Friday, June 18, 2010

Dudes, Duds, and Dads

A Dude, A Dud Or A Dad...Men, It’s Up To You
Proverbs 3:12


The mixed-up world we live seems to encourage men to be dudes and duds...while being a dad is often mocked. I have three high callings in my life. If you’re a believer, you may agree with me. Men, we are first called to be faithful to God. Second, we are called to be faithful to our wife. Third, we are called to be faithful to our children.

I don’t completely have my act together...my dad didn’t either, but he tried really hard and I’m trying too. The dad I knew at home was a happy man. He loved my mother, worked hard, went to church every week, and enjoyed a front porch swing and a glass of iced tea. He was never a dud...and never tried to be a dude. He was a dad. Guys like him never get any recognition. But guys like him don’t want any.

I heard a country song that says, “If I could write a letter to me and send it back in time to myself when I was seventeen...” What an idea...what would I say to myself about my dad if I could write a letter to me when I was seventeen? I might say something like this.... Michael, Thirty years from now you’re gonna remember your dad sitting in the bleachers in the rain watching you play football even though he knew nothing about the game. ...Thirty years from now you’re gonna remember watching your dad kiss your mother goodbye every morning before he left for work. ....Hey, Michael, pay attention to how your dad treats your mother on special days like her birthday, and Mother’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. ...Thirty years from now you’re gonna remember when your dad cried at his dad’s funeral. ...Thirty years from now your dad won’t seem like he’s from another planet. As you get older, he'll get wiser. ...Thirty years from now you’ll wish you had spent more time with him doing whatever he wanted to do. ...Thirty years from now you’ll understand the callouses on his hands, the wrinkles on his face, and the gray in his hair. – If I could write a letter to me back when I was seventeen...I’d tell myself to go and simply say, “Thanks dad.” Thanks for being a good man....and for loving my mother...and for believing in God...and for believing in me. What would you say?

A Dude: King David 2 Samuel 18:33 “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would to God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

These words sound remorseful....but actually they are words of regret. Amnon and now Absalom had both died ugly deaths because of their dad’s sin. This is what God said to David through Nathan the prophet...2 Samuel 12:10-11, “...The sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.' "This is what the Lord says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you..”

So, what’s the problem here? Is it possible David was so busy building his empire that he neglected to build his family? Was he more concerned with his reputation as a king that he neglected his relationship with his children?

The scriptures tell us of how Amnon had taken advantage of Tamar...his half sister and Absalom’s sister. We then read how Absalom killed Amnon because of his sin with Tamar. Then we read how Absalom tried to become King in David’s place even while David was still living. Yet we see very little if any response from David about any of these acts. Absalom was even allowed to come back home after the murder of Amnon.

Compromise is a killer... David was known as a man after God’s own heart, but something happened and at some point he became a man after the hearts of men....seeking to please men rather than God....seeking to please himself rather than please God.

A Dud: Lot Genesis 19:14 “So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said,"Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.”

What a sad story. You remember Lot. He was the nephew of Abraham. He and Abraham’s herdsmen worked together till one day their men couldn’t get along so Abraham suggested they part ways. Whichever direction Lot went, Abraham would go the other...and Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. He would never recover.

A person can live too close to Sodom. Lot did and before long he was a changed man. This disciple of Abraham became a dud of a father. He easily blended into the lifestyle of Sodom. Lot had no credibility even in his own family...they laughed at his sudden outcry against Sodom. Lot’s life in Sodom was a shame. When he walked away from Abraham years before, little did he know he would lose his wife, the respect of his children, and his testimony.

Choices matter... We see the choice he made...to go to the land of Sodom. He saw that it was well watered, in other words it was a beautiful place. But little did he know it was greatly wicked. – Don’t just go on a whim...In ALL your ways acknowledge Him...!

A Dad: Noah Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

There’s dudes and duds...and then there are dads. Men who do more than simply father children...but feel compelled to be a dad. These are men who do the right thing even when it means sacrificing their time and money and personal dreams. How many men have put their dreams on hold so their children can have their’s come true?

My dad was the son of share-croppers who never owned a home....but made sure that we always had a place we could call our own. My dad quit school in the 8th grade...but made sure I was in school, well dressed and well fed...and he encouraged me in college and seminary. My dad was never wealthy...but taught me the value of a dollar and the value of hard work and that a person didn’t have to be rich to be valuable. My dad knew how to laugh in the midst of tough situations. Times were hard, bills were high, and life was unpredictable, but God was good.

What you believe defines you... Noah believed God and it was accounted him as righteousness (Gen 15:6). Noah’s life counted for God. He did the ridiculous and his children believed.

Noah built an ark: He did it to obey God and to save his family. It was radical...It was ridiculed...and it was risky. But Noah knew God had told him to build it. Men if you lead your family to God, it is radical and risky...and you will be ridiculed.
Noah built an altar: He did it to worship God and witness to his family. The message of the Ark is not complete without the Altar. There is no Salvation without Sacrifice. The Bible says God was pleased...Genesis 8:21... God received the sacrifice of Noah and it pleased him. What was it that pleased God?

The building of the ark pleased God and the burning of the sacrifice pleased God...but rest assured, Noah pleased God. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Gen 6:8). Noah “built an ark to save his family...”

....Men, what are you doing to save your family? What are you doing to lead your family to God? Are you more of a dude, a dud, or a dad? Think about it....

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Cowboy Boots and a Bible

Cowboy Boots and a Bible
Zechariah 13:1-7

Beware of false prophets pretending to be cowboys. Judgment had come and the false prophets lied about their lifestyle and hid behind a pair of cowboy boots. They said, “We’re not prophets, we’re cattle farmers.” They did it to save their neck.

Beware of false prophets who parade as movie stars...recording artists…and politicians. Just because he wears a pair of boots doesn’t mean he’s a cowboy....and just because he carries a Bible doesn’t mean he’s a believer.

I would never make it as a cowboy. First of all I don’t wear hats. When I put on a hat I look like a cross between Hoss Cartwright and The Urban Cowboy. Second, I don’t wear boots. I have two pair, but when I wear them I may look kinda like John Wayne but I walk kinda like Fred Sanford. Third, me and horses have never really gotten along. The first horse I ever rode took off running and didn’t stop for 30 minutes. I hung on for dear life. I’ve been bit and bucked...so I just keep my distance. ...However, I did ride a cow one time. Me and my friend Marty Turney decided one day to ride some of his dad’s cows. Needless to say it was a mooooving experience.

The old story in Zechariah is one of wolves among sheep and of tares among the wheat. Too often, believers blend in with the world, but in this passage we see the world blending in with the church. Liars were blending in with lovers of God. Deceivers were blending in with believers. False prophets were blending in with the Prophets of God.

....Matthew 7:15-16 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

Cattle farmers might be marked by a herd, and horse, and a hat...but false teachers will always be marked by the Devil, dishonesty, and deception.....

Jesus’ message is very clear.....
~The truth sets men free. False teaching takes men captive.
~The truth brings peace. False teaching creates confusion.
~The truth saves your soul. False teaching will cause you to lose your soul.

Jesus was not a cowboy.

He was a shepherd.

He gave His life for the sheep.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

2010 Michael Mason Preaching Engagements

Michael Mason - 2010 Preaching Engagements:

January 25 Muscle Shoals Baptist Assoc. Pastor's Conference, Moulton, Al.

February 6 TRUE Conference, Canaan Baptist, Hoover, Al.

February 12 Bailey Smith "Real Evangelism" Conf., Wheeler Grove Bap., Corinth, Miss.

February 26-27 TRUE Couple's Wknd. First Baptist, Winchester, Tenn.

March 1 Marvelous Monday, Black Creek Baptist, Boaz, Al.

March 7-10 (pm only) Revival Lakeview Baptist, Pembroke, Ky.

April 1 East Cullman Assoc. Senior Adult Revival, FBC Hanceville, Al.

April 11-14 Pleasant Hill Baptist (M-W) Decatur, Al. p.m. services only

April 17 TRUE Couple's Night, Riverchase United Methodist, Hoover, Al.

May 12 Walker County Assoc. Senior Adult Revival, Jasper, Al.

June 11-12 Riverchase UMC, Hoover,Al. TRUE Couples Wknd, Chattanooga, Tn.

June 28 Clearwater Baptist Revival, Athens, Tn.

July 25-28 (pm only)Springhill Baptist Revival, Cullman, Al.

August 4 East Gardendale Baptist, Awesome August, Gardendale, Al.

October 18-22 Guatemala Pastor's Conference, Chimaltanengo, Guatemala

October 26 First Baptist Addison, Al.

November 7-10 First Baptist Revival, Winchester, Tn.

Last Words of the Holy Spirit

In 1 Tim 4:1-2 God gives us a glimpse of what these last days would look like... “Now the Spirit expressly says that in last days some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons...” We are in those last days. We are bombarded with religious options and opinions – such that those who are not grounded in God’s Word don’t know what to believe.

Matthew 24:24 speaks of the Great Tribulation in which Satan will deceive so many ...and if possible, even the elect. Which is impossible...but it shows the power of the enemy and the power of deception.....So, what is the Holy Spirit saying to us today? If these are the last days...what are His last words?

In Genesis 6:3 we find a very familiar and oft quoted verse in which God says, “My spirit will not always strive with man...” What does that mean for us? Nothing really. It was most likely a reference to the coming flood, Noah and the Ark. In that same verse God says that the days of man will be a 120 years. Again, most likely a reference to the time until the flood. Even though this passage has no direct meaning for us today, we do see something of God that we need to understand. He is patient, but there was a point when He withdrew His Spirit and he no longer spoke to men.

We've sung the old hymn, "send the old time power, the Pentecostal power; thy flood-gates of blessing on us throw open wide...send the old time power that sinners be converted and thy name glorified." ...I’m pretty sure we really don’t want that... In most churches, including ours, we’ve quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit to the point that if the Holy Spirit moved, it would be more like a resurrection from the dead than a revival. We may want to see sinners converted and His name glorified...but if He is poured out we will also see the saved broken over sin and the church confessing our compromise.
Vance Havner said, "Like Samson, we know not that He has departed"...yet we go on preaching and singing and acting like nothing is wrong. I wonder if God’s patience with us is wearing thin like in the days of Noah?

We need the Holy Spirit to speak to us! We can sing hymns, choruses, and anthems...but without the Holy Spirit, they’re all meaningless. We can preach great sermons...but without the Holy Spirit they are powerless. We can have revival meetings...but without the Holy Spirit...it’s just a lot of racket. We can teach the Bible...but without the Holy Spirit we’ll never believe it. ...In these days of big churches, big choirs, big screens, big budgets, and big egos...The Holy Spirit is saying very little. What a shame that we do what we do week in and week out and never hear from the Holy Spirit. We’ve become insensitive and unanointed.... Let’s pray that God would send His Holy Spirit and that we would hear Him loud and clear.

Sometime back, in Glasgow, Kentucky the Associated Press printed a story about Leslie Puckett. After struggling to start his car early one morning, Puckett lifted the hood and discovered that someone had stolen the motor." ...That car may have had all the bells and whistles...may have been shiny and fast...but its power supply was taken away.

That’s like too many believers – saved and knowledgeable and proud to be Baptist...but they have no power. They’ve become independent...they don’t need God. They’ve become indifferent...they no longer care about the things of God. They’re bound by their own iniquity. Sin has taken away their joy.

They’ve lost their power.
They’ve quenched the Holy Spirit and may never hear from Him again.