It was years ago. I was a teenager, upper teens. I knew enough about death. As a pastors' child we often had to go to the funeral home, to funerals of family and church members. None of it was good. Memories, dreams and questions always go along with death. But I knew enough now, to not be afraid or scared, but simply to understand death as i watched my grandmother dying. She had been sick, she was up in years. the family had been called in to be there for when she took her last breath. She had been comatose for awhile, no words, no gestrues, no responses. Prayers had been offered up. Just how people pray in such times is a mystery to me. We are not so prone to accept the FAther's will, of that certainty I am sure. she was labroing for breath. We reason it would be better, gentler for her simply to be released and let go. There was confidence that she was a Christian, just let her go home ot heaven to be with the Lord.
As I sat there with my dad, we played 20 questions/answers. I watched her breath. 'When does the soul leave the body?' Oh, if only our eyes were opened to see the soul depart from the body. To see the breath of life leave the body to go back to God, Who gave it. There are enough Scriptures for us to understand these things. We may not be able to analzye it, definitely cannot grasp it all. But Scripture reveals to us the reality and certainty of most of this mystery.
the problem is that too many are scared and definitely do not want to take time to understand nor be taught. Satan also loves to keep us away from the truth. He will do all he can do rob us of peace and understanding in the Scriptures. Are you willing to understand? Are you willing to open the Bible and see what things God reveals to us about death and dying? And are we willing to accept His truth over the fables of man in regards to it all.
My grand-fathers died early on. My dad's dad, died before I was even born. I was a toddler when my mom's dad died with cancer. But my grand-mothers were around for awhile through my years of growing up. I got to know them. And as with all those that God puts in our life, they become a part of us. WE see them, we know them, we love them, we experience life with them. Memories come from these attachments of our lives. We remember faces, experiences and events that leave a mark on our persona. And then when it comes time to die, then what? WE don't understand this concept of life. WE don't like this concept of life, called DEATH.
There has been many beliefs, superstitions, made-up truths to cover over this reality. We try to find ways to deal with it, to explain it, to handle it. That is the essence of it all. We have to be in control, we can't stand not to be in control. Death is that what reality of this world that we cannot control. Heart attacks, cancer, accidents, disease, and one of the other 1,000 ways to die is normally beyond us. We simply must watch our loved die. We are simply left to deal with their departure.
and as for our own death, it leaves as much uncertainty. How much time do we have? How am I going to die? Will it hurt? What happens? and on and on we go with unanswerable questions about death and dying.
Most recently, with several friends having lost loved ones. (There was 3 in a row). Many were asking such questions. And as much as I have had to deal with death through pastoring, hospitals, tragedy's and what not, I am led to try to answer some of those questions in these lines. Let us begin with what death is and why it is.
What is death? Death, as we define it , in our comprehension and converstaion is when this life ceases to be. This life ends when we stop breathing. A doctor or offical looks at our stats of heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure and signs a death certificate. 'This life ceased to be at such and such a time.' In times of accidents, the cornorer states, 'confirmed dead at the scene.' At other times because of accidents or other issues, breathing is going on, perhpas with a respirator, but the brain waves are dead. In which case, they say, 'brain dead'. Regardless of the issue or situation, life ceases to be.
As for my grandmother, she had ceased to be the grandmother I knew. She could not respond, did not repsond. Yet, she was still breathing. Now, I have no way of knowing when God determines such things. There has only been two people who never died. Do you know who they are before I tell you? Elijah the prophet, and Enoch, found in the book of Genesis. God just took them to heaven, they never knew death as far as we know it, of this life ending.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
REVIVAL PRAYING
'Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? v. 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hat not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." Psalm 24:3-4
I call these two verses, 'Revival Praying'. It is the prayer of the deacon in the Hebrides revival. When he stood and lifting up his face toward heaven and spoke to the Lord God; 'Are my hands clean? is my heart pure?' It is the question for everyone that reads this to ask. It is the question for everyone to answer.
There are two parts to this for self-examination in prayer, the hands and the heart. LEt us search the Scriptures and find this message for prevailing prayer for revival.
1. 'Are my hands clean?'
one must have clean hands to approach before God. 'If I regard iniqutiy in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.' Now this says the heart, but is there sin on our hands? The acknowledgement of sin in the heart shuts down our prayer with God. We cannot afford to move forward without God. There must be a cleansing, a purifying, a washing in the blood of the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world.'
'Touch not the unclean thing'. Here is the use of our hands. What sins are found on the hands and its works?
--Touching the unclean thing; this is touching anything that is not clean. Can we discern between clean and unclean? In the law of Moses, especially in Leviticus there is huge portions defining what was exceptable and what was not. Sin is not acceptable; holiness is. LEt us simply gauge ourselves on such a scale.
--Blood on my hands; one of the most desecrating sins of the church today; WE have allowed for millions of souls to perish and their blood is on our hands. In Ezekiel, the word of the Lord is there for our instruction. "I have set you as a watchman on the tower. And if the enemy comes and you fail to soudn the warning and they perish. I will require their blood at thy hand. For you knew but you did not warn them.' How many souls has been set before us? How many souls are in need of the Gospel? And yet we have allowed them to live in our homes, in our towns, sit in our churches, work beside us, go to school with them; and never ask them of their eternity. We have the blood of a nation on our hands. SCrup your hands as well you might, the blood still remains. But perfume, scents, lotions, aftershave or any other sweet smelling aroma, still the blood remains. thsi cannot be removed except through the execising of declaring the whole counself of the Gosple to a lost soul. Upon telling them the truth of the Gospel, you deliver your own soul and keep the blood off.
--laboring with my hands for vanity , idleness and works of self; When trying to telling people today in America, that they need God, they reply, 'With my own two hands I've worked for what I got'. They fail to see that God gave them two hands to work. But the message behind what they are saying is the point; they worked for things. OUr society is bent on 'things'. Don Miller, recently stressed this in his prayer conference about the life that keeps men from God. Things of this earth are set before us for success, to rule our lives and to live and die for. Things keep us from dying to self, and following the Lord. The rich young ruler went away from Christ because he was told to 'go sell all that you ahve and come follow Me.' He could not do it. Increased with goods has a high costs with it. Unelss we be willing to give all up, it will destroy us. Peole set out in life to accomplish this. They live and work for money, for possessions, for things to gratify the flesh. It is all vanity and vexation of spirit.
I call these two verses, 'Revival Praying'. It is the prayer of the deacon in the Hebrides revival. When he stood and lifting up his face toward heaven and spoke to the Lord God; 'Are my hands clean? is my heart pure?' It is the question for everyone that reads this to ask. It is the question for everyone to answer.
There are two parts to this for self-examination in prayer, the hands and the heart. LEt us search the Scriptures and find this message for prevailing prayer for revival.
1. 'Are my hands clean?'
one must have clean hands to approach before God. 'If I regard iniqutiy in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.' Now this says the heart, but is there sin on our hands? The acknowledgement of sin in the heart shuts down our prayer with God. We cannot afford to move forward without God. There must be a cleansing, a purifying, a washing in the blood of the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world.'
'Touch not the unclean thing'. Here is the use of our hands. What sins are found on the hands and its works?
--Touching the unclean thing; this is touching anything that is not clean. Can we discern between clean and unclean? In the law of Moses, especially in Leviticus there is huge portions defining what was exceptable and what was not. Sin is not acceptable; holiness is. LEt us simply gauge ourselves on such a scale.
--Blood on my hands; one of the most desecrating sins of the church today; WE have allowed for millions of souls to perish and their blood is on our hands. In Ezekiel, the word of the Lord is there for our instruction. "I have set you as a watchman on the tower. And if the enemy comes and you fail to soudn the warning and they perish. I will require their blood at thy hand. For you knew but you did not warn them.' How many souls has been set before us? How many souls are in need of the Gospel? And yet we have allowed them to live in our homes, in our towns, sit in our churches, work beside us, go to school with them; and never ask them of their eternity. We have the blood of a nation on our hands. SCrup your hands as well you might, the blood still remains. But perfume, scents, lotions, aftershave or any other sweet smelling aroma, still the blood remains. thsi cannot be removed except through the execising of declaring the whole counself of the Gosple to a lost soul. Upon telling them the truth of the Gospel, you deliver your own soul and keep the blood off.
--laboring with my hands for vanity , idleness and works of self; When trying to telling people today in America, that they need God, they reply, 'With my own two hands I've worked for what I got'. They fail to see that God gave them two hands to work. But the message behind what they are saying is the point; they worked for things. OUr society is bent on 'things'. Don Miller, recently stressed this in his prayer conference about the life that keeps men from God. Things of this earth are set before us for success, to rule our lives and to live and die for. Things keep us from dying to self, and following the Lord. The rich young ruler went away from Christ because he was told to 'go sell all that you ahve and come follow Me.' He could not do it. Increased with goods has a high costs with it. Unelss we be willing to give all up, it will destroy us. Peole set out in life to accomplish this. They live and work for money, for possessions, for things to gratify the flesh. It is all vanity and vexation of spirit.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
WE REAP WHAT WE SOW
"So Saul died for his transgression which he commiteed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; v. 14, And enquired not of the Lord; therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse." I Chronicles 10:13-14
The soul that sinneth it shall die. The wages of sin is death. There is so much in the Scripture that verifies our eternity by the way we live daily. And each decision is either right in the sight of the Lord or evil in the sight of the Lord. It is pretty clear cut; isn't it? and so it is natural for us to be able to see that a life that sows in sin, produces fruit in sin. Here in these verses is King Saul who disobeyed the word of the Lord and reaped what he had sown- God slew him. The reality of this is before our lives that we reap what we sow.
It goes deeper than just our own lives. For if I practice sin and disobey the word of the Lord, not only should I expect to reap God's wrath; but I have sown into my children and the next generation the same sinful path. This is the danger of our every day life. If we don't obey the Lord, we teach our sons and daughters the same lifestyle and way. It is hard enough in this world to raise God fearing children, but let it not be said that they learned disobedience from us as parents. It is one thing for a child or Christian to go astray; it is quite another thing for them to have been taught disobedience of the Lord from His church and people.
In this portion of Scripture there is much for us to discern, learn and apply to prohibit the loss of our next generation. Saul knew right and wrong. He knew God and the ways of God. Yet, he chose to disobey those ways. And because of it, he died; 'the Lord slew him'. May you get that portion of Scripture in your heart and mind. All men die. The only two that didn't was Enoch and Elijah. Christ died, but was resurrected and ascended. But for all other flesh, 'It is appointed unto man to die, then the judgment'. All men die - yes; but how they die is the question here. Do they die in the Lord? or away from the Lord?
The soul that sinneth it shall die. The wages of sin is death. There is so much in the Scripture that verifies our eternity by the way we live daily. And each decision is either right in the sight of the Lord or evil in the sight of the Lord. It is pretty clear cut; isn't it? and so it is natural for us to be able to see that a life that sows in sin, produces fruit in sin. Here in these verses is King Saul who disobeyed the word of the Lord and reaped what he had sown- God slew him. The reality of this is before our lives that we reap what we sow.
It goes deeper than just our own lives. For if I practice sin and disobey the word of the Lord, not only should I expect to reap God's wrath; but I have sown into my children and the next generation the same sinful path. This is the danger of our every day life. If we don't obey the Lord, we teach our sons and daughters the same lifestyle and way. It is hard enough in this world to raise God fearing children, but let it not be said that they learned disobedience from us as parents. It is one thing for a child or Christian to go astray; it is quite another thing for them to have been taught disobedience of the Lord from His church and people.
In this portion of Scripture there is much for us to discern, learn and apply to prohibit the loss of our next generation. Saul knew right and wrong. He knew God and the ways of God. Yet, he chose to disobey those ways. And because of it, he died; 'the Lord slew him'. May you get that portion of Scripture in your heart and mind. All men die. The only two that didn't was Enoch and Elijah. Christ died, but was resurrected and ascended. But for all other flesh, 'It is appointed unto man to die, then the judgment'. All men die - yes; but how they die is the question here. Do they die in the Lord? or away from the Lord?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
STATS ON DEATH AND DYING IN DISASTERS
What this study of famine has overall taught me and what God is saying to me. The words straight forward about this situation is, ‘What is the value, the worth of a soul?’ Is it worth our prayers, our attention? How great is this need? Is there really any reason to become involved and spend time towards it?
Upon looking at this, here is what I have found:
150,000 people die on an average each day around the world; That is 1 million souls a week.
We know the reality of this is that 140,00 to 145,000 of these die without Christ. The only hope in the numbers is that many are probably children before the age of accountability, which would increase the number of redeemed. Praise God for His mercy on that.
In studying the value of death through times of disasters I have learned this:
Not counting historical death but more recent situations that put this all in perspective for me.
--Dec, 2004 ‘Christmas’ tsunami in Indonesia; 230,000 dead
--August, 1945, nuclear bombs on Japan; 200,000 dead
--Haiti earthquake, 2010 316,000 dead
--Japan, March, 2011 20,000 dead
--US tornadoes, 2011 record number 1,692 546 dead
--Ethiopia famine, 1984-85 1 million
--Spanish flue, 1918-1920 over 50 million
--Asian flu, 1956-58 4 million
--china famine, 1958-61 15 - 43 million
--soviet famine, 1932-34 7 - 10 million
There are other stats of course, that I have pondered and considered. In this famine, there are 12 million involved. What is the value of these, mostly Muslim souls? What is their eternity?
What does God see when He sees these 150,000 die each day with out Christ? He sees eternity; He sees justice. What does God see when 12 million are facing eternity in the next few days, weeks, months? May we have eyes to see as He sees; that the value of the human soul is everything to God and to His church.
Let us respond with diligence, the prayer of faith, and see our God do great things for His glory Names’ sake.
Thank you.
Until,
Dan Biser
Rdbiser@live.com
Upon looking at this, here is what I have found:
150,000 people die on an average each day around the world; That is 1 million souls a week.
We know the reality of this is that 140,00 to 145,000 of these die without Christ. The only hope in the numbers is that many are probably children before the age of accountability, which would increase the number of redeemed. Praise God for His mercy on that.
In studying the value of death through times of disasters I have learned this:
Not counting historical death but more recent situations that put this all in perspective for me.
--Dec, 2004 ‘Christmas’ tsunami in Indonesia; 230,000 dead
--August, 1945, nuclear bombs on Japan; 200,000 dead
--Haiti earthquake, 2010 316,000 dead
--Japan, March, 2011 20,000 dead
--US tornadoes, 2011 record number 1,692 546 dead
--Ethiopia famine, 1984-85 1 million
--Spanish flue, 1918-1920 over 50 million
--Asian flu, 1956-58 4 million
--china famine, 1958-61 15 - 43 million
--soviet famine, 1932-34 7 - 10 million
There are other stats of course, that I have pondered and considered. In this famine, there are 12 million involved. What is the value of these, mostly Muslim souls? What is their eternity?
What does God see when He sees these 150,000 die each day with out Christ? He sees eternity; He sees justice. What does God see when 12 million are facing eternity in the next few days, weeks, months? May we have eyes to see as He sees; that the value of the human soul is everything to God and to His church.
Let us respond with diligence, the prayer of faith, and see our God do great things for His glory Names’ sake.
Thank you.
Until,
Dan Biser
Rdbiser@live.com
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
THE VALUE OF A SOUL
THE WORTH OF A SOUL
How much does a soul mean to God? How much does a soul mean to us? The importance of the soul it to understand God's desire and the final place of eternity for the soul. The flesh shall cease to be; the spirit of life goes back to God and ceases to be; but the soul is eternal. It shall be in heaven or hell for all eternity.
The value of my soul is everything. But to those who neither believe in it nor regard eterntiy has very little value upon their own soul or others. Let us fix our minds on two images that should make us know the weight of these things we are sharing.
1. It is reported that the night before Evan Roberts had the Holy Spirit come down upon him in response to his prayer, 'Bend me, O God; bend me', that he had a vision. The vision that came to him was of hell. The souls were gathered and thrown into hell. The sides of the walls where slick, high and unable to get out of the pit. Above the pit was one door that opened and here is where the souls entered. Upon seeing so many souls enter into hell, Roberts cried out, 'Shut the door, O Lord, for one year.'
A fact that I learned this day was that 150,000 people die every day on an average. That is 56 million souls a year leave this earth and their soul enters its eternal destination. Out of 150,000, how many would you and I suppose are saved and born again? Jesus told us that 'straight was the path and narrow was the way; and few there be that find it.' Few. Few find it! Out of 150,000 would we be too far off to say that 140,000 or 145,000 die without Christ and enter that one way door into hell? Stand for an hour at the entrance into hell and consider the extreme sight of those that enter but never have reprieve or exit. It is too much to bear for the soul that cares. How much value? How much worth are these souls?
2. Now see our second sight. C. T. Studd was said that he would be willing to set up a rescue stand right in front of the door of hell. A rescue stand in front of the door that leads to hell. For what purpose? To save the soul before it enters. The reality is that the soul is still able to be saved until it enters. So stop the soul from entering. How much value is these souls that prepare to enter the door of hell? How much worht would put upon them? A stranger, another nationality; you may not give much weight to them. But now look deep upon their faces - it is your dad, your mom, your brother, your sister, your spouse, your children. Now the souls have untold value, don't they.
During certain season of time, God allows or causes disasters upon this world. There are epidemics of disease, famines, floods, and other natural disasters. Some cause by natural forces and others by man made reasons. Histroy has recorded for us that epidemics of disease have been the most brutal to man. Ten's of millions of souls have died under its hand.
How much does a soul mean to God? How much does a soul mean to us? The importance of the soul it to understand God's desire and the final place of eternity for the soul. The flesh shall cease to be; the spirit of life goes back to God and ceases to be; but the soul is eternal. It shall be in heaven or hell for all eternity.
The value of my soul is everything. But to those who neither believe in it nor regard eterntiy has very little value upon their own soul or others. Let us fix our minds on two images that should make us know the weight of these things we are sharing.
1. It is reported that the night before Evan Roberts had the Holy Spirit come down upon him in response to his prayer, 'Bend me, O God; bend me', that he had a vision. The vision that came to him was of hell. The souls were gathered and thrown into hell. The sides of the walls where slick, high and unable to get out of the pit. Above the pit was one door that opened and here is where the souls entered. Upon seeing so many souls enter into hell, Roberts cried out, 'Shut the door, O Lord, for one year.'
A fact that I learned this day was that 150,000 people die every day on an average. That is 56 million souls a year leave this earth and their soul enters its eternal destination. Out of 150,000, how many would you and I suppose are saved and born again? Jesus told us that 'straight was the path and narrow was the way; and few there be that find it.' Few. Few find it! Out of 150,000 would we be too far off to say that 140,000 or 145,000 die without Christ and enter that one way door into hell? Stand for an hour at the entrance into hell and consider the extreme sight of those that enter but never have reprieve or exit. It is too much to bear for the soul that cares. How much value? How much worth are these souls?
2. Now see our second sight. C. T. Studd was said that he would be willing to set up a rescue stand right in front of the door of hell. A rescue stand in front of the door that leads to hell. For what purpose? To save the soul before it enters. The reality is that the soul is still able to be saved until it enters. So stop the soul from entering. How much value is these souls that prepare to enter the door of hell? How much worht would put upon them? A stranger, another nationality; you may not give much weight to them. But now look deep upon their faces - it is your dad, your mom, your brother, your sister, your spouse, your children. Now the souls have untold value, don't they.
During certain season of time, God allows or causes disasters upon this world. There are epidemics of disease, famines, floods, and other natural disasters. Some cause by natural forces and others by man made reasons. Histroy has recorded for us that epidemics of disease have been the most brutal to man. Ten's of millions of souls have died under its hand.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Letter about famine BGR
August 9, 2011
Time is not a luxury for those that die today! Recent reports have come in and shared of the death of old and young in the famine stricken area in Africa. Ten’s of thousands are dying. They are dying without Christ, brethren; you know that means there eternity is hell. Is this acceptable to you? Is this God’s desire or will? We know that He has declared His desire, ’that He would have none to perish; He would have none to go away from Him.’
Christ fed the hungry; Moses brought forth water out of the rock. You and I are in a land of plenty. We are able to help meet this need in two ways:
1 . The need at hand is to have funds to purchase and distribute food to those that need it. Funds for emergency needs across the world have been taxed with all the catastrophes that we have seen this year alone. The famine has been caused by 2 or 3 years of little or no rain. Much like we see in our southwest of the United States. Our first appeal is to make sure that Word Hunger fund has enough money to meet the needs at hand. The sum that is needed right now to carry them through is $500,000. There are roughly 44,000 churches in the SBC. That means, if every SBC church gave $12 it would meet the need at hand.
I am proposing for every church to make a one time special gift for the month of August to meet the need of these dying souls, and give $10, $20, $50 or $100. Your gift will help preserve life for the sake of presenting the Gospel through our missionaries and workers. Many of our churches give in October for World Hunger Sunday. Do you realize if you wait that long, how many souls will have died by then? Not one of us would be able to sleep tonight if all the faces were revealed of the 100,000’s that died because we waited till October. We can’t wait, we must respond now.
2. In a few months, the rains for that region are to come. The rains have not come in years pasts, causing this crisis. Every church should give their money and then, bow their knees to ask God, Who gives the rain and withholds the rain, to be merciful upon these people. They not only need the rain of the Holy Spirit for the saving of the soul. But they need physical rain for the food. Pray for God to do what only God can do - Give Rain!!
The work of the kingdom is before us in a region that most of us will never see, nor put our feet there. But the work of souls is on our hands for accountability and response. Here is the challenge that I present to Southern Baptists, Give and Pray!
Checks and gifts can be sent to :
Baptist Global Response
402BNA Drive Suite 411
Nashville, TN37217
On Line Donations can be made at:
www.gobgr.org
Until,
Dan Biser
Rdbiser@live.com
Time is not a luxury for those that die today! Recent reports have come in and shared of the death of old and young in the famine stricken area in Africa. Ten’s of thousands are dying. They are dying without Christ, brethren; you know that means there eternity is hell. Is this acceptable to you? Is this God’s desire or will? We know that He has declared His desire, ’that He would have none to perish; He would have none to go away from Him.’
Christ fed the hungry; Moses brought forth water out of the rock. You and I are in a land of plenty. We are able to help meet this need in two ways:
1 . The need at hand is to have funds to purchase and distribute food to those that need it. Funds for emergency needs across the world have been taxed with all the catastrophes that we have seen this year alone. The famine has been caused by 2 or 3 years of little or no rain. Much like we see in our southwest of the United States. Our first appeal is to make sure that Word Hunger fund has enough money to meet the needs at hand. The sum that is needed right now to carry them through is $500,000. There are roughly 44,000 churches in the SBC. That means, if every SBC church gave $12 it would meet the need at hand.
I am proposing for every church to make a one time special gift for the month of August to meet the need of these dying souls, and give $10, $20, $50 or $100. Your gift will help preserve life for the sake of presenting the Gospel through our missionaries and workers. Many of our churches give in October for World Hunger Sunday. Do you realize if you wait that long, how many souls will have died by then? Not one of us would be able to sleep tonight if all the faces were revealed of the 100,000’s that died because we waited till October. We can’t wait, we must respond now.
2. In a few months, the rains for that region are to come. The rains have not come in years pasts, causing this crisis. Every church should give their money and then, bow their knees to ask God, Who gives the rain and withholds the rain, to be merciful upon these people. They not only need the rain of the Holy Spirit for the saving of the soul. But they need physical rain for the food. Pray for God to do what only God can do - Give Rain!!
The work of the kingdom is before us in a region that most of us will never see, nor put our feet there. But the work of souls is on our hands for accountability and response. Here is the challenge that I present to Southern Baptists, Give and Pray!
Checks and gifts can be sent to :
Baptist Global Response
402BNA Drive Suite 411
Nashville, TN37217
On Line Donations can be made at:
www.gobgr.org
Until,
Dan Biser
Rdbiser@live.com
Thursday, August 4, 2011
I SAMUEL SCRITPURES AND COMMENTS
Greetings,
Bible reading; as Ravenhill said it, 'We just don't know God'; mainly I beleive to lack of reading and studying the Word of God. I read through the Scripture twice a year. I am coming through my second time and just started I Samuel. There was so much that I am moved to share it with you:
I Samuel 2:29 - God reproves Eli over the fact that he has allowed his love for his sons above God love for holiness; Eli permitted the sin of his sons and did not restrain them. They were cut off from the earth because of their iniquity. Are we guilty of family over God? Does our spouse, children or others take our time with God? Priorities are necessary: God comes first, and every thing else second.
3:19, 'let none of his words fall to the ground' Oh, how precious this is! How powerful God is to take the words out of our mouth and help keep taht which we speak. May this be our prayer today, that God let none of our words fall to the ground. Let not our words be vain, or deceitful, or evil. May our words be kept by Him to give honor and glory.
4:3, the shame of this verse that they trusted in 'it' instead of trusting in the Lord God; may we not be guilty of trusting in this or that, but in Him alone; 'it may save us', there is salvation in none other, than in the name of Jesus; let us pray, that Jesus may save us from sin, from our enemies, from ourselves;
4:9, 'Be strong, quit yourselves like men. . . quit yourselves like men, and fight' We are called ot the battle. There is no room for cowards; no room for weak kneed, jelly fish, spineless, yellow bellies. WE need men and women of God to fight the Lord's battles, day and night. To the front people, we will win this battle on our knees in united prayer. Be stron, put away your fears, doubts, sins, and unbelief. The victory is within sight!
4:21, 'The glory of the Lord is departed' - Ichabod; we are moved to tears over this truth; His church, His bride has forsaken Him, has rejected His ways and love; And because of our sins, He has departed and we do not see His favor or power. We know this truth, let us weep and confess and wait for Him to return.
5:11, 'that it slay us not, and our people, for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.' 'FEar of the Lord? People can read this verse and then honestly ask such a qustion? 'The wrath of God abides upon the sinful'. The hand of God goes out against the wicked to cut them, to slay them to destroy them. Let us pray that we not reach this place of God's wrath. Seek Him for His mercy , that in wrath He remembers us for mercy. We know that He has already started to go out and slay, let us stand in the gap to intercede.
6:5, 'ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel; peradventure He will lighten HIs hand from off you' Israel did not even give glory to God. But here is the Philistines, the heathen, the wicked and they got it. Let us pray for the hand of the Lord to be taken off of us, with the confession, repentance of our hearts and souls and seek His face for mercy and grace. If the Philistines shall give glory then surely we, His people , His church, can do better than they. Surely the United States and the other nations of the world can give glory to Whom glroy is due. 'Give glory unto God' brethren. Worship and adore Him for Who He is, what He has done, and what He shall do
6:19,20 God smote the people fo the city for looking into the ark; and they replied, 'Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall He go up from us?' Oh, think upon the fear of the Lord. When the wrath of God goes out upon the wicked, the disobedient, the sinner, who shall restrain the arm of the Lord? Do we not stand between the sinful world and His wrath? Do we not pray for deliverance from their destruction? Note also, this is nto the heathen Philistines, this is His Own people. Think not that the church shall be delivered, she shall be purged and made white. But is this not a cause to pray? Lest our loved ones, our friends, the sake of humanity hangs on our prayers and breath for Him to come and glorify His name in our midst.
7:2, 'and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord' Is this not our plight? our condition? weeping after the Lord; the ladies wept as Jesus walked the road to calvary; Jeremiah lamented the destruction of the city and the people; are you weeping? Keith Green sang that song, 'My eyes are dry' why are your eyes dry before the Lord, when we know them to be perishing. John Smith, in 'The Calloused knees' was rebuked by his friends for serving too much, too hard. He burst into tears at the table after listenign to them. He replied, 'don't you know they are perishing into hell?' I cannot help but go and weep for them. Needless to say there was not a dry eye at the table after his tearful response. What say you? are you lamented after the Lord for the sins fo the nations? for the sins of the church? for the sins of your family? for your own sins?
7:5, 'I will pray for you unto the Lord' Samuel prayed for the people. And so must you and I 'give ourselves unto prayer'. We are called and moved to seek His face. Let this be your standard and way of life. Live not for yourself but for praying for those who won't pray unto the Lord for themselves. Vast is the number of people lost and saved that do not pray. We must pray for them. Remember your duty and do it faithfully, eternity hangs in the balances of what we do.
I have others that I will finish and posts this all to my blog later at http://danbiser.blogspot.com
Rise up and be doing what the Lord needs and wants us to do. Praying for His hand to come and bring glory unto His great Name.
Until,
Bible reading; as Ravenhill said it, 'We just don't know God'; mainly I beleive to lack of reading and studying the Word of God. I read through the Scripture twice a year. I am coming through my second time and just started I Samuel. There was so much that I am moved to share it with you:
I Samuel 2:29 - God reproves Eli over the fact that he has allowed his love for his sons above God love for holiness; Eli permitted the sin of his sons and did not restrain them. They were cut off from the earth because of their iniquity. Are we guilty of family over God? Does our spouse, children or others take our time with God? Priorities are necessary: God comes first, and every thing else second.
3:19, 'let none of his words fall to the ground' Oh, how precious this is! How powerful God is to take the words out of our mouth and help keep taht which we speak. May this be our prayer today, that God let none of our words fall to the ground. Let not our words be vain, or deceitful, or evil. May our words be kept by Him to give honor and glory.
4:3, the shame of this verse that they trusted in 'it' instead of trusting in the Lord God; may we not be guilty of trusting in this or that, but in Him alone; 'it may save us', there is salvation in none other, than in the name of Jesus; let us pray, that Jesus may save us from sin, from our enemies, from ourselves;
4:9, 'Be strong, quit yourselves like men. . . quit yourselves like men, and fight' We are called ot the battle. There is no room for cowards; no room for weak kneed, jelly fish, spineless, yellow bellies. WE need men and women of God to fight the Lord's battles, day and night. To the front people, we will win this battle on our knees in united prayer. Be stron, put away your fears, doubts, sins, and unbelief. The victory is within sight!
4:21, 'The glory of the Lord is departed' - Ichabod; we are moved to tears over this truth; His church, His bride has forsaken Him, has rejected His ways and love; And because of our sins, He has departed and we do not see His favor or power. We know this truth, let us weep and confess and wait for Him to return.
5:11, 'that it slay us not, and our people, for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.' 'FEar of the Lord? People can read this verse and then honestly ask such a qustion? 'The wrath of God abides upon the sinful'. The hand of God goes out against the wicked to cut them, to slay them to destroy them. Let us pray that we not reach this place of God's wrath. Seek Him for His mercy , that in wrath He remembers us for mercy. We know that He has already started to go out and slay, let us stand in the gap to intercede.
6:5, 'ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel; peradventure He will lighten HIs hand from off you' Israel did not even give glory to God. But here is the Philistines, the heathen, the wicked and they got it. Let us pray for the hand of the Lord to be taken off of us, with the confession, repentance of our hearts and souls and seek His face for mercy and grace. If the Philistines shall give glory then surely we, His people , His church, can do better than they. Surely the United States and the other nations of the world can give glory to Whom glroy is due. 'Give glory unto God' brethren. Worship and adore Him for Who He is, what He has done, and what He shall do
6:19,20 God smote the people fo the city for looking into the ark; and they replied, 'Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall He go up from us?' Oh, think upon the fear of the Lord. When the wrath of God goes out upon the wicked, the disobedient, the sinner, who shall restrain the arm of the Lord? Do we not stand between the sinful world and His wrath? Do we not pray for deliverance from their destruction? Note also, this is nto the heathen Philistines, this is His Own people. Think not that the church shall be delivered, she shall be purged and made white. But is this not a cause to pray? Lest our loved ones, our friends, the sake of humanity hangs on our prayers and breath for Him to come and glorify His name in our midst.
7:2, 'and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord' Is this not our plight? our condition? weeping after the Lord; the ladies wept as Jesus walked the road to calvary; Jeremiah lamented the destruction of the city and the people; are you weeping? Keith Green sang that song, 'My eyes are dry' why are your eyes dry before the Lord, when we know them to be perishing. John Smith, in 'The Calloused knees' was rebuked by his friends for serving too much, too hard. He burst into tears at the table after listenign to them. He replied, 'don't you know they are perishing into hell?' I cannot help but go and weep for them. Needless to say there was not a dry eye at the table after his tearful response. What say you? are you lamented after the Lord for the sins fo the nations? for the sins of the church? for the sins of your family? for your own sins?
7:5, 'I will pray for you unto the Lord' Samuel prayed for the people. And so must you and I 'give ourselves unto prayer'. We are called and moved to seek His face. Let this be your standard and way of life. Live not for yourself but for praying for those who won't pray unto the Lord for themselves. Vast is the number of people lost and saved that do not pray. We must pray for them. Remember your duty and do it faithfully, eternity hangs in the balances of what we do.
I have others that I will finish and posts this all to my blog later at http://danbiser.blogspot.com
Rise up and be doing what the Lord needs and wants us to do. Praying for His hand to come and bring glory unto His great Name.
Until,
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
LETTER TO SBC ABOUT FAMINE
August, 2011
Greetings,
It is reported that 12 million in North Central Africa are apart of the famine that is presently there. It is reported that refuge camps have people walking hundreds of miles to find any source of food. It is reported that scores of 1,000’s are dying; men, women and children, old and young, going out into eternity without Christ.
Great Commission? Reaching the nations? What good does the Gospel do to dead men? It was reported that the Southern Baptist World Hunger will run out of money in 6 months, not counting the need presently for the famine.
Now I know that amid all the cutback, expenditures removed, money shortages, that to raise funds for such a need is not rational. I think God is allowing us to build our faith that He can take our small ‘loaves and fishes’ and multiply it. We must respond to this need promptly. The witness of our Christian faith and love is at stake. The very millions of souls for the kingdom is at stake.
Leaders, I am asking you to sign, stand together, send a notice, whatever may be necessary to lead the SBC to respond to this life/death need. Stir up the people to respond in the next 2 months before World Hunger Sunday in October.
And I will say quickly also, that our sins are also being presented before us as a denomination. Our nation is blessed with abundance. ‘Where much is given, much is required.’ speak to the pastors and churches to curb our entertainment indulges, food indulges and take in an offering to meet the need. In Judges, ‘Eglon was a fat man’. Now to be politically correct too many wont’ say it. But we are a fat nation, with fat pastors, and fat congregations. Increased with buffets, indulgences of everything, while they perish for one morsel of bread. Do you not think God will not make us answer for this? Again our sins need to be confessed, recognized, repented of and seek the Lord’s mercy.
Again, our budgets and accounts are empty and behind, you say. Okay; but my Father’s coffers are full and overflowing. He is able to do great and mighty things through a people that will humble themselves, pray, repent and seek His face. It is ‘time to seek the Lord’. Please respond to the call be given to you. You were put in office for such a time as this for God to work His wonders through you. But if you don’t respond, move and act you rob Him of the glory that could be given to His Name among the nations. I am asking for you to call one another, set an agenda and priority for this need and move the convention to respond for the souls at stake.
May God guide, lead you and help you each day. I pray for each one of you each day for God’s power to be given and use you for such times as this. Obey the Lord and continue to be faithful in all your ways brothers!
Until,
Dan Biser
Rdbiser@live.com
Greetings,
It is reported that 12 million in North Central Africa are apart of the famine that is presently there. It is reported that refuge camps have people walking hundreds of miles to find any source of food. It is reported that scores of 1,000’s are dying; men, women and children, old and young, going out into eternity without Christ.
Great Commission? Reaching the nations? What good does the Gospel do to dead men? It was reported that the Southern Baptist World Hunger will run out of money in 6 months, not counting the need presently for the famine.
Now I know that amid all the cutback, expenditures removed, money shortages, that to raise funds for such a need is not rational. I think God is allowing us to build our faith that He can take our small ‘loaves and fishes’ and multiply it. We must respond to this need promptly. The witness of our Christian faith and love is at stake. The very millions of souls for the kingdom is at stake.
Leaders, I am asking you to sign, stand together, send a notice, whatever may be necessary to lead the SBC to respond to this life/death need. Stir up the people to respond in the next 2 months before World Hunger Sunday in October.
And I will say quickly also, that our sins are also being presented before us as a denomination. Our nation is blessed with abundance. ‘Where much is given, much is required.’ speak to the pastors and churches to curb our entertainment indulges, food indulges and take in an offering to meet the need. In Judges, ‘Eglon was a fat man’. Now to be politically correct too many wont’ say it. But we are a fat nation, with fat pastors, and fat congregations. Increased with buffets, indulgences of everything, while they perish for one morsel of bread. Do you not think God will not make us answer for this? Again our sins need to be confessed, recognized, repented of and seek the Lord’s mercy.
Again, our budgets and accounts are empty and behind, you say. Okay; but my Father’s coffers are full and overflowing. He is able to do great and mighty things through a people that will humble themselves, pray, repent and seek His face. It is ‘time to seek the Lord’. Please respond to the call be given to you. You were put in office for such a time as this for God to work His wonders through you. But if you don’t respond, move and act you rob Him of the glory that could be given to His Name among the nations. I am asking for you to call one another, set an agenda and priority for this need and move the convention to respond for the souls at stake.
May God guide, lead you and help you each day. I pray for each one of you each day for God’s power to be given and use you for such times as this. Obey the Lord and continue to be faithful in all your ways brothers!
Until,
Dan Biser
Rdbiser@live.com
Monday, August 1, 2011
AUGUST PRAYER LETTER
AUGUST PRAYER LETTER
Beginning a new month; prayers continue, needs increase, lostness in souls is ever more real and prevalent;
‘Come down Lord, come down, we need you so desperately today.’
MINISTRY UPDATES:
--Zoar had their VBS last week; I was not scheduled to teach, but ended up taking the adult class; I taught 3 nights and did 22 books of the Bible each night;
--fox’s Hollow had their VBS on Saturday and just had to help in set up;
--conference prayer call tonight for Sermonindex at 9 PM;
--I have added over the last month, trying to do daily updates and encouragements for prayer partners with Sermonindex;
--meeting with Tom Elliff was precious; he shared when he prayed with Ron Dunn, Bertha Smith, conversations with Culpepper; we prayed following our meeting, a very rare thing to find; encouraged me to get ‘Beyond the Ranges’
--August 6 at 7:30 is our first county wide prayer for revival among Hampshire county; we will try to do this every two weeks;
--continuing services at both churches;
--sent out letter to state convention leaders about fall calls to prayer;
--sent out letter to SBC leadership for serious call to prayer;
FAMILY:
--my oldest, Hannah, starts college this month;
--kids will return to school in the middle of the month;
--practices start back up for football/track; and band for Elizabeth;
Praying that they make their witness sure and steadfast. I have seen so often instead of Christians pulling people to them to Christ, they allow for them to be pulled to sin. Praying that it be the former condition and not the latter for all my children. More and more trusting the promises of God for ‘my children’.
--our wedding anniversary is this month;
-- our Biser reunion August 6;
PRAYER FOCUS:
--100 lost souls;
--two church families;
--my family and extended family; over 40 souls;
--saints - over a 100;
--Broken Before the throne prayer group; (12)
--WV convention;
--SBC leadership; entities, seminaries and other workers;
--Sermonindex conference; Meri Beth’s volunteer lists;
--sick;
--Hampshire county pastors joining me in prayer and revival;
BOOKS
--finished Jonathan Goforth’s, ‘By My Spirit’; this ranks up there with Rees Howell;
--received Leonard Ravenhill’s biography for the conference this October;
--just got Tom Elliff’s recommendation, ‘Behind the Ranges, the story of J O Fraser, by Mrs. Howard Taylor;
--still slowly going through ‘The Christian in Complete Armor’ by Gurnall;
--Wesley Duewel’s ‘Prevailing Prayer and Ablaze for God’
--Culpeppers biography;
--Rosalind Goforth, wife of Jonathan, ‘How I know. . . God Answers Prayer’
--’the Calloused Knees’ about John Smith; powerful book
--William Law’s, ‘The Power of the Spirit’ major focus in prayer and preaching and searching for God’s power; I feel everything is based here in Him for the power we need for revival, salavation, enduement and keeping;
--Bible reading, reading 2nd time through this year, word study is, ‘Will’ and the when God says, ‘I will’ this is a powerful study of all the times God says, “I will do . . . ‘
ANSWERED PRAYERS:
--provisions have been so blessed;
--God keeps moving and speaking;
--a clear word that I am not to accept the churches call but stay where I am at; no doubt here, it is clear as a bell;
--restoration of many sick;
--doors of opportunity continue to open
-- continue to see people coming into Zoar;
--
Thank you for your prayers for me. It is a busy life and time, may I use more and more seconds for Him, in Him and by Him. I desire so much more to see His glory manifested in our land and time. Hold me up before the Lord!
Until,
Dan
Rdbiser@live.com
http://dbiser.blogspot.com
http://danbiser.blogspot.com
Beginning a new month; prayers continue, needs increase, lostness in souls is ever more real and prevalent;
‘Come down Lord, come down, we need you so desperately today.’
MINISTRY UPDATES:
--Zoar had their VBS last week; I was not scheduled to teach, but ended up taking the adult class; I taught 3 nights and did 22 books of the Bible each night;
--fox’s Hollow had their VBS on Saturday and just had to help in set up;
--conference prayer call tonight for Sermonindex at 9 PM;
--I have added over the last month, trying to do daily updates and encouragements for prayer partners with Sermonindex;
--meeting with Tom Elliff was precious; he shared when he prayed with Ron Dunn, Bertha Smith, conversations with Culpepper; we prayed following our meeting, a very rare thing to find; encouraged me to get ‘Beyond the Ranges’
--August 6 at 7:30 is our first county wide prayer for revival among Hampshire county; we will try to do this every two weeks;
--continuing services at both churches;
--sent out letter to state convention leaders about fall calls to prayer;
--sent out letter to SBC leadership for serious call to prayer;
FAMILY:
--my oldest, Hannah, starts college this month;
--kids will return to school in the middle of the month;
--practices start back up for football/track; and band for Elizabeth;
Praying that they make their witness sure and steadfast. I have seen so often instead of Christians pulling people to them to Christ, they allow for them to be pulled to sin. Praying that it be the former condition and not the latter for all my children. More and more trusting the promises of God for ‘my children’.
--our wedding anniversary is this month;
-- our Biser reunion August 6;
PRAYER FOCUS:
--100 lost souls;
--two church families;
--my family and extended family; over 40 souls;
--saints - over a 100;
--Broken Before the throne prayer group; (12)
--WV convention;
--SBC leadership; entities, seminaries and other workers;
--Sermonindex conference; Meri Beth’s volunteer lists;
--sick;
--Hampshire county pastors joining me in prayer and revival;
BOOKS
--finished Jonathan Goforth’s, ‘By My Spirit’; this ranks up there with Rees Howell;
--received Leonard Ravenhill’s biography for the conference this October;
--just got Tom Elliff’s recommendation, ‘Behind the Ranges, the story of J O Fraser, by Mrs. Howard Taylor;
--still slowly going through ‘The Christian in Complete Armor’ by Gurnall;
--Wesley Duewel’s ‘Prevailing Prayer and Ablaze for God’
--Culpeppers biography;
--Rosalind Goforth, wife of Jonathan, ‘How I know. . . God Answers Prayer’
--’the Calloused Knees’ about John Smith; powerful book
--William Law’s, ‘The Power of the Spirit’ major focus in prayer and preaching and searching for God’s power; I feel everything is based here in Him for the power we need for revival, salavation, enduement and keeping;
--Bible reading, reading 2nd time through this year, word study is, ‘Will’ and the when God says, ‘I will’ this is a powerful study of all the times God says, “I will do . . . ‘
ANSWERED PRAYERS:
--provisions have been so blessed;
--God keeps moving and speaking;
--a clear word that I am not to accept the churches call but stay where I am at; no doubt here, it is clear as a bell;
--restoration of many sick;
--doors of opportunity continue to open
-- continue to see people coming into Zoar;
--
Thank you for your prayers for me. It is a busy life and time, may I use more and more seconds for Him, in Him and by Him. I desire so much more to see His glory manifested in our land and time. Hold me up before the Lord!
Until,
Dan
Rdbiser@live.com
http://dbiser.blogspot.com
http://danbiser.blogspot.com
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