Where Did Cain Get His Wife?

The Bible opens with one of many mysteries—where did Cain get his wife? Some people think it’s trivia, but it’s not. The gospel is involved.

Who was Cain’s wife? Who cares? At first glance, who Cain married seems little more than Bible trivia. But linger on it and you’ll discover important implications for the gospel.

Genesis 4:1-17- And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Here’s the concern: Adam and Eve had Cain and Abel, Cain killed Abel, and then Cain went off and had a family with his wife. But where did Cain’s wife come from? It’s an age-old question with at least two distinct gospel consequences.

First, the unbeliever uses this sort of question to dismiss the gospel.

You see, many people today don’t believe the gospel because they don’t believe the book from which the gospel comes. They are convinced that the Bible has been disproved by evolution and its supposed ape-men, rocks that are billions of years old, and so on.

So a question like, “Where did Cain get his wife?” can be a real obstacle for them. If a Christian’s answer is, “I don’t know, but the important thing is to trust in Jesus!” their logical response is, “Why? If the Bible is wrong about history, then why trust what it says about eternal salvation?” The evolutionary view of history undermines the Bible’s authority, including what it says about sin and salvation.

Second, the believer’s response can distort the gospel.

Sadly, many Christians reject the history documented in Genesis and concede that God may have used evolution or created different people groups at the beginning. In that case, Cain’s wife would have come from people not descended from Adam. But this leads to a tragic, unintended gospel distortion. If some people are not descended from Adam, then the gospel is not for all people! Christ had to be made like us, “his brethren,” so He could redeem us. That means we must be related to Him to be saved.

Hebrews 2:17- Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Thankfully, we are related to Jesus Christ through our common ancestor Adam. God’s Word tells us all people are descendants of Adam, and all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are under the judgment of death.

Romans 5:12- Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 3:23- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Since it was man who brought sin and death into God’s perfect creation, humanity needed one of its own to pay the perfect, infinite price to satisfy God’s righteous wrath. But how, since “all have sinned and fall short”? Wonder of wonders, God became flesh! God the Son became the perfect man, the Last Adam. He is of our blood, yet sinless—the just, perfect, infinite kinsman redeemer. Dying on the Cross, Christ paid our debt, absorbed God’s wrath due us, that those shackled by sin in the first Adam may repent and believe to receive salvation through the Last Adam.

I Corinthians 15:21-22,45- For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Bottom line, only descendants of the first Adam can be saved by the blood of the Last Adam, Jesus Christ.

With the gospel implications grasped, it’s time to answer the question at hand.

Genesis 3:20- And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Acts 17:26- And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

The Bible is clear that Adam was the first man, Eve is the “mother of all living”, and all humans are of “one blood”. The fact that all people are descendants of Adam and Eve means there is only one biological race. (It’s also the reason we’re all sinners in need of a Savior.)

So, who did Cain marry? Genesis 5:4 is the key: “And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:”. Jewish tradition suggests that Adam and Eve had 33 sons and 23 daughters. That means originally, close relatives like brothers and sisters married. So Cain married a sister or possibly a niece.

Whether Jewish tradition is correct, or not, Adam lived over 900 years. He could have potentially had many children during that time.

Also, the Bible doesn't always give you every member of a family tree- just the most important ones. It is possible that Adam and Eve had more children before Seth. Regardless of when the girl was born, it is easy to see that Cain had to have married one of his sisters or cousins, since there was no other family around besides Adam and Eve's clan.

But wait—you can’t marry your relation, can you? Well, since there’s only one race, if you don’t marry a relative, you’re not marrying a human and you’ve really got problems! Abraham was married to his half-sister and it was not an issue. Until the time of Moses, 2,500 years after creation, God did not prohibit the marrying of close relatives (Leviticus 18:6- None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.).

But why was marrying a close relative originally okay and later forbidden by God? One reason people don’t marry close relatives today is that humans have accumulated mutations (damaged genetic information) within their DNA for thousands of years. Close relatives are likely to have mutations in common, which if passed on by both parties ofte​n result in genetic disease. If a person marries a more distant relation, they are less likely to have the same mutations, so they are less likely to pass genetic disease on to their children.

Adam and Eve were genetically perfect, preprogrammed straight from the hand of God. So there would be no genetic mutation occurring through the combination of their DNA.

— Bryan Osborne

Beauty Where the Blood Fell (video sermon)

If I Were The Devil

 ​If I were the devil
I would not come with fire and fangs,
But with feelings—soft, soothing, deceptive.
I would not roar—I would whisper.
Whisper until your soul sang lullabies in chains.

I would cradle a generation in emotionalism,
Make feelings their compass,
Make truth seem cruel,
And boundaries the enemy of ​love.
I would teach them to worship their wounds,
To wear offense like armor,
And to name their pain “identity.”

I would declare war on holiness with charm.
I would poison their hunger for righteousness
With a gospel made of glitter—
All shine, no sanctification.
I would convince them that conviction is abuse,
That correction is control,
That to be separate is to be hateful—
That to be like Christ is to never confront.

If I were the devil,
I would preach a gospel of comfort,
Not of crosses.
A gospel where tears replace truth,
And goosebumps take the place of God.
I would build golden calves of emotion
In the sacred places once reserved for the Spirit.

I would whisper:
“You are a victim. Always.
You are owed.
You are right.
You are the center.”
And they would listen.
Because it would feel good.
Because it would feel holy.

I would make sure they believed
That they could blend in and still burn bright.
That compromise is compassion.
That lukewarm is loving.
That they can sip from the cup of demons
And still feast at the Lord’s table.

I would tell them that happiness is the highest goal, That holiness is outdated,
That repentance is optional,
And that the fear of the Lord is religious trauma.

If I were the devil,
I would not need to curse them—
Just convince them
That they can be carnal and Christian,
Worldly and washed,
Anointed and apathetic—
All at once.

But I am not the devil.
And I will not be silent.

Church, awaken.
There is no revival without repentance.
There is no power without purity.
There is no fire without sacrifice.
There is no Christ without the cross.

Let us tear down our golden calves,
Let us rise from the altars of emotion,
And return—heart, mind, soul, and strength—
To the altar of the Living God.

For He alone is worthy.
And He is not impressed by our tears
If they do not lead to transformation.

-Author Unknown

The Comforter Has Come (poem)

 Oh, spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
   The Comforter has come!

The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last;
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
    The Comforter has come!

Lo, the great King of kings, with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full deliv’rance brings;
And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings:
    The Comforter has come!

O boundless love divine! how shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine—
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
    The Comforter has come!

The Comforter has come, The Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heav’n, The Lord’s dear promise giv’n;
Oh, spread the tidings ’round, Wherever man is found:
  The Comforter has come!

-Francis Bottome

Thank You Jesus for the Blood (song)

What Kind Of Heart Do You Have?

 People today like to quote the adage about "following your heart". That's probably the worst advice you could possibly give someone! The Bible says the heart is deceitful. Not only that, but the Lord tends to take into account what's in your heart when He answers you.

Jeremiah 17:10- I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

The deceived heart.

Ezekiel 14:1-5- Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

These men came before Ezekiel claiming to want to know what the Lord had to say, when in reality, they were harboring idols and looking for justification for their sins. The Lord answered them deceitfully and appeared to be giving them an allowance for what they really wanted.

The lying heart.

Jeremiah 42:1-3- Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.

These people claimed to want to know God's will. They promised they would follow whatever God had to say when in reality they had already made up their minds about what they were going to do.

Jeremiah 42:19-22- The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you. Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

God called out their lies, and told them exactly what would happen to them should they follow their own council. Guess what? They died in Egypt because they followed their heart instead of obeying the Lord.

The conniving heart.

Mark 11:27-34- And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

These religious leaders were demanding answers from Christ for questions they should have already known the answers to. If they had submitted to the preaching of John they would already know whose authority Jesus was working through.

However, they reasoned among themselves because they didn't want to answer honestly. Because of this dishonesty, Jesus didn't even answer them.

The uncommitted heart.

Matthew 19:16-22- And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

This man seemed to be honest. He appeared, even, to be righteous. But theLord saw through him and answered with the thing he wouldn't relinquish. You may come to the Lord in what you believe to be honesty, but you need to be ready to act on what He points out. It isn't that easy, because we don't know what lies deep inside sometimes.

The humble heart.

Matthew 15:21-28- Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

This woman came to Jesus with a very serious request. It was an honorable request. But, Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of Israel, not the Gentiles. He was under no obligation to help her.

He even went so far as to call her a dog. How humiliating! Yet, in her despair,she accepted his insult and replied in humility. And Jesus answered according to her humbleness. He stepped out of his dispensation to address her desire.

God is looking for the humble, believing heart. The one that will acknowledge what is being said, not puff up in anger at it. The one that will submit to His direction and change accordingly.

Isaiah 66:1-2- Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

God isn't obligated to make you believe. He isn't even required to answer you directly or honestly. He's going to respond to you with the exact same attitude as how you approach Him.

Psalm 14:2- The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. But woe to the man that is looking to use the Word of the Lord deceitfully!

Your Insurance Company Knows Who Is Responsible

 Act of God- a manifestation especially of a violent or destructive natural force, such as lightening strike, hurricane, or earthquake, that is beyond human power to cause, prevent, or control. It most often appears in legal contracts, where it is used to indemnify one party against a disaster that prevents it from carrying out the contract's terms.

The tradition of naming these storms goes back quite some time. Even the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked during one of these awful storms.

Acts 27:14- But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

The word "hurricane" is derived from the name of a false god of the Mayans, Jun Raqan, or Huracan, which means, "one legged". They believed that this god had power over weather. The majority of meteorologists would probably have you believe that these ancient people were ignorant, superstitious, unenlightened pagans who viewed everything through  the lens of their religion and its teachings, and that today we know so much better because of advancements in science and technology, and besides, the Mayans didn't have The Weather Channel in their cable package.

How shocking a revelation it must be that the Mayans were at least closer to the truth than your local disciples of "man made climate change" and "Mother Nature" who celebrate Earth Day by "going dark". The ancient Mayans were indeed more primitive, but without a doubt, they were less hypocritical than their modern counterparts.

In the Holy Bible, Satan is referred to in Ephesians 2:2 as "the prince of the power of the air".

In the coming future Tribulation, the devil attempts to destroy Israel by means of a disastrous flood that he casts.

Revelation 12:15- And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

Although these horrific storms are connected with powers of Satanic forces, we must realize that these forces are created by beings and cannot do anything without instruction, or permission, from God Almighty. According to Scripture, God tells Satan in Job 1:12- Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.

What happens next would fall under the category of "acts of God" in your insurance policy handbook.

Job 1:16a- The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them;

Job 1:19a- Behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead;

Although Satan was the one who was behind the destruction, Job rightfully gave credit where it was due when he said in Job 1:21, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

That these storms are ultimately acts of God is indisputable when you consider the following Scriptures:

Jeremiah 10:13- When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Job 21:17-18- How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

Job 27:21-22- The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

Nahum 1:3- The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Psalm 148:8- Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Here is where many people get shipwrecked concerning their faith. God's reasons are as vast and unlimited as He is. Yes, judgment may be a part of God's plan in these situations, but it is not the full scope. When God allowed those terrible things to happen to Job, it was for God's glory and for Job's benefit. No one who has read and believed the book of Job would doubt that God proved Himself just, merciful, and good. If God wants to take your life, He can simply speak the word. These storms are to teach men about God's power and man's inabilities. They are also meant to bless us and to try us. They are also meant to see how we will respond to the needs of our neighbors. To see these events as only God's judgment against Bourbon Street immorality is just about as narrow-minded as seeing them only as opportunities to blame opposing political parties or only as proofs on unscientific extremist views on man made climate change. 

Perhaps you have suffered greatly from these storms. As a native of Louisiana, I have also been through my share of hurricanes through the years, and it is not my desire to make light of anyone's troubles, but rather to glorify God and find a silver lining in the clouds.

Matthew 5:45- for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the god, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Can we learn from the lessons of history? Is there a greater threat on the horizon? Is this the lull before the storm? Is there a storm coming that no one can run from?

In the mid-1800's, Last Island was a very luxurious an  popular vacation resort, located a few miles off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of America. It was blessed with pearly white beach 25 miles long.

In August of 1856, over 400 vacationing guests filled the hotel ballroom, dancing as the orchestra played. They were dancing on Last Island the night the hurricane came. This storm had given plenty warning of its approach. The vacationers could have escaped it entirely, if only they had heeded its advance signals. For instance, one day in early August, those on the beach noticed an odd thing. Far out on the horizon, the sea appeared to hump itself in a bulge. The raised mound of water darkened and lengthened, then surged forward toward the beach, only to reach the shore in a wave less than 2 feet high. Another wave came, then another, and another- four altogether, then no more. But then a few minutes later, the strange heaving waves began anew- seven this time, and then again, a lull. Fooled by the calm almost absent wind and the cloudless sky, they figured maybe it was a far away storm. 

They were right. A tremendous hurricane, born in the Caribbean a week earlier, had moved past Cuba into the Gulf, and had now ceased its forward progress, 400 miles south of Last Island.

All night long the sea grew more and more perturbed. Next morning, the waves were continuous as clouds began to obscure the sun.

By August 9th, the wind was a steady gale. The waves were immense. The few who survived remembered the eerie sunset that evening- the sky was a poison green, the sun the color of blood. The wind grew weird. It ceased being a breath; it became a voice moaning across the land uttering nightmare sounds. Howling and shrieking, the wind beat about Last Island all night.

They kept dancing. They didn't notice when the water began to rise. It was too late when they heard, out of the Gulf, roaring louder than the wind itself, a noise more felt than heard. The hotel shook. The ground trembled under the impact of a moving mountain of water- the hurricane surge!

Almost everything that stood, grew, or lived on Last Island was wiped out instantly. Sadly many had ignored the warning signs and kept dancing. A terrible tragedy.

We have seen the horrible results of not heeding warnings to evacuate to safety and shelter during Hurricane Katrina (2005). But it is also an error repeated countless times today.

The Bible has warned us of the coming judgment of God after we die, but many continue on as if nothing will ever change, ignoring the place of refuge and safety provided by God in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:24-27- Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Don't be foolish. Hell is real. The storm of God's wrath will surely come. The Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead. call on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation! He can calm the troubled sea of your life, give you eternal life, and a mansion in heaven.

Psalms 107-28-31- Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Mark 4:41- And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

He is God manifest in the flesh and He can save you. Would you like to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior right now?

-Adam Trosclair

I’ll Live For Him Because He Died For Me (song)

God's Hall Of Fame (poem)

 Your name may not appear down here,

In this world’s hall of fame

You may be so unknown

Few even know your name

Fame and fortune pass you by

And are given to a few,

But if you love and serve the Lord

Then there is good news news for you.

This Hall of fame is only good

As long as time shall be;

But keep in mind, God’s Hall of fame

Is for eternity!

To have your name inscribed up there

Is greater yes by far

Than all the Halls of Fame down here

And every man made star.

This crowd on earth they soon forget

The heroes of the past,

They cheer like mad until you fall,

And that’s how long you last

But God he never does forget,

And in His Hall of Fame,

By just believing in his Son,

Inscribed you’ll find your name .

I tell you friend I wouldn’t trade

My name however small

That’s written there beyond the stars

In that celestial hall

For every famous name on earth

Or glory that they share;

I’d rather be an unknown here

And have my name up there.

- Alf Hutchison

Green Detox Smoothie

 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
• 1 cup fresh kale leaves stems removed
• 1 banana
• 1 apple cored and chopped
• 1/2 cup pineapple
• 1/2 English cucumber 
• 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger peeled and chopped
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 cup coconut water 
• 1 tsp mint
• Ice cubes optional

Instructions: 

• In a blender, combine the spinach, kale, banana, apple, pineapple, cucumber, ginger, chia seeds, coconut water, and mint.
• Blend until smooth and creamy. If the smoothie is too thick, add more coconut water until you reach the desired consistency.
• Add ice cubes if you prefer a colder smoothie and blend again until the ice is crushed.

The Power Of Words (video sermon)

The Sin Of Cain

 The story of Cain and Abel is one of the best known stories in the Bible. The two first humans born on the earth- brothers. And the story ends in murder.

Our story begins in a very innocent, and even righteous way. These brothers decide to bring an offering to the Lord. Cain, it seems, was the one who initiated this idea, and Abel followed suit.

Genesis 4:1-5- And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

The problem was that Cain brought an offering of self. He toiled and labored and sweat for the gift he was bringing to the Lord. But the Lord didn't want self-righteous works. Isaiah tells us exactly why this wasn't acceptable.

Isaiah 64:6- But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

God wants us to come to Him knowing that we aren't worthy, and accepting that He has made an acceptable way. Back in the Old Testament, it was through a blood offering- a lamb. God told Cain that there was a way he could offer a gift and be accepted.

Genesis 4:6-7- And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

God was trying to get him to understand that he could overcome the temptation he was feeling. The sin of anger and rejection didn't have to rule over him, he could conquer them by submitting to what God had shown him.

But Cain had a hard time fighting against these feelings.

Genesis 4:8- And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Notice that Cain talked with Abel. I often wonder what they were talking about. Perhaps Cain was trying to do right and was talking with Abel about getting a lamb. It's a possibility.

But, in the end, the anger that raged inside of him became too much to bear. Nor did he admit his sin when questioned about it.

Genesis 4:9-12- And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

God cursed Cain for his sin. He became the farmer who couldn't grow anything. All that labor that he was so proud of was now a memory.

And that's exactly what Cain's sin boiled down to- Pride. The same sin that made Lucifer fall from his position in heaven. The same sin that keeps men from calling on the Lord Jesus Christ to save their souls.

The offering has already been paid. All you have to do is believe, acknowledge, and accept. And yet it is so hard for some because, like Naaman, they want to prove themselves worthy.

Ezekiel 16:44-50- Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter. Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite. And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters. Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways. As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

What was a Hittite? A race of military warriors which worshiped many idols. We know how God feels about idolatry. And yet, God said that Samaria's sin was worse than idolatry.

What was an Amorite? A nomadic race of people who came through and consumed what wasn't theirs. They hired Baalam to come and curse the children of Israel, and then through their subtlety, cause Israel to sin against the Lord and turn to idols. And yet, God says that Samaria's sin is worse than causing an entire nation to sin.

What was the sin of Samaria? Pride is the first word mentioned. It's one of the things the Lord hates!

Proverbs 6:16-19- These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 

If you asked people to give a list of what God hates, they would probably list some of the 10 Commandments, however, in Proverbs, the very first item on the list is Pride.

Leviathan is called the king over the proud. This means that he is the baddest of the bad. But it doesn't stop there. Pride leads to all the other sins.

Job 41:34- He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

John 8:44- Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Christ called the religious leaders of His day the children of the devil. Why? Because their pride wouldn't allow them to acknowledge the truth that their religious ways had been corrupted and that the Messiah was not going to lower Himself to their standards.

Their pride led to them rejecting and crucifying their Messiah. And in so doing, they brought a 2,000 year curse upon their people.

I John 2:16- For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

James 4:10- Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The Bible is full of paradoxes. The way up is to go down. If you want God to bless you then you've got to humble yourself and realize that your works aren't going to be able to cut it. You need to accept God's way of doing things, even when it hurts your pride, or you may just find yourself cursed like Cain.

How To Pray For Missionaries And Evangelists

I had done a post a while back on how to pray for personal growth. I thought it would be good to do a post on how to pray for evangelists and missionaries. Our praying for those on the field, or even our prayer for before we ourselves go out to witness should be a little different than our personal prayers.

Of course we should remember to ask the Lord to forgive us of our sin, but there are some specifics that would benefit those out dealing with souls.

Matthew 9:36-38- But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

The one prayer request the Lord Jesus Christ made while on this earth was to pray for laborers. This request was for those who were willing to go tell lost souls how to be right in the sight of God.

Many people don't pray that God would send laborers because they know that God will probably tap them and ask, "Why not you?"

Not only is it important to ask God to send a gospel witness, but it is also important to ask God to prepare the people who will be hearing it.

I Corinthians 3:6-7- I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Before we ever leave our doors and hand out a track we should pray for God to work in the people's hearts. We sow the seed. We may water the seed. But God is the one who causes the seed to grow.

After asking God to prepare the people,we should ask Him to guide us through the doors He alone can open.

Colossians 4:3-4- Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Pray that God will open doors and show you where He wants you to go. Paul did this often. 

Acts 16:6,9- Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

God told Paul not to go to Asia. Why? Perhaps their hearts weren't quite ready to receive the message. However, He led Paul to go to Macedonia. Those people were ready and willing to hear the gospel.

When God directs us somewhere, we need to have the courage to go. Which brings me to my next point.

Acts 4:29- And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

We need to pray that God gives us boldness to act. We are human. We have doubts and fears. And the devil can use those emotions to hinder us from acting.

I Corinthians 16:9- For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

The devil doesn't want the Word of God preached. He will actively work against you, and he has his own followers who will work against you.

II Thessalonians 3:1-2- Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

We need to pray that the Word of God will have free course, and not be hindered by unreasonable and wicked men. Not everyone who tries to shut down the ministry is a wicked person; sometimes they are just unreasonable. There are people who think they should follow rules and regulations instead of witness. There are those who would stand for a cause against the direct revelation of the Scriptures.

Wicked people will stand to oppose a Christian witness. But we need to remember that these people are souls who need to have the Word of God preached to them.

Asking God to deliver you from these hindrances will help spread the gospel to those whose hearts God has prepared to receive it.

II Thessalonians 3:3- But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Pray for God to keep you from evil. Not only evil people, but the appearance of evil, evil places, and evil events. Ask God for protection while you witness for Him, because there is no doubt that you will come under attack when you start to take a stand.

And then after the witnessing is completed, you should take time to pray that God makes the Word prosper.

I Tim 2:1- I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

God makes intercession for us. We should intercede for others by praying that God blesses what has been said and that it takes root. Pray for the person who accepted the tract that they would actually read and understand it.

Paul didn't admonish Timothy first about preaching, but about praying because it is that important. Every pastor needs those who lift them up in prayer. Each missionary and evangelist need those who intercede before God's throne for them.

Edward McKendree Bounds has a devotional book on prayer which I recommend everyone read. He states, “If men would pray as they ought to pray, the marvels of the past would be more than reproduced. The Gospel would advance with a facility and power it has never known. Doors would be thrown open to the Gospel, and the Word of God would have a conquering force rarely if ever known before.”

I Thessalonians 5:25- Brethren, pray for us.

Don't Be Afraid (song)

Death By Chocolate Cake recipe

 Cake:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together well.

Pour into a greased 9 X 13 baking dish.

Bake at 350* for 35 - 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Set aside and allow to cool.

Icing:

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, combine butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar.

Slowly add the milk as you beat the ingredients until fluffy.

Add milk and/or powdered sugar (more or less as required to thicken or thin) until you achieve a good spreadable consistency.

Spread on cooled cake.

How To Avoid Bad Advice (video sermon)

God Said No (prose)

I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, “No.”
He said it was not for Him to take it away,
But for me to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, “No.”
He said her spirit already is,
While her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, “No.”
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation;
It isn’t granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, “No.”
He said “I give blessings;
Happiness is up to you.”

I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, “No.”
He said, “Suffering draws you apart from
Worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, “No.”
He said I must grow on my own,
But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me,
And God said, “Yes.”
He gave me His only Son, who died for me.
And I will be in heaven someday.

I asked God to help me love others
As much as He loves me,
And God said,
“Ah, finally, you have the idea.”

-Claudia Minden Weisz

The Women of Revelation

When people think of Bible prophecy, they almost always go to the book of Revelation. Unless you are an industrious student of the Bible, the movies regarding the apocalypse are pretty much the narrative that you follow regarding prophecy of end times.

But the Bible has so much more prophecy throughout it. And, Revelation contains more than just future predictions.

There are four women mentioned in the book of Revelation. These women can tell us something about how God views mankind.

The first is Jezebel.

Revelation 2:20- Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

God is speaking to the churches located throughout Asia Minor. And with these churches, he is warning Christians through the Church Age what they need to pay attention to and watch out for.

The church in Thyatira is the fourth church mentioned by John. He starts out with some good compliments regarding their charity, service, and faith. But then he throws in the verse about them bearing with the woman Jezebel.

In the few verses that follow, God gives prophecy about what will happen to this woman.

Revelation 2:21-23- And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

This woman makes God so angry that not only does He bring judgment upon her, but upon her children, and upon the churches that allow her deeds.

Who is Jezebel? Jezebel was the princess daughter of the Zidonians, who were known for worshipping Baal and Ashtoreth. They were Phoenecians who lived in Sidon. She married the King of Israel, Ahab, and caused him to commit wickedness. She's known for being conniving and murderous.

I Kings 16:31- And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

I Kings 21:25- But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.

Jezebel turned the nation of Israel away from worshiping the Lord God Almighty and instead brought them the idol Baal, the sun god, to worship. 

When the Roman Catholic Church came to power, they mixed paganism with Judaism and Christianity- a leavened mess of idolatry and tradition. The church in Thyatira didn't stand up and preach against the idolatry that was coming in claiming to be true Christianity. Instead of worshiping a risen Savior who died for mankind, the people began to worship His mother and other humans they deemed "saints". This not only damned their souls to hell with a sense of false salvation, it set up their religion as a substitute for those who wanted to appear righteous.

Matthew 23:28- Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

The second woman mentioned doesn't have a name, only a description.

Revelation 12:1-6- And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The description of this woman matches a woman in a dream Joseph had back in the Old Testament. Jacob actually gives us the interpretation of who is being talked about.

Genesis 37:9-10- And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

The stars were his brothers, and the sun and moon were his parents. This woman who has the moon under her feet, clothed with the sun, and is holding the stars in her crown is a typology of the nation of Israel. She is giving birth to a man child that many people think is Christ, but it isn't.

The timing of this event is during the Tribulation. The dragon mentioned here is the same one mentioned with our next woman. And this dragon wants to destroy this man child, but God steps in and raptures it before it can be harmed.

This child is a picture of the Jewish male virgins that get chosen by God during the first part of the Tribulation.

Revelation 7:1-4- And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Later, you read how they were saved from Great Tribulation, just as the man child is taken to heaven before the woman flees to the wilderness for three and a half years.

For those who don't know, the Tribulation time period has two distinct parts. Part one is the tribulation where the man of sin, a smooth talking politician, is building his kingdom. Part two is the great tribulation where the AntiChrist takes over and is literally killing any who oppose and don't submit to him.

The third woman is connected with both Jezebel and the dragon.

Revelation 17:3-6- So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

This scarlet clad woman is the instrument through which humanity will be urged to worship the dragon, or the AntiChrist. This woman is the Roman Catholic Church.

How do I know?

Revelation 17:9- And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

What city sits on seven mountains? Rome, Italy is the city that sits on seven hills: Palatine, Capitoline, Aventine, Caelian, Esquiline, Quirinal, and Viminal. There is no other city that is spread out over seven mountains!

Revelation 17:18- And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Now, what city has ever had rule over kings? Vatican city.

Did you notice the description of the Beast that she rides? It has seven heads and ten horns, just like the dragon mentioned above. But those who follow Satan will never get a fair deal.

Notice that he turns on her and those who rule with him help to destroy her.

Revelation 17:12-13- And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

Revelation 17:16- And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

The end of those who choose to follow the AntiChrist in the tribulation is eternal damnation.

Revelation 20:12, 15- And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

What is the Lamb's Book of Life? It is the book that God writes down the names of those who have accepted Christ as their Savior. The Lamb, is the Lord Jesus Christ, that died on Calvary to pay the debt for the sins of the world. But only those who believe the gospel and accept His sacrifice as payment for their sin will have their names written down in that book.

The last woman is the Lamb's wife, the Bride of Christ.

Revelation 21:9-10- And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Just like the woman in scarlet represented a city, so, too, does the Lamb's wife. This woman is New Jerusalem, the city where Christ will dwell for all eternity.

Revelation 21:22,24- And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

Those who get their names into the Book of Life will have access to this city.

Revelation 21:27- And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

If you think back to Jesus talking with His disciples, you will remember that He promised to make them a place to live for their service to Him.

John 14:2-3- In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And with that also came the promise to return and take us with Him to dwell with Him. We call that the rapture.

These are some interesting women. One a nation, some a city of false religion, and one an eternal city of rest. You can possibly identify with one of these women. Are you walking with the seal of God, waiting for His return? Or are you blinded by a religious system that doesn't care about your eternal soul?

Revelation 22:6-7- And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

You have a choice in the matter. What decision do you make?

Summary of Church History (part 5)

 HOW THE SOUTH BECAME THE "BIBLE BELT" 

The term “Bible belt” was first used in reference to the Southeast United States by H. L. Mencken in the 1920’s. Some today use the term in a derogative sense, attempting to paint southern people as ignorant, right wing, religious fanatics. National politicians, especially liberal ones, have lost elections at times largely because they failed to win the southern vote. In the 2000 Presidential race, for instance, Senator Al Gore failed to carry his own home state of Tennessee, simply because he was just too liberal for his fellow Tennesseans. The south is unlike the rest of America, and one reason is its Biblical heritage. In spite of our many faults and sins today, the southeast United States does have a history worth knowing.

No doubt, there are many factors that contributed to the South’s coming to be known as “the Bible belt.” The Holy Spirit’s work during the first and second great awakenings (1720-1835) is likely the largest factor. It was during this period that hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, were converted to the Lord Jesus Christ under the preaching of men like Gilbert Tennent, John Wesley, George Whitfield, Peter Cartwright, James McGready, and others. Such good traditions as the camp meeting and the mourner’s bench became as much ingrained in southern culture then as fried chicken and grits are now. But there was one preacher in the above list that stood head and shoulders above the rest, at least when it came to God’s plan for America. That man was George Whitfield, God’s “Elijah” for our country.

In the mid 1700’s, sometimes over 20,000 people would gather in open air meetings to hear the Spirit–filled preaching of Whitfield. Although he was an Anglican, he was not a conventional one. His preaching was very lively and dramatic, and extremely loud. Benjamin Franklin claimed that he could hear Whitfield’s preaching a mile away, and that was without microphones and PA systems. He was just too much for most “official” churches, so he resorted to open-air preaching in public. Thousands were converted to Christ as he preached this way in the New England colonies, in Georgia, and in South Carolina. When many of his converts began to study the Scriptures, they realized that infant baptism was found nowhere in God’s word, and they soon learned that immersion, not sprinkling, was the proper mode of baptism. Consequently, many of Whitfield’s converts became Baptists. Whitfield saw what was happening and commented, “All my chickens have turned into ducks!”

However, when the great evangelist preached in the back country of North Carolina, he did not see the favorable results to which he had grown accustomed, so he prayed that God would send a preacher “like John the Baptist” of old to preach in the wilderness and convert the thousands of lost souls. Little did he know that God would call one of his own converts to do the job.

That man was Shubal Stearns. If Whitfield was America’s Elijah, then Shubal Stearns was his southern “Elisha.” Stearns and his brother-in-law, Daniel Marshall, were converted to Christ in 1745 when Whitfield preached in Connecticut. Stearns was baptized in 1751 by Wait Palmer. Feeling the call of God on his life, he moved to Virginia and began laboring to reach the lost.

At this time, “Christianity” in the South was monopolized by the Church of England. It was normally illegal to practice any other faith, and being a Baptist was even worse since the Baptists refused to acknowledge infant baptism and would re-baptize any converts who had formally been sprinkled. The Baptists were firm believers in baptism by immersion only for true adult believers only. This was unpardonable in the eyes of the established state religion.

Shubal Stearns, known as a Separate Baptist, received a letter from some friends in North Carolina in 1755 which stated the desperate need of the gospel there and the spiritual hunger of the people. He was informed that people would travel forty miles (by horse and buggy, or even by foot) to hear a single sermon. This burdened his heart until the summer of 1755, when a group of 16 Christians left Opekton, Virginia, for western North Carolina with Stearns and his assistant Daniel Marshall leading the way.

They chose the crossroads at Sandy Creek for their settlement, a national crossroads between the North and the South. The Sandy Creek Baptist Church would be the first Separate Baptist church in the South, and this church would become God’s headquarters for His southern strategy. No one knew it at the time, but Whitfield’s prayer was about to be answered.

The Sandy Creek Baptist Church grew from 16 members in 1755 to over 600 members in only eighteen months. By 1759, three independent Baptist churches were in existence from the Sandy Creek Baptist Church, and their membership exceeded 900. God was clearly using the church at Sandy Creek as a “headquarters” or “training base” much like He used the church at Antioch in the New Testament. In the years ahead, the Lord would call 125 men and their families out of the church at Sandy Creek to preach the gospel. These men and their converts would literally invade the South for the Lord Jesus. The following is a brief breakdown of some of the first churches that were started, when and where they were started, and also the name of the preacher:

• Sandy Creek: 1755, NC, Shubal Stearns
• Abbot’s Creek: 1756, NC, Daniel Marshall
• Grassy Creek: 1756, NC, James Read
• Deep River: 1757, NC, Joseph Murphey, Phillip Mulkey
• New River: 1758, NC, Ezekiel Hunter
• Dan River: 1759, VA, Dutton Lane
• Black River: 1760, NC, John Newton
• Fairforrest: 1760, SC, Phillip Mulkey
• Trent: 1761, NC, James McDaniel
• Southwest: 1762, NC, Charles Markland
• Haw River: 1764, NC, Elnathan Davis
• Congaree: 1766, SC, Joseph Rees
• Stephens Creek: 1766, SC, Daniel Marshall
• Upper Spotsylvania: 1767, VA, Lewis Craig
• Staughton River (Blackwater): 1768, VA, William Murphy
• Fall Creek: 1769, VA, Samuel Harriss
• Goochland: 1771, VA, William Webber

From these churches and others, the Holy Spirit would direct the gospel of Jesus Christ into Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and eventually states further west such as Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana. By 1812, largely due to the Baptist revivals and church plantings, there were over 2,100 Baptist churches in America with over 172,000 members. Most of these were and still are to be found in the south.

Then came the War Between the States and the revivals that broke out in the Confederate camps where well over 100,000 men received Christ in the early 1860's. Many of these men went on to become preachers, and their fruit remains until this day.

Throughout the 1800’s and the early 1900’s, the south would also be flooded with such false teachers as the Campbellites (Church of Christ), Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Charismatic groups (Assemblies of God, Pentecostals, etc.), but it was the old-time Baptists who endured many hardships, fought for and won religious liberty, and then flooded the south land with the blessed gospel of Jesus Christ. May God help us to learn more of them and teach others, and may we wear the Baptist name with honor until Jesus calls us home.

-James L Melton

Recommended Reading: Interested readers should purchase America in Crimson Red: The Baptist History of America by pastor James Beller.

Summary of Church History (part 4)

 After the reformation began, the world slowly changed. The Bible believers kept sending out missionaries. And the gospel spread throughout the world. There were now two distinct types of Christians- Old Reformers and Bible Believers.

Old reformers wanted to reform the Catholic Church - both Roman and Greek Orthodox- with the Scriptures. This includes John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, and Cyril Lucas I. These men were saved Christians in the Catholic Church.

Their beliefs were amillennial- meaning they believed they were bringing in Christ’s kingdom, usually through force. Religious wars happened all over Europe and the Middle East.

There was another line who wanted a church apart from the Catholic Church. While the Old Reformers faced persecution from the Catholic Church, the Bible believers got it from both sides, being persecuted by both the Catholic Church and the Old Reformers, following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul:

Philippians 1:29- For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

The discovery of the "new world" opened doors for both Christian missionaries and Catholic crusaders. Inhabitants of the Americas faced many troubling scenarios from new diseases to blood thirsty armies laying siege and claim for power hungry monarchies.

The Moravians of the 15th century Bohemia, modern day Czech Republic, were influenced by the Waldensians who migrated to Bohemia and Moravia in the 13th century. They believe in the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation of Jesus, and the Resurrection. They also believe in the importance of personal prayer, family devotion, and having a personal relationship with their Savior.

The Moravians were the first Protestant missionaries to operate on a large scale and are credited with starting the modern missionary movement. They were also the first to send everyday Christians to serve as missionaries, and the first to minister to enslaved people.

Two early Moravian missionaries, Johann Dober and David Nitschmann, sold themselves into slavery in order to take the gospel to the islanders of the West Indies. Working in bondage in the harsh conditions of a tropical climate, they reached many of them with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

II Timothy 1:8- Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

The Huguenots were 16th century Christians in France. Even though they believed that salvation was achieved through individual faith in Christ and knowledge of scripture, they were Calvanistic in their view of salvation claiming that God had already chosen who would be saved and who would be damned, and that this choice was unconditional (predestination).

The Huguenots were led by John Calvin. He had people burned at the stake, including Michael Servetus, who was executed after being tried by Calvin and found guilty of heresy and burned at the stake. Calvin was especially upset that Servetus rejected his doctrine of predestination.

The Huguenots were persecuted by the Catholic majority in France and fled the country in the 17th century. They settled in many places, including England, the United States, and Africa.

Anabaptists were 16th Century Christians in Europe. Anabaptists believed that baptism should only be performed on adults who freely confess their faith in Christ. They also believed that the church should be a voluntary gathering of believers, and that the government should not have authority over church affiliation or theology. Modern day Baptists descend from these Christians.

Anabaptists were persecuted by both Protestants and Roman Catholics, often being drowned or burned at the stake. The persecution of Anabaptists in Europe led to mass emigration to North America by Amish, Quakers, and Mennonites.

 English Baptists, who originated in the 17th century, were a separatist congregation. They had an Arminian view of theology, believing that the Scriptures taught believers’ baptism as an ordinance, not a part of the salvation process. They believed in the free will of people to choose to be saved. They also believed that salvation was based on faith, not works.

The Baptists, also, had a number of practices, which included foot washing, anointing the sick with oil, the laying on of hands, lifelong pastorates, and refusing to eat blood.

It was during the early 1600's that a Scottish Monarch took the crown, joining Scotland and England under one ruler. King James I was a religious man who had studied Greek, French, and Latin under George Buchanan. He was aware that the current Bible translations were filled with errors. In an endeavor to unite the different religious factions of his day, he commissioned the translating of the King James Bible.

After King James, Charles II renewed persecution of Baptists along with other non-conformists in England. Those who were not willing to take an oath of allegiance to the king were assumed to be seditious.

Confusion of the Calvinist movement in England squashed the power of the Bible believers. The prevailing belief was  “if Christ died not for all but only for the elect, it is useless to invite all to repent and believe in Him”. 

The state of the Protestant churches at the time of the Great Awakening was a cold, dead service. When the evangelical movement began within the Church of England in the 18th century, the tenets of the Baptists were renewed- the authority of the Bible, personal conversion, and a relationship with Jesus Christ..

John Wesley and Charles Wesley are among the most notable evangelists. They were called Methodists because of the methodological approach to spreading the gospel. The Wesleyans and the Methodists are their descendants.

George Whitfield was a contemporary of the Wesley brothers, he helped spread the revival throughout Britain and in the British American colonies. At Oxford he became close friends of the Wesleys, and at their invitation, joined them in their missionary work in the colony of Georgia.

Jonathan Edwards was a friend and colleague of George Whitfield. His most famous sermon  titled Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God  emphasized the wrath of God and the dangers of awaiting hell. He argued that it was each person's responsibility to acknowledge their sinful condition and accept Christ's invitation of salvation.

 

The preaching of these men, and others, led to the Great Awakening, a religious revival in the American colonies and England during the 1700s. The focus of the preaching was:

• All people are born sinners
• Sin without salvation will send a person to hell
• All people can be saved if they confess their sins to God, seek forgiveness and accept God’s grace
• All people can have a direct and emotional connection with God
• Religion shouldn’t be formal and institutionalized, but rather personal

Acts 17:6b-  These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

The effects of this movement have long been felt in our country and around the world. They are best described by Tom Holland in the book Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind. 

"Simply, the ancients were cruel, and their values utterly foreign to him. The Spartans routinely murdered “imperfect” children. The bodies of slaves were treated like outlets for the physical pleasure of those with power. Infanticide was common. The poor and the weak had no rights.

It was Christianity, Holland writes. Christianity revolutionized sex and marriage, demanding that men control themselves and prohibiting all forms of rape. Christianity confined sexuality within monogamy. (It is ironic, Holland notes, that these are now the very standards for which Christianity is derided.) Christianity elevated women. In short, Christianity utterly transformed the world."

Tom Holland, who is not a Christian, claims the morals of the western world would not exist without Christianity. And I would add that America, as we know her, would not exist without Bible believers. 

It's time that we modern day Christians take a stand. We have an amazing heritage, and we should want to heed Paul's warning to not let their strides and sacrifices be in vain.

Philippians 2:16- Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

For more information on Church History, you can purchase The History Of The New Testament Church by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman.

Christians today have dropped the ball. They are so afraid of being accused of "judging" that they no longer speak about sin and hell. They try to keep to the nice feeling parts of the Bible and ignore the weightier, less savory matters.

People are far too positive in their thinking. They focus on what someone is saying and fail to look for what they are not saying. They never consider what is missing.

While waiting for the antichrist to appear, many fail to see that the spirit of antichrist is already working.

I John 4:3- And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

For Satan to come to power in this world, all he needs is to remove Christ's world from people's minds. He doesn't need to encourage people to become Satanists; he only needs to encourage them not to worship, or even consider, Christ. By stripping away truth, he has stripped away conviction.

He has accomplished this not only through schools and government legislations that remove God's Word from their systems, but also by corrupting God's Word through multiple new, corrupted, versions. More and more preachers are failing to emphasize the principles in God's Word that deal with His deity, His blood atonement, His resurrection, or His literal second coming mainly because they are using versions of the Bible that have altered or removed these truths.

Satan is slowly stripping the infallible, inerrant Scriptures from Christians, and they are too ignorant to see it because their pastors are too worried about being "judge-y" to point it out! Some have even gone so far as to argue the "virtues" of the new Bibles on behalf of Satan himself! 

People today don't know what God's Word says, and they don't care that they've been lied to. Do you know? Do you care? Have you searched the Scriptures for yourself?

II Corinthians 13:5- Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

The troubles, persecutions, and labors of past believers is quickly becoming forgotten history. We have an amazing foundation in Christ, and the start of a building that has been worked on for the last two millennia! How could we grow complacent in these final moments?

II Timothy 1:13- Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:16- Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

It's time to take up the mantle that our forefathers bore. Let's not let their sacrifices and achievements be for nothing.