The Iron Pen #105
"...graven with an iron pen and lead..." Job
19:24
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
God & Country
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
The 1963 Supreme Court banned prayers in public schools. The
following prayer by kindergarten children was declared illegal:
"We thank you for the flowers so sweet;
We thank you for the food we eat;
We thank you for the birds that sing;
We thank you God for everything."
George Washington’s final remarks to the nation in 1796 should
have been heeded. He said, "Of all the habits that lead to political
prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In
vain would men claim the tributes of patriotism who would work to
destroy these great pillars of happiness."
Speak Up Boldly For The Lord
I am a student of history, particularly of the Reformation era.
Two years ago I stood at the exact spot in Oxford, England where
Hugh Latimer was burned at the stake with Nicholas Ridley for their
faith in Jesus Christ during the reign of bloody Mary (Mary Steward
or Mary I). However, before that, Latimer was a solid witness for
Christ. He was bold to speak up for the Lord Jesus
Christ, even at the peril of his life. Below is one famous account
of this man’s boldness.
"Hugh Latimer once preached before King Henry VIII. Henry was
greatly displeased by the boldness in the sermon and ordered Latimer
to preach again on the following Sunday and apologize for the
offence he had given. The next Sunday, after reading his text, he
thus began his sermon: "Hugh Latimer, dost thou know before whom
thou are this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the
king's most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life, if thou
offendest. Therefore, take heed that thou speakest not a word that
may displease. But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from
whence thou comest--upon Whose message thou are sent? Even by the
great and mighty God, Who is all-present and Who beholdeth all thy
ways and Who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take
care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully." He then preached
the same sermon he had preached the preceding Sunday--and with
considerably more energy."
ALL THINGS ARE THROUGH HIM
Text: Romans 11:36
There is "peace with God" through our Lord Jesus Christ –
Romans 5:1
There is "atonement" through our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans
5:11
There is "joy in God" through our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans
5:11
There is "eternal life" through our Lord Jesus Chist – Romans
6:23
There is "victory over death" through our Lord Jesus Christ –
1 Corinthians 15:57
There is "glory" through our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 16:27
Historical Snapshot of George Whitefield
(adapted from an article by Sheldon B. Quincer)
One of the greatest revivals of American history was the Great
Awakening of the 18th century. The beginning of the
century saw most of our churches cold and lifeless. A few godly men
saw the desperate conditions and were used of God in starting
revival fires, but it was not until the arrival of English born
George Whitefield 1740 that the fires were flamed into a blaze that
swept the eastern seaboard and Georgia. Under God, Whitfield became
the leader of the revival.
He belonged to all denominations – he was ordained as an
Anglican, became a Calvinist Methodist, was buried under the pulpit
of the Federal Street Presbyterian Church of Newburyport,
Massachusetts and many of the converts of his meetings joined
Baptist Churches.
In thirty-five years of Gospel ministry in the British Isles,
West Indies, and America, Whitfield preached 18,000 sermons to
audiences which sometimes numbered 30,000 people.
His sermons were both doctrinal and practical. In reading them
one is impressed with his emphasis on the total depravity of man,
the righteousness of Christ, and the Grace of God. To him man is a
sinner in need of Christ’s imputed grace. He firmly held that
"salvation is of the Lord."
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