My son, fear the Lord and the king – Proverbs 24:21

It is very common to see the phrase ‘fear the Lord’ in the Bible. This is true both in the Old and New Testaments. However, it is not a subject oft spoken about and it is definitely a subject that is not well understood.

Oftentimes, in our zeal, we get in one ditch or another. I remember when I first became a Christian, I was very critical of Christians and Christian denominations that I perceived to be cold or lukewarm. Therefore, I sought to be different from them in everything. I perceived them as stuffy and cold, so I wanted to be free and on fire. They sat still, I wanted to move. They prayed quietly, I wanted to pray loudly. They were reserved, I wanted to be unreserved. You get the point. I didn’t know a lot about being a Christian, but I knew I didn’t want to be like them.

And another thing I didn’t like about these other Christians was that I felt like they gave the world an entirely wrong impression of who God is. When I came to Christ, I encountered a God of love. I was rocked with a revelation of a God that I had never known. I experienced a love from another world. And it changed me dramatically. I wanted the world to know that God, the God I had experienced; not the stuffy God that I felt others were portraying.

Because of this, the ‘fear of God’ was not something that I thought much about. Why would we be afraid of God? What was there to fear? What does it mean to fear God?

Now that I’m a little older and wiser (hopefully), I see that the ‘fear of the Lord’ is very much needed in the church today. What I didn’t understand as a young Christian is that there is more to God than just love. He is also the great Judge of all the earth. And one biblical author, while pondering this very thought, said this: “It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

What does it mean to fear God?

Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart…Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

If you search for the word ‘fear’ throughout the Bible, you’ll find that it is used in two primary ways: “Do not fear” and “fear the Lord.” Sometimes you’ll find them in the same passage together, like the passage above. In the passage above, Samuel tells the people not to fear the Lord and then tells them to fear the Lord in the very next sentence. What is he doing?

The people of Israel had sinned greatly by rejecting God as their king and asking for a human king. Samuel called upon God to send great thunder and rain as a sign to confirm their wickedness. As the people stood there in the rain with the booming thunder, they were filled with great fear. They feared God’s judgment upon them for what they had done. It was immediately after this that Samuel said, “Do not fear.”

What was he saying? He was saying, “Do not be afraid of God’s judgment. He isn’t going to punish you.”

Then, however, Samuel gives them a stern warning: “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart.”

Did Samuel just forget that he told them not to fear? Why is he now telling them to fear the Lord?

Now it’s very evident that Samuel is speaking of a different kind of fear when He tells the Israelites to fear the Lord. They were already afraid. They felt afraid. He wasn’t wanting them to continue to feel afraid. If that was the case, he could have said nothing. No, he didn’t want them to feel afraid. The command to ‘fear the Lord’ does not so much concern the sensibilities. How can it be? Our sensibilities aren’t really under our control.

It’s important to understand that whenever the Bible commands us to do something it is always a command to do and not to feel. For example, when the Bible says, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,’ this is not a command to feel feelings of love towards God. Not at all. It’s impossible to simply make yourself feel this way or that way about a certain thing. When the Bible commands an emotion it simply means to act like the corresponding emotion. What does love do? Love honors, respects, cares, gives, etc. We can do those things without any feelings. The Bible commands us to the same regarding our neighbor: ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ Do you really think the command is to feel love for your neighbor? I don’t think so.

The same thing is true for fear. When the Bible says to ‘fear God’ we must ask, “What does fear do?” God knows that we understand the emotion of fear. But what if we are to take the emotional part out of it and just do the things that fear invokes? What would we do?

Fear is a natural response to what is perceived as dangerous. Think, for example, that you are placed on a very high ridge and must walk very close to the edge. Most normal people would experience a certain amount of fear in such a situation. What would that fear cause you to do? It would cause you to focus, to be cautious, to be serious, to be careful.

Think also, for example, that you have met the girl of your dreams (reverse the pronouns if you are a woman). She wants to date you but only if you first meet and get approval from her father. How will you feel when you first approach the house? How will you act as you sit down with her father? If you were smart, you would dress nicely, sit properly, speak properly and respectfully, say ‘yes sir and no sir,’ etc. You wouldn’t be checking your phone, chewing gum, or putting your feet on the couch. That fear would cause you to be focused, cautious, serious, and respectful. Your goal at the moment would be to please her father and nothing else. Nothing else would be important.

This is the way we can understand the fear of the Lord.

How should I act knowing that the eyes of the Lord are on all the earth? How should I conduct myself knowing that all my words and deeds are recorded in His book? We should be focused, cautious, serious, and respectful.

We would also be obedient.

Indeed, the greater our understanding is of the fear of God, the quicker our obedience will be.

In our title passage, the proverb is: ‘fear the Lord and the king.’ This should help us to understand what it means to fear the Lord. We don’t live in the age of monarchs so much anymore, but most of us understand how it works. The king is in charge. What the king says, goes. Life and death are at his command. With that being the case, how should you act around the king? You’d be careful about what you say and do, would you not?

This is what it means to fear the Lord. It means to live and speak and act in a manner that always considers God and His role as King and Judge.

Most people aren’t this way, unfortunately. Most people don’t seem to care what God thinks. Most people care more about what people think. This is one reason so many fall in times of temptation. Many people fall under the pressure of the fear of ridicule or exclusion. Instead, we ought to respond to with, “I’m not going to do that—I fear God.”

We also must learn to fear God in response to our own lusts. When we are tempted with sins of the flesh—to look at what we should not, to touch what we should not, to indulge what we should not—we ought to say to ourselves, “Do I not fear God?”

The Bible says that by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil (Proverbs 16:6). A healthy dose of the fear of God is what we need to help us overcome sin. We should fear the judgment of God. We should fear the wrath of God. These things are healthy and good. It doesn’t take away from the love of God. It’s part of who God is. He is love, but He is also a consuming fire (Deut 4:24, 12:29).

Jesus taught this very emphatically. He said:

“Don’t fear those who can kill the body, but after that have no more that they can do. Rather fear Him, whom after He has killed, has power to cast into hell. Yes, I say unto you, fear Him!” – Luke 12:4-5

He also said that if your hand or foot offends you, cut it off. It’s better to enter life without a hand or foot than to be cast into the Gehenna of fire (Mat 18:8).

Jesus taught us to think this way. This is the fear of God.

It would be good for us to have the fear of God back as a nation. But we are far from having the fear of God. The common accounts of murder-suicides that happen in our country show us that there is no fear of God. The filth on our screens, the rampant sexual infidelities, the constant swearing—these all testify to our lack of the fear of God. It is as the psalmist wrote:

they have not set God before them. – Psalm 54:3

And that’s the key to understand this. God is there, no doubt. His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, but men do not consider it. Men do not ‘set God before them.”

Have you set God in your view? Do you consider that He sees and knows and brings everything to account? God doesn’t force His way into anyone’s view. If you are going to see God then you’re going to have to make a conscious decision to do so. God gives us enough truth so that we have plenty to live by if we choose to, but He also withholds Himself enough for those who want to go their own way. It is in this way that He tests the hearts of all mankind.

It is essential that we learn to fear God once again. We must do so on a personal level, a church level, and on a national level.

Of course, personally is the place to start first.

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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13

Faith is not just believing that God can do something. That’s easy. That hardly takes any faith at all. It’s also easy to believe that God can use someone else. However, believing that God can use YOU is a whole different story. But that’s precisely the kind of faith God requires.

If you look through the pages of the Bible and down through the ages of history, you will see that God chooses to work with people. When He wants to say something or do something He always does it in partnership with a man or a woman or a nation. And if He can’t find someone to work with Him then the thing He desires does not get done.

I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before ME on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation… – Ezekiel 22:30

We see throughout the Bible that God always raised up a man or woman for His purposes. He found Moses, Joshua, the Judges, Ruth, David, the Prophets, Esther, the Apostles, Stephen, Philip, etc. He spoke through these people, worked miracles through them, and the world was changed and persevered because of them. Each one of these saints had to learn to put their faith in God–not just that God could do something, but that God could do it through them.

We see this so evidently through Moses. When God appeared to him in the burning bush, he thought it was wonderful that God had come to save his people. But as soon as God said, “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people out of Egypt,” he quickly objected! “Who am I that I should bring them out of Egypt?” Moses had to believe that God would not just deliver His people, but that God would do it through him.

And we also see David, who was just a young man when he approached Saul with his desire to face Goliath on the battlefield. Noticed that he didn’t say, “I believe God can defeat this giant.” Any of the soldiers on the battlefield that day would have said that. But David said, “I will fight with him.” Then he said, “I have killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them!” and “The Lord will deliver me.”

What tremendous faith! He didn’t just believe that God could do it, but that God would use him to do it. And as a result, we see that the giant fell and the people of Israel won a great victory.

We see the same kind of faith displayed in the New Testament. When Peter and John healed the lame man, they didn’t say, “God, we believe you can heal him in your good time, whether in this life or the next.” No, anyone can pray that faithless prayer. Instead, they said, “Such as I have, give I to you, in the name of Jesus, rise and walk!” And look at Paul’s faith when he says, “I know that I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”

What confidence! What faith!

Such faith is not often found in the world today. Jesus even lamented that such faith would hardly be found when he returned:

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:8

Can you believe that God can use you? If you can’t, you’ll never fulfill the plan that He has for your life. If you can’t, you’ll miss out on all the good things He has for you. If you can’t, you will be judged.

One of the more sobering stories in the Bible is the instance of the 12 spies that went to spy out the land of Canaan. God had brought the people of Israel out of Egypt with a might hand, with many signs and wonders. And not only did He bring them out of slavery, but He promised them a land of their own, a land flowing with milk and honey, a land with houses they did not build, wells they did not dig, and vineyards they did not plant. And God promised that He would be with them, to drive out the inhabitants of the land.

But the first generation did not enter that land. Why?

We see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. – Hebrews 3:19

What was their unbelief? Could they not believe that God would defeat their enemies? No, that’s not what they said. Look what they said, and what God called an ‘evil heart of unbelief:’

“We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” – Numbers 13:31

They failed to believe that God could use them. They didn’t believe that they could do it.

But look in contrast what Caleb said:

“Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it!” – Numbers 13:30

But Caleb was in the strong minority. Only he and Joshua believed that God could use them to drive out the Canaanites. The rest of the Israelites sided with the 10 spies who said, “We can’t do it.” What was the result? The 10 spies died quickly in a plague and the rest of the people were forced to trek through the desert for 40 years until every last one of them over the age of 20 was dead.

Only then, when the older generation had passed away, did the aged Caleb and Joshua enter the land.

The Bible says that we ought not to follow their pattern of unbelief.

Has God told you to do something? Have you not done it because you have failed to believe that God could use you? Don’t persist with such an evil heart of unbelief! God has forgiven your sin, He has given you His Holy Spirit; don’t insult Him by saying, “I am not able!” Of course, you are not able in your own strength. However, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Believe it.

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Ministry on the Boardwalk!

We had a crowd about us one evening recently in Ocean City, NJ. My friend was explaining the gospel to the crowd when a young couple peeked in out of curiosity. When she saw the sign about heaven she balked and began to walk away. I called out to her, “you need this more than anyone!”

Now, I don’t normally yell out things like that, but, surprisingly enough, she stopped to talk to me. She asked me what it was about. From there I began to talk to her about the problem of sin and our need for a Savior. I walked her through the law and explained to her how we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. I could tell that the Holy Spirit was doing the work of conviction in her heart. She recognized her guilt and was humbled. The young man with her was listening intently, as well. Then I asked her, “Do you know what God did for guilty sinners like us so we wouldn’t have to go to hell?” She had no idea! I told her how Christ came and lived a sinless life, how he died in our place, and rose from the dead. Then I looked at them and said, “God has commanded that we all turn from our sin and put our trust in Jesus. When are you going to do that?”

They looked at each other and looked back at me, “Right now,” they said. So I led them to Christ right there on the boardwalk. When she looked up I could see the light on her face. She said, “My family doesn’t know about this, but they will now!

Crowds and One-on-One

I’ve had some of my best crowds this month. The paintboard does a fantastic job of catching the attention of passerbys. Often, I just have to start painting something and a crowd begins to form. I simply turn around and start preaching. And God shows up! I often sense His presence and feel Him working through me. I invite everyone who would like to have more information to come to talk to me and I usually pass out a lot of literature. Often, Christian brothers and sisters come by to encourage me and thank me for what I’m doing.

When I’m not preaching, I’m holding the Heaven Test sign. I’ve often spoken about my initial reservations regarding this sign, but you can’t argue with results! A few nights ago a woman approached me when I first got out to the boardwalk with the sign. She said, “Does anyone actually respond to your sign?” I said, “All night long!” This silly sign results in endless conversations deep into the night. Most of these conversations are fruitful, and many end with humbled hearts and prayer. God bless the Heaven Test signs!

Pray for us!

Up to this very day, we have not lacked! However, I must admit that our financial projection is not as favorable looking as we would like it to be. Would you pray for us? I know that if you are reading this newsletter you probably are already supporting us financially. Thank you! Please pray that God would touch the hearts of others who would be willing to come alongside us as we take the gospel to the highways and hedges. We would be very grateful.

As I mentioned in our last newsletter, we do have some one-time needs. I will soon need a new computer. For a computer that meets my needs and is portable, I need to spend around $2600. We also need to replace our roof! If you’d like to give towards that, please let us know. Click here to give!

Thank you so much and may God richly bless you!

Visit our website for more information (halchaffee.com), or email me at halchaffee@gmail.com.

God bless you! Enjoy your summer!

Summer Ministry Begins

At the beginning of June, I headed to Ocean City to begin evangelism work on the boardwalk. As I’m sure I’ve mentioned many times already, the boardwalk is a wonderful place for evangelism. We talked to countless people and saw God work in wonderful ways.

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One particular instance that stood out to me was three young men who approached me. Their curiosity about what we were doing brought them over. They were light-hearted about the whole thing at first, but as I walked them through the law and showed them the filthy picture of their own soul, their faces began to change. They took on a serious tone. (On a side note, this is why it’s so important to bring the law of God to the minds of those we are about to preach the gospel to. If I had just told them about the love of Jesus and His death on the cross, they would not have come out of their light-hearted disposition. First, I needed them to understand their lost state, then I could bring them the light of the good news.)

After they condemned themselves to hell by honestly recognizing their own sins, I brought to them the love and mercy of God through Jesus Christ. I talked to them about the love of God, the cross, and their need to repent and believe. The Holy Spirit was very evidently working in them. When I asked them when they would repent and believe, they hesitated. One said, “I’d like to say right now, but…” I asked what was preventing them from doing it. One said, “To be honest…ego.” His pride was keeping him back. I prayed for them and encouraged them to let go of their pride. I have no doubt that it was a life-changing moment for them. I’m praying the Holy Spirit would continue His work in their lives.  We had many encounters like this.

Perils of Public Preaching

Besides Ocean City, I spent a couple of days at Rehoboth Beach, DE. On my first night out, I was by myself. I was a little apprehensive about being on my own on the boardwalk because I had always done it with a group. However, I was there, and I was going to preach, and I wasn’t going to let fear stop me. I preached my first message and drew a huge crowd! However, when I began to speak about the cross, the crowd slowly dwindled away…I lost everyone except a small boy eating an ice cream cone. My second message didn’t do much better.  However, as I painted up my third message, a large crowd gathered around. I preached the cross and I can’t remember if even one person left before I was through! From that moment, for about three hours after, I talked to person after person. God gave me great conversations and many humble hearts.

The next night, my friend Mark joined me. How nice it was to just have one brother with me to preach the gospel! I could understand exactly how Paul felt when Silas and Timothy finally joined him in Corinth:

“When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.” – Acts 18:5

Ministry and Personal Needs

God has been very faithful to us! We have not lacked! However, we do have some one-time needs that eventually need to be addressed. We recently filed an insurance claim for our roof. It was damaged in a wind storm and needs to be replaced. Our insurance company is giving us $5000, but we need another $9000 to fully replace it. I also need a new computer soon. The cost for that is $2600.

We are also looking for ministry partners who would like to partner with us on a monthly basis. Whether you partner a little or a lot, it is much appreciated!

Visit our website for more information (halchaffee.com), or email me at halchaffee@gmail.com.

God bless you! Enjoy your summer!

Sliding into Summer

It’s always exciting as summer approaches. The weather gets hot, the heavy clothes get packed away, and people get to the beach! And that’s great news for street preachers because preaching on the boardwalk is one of the best ways to preach.

During the colder seasons, when people are about their business or at school, we are often preaching to people who are on their way somewhere: on their way to class, to work, to the house after a long days work. But on the boardwalk, no one is on their way anywhere. They are wandering up and down the boardwalk aimlessly, easily intrigued by whatever sight they may encounter.

Here’s where we come in. Although our artwork isn’t much to see, it never fails to catch the attention of passer-by’s. Using the paint board, we preach an illustrated message that clearly presents the gospel message. It’s quite easy to reach hundreds of people every night with the good news! And this is precisely what we are gearing up to do.

Time in Flordia

Every year, right before summer begins, my family and I head to Florida for a working vacation. My wife is from northern Florida and visiting the in-laws is a must if wish to keep my status as favorite son-in-law (kidding). We have developed some relationships in Florida that have been wonderful and it’s always a blessing to catch up with those whom we haven’t seen for awhile.

I also had the opportunity to speak several times in Florida, sharing the gospel and sharing what God is doing through this ministry. I had the opportunity to preach in adult services, to youth, and to children! I love to speak to them all!

During my time preaching in Florida, I felt impressed to continue on the theme of the resurrection of the dead. I preached about it in every place that I went. I preached about it to adults, youth, and children. I normally do not preach on the same thing more than once, but because it seems that so many are ignorant about this doctrine, I felt it necessary to preach the same message over and over again. Indeed, when I preached about it recently to a group of teenagers, I asked them, “How many of you are hearing about this for the very first time?” Almost all of them raised their hand. This basic doctrine is far too under-preached (see Hebrews 6:1-2). It’s vitally important that our thoughts are on the glories that are to come. It’s only when we consider these good things to come that we can put into proper perspective the difficult times we called to endure at this present time.

Did you know?

Did you know that this ministry is funded entirely by generous souls such as yourself? We are only able to go because God has called saints like you to send. We thank God for those who are already partnering with us, but we are still looking for others who with join our cause! Will you?

The Bible says that ‘he who gathered much had nothing left over and he who gathered little had no lack’ (2 Cor 8:15). God has called us to support one another. If God has given you abundance, prayerfully consider investing in the work that God has called us to do!

Join us as we go by becoming a monthly partner!

Visit our website for more information (halchaffee.com/partnergive), or email me at halchaffee@gmail.com.

God bless you! Enjoy your summer!

Preaching in Baltimore

In April I spent a little more time in Baltimore. It’s nice to go somewhere different for a change. At the University, people are of a similar mindset, but Baltimore is much more of a mixed bag. We got a lot of encouragement in Baltimore, with people waving to us and many thumbs up and several, “thank you’s.” But more encouraging than that is some of the people we were able to minister to.

This formerly Muslim man had a great testimony of how he came to Christ.

One exciting moment was when we met a former Muslim man from Morocco. We had hardly set up when he approached us with an encouraging story of what God is doing among those who grow up in a Muslim world. Though he was raised as a Muslim, he became disenfranchised with the religion as he saw the abuses that accompany a straightforward interpretation of its ‘holy’ texts. He noted the enormous amount of abuse that occurred all throughout the all Muslim world. His inner moral compass (giving to all people no matter their place of birth or upbringing) did not align with what he saw. And even though the price was great for departing from his faith, he did. After reading the Bible, he put his faith in the Lord Jesus!  Pray for him. He had to go back to his home country for a while where he faces possible charges of apostasy.

Prayer with a woman in Baltimore

In the same vein, on a different day in Baltimore, I encountered a Muslim man who was very interested in what I had to say. He stood unusually close to me as I was preaching and recorded me on his phone. After a good while, he waved as if he needed to go so I stopped preaching so I could speak with him. He also was raised in a Muslim country. He told me that he was Muslim but was still eager to hear what I had to say. I explained to him that we are all guilty of sinning against God and how forgiveness can only come through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When I asked him if he had a hope of eternal life he admitted sincerely, “No, I’m lost.” I was able to pray with him and give him some literature. Pray that God would continue the good work that he began in him.

Preparing for Summer

University students are winding up their school year and summer is soon approaching.

We joined up with a fellow minister at the University of Maryland. Great crowd with good questions.

There will only be one more week of ministry on the college campus and then Katrina, the kids, and I are headed for a trip down the east coast. We hope to have a few ministry stops on the way, but ultimately we will end up in Florida for a few weeks. In Florida, we will be spending time with family and taking opportunities to minister there. After that, it will be to the beaches and the cities!

This year will be a bit different. We have been blessed with a pop-up camper (thank you!) and will be using that to bring the family along more often this summer. In summer’s gone by, I often had to spend time away from the family (something my wife doesn’t like!). But this year we will spend time ministering together (as much as our children will let us, that is!). But even if we can go out together, at least I will be able to come back to them in the evenings. It will be a blessing.

Partner with us

If you believe in this kind of ministry, pray about becoming a partner with us. God uses people just like you to help us reach people that would not be reached otherwise. Our only income is from generous hearts like yours whom God touches. Help us scatter the seed of the incorruptible Word of God in places where it is not often heard. Help us be a voice of grace and truth in the midst of so many negative voices. I know the power of God is real on the streets and boardwalks and college campus. Join us as we go by becoming a monthly partner! Visit our website for more information (CLICK HERE), or email me at halchaffee@gmail.com.

God bless you! Enjoy your summer!

Check out my latest video from ministering on the streets of Baltimore:

Is it possible for a Christian to lose their salvation? There are many godly people who see differently on this subject. I honor and respect those who have different points of view; however, I feel strongly that this is an important subject to get right. The Bible says that many will depart from the faith in the last days. Warning believers against apostasy should be top priority. In this video, I outline my case on the subject, but a more detailed examination can be found on my blog on the subject: https://wp.me/p2n8t-2og

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This ministry is made possible by your generous gifts. Click here to donate!

What Will the Future Bring?—

The Apostles Creed, which states, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.”

One of the things that continually pushes me to the streets is the thoughts of things that are to come. We, as Christians, should have a much different perspective on life than those around us. Most people in the world live as if this life is all there is. But we know and believe that something more is coming. Something infinitely better and lasting. This life is very short. It is but a vapor, the apostle James says, but the life that is to come is everlasting.

Many of us know that, but it doesn’t seem that many of us live in the light of it. Do we really believe that this world will soon be irrelevant? Or are we kicking our feet back as if there is abundant time to spare? It’s a question we all need to ask ourselves.

In my studies recently, I have stumbled across a doctrine (teaching) that has not been often spoken about. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone preach specifically about it before (at least as much as I can remember). I don’t even remember hearing about it in bible school.It’s the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead.

Preaching at a local church on the Resurrection of the dead. Click on this picture to watch the sermon

If you’ve been a Christian for any amount of time, you know about this. But what you may not know is that it was one of the main things that the disciples of Jesus preached about. And if you look in Hebrews chapter six, you’ll see that it is one of the basic, elementary doctrines of the faith.

I believe that it is vitally important for us to remind ourselves of this teaching. I think that many of us have forgotten that one day we will be given new, immortal bodies and that we will live and reign with Christ on this earth for 1000 years.

Can we put this truth into proper perspective? What’s 70 or 80 years compared to 1000? And what’s 1000 compared to all eternity in the new earth that is to come? I don’t think we take these truths seriously enough.

Some people wonder why there is so much corruption in even the church. Why are Christians getting divorced? Why are Christians caught up with making money? Why are churches plagued with scandals? It has a lot to do with the fact that our eyes are on the wrong place. Our eyes are on the temporary now rather than the permanent later.

Peter, commenting on this very truth, and on the revelation of the end of all the temporal things of this world, says this:

“Since all these things (the things of this world) will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” – 2 Peter 3:11

Notice that Peter exhorts us to be holy in connection with things to come. We need to be teaching the same to those within our influence. Those who are holiest are those who have their perspective aligned correctly.

I’ve written several times on this subject and recently preached about it at a local church. You can find a blog about it here and my sermon here.

Ministry on the Streets

My friend, Mark, preaching and praying with a young man in Baltimore

Just a few days ago I preached for the first time in Baltimore, MD. I must say, it was one of the best outings I have had yet. I sensed the Spirit working and we were able to pray with several people. I was able to lead one lady in a prayer of salvation. She shed tears as we prayed together on the street. It was a beautiful experience.

I also continued to minister on the difficult ground of college campuses. Pray that the Lord would lead me as I consider preaching more in the cities. I tend to have better fruit there.

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