with us as the Shepherd of the redeemed – and His work of redemption for us. 

The three words used are the Good Shepherd – the Great Shepherd – the Chief Shepherd. 

He is the Good Shepherd – "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).  As our Good Shepherd the Lord Jesus Christ is presented as the Redeemer.  It is as the Good Shepherd that He "gives His life for the sheep."  He has done it.  He came into this world and worked out our redemption by His obedience and sufferings on the cross. 

He is the Great Shepherd – "The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant" (Hebrews 13:20).  When the Word of God speaks of Christ as being our Good Shepherd, the emphasis is on the Death of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that work which He accomplished for our redemption by means of this death.  But here in this passage of Scripture, we see the Resurrection of Christ and the present Administration of this salvation – the application of all the benefits of this salvation. 

He was raised by virtue of the "blood of the eternal covenant," because the blood of Christ – His death by which He paid our sin debt, suffering the wrath of God for the sheep – was the evidence that the justice of God had been satisfied completely.  That is why God raised Him from the dead.  The resurrection was God's seal of approval on all that Christ did. 

With this sin debt completely paid, Christ was raised from the dead, because all the terms of the Covenant of Grace had been fulfilled, and now all in Him were justified before God.  Christ now lives in the Glory of the Resurrection as our Great High Priest to administer grace to "those whom the Father gave Him." 

He is the Chief Shepherd – "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4).  Here the Word says that Christ is the Chief or Prince of the Shepherds.  

As the Good Shepherd, Christ is our Redeemer, "giving His life for the sheep."  As the Great Shepherd, Christ is resurrected from the dead, giving to us the benefits of this saving work.  And now in this passage as the Chief Shepherd, He is manifested in the consummation of that work of redemption at His second coming. 

At this time He will bring His sheep into the Glory of final salvation.  Then "this corruption will put on incorruption, this mortality will put on immortality." 

 Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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05-28-26
"Why Do The Heathen Rage"

Text Box:

(Psalms 2:1-3)  "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us."

Most people will agree that Christianity sets forth a beautiful system of morals, and that if obeyed will have a good effect on society.  Even the infidels have not contradicted the common sense of mankind so far as to deny this.  None will deny that the Author of these precepts obeyed these same rules. 

We know that though the Lord Jesus Christ suffered many things, yet never do we find Him working one miracle for His own use.  He gave sight to the blind.  He gave health to the sick.  He wiped away the tears of the sad.  He gave life to the dead.  He fed the hungry.  Though He was ridiculed and scorned, yet He continued to do good. 

So the question is, Why did men hate Him so?  Why did all the political and religious leaders of His day rage so furiously against Him who did no wrong?  Why did those who were so opposite in interests, politics, and sentiments – who could agree on nothing else – all join together in agreement in opposing the Messiah, whose message teaches us "that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world"

This world now wears the name of Christian, but it still has the same spirit as those of the Psalmist's day – as those of Christ's day.  What is that one common principle which unites people of all ages who differ so much in other things?  It is that unified hatred of God, His Messiah, and His Gospel. 

The Gospel of God's mercy and grace, through the Lord Jesus Christ, has always produced a happy change in those who receive it.  And it has always provoked the same opposition and hatred in those who do not receive it.  The way the Gospel is opposed may differ as the circumstances change, but the principle is the same – Hatred of God! 

The Gospel offends the pride of men, by considering them all on the same level – as sinners in the sight of God – and by declaring only one Way of salvation. 

The Gospel offends the Dignity of men because of its strictness.  Like Herod, we might agree to obey in some things, if we have the liberty to please ourselves in others. 

The Gospel allows for no sin, but demands a perfect righteousness. 

We preach a free salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and proclaim His obedience unto death as the only grounds for our acceptance with God.  We proclaim the words of the Apostle Paul to the vilest of sinners, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."  Though not believed, the words are still true. 

This is our only hope of eternal salvation.  This is our only access to the Father.  The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No man cometh unto the Father but by me." 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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"Sheep Going Astray"
05-07-2016

Text Box:  (Isaiah 53:6)  "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." 

God's people are called sheep throughout the Scriptures.  It is a good picture.  Salvation is not the conversion of goats to sheep.  Salvation is a calling of God's sheep to Christ through the preaching of God's Word, through the operation of God's Spirit.  Now, all illustrations will break down if we carry them too far, so we must learn to use the illustration to learn a point and then leave it before we pervert it. 

When wandering sinners are compared to wandering sheep, we have a good picture of the danger they are in, and of their inability to recover themselves.  Sheep, wandering without a shepherd, are exposed to great danger and without defense.  They become easy prey for their enemies.  They may even die for a lack of pasture.  Sheep are unable to provide for themselves, or to find the way back to the place from which they strayed.  No matter what they suffer, they continue to wander, and if not sought by the shepherd, they will be lost. 

Now that is a good illustration of God's people.  "All we like sheep have gone astray."  Having known the goodness of God, we have willfully rejected Him.  We have renounced His protection.  We have voluntarily chosen to plunge ourselves into danger, rather than remain with God any longer.  Our Wandering is rebellious.  God made man "upright," but man has "sought out" to himself "many inventions" (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

God has appointed for mankind a safe and pleasant way.  If we walk in this way, we "shall find rest for our souls."  But we declare that we will not walk in this path. 

(Jeremiah 6:17)  "They said, We will not walk therein.  Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.  But they said, We will not harken." 

The Lord God of Heaven has made us capable of knowing the consequences of going astray. We are repeatedly warned of the consequences.  When we wander away, we are repeatedly shown the way to return.  But we refuse. 

We mock His messengers.  We prefer the misery we bring upon ourselves to the happiness of being under His care.  That is why the Lord Jesus Christ deserves the name of the Good Shepherd, for He freely lays down His life for His sheep.  "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." 

Have you noticed the personal and possessive pronouns used in the text I have read today?  These words spoken by the Prophet Isaiah are words spoken only by those who have seen the misery of their fallen condition before God – who have a deep concern for their wicked ways – and see and receive the way that God has provided for their deliverance and recovery. 

In these words is a confession of our guilt, and an acknowledgment of our misery before the Holy God of Heaven.  Here alone is our only hope of recovery.  In Christ alone is our only hope of acceptance with God. 

(Isaiah 53:6)  "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840

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"Awake Thou That Sleepest"

Text Box:  (Ephesians 5:14)  "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." 

The light of the Gospel not only shows the most important things to those who can see, but the Gospel has the wonderful power to open the eyes of the spiritually blind – to awake those that are spiritually asleep – to raise the spiritually dead.  The Gospel is the appointed instrument of Divine Power for this purpose. 

All of the work and hope of the farmer would be in vain if God did not send the rain to water the earth, and the life-giving influence of the sun, to cause the seed to germinate and the plant to grow and to ripen the fruit. 

This is the same way it would be with the preaching of the Gospel to sinful men.  Though in itself it is the truth and wisdom of God, and just what the sinner needs, and that thing which is so important to the eternal welfare of our souls, it would be useless if the Lord God of Heaven did not send His Spirit to make it effectual to our hearts.  And He promises that He will, and this is what encourages God's preachers to go into all the world and preach this Gospel. 

(Isaiah 55:10-11)  "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." 

It is a great sorrow, but no surprise, that the Gospel is so neglected.  Because it says that "salvation is of the Lord," it offends man's pride.  Because it requires absolute "holiness, without which we shall not see the Lord," it contradicts man's desires and passions.  We love this present world.  There is no desire in us for communion with God here, and we do not desire the Heaven proclaimed in the Scriptures for the here-after. 

When the Lord of Glory is pleased to send forth this Gospel, clothed with the influence of the Holy Spirit of God, it is as quick, powerful, penetrating, and irresistible.  It speaks to the deaf ear.  It gives light to the blind eye.  It gives life to the dead. 

We are aware of the impossibility on our part to save the souls of those who hear us, if all we have to depend on is our own power of argument and persuasion.  Our business is to deliver the message, and water it with the tears of our prayers.  When we have been faithful to do this, we can do no more.  "God must give the increase." 

Like the prophet Ezekiel, we are commanded to preach and prophecy to dry bones.  And He who sends us can cause the dry bones to live. 

In His name we proclaim pardon and peace to all who will seek Him.  But seek Him today, while it is called today.  Tomorrow is not yours.  Seek Him now while He may be found. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio Broadcasts Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

 

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"Thy Light Is Come"

Text Box:  (Isaiah 60:1-3)  "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

One of the strongest proofs that the Bible is the divine revelation of God, is its subject matter.  The Bible is the only book which teaches us to think highly and honorably of God, for there is no correct knowledge of God where the Bible is not known.

What are all of these little gods that have been worshipped by the people of the ages of this world compared to the God of Israel, as He is declared to us by His prophets?  To have any right thoughts of God, it will be by the Lord God of Heaven making Himself known to us by divine revelation.

All of the greatly admired writings of antiquity, are unspeakably inferior when compared to the Bible.  These writers of the Bible could only speak as they did because they were inspired by Him who alone can speak worthily of Himself.  Everything else is as dust in the balance compared with the great Creator.

His Purpose is final, and His Voice is power.  He speaks, and it is done.  That is how He called this universe into being.  And that is how He still maintains and governs it.  The great God of Heaven is seated on His throne, directing all of nature – every particular event – to the honor of His glory, and for the good of His people.

The greatest of all His purposes was the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  All of the prophecies announced this event.  As the time of His appearing approached, the prophesies became clearer.  And in the text of this message, the Prophet Isaiah is announcing the effects of His actual appearance.

This earth is looked upon as in a gross state of darkness.  But the Sun of Righteousness is about to rise.  But the effects of His coming will not extend to all, "For many will love darkness rather than light."

But Christ will not shine in vain.  There will be a people prepared to receive Him, and to rejoice in His light.  They will arise as though waking up from a sleep, as though rising from the grave, and His light reflected in them will cause them to shine also.

Darkness will still cover those who reject Him, and this darkness will even increase.  But the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon all who believe.  Nations shall come to Him.  Kings will bow at His feet.

Darkness is used in the Scriptures to describe the state of ignorance, sin, and misery.  Light is used in the Scriptures to describe true knowledge, holiness, and happiness.  And as the sun is the source of light to this natural world, so is the MESSIAH to the moral and spiritual world.

 Without Christ, we "walk in darkness," but when the Light of this world comes, "We who were at times darkness now are we light in the Lord."

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.

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Text Box:  "Saving Knowledge"

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

 My word for you today is the same that Paul gave to the Philippian jailer – "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31).

This world is full of preachers who are not giving sinners any hope.  They are telling us that we have to do something which we are not capable of doing.  One of Adolf Hitler's closest associates is credited with saying, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."  This is the message of today's religion.

But, in this whole context of Romans 10, Paul tells us that true faith and true salvation come as the result of knowledge.  I do not suggest that you must become a theologian to be saved, or that you can obtain salvation through your own mental powers.  What I am saying is that where there is no knowledge of the Gospel there is no true saving faith.

God's messengers are sent into the world to declare unto all men the Gospel of Christ – the accomplishment of salvation through Him – so that they might believe unto the saving of their souls.

If salvation is simply believing that there is somebody in Heaven who is willing, by some means, to forgive my sins, then all religious people everywhere are saved, Hell is a joke, God's holiness is a joke, and the preaching of the Gospel is a fraud.  That is religion, but you can get religion and never know Christ as Saviour.  It is not enough to simply believe; you must believe the Testimony of God revealed in His Word.  In order to believe in Christ you must know who He is and what He has done.

I Must Know Who He Is.  Salvation begins with a knowledge of Christ's Lordship.  He is the God-Man – the Lord of Glory.  In the Scriptures, men and women sought mercy from the hand of the Lord and called upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not possible for me to trust Christ as the all-sufficient Saviour of my everlasting soul until I know Who He Is – the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Must Know What He Has Done.  Being both God and man, by His one great sacrifice, through the shedding of His blood unto death, the Lord Jesus Christ has put away all the sins of all who trust Him, and now the risen exalted Christ reigns in Heaven to save sinners.

This saving knowledge that produces faith comes by divine revelation through the preaching of the Gospel.  Anyone who is ignorant of the Gospel cannot believe the Gospel.

(Romans 10:13)  "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

There are no exceptions, no qualifications, and no limitations.  The proclamation is as free as the salvation it proclaims.  Anyone in the whole wide world who will call upon Christ as Lord will be saved.  EVEN YOU!

 Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.

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"Jesus: King Of Kings" Text Box:

(John 18:37)  "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

 Customs – traditions – society – require us to remember at this time the birth of the Jesus.  But today I want us to skip forward to Calvary – hoping we might learn something from what our Lord said concerning the Kingdom over which He rules, and by this be led to appreciate more His coming to this world. 

When our Lord stood before Pontius Pilate, He was truthful, gentle, prudent, patient, and meek, but uncompromising and courageous.  He was not cowed by Pilate's power, nor was He frustrated by Pilate's mockery.  Both in His silence and in His speech He remained the model Witness for the Truth.  And though He said little, that little was all that was necessary.  He claimed His crown rights – and, at the same time – declared that His kingdom was not of this world, nor would it be sustained by force. 

Pilate asked, "Art thou a king, then?" – as though a nobody, as he thought the Jesus to be would claim royalty.  How could one in such a sorry condition have kingly claims?  The question was joking but the answer was solemn – "I am a King". 

He who came to redeem men by His sacrifice, had no ambition for worldly honors and the vain glories of a temporal crown.  But now having been betrayed and falsely accused, He is in the hands of an unjust ruler, and speaks plainly, saying, "Thou sayest that I am a king". 

There was no mistaking His words – "I am a king".  He who certainly did not look the part after spending most of the night in the Garden in the agony of prayer – then at midnight dragged from Annas to Caiaphas – and from Caiaphas to Herod – and now that it was early morning, He is led to the judgment hall of Pilate – given no rest. 

This world tries to dress the part – look kingly – but there has never been a truer King than the Lord Jesus Christ.  The carnal eye can not see this; it is trained to look on the outside.  But to the spiritual eye it is as clear as the sun at noonday.  The day comes when our Lord's claim to be a King will be acknowledged by all mankind. 

He is the King of kings and Lord of lords – and though He died in weakness as man – yet He ever lives and rules as God.  The Father has given Him power over all flesh, that He may give eternal life to as many as are given Him. 

For, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world."  He did not need to be born to be the Lord of all.  He was always that.  But to redeem us it was essential that He be one with us – one of us.  He was born that He might be able to save His people.  His birth was a necessary step to His redeeming death.  His incarnation was necessary to the atonement. 

So, now when you hear the bells ringing out at Christmas, think of the reason why Jesus was born – not just to find a bunch of presents under your tree.  Look into your heart and say, for this purpose He was born – that He might be King – that He might rule through the truth in the souls of a people who are by grace made to love the truth of God.  Come to Him – bow to Him as King – trust Him as Saviour – for He "will save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him".

 Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840

Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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"Why Christ Came" Text Box:

(1 Timothy 1:15)  "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 

There are a lot of things in this world that are very doubtful.  Sadly, we must realize that a lot of what people are telling sinners is suspicious and questionable. 

It will be in our best interest to search the Scriptures and try and prove what we are being told.  There are no contradictions in the Scriptures.  The eternal welfare of our soul depends on what is written in God's Word. 

The faithful saying of God's Word is, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" – and it never changes.  The God with Whom we have to do never changes.  Salvation never changes.  Christ Jesus never changes.  Man never changes.  The way of salvation never changes.  The way we meet God's requirements never changes. 

This "saying" is the same in any culture, any society, and any walk of life.  I can say to all men every where, without any fear of saying something wrong, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 

I have learned some things in my life that I want to share with you this morning 

The first thing I want to tell you is that I am a great sinner.  I am not proud of this, but it is true.  I pay my debts.  I am a preacher of the Gospel of Christ.  But, nevertheless, sin is mixed in everything I do.  In my life, I have never had a thought, never spoken a word, and never done one thing that was not stained with sin.  I have been saved by the grace of God.  I have been redeemed through the shed blood of Christ, yet sin is always present with me.  The foolish imaginations of my mind increase with the years.  I open this Bible to read the blessed Word of God and sin grabs me.  I bow to pray, and my mind wanders up and down every road of iniquity.  I join together with the saints of God to worship the Lord, and my heart is filled with unholy imaginations.  With Paul, my soul cries, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" 

But I have learned something else, and that is that God is love.  That gives me a hope.  By nature I am guilty, without hope, lost, and condemned, and sentenced to death for sin.  Divine justice demands the death of every sinner.  But, "God is love."  There is hope for sinners like me.  Because of His great love for sinners, God sent His Son into this world to die on that Cross so that the sinners that He loves with an eternal love, can be eternally saved by Him. 

Then I learned that the Lord Jesus Christ is the all sufficient Substitute and Saviour of sinners.  The Lord Jesus Christ has never saved a good person.  Christ did not die for just and holy people.  Christ does not show mercy to those who according to their own thoughts have no need of His mercy.  "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."  God shows mercy to me in Christ.  God saves me in Christ.  God pardons me in Christ.  God accepts me in Christ.  

If you come to Christ as a sinner, a poor bankrupt sinner, He will save you also.  As a guilty sinner, simply trust in Him – the all-sufficient Saviour – and you have eternal life. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840

 

 

 

 

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                                                                                           Text Box:  "The Sin Of Self-Trust" 

(2 Corinthians 1:8-9  "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead." 

Everywhere Paul went preaching the Gospel, the religious stirred up the mobs against him.  The pressure on him was beyond his strength.  He gave himself up for a dead man.  But, he said, "We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead." 

The worst disease we will ever be faced with is the tendency to trust in ourselves.  What is there in us to trust in?  This self-trust can only hurt us. 

God arranges providence to prevent His people from falling into self-trust.  He makes us sick of ourselves and causes us to turn to Christ. 

Self-trust is so terrible that the Lord pronounced a curse on it – "Cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm."  If I am relying upon myself for acceptance with God, I am cursed.  Trusting in myself is idolatry – it puts self in place of God.  "He that trusteth in is own heart is a fool."  And to cure it, God must make us feel the sentence of death in ourselves. 

Can you imagine the feeling of a man who has just had the sentence of death passed on him by a judge?  Nothing short of this sentence of death could prevent Paul from being polluted with self-trust.  And it is only the sentence of death that will cause us to see our complete helplessness. 

God will also use the same treatment in dealing with men who are not saved.  The first work of grace in us is to take away all our comfort and hope in ourselves and our things.  The first part of human salvation is the sentence of death on all human merit and power. 

In order to bring us into the "Light of God's dear Son," all the candles of our self-trust must be blown out.  And when all hope in self is gone, Christ comes in, and with His infinite grace, rescues the soul from destruction. 

If you have not trusted Christ today to save your soul, it is because you are still trusting yourself – you are still finding some hope in yourself. 

This sentence of death is strong medicine, but it worked.  Under its influence Paul preached as though he would never preach again – a dying man to dying men. 

A knowledge of the brevity of this life is good for us.  We must get familiar with the grave so we will not trust in ourselves.  We need to forget self.  And we will never do it until we write this down in our hearts – that "Self is Dead!" 

Oh! For a state of weakness that is strong in the divine strength.  Oh! To be nothing, that God may be all in all in us, that we might look to Christ alone. 

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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"The Chief Corner Stone"

(1 Peter 2:6-8)  "Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

Every time we see the Lord speaking, He is dividing those who are listening to Him into two groups – believers and unbelievers, obedient and disobedient.

We have been in church most of our lives.  We have heard of this matter of God's punishment on sin mentioned often, but we have become immune to it.  When we doubt the truth of God in His Word, we have opposed His authority, deny His Godhead, and deny Him the rights of His throne.

When He sets forth His Son to be a propitiation for sin – the only One who can cover our sin in His sight – when He sets Him forth and we refuse to receive Christ and look to Him, this rejection is flagrant disobedience.

Unbelief of God's Word is the root of all other sin.  When we reject the Gospel, we reject everything He said, for everything He has said, is saying, and shall say, points to the Lord Jesus Christ.  God has made Christ the Chief Corner Stone, and we either bow to Him or we must face the consequences.  And there is nothing scarier than to be an unbeliever and to have to face a holy God without Christ.

Every time this Rock of Christ is presented, you find something you do not like about it, so you cast it aside because it will not fit into your life.  And, when we take that Stone and look it over and say it will not work for us in our plan, we call God a liar.  If we stumble on this Stone, we will be broken, but it will not affect this Stone in the least.

Satan is so subtle – and one of his greatest tools is religion.  We are encouraged to give God's glory to things.  But, God is still on His throne, and the Lord Jesus Christ is still the only way to Him.  In spite of all that men and devils have done, not one elect soul has been, or will be lost.

The Lord God has set His King upon His Holy Hill of Zion – all His decrees shall be fulfilled – the throne of Christ shall stand – and the covenant sealed with His blood will be sure to His chosen seed.  Not one soul redeemed by His blood will be removed from the Saviour's hand.

There is only One who can meet God's demands – the Lord Jesus Christ.  The justice of God can only be satisfied by One of infinite nature becoming the propitiation for our sin.  And if you reject Him, it will cost you everything.  All opposition to Christ is futile, because God made Him the Chief Corner Stone – the Stone of stumbling, a Rock of offense.

There is a way of salvation by Christ Jesus the incarnate God, and I beg you to come to Him.  If not, unbelief will be your eternal ruin.  Whether you look to Him now or not, you will have to look to Him in that day when Heaven and Earth shall tremble at His great judgment.

(Psalm 2:12)  "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.

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"A Gamble We Cannot Afford!"

Text Box:
(Mark 8:36-37)  "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Think about this – gaining the whole world at the loss of your soul.  A man once told me, "Never gamble more than you can afford to lose."  That is good advice.  There are many people in this world today who will take great chances to get ahead and who end up losing all they have – always with that hope of winning the big one, but in the process, losing all they have.  That is gambling more than you can afford to lose.

The Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to us about "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"  That is, laying it all out, wagering everything we have to gain this world, but in the process of gaining this world, losing our soul.

There is nothing more dangerous than playing games like this with our soul.  If we were to take care of our business like we care for our soul, we would all be bankrupt.  We play games with our soul that we would never think about doing in business.

There is a trade that is conducted almost every day called Futures Trading, which is betting on future events and staking what you have now on the outcome of things to come.

Now when it comes to our soul, we are not just talking about tomorrow or six months from now, but we are trading on eternity.  This is a much more serious gamble.  When we start gambling away the welfare of our soul for the gain of this world, we are trading eternity for a little time.  We are trading our standing before the Holy God, for a little pleasure in time.

What would we gain if we gained the whole world?  Would we gain happiness?  No!  You can read almost every day of people who have gained this world and have not found happiness.  Would we gain fame?  We might, but it is very fickle.  Would we gain fortune?  Maybe, but even that corrupts with time.

Seeking to gain this temporal world at the expense of our eternal soul is saying that we really do not believe what God's Word says about sin and God's righteousness.  We are saying that we really do not believe we are sinners.  We are really saying that we have no need of a Saviour.

"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"  Nothing!  We will not profit by this.  If our soul is lost, no matter how much of this world we gain, we have profited nothing.

(Mark 8:36-37)  "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday @ 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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Text Box:  "Our Inheritance"

 

"In who also we have obtained an inheritance"  (Ephesians 1:11)

 When the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, He gave us all the rights and privileges which went with Himself.  And now, although as the eternal God, He has essential rights which no creature can have in and by himself, yet as Jesus the Christ, the Mediator, the federal Head of The covenant of grace, He has nothing apart from us for whom He died.

All the glorious consequences of His obedience unto death are the joint riches of all who are in Him, and on whose behalf He accomplished the divine will.  He enters into glory, but not for Himself alone.  According to the Scriptures, He is the forerunner, who for us and before us is entered.

(Hebrews 6:19-20)  "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

The Lord Jesus Christ, who is our forerunner, now stands in the presence of God for us.

(Hebrews 9:24)  "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"

Now believer, think about this.  We have no right to Heaven in ourselves.  Our only right lies in the Lord Jesus Christ.  If we are pardoned, it is through His blood.  If we are justified it is through His righteousness.  If we are sanctified, it is because He is made of God unto us our sanctification.  If we are to be kept from falling, it will be because we are preserved in Christ Jesus.  If we are perfected at last, it will be because we are complete in Him and by Him.

This inheritance is made certain for us.  It is obtained in Him.  It is because it is in Him, that each blessing of this life is a little sweeter – and even Heaven itself is brighter, because it is in Jesus our beloved "in whom" we have obtained all.

Who can estimate what will be our divine portion in Grace?  Who could weigh the riches and treasures of Christ in scales, or count all the blessings that are ours in Christ?  Who can understand the joy and happiness which God has prepared for them that love Him?

 (1 Corinthians 3:21-23)  "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."

 Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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"We Preach Christ Crucified" Text Box:

(I Corinthians 1:23-24)  "We preach Christ crucified… the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

 At Kitchens Creek Baptist Church our purpose for meeting is to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.  To us, "We preach Christ crucified" is not merely a slogan.  It is the sum and the substance of all we say and do.

 The Apostle Paul said in (I Corinthians 2:2) "For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

 We too have determined to know nothing, or esteem nothing as truly important, save Jesus Christ (Who He is), and Him crucified (What He did).  This glorious message tells how a sinner can be accepted by a Holy God on the grounds of the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We meet together to worship Him, study His word, sing His praises, and encourage one another in His Gospel.  Here is our stand.

 Scriptures Alone – The Bible is the Word of God.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.

 (2 Timothy 3:16) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

 It contains no error whatsoever.  We do not derive our doctrine from men or denominations.  The Bible is our rule of faith and practice.  "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).

 Christ Alone – Christ is the Gospel.  He is both the subject and the object of the Gospel.  It is about Him, it is "concerning  his  Son  Jesus  Christ our Lord," and it is for His glory.  "That in all things he might have the preeminence."

 "Christ is all" are the words of Scripture.  He is All in the Scriptures, All to God, All in Salvation, and All to every believer.  The SURE and ONLY hope of every child of God is wrapped up in the Person and Work of Christ.  Salvation  is the  work  of Christ – His effectual atonement for His people.  Salvation is experienced by knowing and bowing to the Lordship of Christ.

 Grace Alone – Every aspect of Salvation, from the beginning (election) to the end (glorification), is all of God's grace.  Salvation is not what you do for God, but what He does for you.  No part of Salvation can be ascribed to man.  To ascribe any part of Salvation to the religious efforts, good works, or free will of man is to deny Salvation by grace.

 (Ephesians 2:8-9)  "Salvation is of the Lord."  "By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast."

 Faith Alone – Christ and His Salvation is not received by doing, but by believing.  "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent."  Anybody who looks to Christ alone for Salvation will be saved.

 Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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Risks Of "Believing Not The Gospel"

Text Box:  (1 Peter 4:17)  "What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" 

There are those who do not obey the Gospel – those who do not believe the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The ungodly is that one without God, without Christ, and without hope. 

What more can Peter say?  No words can describe the judgment that will come upon the unbeliever for not believing and obeying the Gospel. 

The apparent prosperity of the disobedient will end.  We seem to think that no matter how we respond to the Gospel, or what we think of God and His Christ, when it is all over, everything is going to work out OK.  But the prophet tells us that the happiness that the disobedient person has is like the flame of a candle that ends with a puff of wind – or as a flower from which the beauty fades. 

Isaiah cried,  "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth."  The very foundation of all our comfort will fade as the grass, but our sins, which have always offended God, will never end unless they are taken away by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Lord God passes over our sins and iniquities for a while, and we think it will always be this way.  But it will all end in misery and poverty. 

When we do not walk in the light God has given to us, He will remove that light and leave us alone.  And if God were to leave us alone for just a little while, there would not be one drop of water to cool our tongue. 

The fall of the disobedient and unbeliever is so terrible that Peter did not attempt to describe it.  He only said, "What shall be the end of them?"  Can you imagine what the end will be of them who obey not the Gospel? 

The Gospel of God is contained in Christ Jesus our Lord, who is the heart and center of the message of God.  That is why we must learn that when we reject the Gospel we reject God – "We refuse to have this Man to rule over us!"  

Heathenism is not a place where the Gospel has not been preached and heard, but it is where the Gospel has been preached, heard, and rejected. 

To obey the Gospel is to receive Christ to justify and sanctify us.  It is to receive Christ as King to reign over us and as Priest to save us.  To look to another is to disobey the Gospel. 

Beware of going through life left alone by God.  Beware of going to your death without a Saviour. 

(1 Peter 4:17)  "What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840.
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

 

 

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"In The Beginning God"

Text Box:  (Genesis 1:1-5) "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."

This is a literal and accurate account of God's first day's work in the creation of this world.  There are many who deny this work of God, but do not let that bother you.  Men are in darkness; and in darkness they cannot see.  Never try to convince a man that "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."  Just like every thing else that is Holy and Spiritual, this must be revealed from Heaven.

The person who denies that "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" must deny every thing else about the Word of God.  Every thing we know concerning the Word of God is founded on these first words of the Bible, "In the beginning God."  Every thing we know concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and redemption through His blood falls to nothing if we do not believe that, "In the beginning."  There is no need for prayer if it is not true that, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

If God did not create this world, He has no power over this world.  Why pray to a God like this?  If He has no power over this world, there is not a thing He can do about the events of this world.  If God did not create this world, He would be a usurper of an authority that is not His, if He intervened in the affairs of this world.  It would be no different than me going into a house that does not belong to me, and where I have no right to be, and intervening in the affairs of it.

But if God did create this world, as the Scriptures – God's Word – declare, then this world belongs to Him and to Him alone, and He can do with it as He pleases, and make demands on those who occupy His domain.

Listen to how it is expressed in the Bible.

(Romans 9:14-22)  "What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy… Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth… O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory… "

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

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Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840.
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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"Preaching Good Tidings"

(Isaiah 61:1)  "The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted."

Such honor does the Lord of Heaven and Earth put upon the ministry of the Word that, as one of the old Puritans said, "God had only one Son, and he made a preacher of him."  It was His business to preach, and He was always preaching.  He preached by every work He did – by every miracle He performed.  He even preached when He did not speak.  He preached when He gave.  He preached when He received.  He preached by His patience before Pilate.  He preached from the cross.

Then He sent His disciples out to preach.  He did not teach them to conduct religious services.  He did not teach them to please people.  He taught them to preach the Gospel.  The preaching of the cross, which is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved is the wisdom and the power of God, is the way it pleased God "to save them that believe".  When His life on this earth was ending, the last thing the Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples was "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

This is what He preached – "Good Tidings".  The Good Tidings are pardon for the chief of sinners.  He preached life given to men dead in sin.  He preached glad tidings concerning the resurrection.  He cried, "I am the resurrection and the life; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."  He preached man's poverty that we might be made rich by His grace.  He made men feel weary and heavy-laden, that He might give us rest.  He loved to preach to publicans and sinners.

Our business is not to teach politics.  We do not teach morals.  We do not waste time declaring what men ought to do, but use the precious time we have to preach the Good News of what God has done for them.  We are determined not to know anything among men, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

These are those to whom He preached – "The Meek".  These are those who are not proud and lifted up.  These are those who have been brought down.  These are those who are in darkness.  Those who are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing will not look on the Gospel as Good News.  But, to him who is down and has nothing, when he hears there is food to be had, without money and without price, this is Good News.  When God empties you, this will be Good News to you.  The Gospel is not for the good and deserving.  The Gospel is for the nobody.

He was sent – "To bind up the broken-hearted".  Are you broken-hearted because of your sin?  Have you given up on self-salvation?  Have you cast aside all your self-righteousness?  Do you find no comfort in ceremonies?  Is your heart broken because of your wicked heart?  The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world "to bind up the broken-hearted."

If this is the condition of your heart, Christ came to cure you, and He will do it.  With sovereign power from on high, He saves the worst among us.  "The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted."

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840.

Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

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TRUE RELIGION

 It seems we have more religion in the world today than ever before.  There are churches on every corner, and new ones are starting every day.  You can hear preaching of some kind on radio and TV 24 hours a day.  Everybody claims to be a Christian with some kind of religious experience.  But, the strange thing is it has not done much good.

 If you consider the results it has produced, we might be better off without the religion of today.  Most of what goes on in the name of religion today is a show, and has no lasting effect on those who participate in it.  Most have no idea what true religion is.

 1.  True religion is knowing who God is.  The God of the Bible is totally, absolutely, and universally sovereign in all things; in creation, in providence, and in salvation.  God does what He will, when He will, with whom He will, in the way He will, and gives account of His actions to no one.  He is not some helpless old man standing on the sidelines with His fingers crossed, hoping everything is going to work out all right.  If God is not absolutely sovereign, He is not God.  It is hard to say which is worse, the atheist who says, "There is no God," or the religionist who says, "God cannot do as He pleases."  The Scriptures declare that God is God!

 2.  True religion is knowing what man is.  Is man wicked or is he good?  Is man moral or is he depraved?  Is man spiritually sick or is he spiritually dead?  You do not have to read much of the Bible to find out the truth concerning man.  All men are spiritually dead, without life toward God.  All are morally depraved.  Their hearts are evil continually, incapable of doing what is good in the sight of God.  All are justly condemned.  If God does not intervene and do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, we will end eternally separated from God, eternally punished for our sin.

 3.  True religion is knowing how salvation is accomplished.   The Scriptures declare that, "Salvation is of the Lord."  Salvation is not an offer but a free gift.  Salvation is accomplished by the sovereign power of God the Holy Spirit, irresistibly drawing sinners to Christ and creating faith in them.  Salvation is by the revelation of Christ to us by God.  Salvation is bowing to Christ the King.  To be "Born again" is sinners being awakened by God.  It is God giving life to the dead.

 4.  True religion is knowing who Jesus Christ is.  He is God, the Sovereign Lord, manifest in the flesh.  We are never asked if we will receive Jesus, but, will He receive us.  We are never asked if we will accept Jesus, but, if we will be accepted by God.  We must bow to the Lord Jesus Christ as the same Lord God of Heaven, the Great King, and plead for mercy.

 5.  True religion is knowing what the Lord Jesus Christ did.  If there is anything taught in the Scriptures, it is this:  By His one great sacrifice for sin, the Lord Jesus Christ has put away the sins of His people.  He obtained eternal redemption for us, when He poured out His life's blood unto death at Calvary.

 Today, the Lord Jesus Christ, lives in Heaven and saves to the uttermost every sinner who comes to God by Him.

 Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball
Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF  AM 840
Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook and at www.KitchensCreek.com

 

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"True Faith"

(Romans 10:13-17)  "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  How shall they hear without a preacher?  How shall they preach, except they be sent?...So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

The Lord God of Heaven requires of us a righteousness, which we do not have, and a faith, which we cannot produce.  The faith of God's elect is not something which we develop or work up.  It is a life giving principle created in us by the power and grace God.  So, when He is going to save a soul, He sends a man who preaches the Gospel.  In that Gospel you hear of only One who can save your soul.  The Gospel speaks of Christ.  The Spirit of God points us to Christ.  The Law of God points us to Christ.  And hearing of Christ, we believe on Him and call on Him.  We stand before God, not because of anything we do, but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many ignore the righteousness of God, which is Christ, and try to establish their own righteousness.  If all you know about the Law of God, the Law of Moses, and the Ten Commandments, does not point you to Christ, all you know is error.  The Law shows us what is required and points us to Christ who alone can do for us what must be done before God.

Paul tells us that all who "call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  But you cannot call upon someone in whom you do not believe – in whom you have no confidence – and you cannot believe in someone of whom you have not heard.  You cannot hear without a preacher, and that man cannot preach unless he is sent of God.  Faith comes through hearing the preaching of the Word.

True faith produces a heart that seeks after true holiness.  It is one thing to profess Christ, and another thing to possess Christ.  It is one thing to call Christ Lord with your lips, and another thing to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart.  The true faith of the elect of God – that faith which saves the soul – is a faith which produces a living union with a living Redeemer.

Saving faith receives a complete Christ as He is revealed in the Scriptures – Prophet, Priest, and King.  Saving faith always believes God – always loves God – always walks with God.  Saving faith looks to Christ alone.  Saving faith always serves God – always submits to the will of God – always glorifies God in all things – perseveres to the end – and dies believing God.  All those who live by faith die in faith, for their heart is fixed on the Lord.

Do you every wonder why someone bounces around so much in this thing called religion?  It is because their heart is not "fixed" on the Lord.  When your heart is fixed on the Lord, you do not bounce into church for a while and then bounce out.  You cannot stay away when your heart is fixed on the Lord.

True believers will continue steadfast until the end.  They will not be moved from the hope of the Gospel.  This is the faith of the elect of God.  It looks to Christ alone.

Milton W. Howard is pastor of Kitchens Creek Baptist Church in Ball.  Radio broadcasts of the church are Monday-Friday: 7:45 a.m. on KWDF AM 840.  Look for Kitchens Creek Baptist Church on Facebook.