Pop Troy's Anthology

SERMONS

ARE CHRISTIANS NORMAL PEOPLE?

The following sermon was delivered October 19th, 1947, in the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Elkins, West Virginia. I feel sure that it was one which was printed in the Elkins' Intermountain. It was their policy to print one full sermon a week from a pastor in Elkins. It was not Troy's policy, at that early date to write or type a sermon, unless it was for publication.

Text: "And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2.

There is a force in the world today called "public opinion." It is a force that can do - and has done - a lot of good. It has corrected abuses in public office; it has demanded and received, reforms in obviously evil matters. But public opinion is not a safe guide for the moral conduct of a Christian.

A Bible believing Christian will always find himself at cross purposes with the World. By the word "World" we Christians do not mean the globe on which we live. This globe, or earth, is usually referred to as "the world" by the inhabitants living on this sphere. We use the term as Jesus did - to refer to the group of humanity outside the true church, and opposed to it. Jesus said, "If you were of the world the world would love its own, but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you." John 15:19.

It has been brought to my attention that some of you, especially the young people of our church, have been criticized because of the stand you and your pastor have taken, in regard to moral issues. Let me say that you have no cause to apologize for belonging to a church that believes the word of God and upholds higher standards than the common mob. You ought rather to ask that those who persecute you explain how they can claim to be followers of Jesus can do otherwise in these matters! You who stand fast under these persecutions are to be highly commended. May God bless you.

TWO STANDARDS--There are two standards for living upheld in the earth today. One of them is the standard of the world. Popular opinion has built an ideal person. This ideal person is one who is agreeable; one who will conform to the average of those about him; one who will not create disturbances by pointing out the evils around him! He will be a "good fellow" with the crowd! He may not indulge in their lusts and pleasures, but he will not object to others doing as they please. Of course, this popular ideal has not been influenced very much by the word of God.

Why not? One reason is that the world knows very little about the scriptures. If you do not believe this just have a Bible quiz, even among church people and discover the meager knowledge of the average person concerning the Word. Certainly the Holy Spirit does not enter into the formation of this ideal! He is unknown to the unsaved world, except as he convinces them of sin as they hear the word of God. No, it is other forces that enter into the world's ideal personality. It is the likes and dislikes, the pleasures and the passions of men and women; not the will of God that make up the molding forces in the world's ideal!

The second standard of life today is the standard of God's word. Here, brethren, new terms enter in; terms that the world knows little about, even ridicules! There is the word "holiness". Not long ago I actually heard a ministerial student making light of that word! He did so in complete ignorance of the fact that the word of God says, "Without which (holiness) no man shall see the Lord." We ridicule the word of God when we make fun of Bible holiness. Scriptural holiness is as sacred, both in doctrine and in experience, as is salvation. Let us be careful that in our zeal to avoid fanaticism we do not set at nought the word of God.

There is another term that enters into the Bible standard of an ideal man. How long has it been since you have heard the word "righteous" used to describe any person in the church or community? People today seem to have lost the value of that term. Is it possible that none live close enough to Almighty God to earn that adjective? If that be true, then certainly the world knows nothing of the term "Christlikeness." Here indeed is a word to challenge the church today! Do we dare to uphold such a standard by our daily living, in a world poisoned by liberalism? (Or is the word "libertinism?")

New negatives enter into the heavenly pattern. We hear much today about the "futility of negative preaching!" What is meant is that many ministers are afraid to condemn sin as such! No battery will work if it has only a positive pole! A minister that is not against anything isn't for anything! Our negatives are worldliness, carnality, fleshly and sinful! They are all good words because they are upheld by God's word.

New forces also influence the standard of the Word. Here the Bible is the determining factor. Its high standards in motive and act are final to the Christian! The Holy Spirit adds his light and flame to the authority of a man of God. No wonder the world cannot understand our morals! They do not have the "spirit of understanding." Christians are also limited and guided by their regard for the church. A church member who will disgrace himself in the community by conduct unbecoming a Christian is placing an even greater disgrace upon his church. He proves his unworthiness and his lack of grace.

There is another great force determining the Christian's standard. It is the welfare of others. A sinner can possibly excuse his disregard for others in his pursuit of greed, lust or pleasure, but a true Bible Christian - never! Some of you have wondered why I am so bitterly opposed to whiskey, wine and beer. I'll tell you why! It is because I care for what happens to others! Especially do I care about the children! If beer becomes so common it is sold in every grocery store it will poison the minds and the bodies of our children and young people! We will soon be a nation of Falstaff, ready to be duped as were the Germans by Hitler and Stalin, or any other false leader who happens along.

A new pattern becomes ours with the acceptance of the new standard. It is no longer the ideal man of the World but the "measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." The Holy Spirit holds up this pattern as in a mirror. "We are changed into the same image, from glory to glory." (II Corinthians 3:18) This brings us to a new transfigured life. A life different from the people of the World. A normal life as against the life of the World around us.

TWO ATTITUDES:
Our attitude concerning two standards will be determined by which of the standards we accept as normal. If we accept the world's standard we will look upon the higher standard of the Scriptures as abnormal. Those who see the standard of the "Word" as inescapable, because it comes from God, will naturally hold that of the world's standards as too low.

Robert L. Ripley in his "Believe It Or Not" tells about a small village in the Alps, in which all the people, because of some trick of nature, have six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. If outsiders come to the village the  children become excited and curious when they discover these abnormal people who have only five digits on each limb. Need I make the application? Is it strange then, that in a world of abnormal morals that God's normal men and women should be looked upon as "freaks?"

But the question before us this morning must be settled! Which of the two standards should we accept? If the word of God is to be accepted and followed then my text from Romans 12:2 is enough! It is perfectly clear! "Be not conformed" - that is do not mould yourself after the pattern of this world. In England the churches which will not accept the ritual of the Church of England are called "non-conformist." We know from this text that every true Christian must be a non-conformist in the manner of his moral conduct. The exhortation here is, "Be ye transformed," rather than conformed."

Many sermons have been preached from this one word "transformed." It is the same Greek work used to describe Jesus on the Mount with the three disciples. "He was transfigured before them." It is the word used in the verse we gave from II Corinthians 3:18, "We---are changed." It contains in its glorious possibilities no less than a complete metamorphosis. This transformation must come by a renewing of our minds. This is a word which means, not just a repairing of our minds, but a complete making new of our minds. It signifies a complete change of the very nature of our minds. There is also a richer meaning that comes from a study of the exact word used for "mind." This is no mere intellectual mind. It has to do with a contrast between the intellectual judgment of good and evil, and the spiritual judgment of these things. Christians must rely on the revealing of the Spirit, as well as common sense, in the judgment of that which is right and wrong.

TWO RESULTS:
There is no such thing as decision without consequences. If we accept either of these standards we will reap the results of our decision. If we determine to become 'world conformers" then the future for us is of our own choosing. Men pleasers cannot be God pleasers, "You cannot serve God and mammon." - "If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him." If we cannot sever ourselves from the standard of the "fleshly" life then we must suffer the verdict of the Scriptures which says, "To be carnally minded is death." Of course the whisper of Satan is immediately heard, "You shall not surely die." But God's children hear Jesus say, "He is a liar!" We then go our way confident in the truth.

To the transformed the future is clear. The "World" will hate us, but we remember that Jesus warned us of this and says to us, "Remember that it hated me before it hated you." Over against the hate of this world we know that God loves us! It is better to walk alone with God than to go along with the world. If we pay the price to be non-conformists to the world God will honor our consecration with answered prayer, with spiritual blessings and with eternal life. If you approve of things as they are, then you will probably favor the "standard of the world." If you are dissatisfied with this present evil world you will choose God's way. Remember the choice is not to be lightly made! It will bring either life or death! Only you can decide which choice you will make!

Text: "God liveth forever and ever." (Revelation 15:7b)

I seldom yield to the temptation to preach about current events. Sunday morning worship should furnish relief from such a steady diet! However, the news this week is exceptional. It concerns all of us very much. You have heard about it and read about it - this sensational statement that "God is dead!" All kinds of comments from disgust, anger, awe and even fear has resulted! Many jokes and puns have made their appearance on the subject. It is impossible not to think of Mark Twain's personal note in the newspaper, after a rumor of his decease had been circulated. The note read: "The reports of my death
are greatly exaggerated." Signed Mark Twain.

Some have suggested that these theologians (?) are victims of a hoax and that they attended, what was supposed to be, God's funeral but someone had facetiously placed a mirror in the empty casket. What they saw was their own image!

I have been listening and reading to learn who these men are and what they believe. They are reportedly teachers of theology. The dictionary defines theology as, "The study of God and the relation between God and the universe." It is from the Greek word " theologia" which, simply translated means, "wise words about God." But it is obvious that the statement, "God is dead" does not belong to theologia! This is more what St. Paul calls "morologia." (Eph. 5:4)

What are these men seeking? Could it be notoriety? Are they, like small spoiled children, determined to get attention at any cost? Are they using this phrase for its shock value? Are they not crying, "Look at us!"

We know that such a sensational matter will soon die from the front pages of newspapers and from the screens of our TV's. But how long will it live on the campuses of the schools of America, to poison the minds of our gullible youth?

These university professors seem to be saying, "We have outgrown the God of the Old Testament. We do not like His stern judgments; his strict rules of conduct. We could add, from the common attitude of our culture, especially those bothersome "Ten Commandments." That persistent Decalogue is continually spoiling the smooth flow of both profits and pleasure in people's lives today. What a nuisance to have the command, thou shalt not steal," suddenly push up from the sub-conscious as the result of some long forgotten childhood memory in Sunday School or catechism class! Why should we let God interfere with our business dealings? "After all we have to fight competition!

Whose business is it if we gamble a bit; or if we get "our share" of the split from the latest political steal from public funds?" How the publishers of pornographic magazines must hate God for saying, "Thou shalt not commit adultery!" The professors say that men no longer respect his laws so "God is dead" to a lawless generation. These same men do not respect the laws of the state, but the law is not dead! If you think so just ignore a few traffic lights. But men think they can ignore God's laws and nothing will happen. Every week the minister, the social worker and families must review an endless procession of broken hearts and broken homes, wrecked minds and ruined health, all because someone thought, "God is dead." His rules do not matter!

In spite of this, these impractical, ivory tower professors say, "The God of the Old Testament is no longer acceptable to modem day culture. Let Him die! We prefer a more modern, easy going God who is a bit more soft on the actions of men."

How is it that men of such intelligence can come to believe such absurd statements as "God is dead?" If you will follow closely I believe that you will see that this is to be expected today. It is the natural product of the so-called "new" liberal theology. Let's examine the progress of these ideas!

1. The first step in their descending path is to try to discredit the Bible, as the dependable word of God. Their claim is that it only contains the word of God. This leaves the Bible open to denial and refusal, for who is to say which parts are or aren't his word! Every little "two bit" self styled "thinker" can say about any part of God's word "It doesn't suit my way of thinking! It has to be nothing but myth and fable!"

2. While denying certain sections of the Bible as being contrary to common sense and scientific fact, these men are perfectly willing to accept as irrefutable truth almost any untried unproven, scientific theory! To them "science says" is higher authority by far than, "Thus saith the Lord!" This is true in spite of the vacillating variations in these theories!
   

But while being so scientifically gullible, men of this bent seem unwilling to test for themselves the promises of the word of God. In contrast to this is the example of the minister who was casually examining a Bible at the bedside of an invalid saint. At many places along the margin of the pages he found penciled in the letters "T and P." He asked their meaning and was told , “Those are at verses containing God's promises. They mark the ones I have tried and found to be true. the letters stand for, "Tested and Proven."

Having taken such a position regarding the Bible, the next step in the "new" theology is to destroy the identity of God To understand better how this is being attempted let's try to visualize, by the use of a symbolic diagram. We will use the very meaningful one for the Holy Trinity. which is the three interlocking circles. We will let the first circle represent God, the Father; the second God the Holy Spirit; the third God, the Son. If we question these liberal "theologians" about the Holy Spirit their answers vary from a vague benevolent influence" to "emotionalism" and "sheer superstition." To thus deny the presence of this helper, who lives within every true Christian, is to leave their lives wide open to the other spiritual presence spoken of in Ephesians the second chapter, "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." And not only this, but they are in direct denial of God's word in Romans 8:9, "If anyone does not possess the Spirit of Christ he does not belong to Him." In other words he is not a Christian!

We see now that to make our symbol properly represent the position of these liberals, we must remove one of the circles; the one standing for the Holy Spirit. This leaves us but two circles.

Their second step then is to deny the position of Christ in the Godhead. This they have undertaken to do by denying, or ignoring the pre-existence of Christ. One lecturer said in my presence, "John's gospel is unreliable, altered to try to prove early dogma of the Church Fathers." By ridiculing the Bible teachings of the virgin birth of Christ, they have further revealed their humanistic goals. They will praise Jesus of Nazareth as "supreme man" - "greatest teacher" - or even call him "Lord," but even a perfunctory reading of their related material soon exposes that he is "Lord" to them only as "Lord Buddha" is to the yellow robed priests of the Orient. In other words he is the "master teacher." Thus our symbol must again be changed. Jesus is no longer the "only begotten of the Father," but just Jesus, a son among many other sons.

(I remember this Sunday morning sermon well It was much like a teaching lecture. Troy used a chalkboard to illustrate the circles as he talked The benediction was not pronounced until after twelve o'clock This was against his usual custom. -- E T. B.)

But they are not yet satisfied! Certain of the Gospel accounts, such as His miracles, they say are explainable by natural phenomenon, or they are a part of the myth aura built up around Jesus by early writers! Thus they have arbitrarily sliced out, like a generous serving of pie, the power of Christ over nature. This leaves the circle of Christ no longer a circle. It now is a reduced circle with a large wedge removed. (HERE HE ILLUSTRATED THE SHAPE ON THE CHALKBOARD.) But these butchers of the identity of God do not stop here. Another segment of his record insults their intelligence! These are His teachings concerning the end of the age and "last things." His eschatology. Now our circle has another segment removed and looks like this. "(HE AGAIN ILLUSTRATES.)

What is left? Only His teachings on moral and sociological subjects, which they bend to suit the latest fads of Fabian Socialism. They ignore the fact that all human teachings and systems fall and fail, when broken on the hard stone of unregenerate human nature! The teachings of Jesus are useless without His divine atonement, and his power to transform men into spiritual sons of God.

These men have sought to eliminate all the "embarrassing" things he taught! The lecturer quoted went on to say, "After all He was limited to the knowledge of his day." So out with these ideas of judgment, hell, of last days! Away with prophecies of Anti-Christ and the physical phenomena of "the wrath of God," often spoken of in the Bible. All such ideas as sin, personal responsibility, holiness of life are all outworn, ancient creeds! They have, according to our liberal contemporaries, been proven false by progressive thinking!

We should not be surprised to have these men pronounce the death sentence on God! They do not even say, "The Father is dead -long live the Son! No, just, "God is dead!" And nothing is left except man! No help for crime-ridden, sin-blighted, guilt-laden man! Just man alone, headed for self-destruction or over-populated starvation.

How can these "Morticians of Divinity" come to learn the truth? It will not be easy! They have destroyed the ladder by which they can escape the pit of their spiritual ignorance! What can be the steps into life for these and all spiritually dead men?

1. "They must let the Holy Spirit convict and convince them of their need for a Savior from their sins. But how can they when they reject the very idea of God and the Holy Spirit? It is as a local retiree said to me the other day, "'What do we need with God? We have social security and medicare now!"

2. They must come as a child to God, for the forgiveness they need. But how - if God is dead?

3. They must, by depending upon the Son of God, ask and receive pardon for their sins. How can they, when they do not believe in the concept of sin, but call it "social abberations caused by an imperfect environment?

4. They must let Christ come in and dwell in their hearts by faith, through his Spirit in the inner man. But how can they? Jesus is only an exalted human to them; and the Spirit is only emotional excitement," or "a superstition!"

5. And that thus we are our own masters. Impossible - did I say. Well, it won't be easy! Satan fights for every inch he loses! But you may say, "I do not believe in a Devil." Very well! You probably think you are doing your own fighting against these ancient and antiquated ideas, and you may think you have won. But you are wrong on both counts, and if you win you lose - forever!

Pray that you lose the fight against God now! Go his way! In the 17th verse of the 7th chapter of John we read these words, "IF ANY MAN WILL DO HIS WILL (THE FATHER'S), HE SHALL KNOW THE DOCTRINE, WHETHER IT BE OF GOD." You will know! And it will be positive knowledge, real and assuring!

No, dear friends, God is not dead! But many men are dead to God, and that by their own choice! The text today should warn us. It is the very last of many references in the Holy Word to God's deathlessness! It is spoken by God's messenger in the same breath with the poured out "Wrath of God!" What a surprise is coming to those who think that the long suffering of God indicates that he no longer exists! There is an end, even to the patience of God! Behold you despisers and wonder! But please do not perish!

The steps of faith I have given today will bring dead men to life! I beg you to try them!

A story, possibly too good to be true, coming from one of the schools involved in the "God is dead" sensation tells a vital truth. Supposedly a student approached a very earnest Christian professor and said, "Dr. Jones, Professor Smith just told us that God is dead."

'Now that is strange!" said Dr. Jones. "f just had a long conversation with God this morning. In fact I was speaking to Him about Professor Smith and his strange ideas!"

"What did he say?" asked the student.

Dr. Jones replied, "God said that he did not know and had never known Professor Smith."

They must confess Jesus Christ before men to be their Savior and their master! Impossible! They say man must save himself by right conduct and brotherly love.

Text: "Beloved, now are we God's children." I John 3:2

INTRODUCTION

IF OUR HOME LIFE WAS NORMAL WHOEVER CALLED HEAVEN "HOME" KNEW HOW TO MAKE IT DESIRABLE.

I. LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP IN GOD'S FAMILY
The New Testament word for "fellowship" means sharing lovingly and joyfully together. It is enjoying the presence of God together as a family. Verse 1 of I John 3 tells us, " Look everybody at the amazing kind of love our Father has given us.

Who are included in this shared love and joy? First: It is a happy dwelling together with God himself. Truly our fellowship is with the Father. (I John 1:3) That same verse tells us, "and with his son, Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 1:9 makes it certain when we are told, "Called into fellowship with Jesus." What a joyful walk we have! Philippians 2:1 further assures us of, "Fellowship of the Spirit." The Holy Spirit is the person who brings joy and love to our togetherness! Joy, love and peace are named "Fruits of the Spirit" The fourth fellowship is in the "Gospel" we are told in Philippians 1:5. This is how we extend the "Right hand of fellowship." And the Apostle John is here too! He says, "That ye may also have fellowship with us." (I John 1:3)

Once you experience this wonderful fellowship you will never forget it! How could you forget that wonderful joy that comes when we sing, "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love?" Friend, as you listen are you puzzled? Do you understand? If not, then you had better find out now what it means! Only then can you experience true "homecoming."

II. IF LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP IS MISSING, WHY?
It could be because you are spiritually dead. You have never been 'born again." You have never experienced the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. If so, then you joined the church as you would any club or society. There was no true reality in it for you! Perhaps you do not have true fellowship because of doctrinal differences. This is Satan's sharp-edged tool to sever our fellowship and our joy. Like the old fable about the blind men who went to see the elephant. One fell against the beast's side and said, "The elephant is very like a wail." Another threw his arms around one of its leg and declared "The elephant is very like a tree." A third blind man caught hold of its tail and proclaimed, "The elephant is exactly like a rope." All three were right and at the same time all three were wrong.

There is a story of the men who was cured of blindness by our Lord Jesus. It seems they were having a convention and were drawing up resolutions. One said, "Jesus healed me by putting mud on my eyes." Another said "He just touched my eyes and I could see." The third cried, No that isn't the way he heals! He just says the word and you can see."

They finally came out with the following resolution, Resolved: "Whereas we were blind now we see."

Another reason true fellowship is destroyed is PRIDE. Old "self' wants the credit and glory! As Jesus said in John 12:43, "They loved the praise of men rather than the praise of God." They want to be church dictator and run thing. Or they think their program or plan is the only one that is important. But the greatest cause of broken fellowship is simply SIN! Sin is the cause of all broken fellowship. It takes in all the other reasons. It brings a feeling of guilt--a violated conscience. We may try to excuse our sin, but we cannot ignore broken fellowship! It is easy to find an excuse for a sin we may enjoy, but no matter how much we may enjoy it, sin is sin!

III. LOSS OF FELLOWHIP IS THE GREATEST TRAGEDY.
First: It is the greatest tragedy to those who break that fellowship. They left our Lord Jesus. They have the horrible uneasiness of walking alone. They first lost the joy in the Lord; then their peace of mind and finally, their assurance of salvation. Then follows criticism of others, distrust and finally indifference.

The second tragedy of broken fellowship is that the church, which is the "Body of Christ" is wounded. A member of that body has been cut off--amputated! The nerve lines of sharing and communion are broken. My cousin's husband had his back broken in an accident. He never walked again as long as he lived. A weakened and crippled body of the church cannot go anywhere; cannot win souls for Christ! And all because of sin!

(This seems unfinished, but this is all I found in the ides.-- E.T.B.)

(This is the first sermon in a series of four that Troy prepared and preached at the Winter Park (St. Andrews) United Methodist Church in Winter Park, Florida. The date was October 19, 1969. It is hard to comprehend now (1992) the uncertainty and uneasiness everyone felt, at that time, concerning the Soviet Union. -- E. T B.)

(Luke 16:8) "The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light."

In perhaps the strangest paradox of this age many Americans seem to actually want to be ignorant about communism! Could this be a sleeping pill of Satan? Are these people saying, "Don't disturb us in our dreams?" They seem to be so busy enjoying their comforts and indulging their pleasures that they do not want to be bothered with the disturbing thoughts of our dangers! Even the wildly growing use of alcohol and drugs seem but mere symptoms, among many others, of the refusal to face reality. Whatever the cause we can rest assured that this sleepy indifference just suits the communists.

I. THE COMMUNIST GOALS
In the parable which precedes the text for today, Jesus is teaching one truth along with others. This is - don't try to outdo the worldly in scheming. They are wiser, more prudent, shrewd and skillful in planning - "these sons of this age" - than are we, "the children of light."

A friend of mine used to say, "One trouble of fighting the Devil is that he will stoop to means we would not dare to use." The shrewdness of the "sons of this age" is to their advantage. They are the chief exponents of the doctrine of "the end justifies the means."

The communists are truly masters of deceit. They have developed the use of twisted definitions into an art - the diabolic art of the brainwashers! To them the truth is anything, even the vilest lie if it will advance their world dream of a sensual Utopia.

Peace is any act, including war and murder, which will forward their world aims. This is the destruction of capitalism and of God himself Any act which favors capitalism, even feeding the poor, is labeled 'war" by them! Their's is the enthusiasm of a misguided zeal, the fervor of the "not quite sure."

Just as Paul said of the Jews, "I bear witness that they have a zeal--." (Rom. 10:2)

It is this desperate earnestness of the uncertain mind which is so evident in religious cults also. Use them, they have "no witness of the spirit." They have left the solid ground of the real, the proven, the true. They risk all on the unknown. They feel they have to be right, for they have no refuge elsewhere. Theirs is truly "the point of no return." Their zeal is not according to knowledge!

But make no mistake - they are sincere! They act on a desperate and therefore a strong faith. They will sacrifice, suffer, even die for that faith. They are true believers in communist's goals. They cry, "We are making a new world - a world forever free of want, of selfishness, of war!" And they believe it!

II. THEIR CONFLICT WITH GOD
But the wiseness of those "sons of this age" is a limited wisdom. The Amplified version of the New Testament says, "in their generation - or in relation to their own kind - breed." To them everything is material, natural. They admit no supernatural of any kind--God or Devil-benevolent or evil. To them man must be his own savior, since there is no other.

Their conviction is that it is up to us to remake our own world. Their zeal then is not according to true knowledge. It will not stand the final test of reality. Men may cry, "black is white" until they are blue in the face, and still it is only a lie! Only a fool would stand with is hand in the fire and cry, "It feels wonderful."

"Why do the pagans gather in anger, and crowds of men imagine foolishness?" This question is asked in Psalm 2:1. "It is not by might (the strength of armies and munitions), nor by power (the dictates of authoritarian rulers), but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts." Zach. 4:6.

In John 8:32 we read these words, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The children of light do not” walk in darkness! This is real knowledge! This is God's word! This is truth!

The communists prove themselves "children of Satan," just as Jesus said of the Pharisees, "You are the children of your father, the Devil." (John 6:44) Jesus said of Satan, "He is a liar, and the father of it," meaning the father of all untruth. (John 8:44)

The communists are truly anti-Christ by their own admission. They say they cannot ever coexist with Christians. That would be literally impossible.

III. THEIR CONTRAST WITH THE CHURCH
Communism is not like the church! In some things it is much superior to our modem church. In many ways they put us to shame! Two of the ways are in interest and concern.

We build one type of "fallout shelter" extremely well! Ours is a shelter for our minds. It is called "indifference." We seem to say, "let's just ignore it and maybe it will go away." Ours seems to be a Pollyanna attitude of everything is lovely! What takes the attention of most American minds? It is: my pleasures, my sport, my family, my property. Don't annoy me with your panic about communism! It can't happen here! And while we sleep the communists are awake, alert, informed of our weakness and our failures.

Another way the communists put the church to shame is in zeal and action. Let's look at the differences.

Next to the Christian way communism may be the best way yet shown to man. Just as the Devil has some of the attributes of God, so communism has some of the attributes of Christianity. It is Satan's substitute for the Kingdom of God! Which will you have? We must all make up our minds. In the coming years many of us could leave our print on the pages of history. Some of that imprint may be made in blood!

When the test comes here in America only the so called fanatical Christians will stand firm to the death. Our forefathers, against a far less terrible tyranny, pledged, as they wrote, "Our lives, Our fortunes, our sacred honor." What will we pledge today? Jesus speaks, "Lovest thou me more than these?" Choose this day whom you will serve.

The people of this age are much more shrewd in dealing with their kind than are the people of light, so Jesus admonished us to make worldly, unrighteous wealth to be our friend! Then when it gives out you will be welcomed into the eternal home, which is true riches.

Whoever is faithful in small matters, such as handling money, will be faithful in the larger ones. If you haven't been faithful in your handling of worldly wealth, how can you be trusted with real riches? And if you can't be trusted with what belong to someone else, who will give you what might belong to you? No servant can be the slave of two masters. He will either hate the one and love the other, or he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (LUKE 16:8-13)

(This is the second sermon in a series of four Troy preached at St. Andrews Church. This one, Sunday morning, October 26, 1969)

Text: Psalm 1:6 "For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

In any kind of progress toward the better, one simple rule must be followed This rule is: Find out where you are, decide where you ought to be, then get going! The whole trouble today is the confusion about where we ought to be. Some say we should go to a communist economy, some to socialism; others say that where we are is good enough.

Some people think that we should go back to the past! If we are truly Christian we believe that we should go forward into the Kingdom of God. But, most important of all we must discover the right way of thinking! Nothing can be accomplished without this. Proverbs tells us in the 23rd chapter and the 7th verse that, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." The truth is often discovered by contrasts.

I. CONTRAST IN POLITICAL IDEAS
The thought of the "ideal state" is ever philosopher's dream and every statesman's defeat. Many and varied are such dreams; as varied as the names of such a state. Utopia, Erehwon , (nowhere spelled backwards) Socialism, Communism, The City of God and the Bible term Kingdom of God are some of the many terms for this future state. How one thinks of this state depends very much on who is doing the theorizing. As Christians, we believe that the Old Testament prophets were the first to discern its true nature. We think that this was a revelation from God. Perhaps the most concise summary is found in Micah 4:3-5. This is quoted verbatim from Isaiah 2:4. The prophets saw this ideal state as having three aspects:

1. PEACE: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift sword against nation, neither shall they study war any more."

2. SECURITY: "But they shall sit every man under his vine and his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid." This certainly predicts a time of "freedom from want and from fear."

3 GODLINESS: "We will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and for ever."

Communism being purely atheistic believes only in the first two. Any ideas of righteousness, purity or holiness are totally foreign to them. Their ideal is a sensual "Paradise on Earth." In America we give lip-service only to the "godliness" ideal and we include the first aspect, "peace," only if it is convenient to our economic welfare. We mostly care only about money and security.

While we all hope for the coming of this ideal state, there is a vast difference in the proposed ways to bring it about. From some long forgotten source I learned this comparison.

Socialism would pass laws that, by majority vote of the people, would make it illegal for them to go only in one direction; that is toward the ideal state. In democracy we embrace pretty much this same concept, especially in the social gospel."

Communism, and fascism also, would herd men toward this "Utopia" like "dumb, driven cattle" whether we want to go or not. Some churchmen are in agreement.

Capitalism, the purely laissez-faire kind says, "To heck with the common herd! I live on beef and I am already in Utopia."

Christianity just does not fit into any of these categories! We are men, not cattle, and we believe that God will eventually answer the prayer that for almost 2000 years has gone up to him every day. "Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

II. CONTRASTS IN IDEAS ABOUT PROPERTY
Perhaps the major issue between East and West today is the contrasting answers to the question, "Who owns things?"

The communists answer is that the state owns everything. Private ownership of property, they say, is the cause of selfishness and the curse of capitalism. In Russia the whole state belongs to the communists. The communist party is only a small percentage of the total population, yet they and they alone, control what they claim belongs to the state. Isn't that really ownership?

Capitalism, to the contrary, holds that the state should possess nothing except what is necessary to protect and serve the people. The national government must protect its citizens from outside enemies and function as a referee to see that various segments of society "fight fair." All other properties than this, they say, belongs to individuals, to do with as they please. Sharp lines of distinction are drawn between "thine" and "mine."

What most people do not realize is that the Christian viewpoint is in sharp contrast to both capitalism and communism at this point. In fact, not many Christians are aware of the Bible teachings in this matter. It is not at all a popular one and has been by-passed by great segments of the church. However, the true Christian teaching about property is that it belongs to God. We who possess property are only temporary managers for Him!

Most of us know the scriptural proof of this, but we usually choose to ignore its true implications. Many of us glibly quote Psalms 24:1, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein" We are also familiar with other such proofs of God's ownership; "the land is mine--saith the Lord." (Lev. 25:23) "The silver and the gold are mine." (Haggai 2:8) "And the cattle on a thousand hills are mine--" (Psalm 50:10) Although most Christians are aware of these teachings we are not yet converted to the meanings that the terms convey. Too many of us are still capitalists at heart. Our concern about the advance of communism is often more motivated by property rights than by freedom of worship.

III. CONTRASTS IN IDEAS ABOUT PERSONS
One of the greatest differences between all other systems and the Christian faith has to do with the worth of an individual. Communism and fascism teach that the state is first and all. The individual is of value only as he can be used to carry out the goals of the government. Capitalism professes to believe in the individual, but often places personal gain far above people. This is the case in vast war profits.

On the other hand, the Christian faith holds, from the very words of God himself, that every soul is precious to Him. "We are of more value than many sparrows and God even cares for them." (Matt. 10:31) We believe further that the government exists only to help and protect its people; that every person has a right to live in peace and safety. God is indeed concerned about the least of these as is taught in Matthew 25:40.

Much of this teaching has been mouthed by capitalists, but too many times only selfishly and superficially. The truth is that there will be continual conflict between true Christian living and the profit and loss system. Selfishness shows its ugly face in all walks of life today. In government, labor, capital, politics, social movements - yes, even in the church the attitude of selfishness come to the fore. It says the individual does not matter - only our cause matters - or our money - or our pleasures or our race; yes, even our own church.

The totalitarian program is always the same! Convert 'em or kill'em! Love has no place at all in such a system! Yet love is the one true test of any real philosophy or system.

Satan's program has always been, "recant or die." This will be true until the end. Revelation tells us that in the end time we will either wear the mark of the beast or we will die for our faith. In these days the politicians cry, "peace and plenty." But we can never have either without purity in Christ.

Only God has the right to rule body, mind and spirit and only God will rule completely and unselfishly. Only Christ can be "King of kings and Lord of lords forever and forever." But He will not be your king unless you surrender willingly to Him. He is love! He will not force you to yield to Him!

Will you surrender to him now, voluntarily? Will you give up yourself and all that you have? He is a tender and loving ruler!

(Third in series on Communism -- St. Andrews -- November 2. 1969)

Text: (There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)

Before Christians were known as Christians they were called 'he People of the Way." That was a good designation, for that is exactly what we are! We have found the way. There is no other way, for this is God's way. Let's look now at the two ways of men and see how they have failed, how they are still failing and will fail in the end.

CAPITALISM IS NOT "THE WAY."
Capitalism has some weaknesses and failures which mark it as not only inadequate to solve the world's problems, but also show it to be basically anti-Christian.

First, it is a selfish system. Listen to the words in a report from the National Association of Manufactures. "Profit is no sin! Profit is the motive of capitalism." Here at its very core nestles the seeds of its own destruction! Here is the old cry. "Every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost"

Under capitalism both labor and management jockey and juggle. They strike and fight for higher wages and profits. So we have a never ending spiral of inflation. I am afraid that this struggle will continue until the unnatural air-castle of false prosperity falls about our ears in another Great Depression. This capital-labor getting-spree reminds me of the prophecy in Proverbs 30:15, "The horseleech hath two daughters, crying give, give."

Capitalism is also basically anti-Christian. It is not, as many would have us believe, identical with Christianity. Its philosophy is selfish when compared to the philosophy of unselfish Christian love. It also disputes God's claim to ownership of all property and it sometimes tends to use religion as a cloak of decency under which to hide its evils.

Capitalism is not an adequate answer to man's problems because it has nothing to offer for the deep hunger of the soul. It has no answer for the great questions of our hearts. It has lied to millions, saying, "Get rich and you will be happy." Millions have proven this to be a lie.

But Capitalism does have some redeeming features. It has some qualities which save it from the far worse falsehoods of Communism. But I must repeat that while it tries to identify itself as closely as possible with Christianity, it is not the Christian way. At times it tries to use religion against the Communists. There are a few points of agreement between Capitalism and Christianity. These help it to be more acceptable than Communism.

1. Both Capitalism and Christianity demand individual rights and that government respect those rights.

2. Both require personal liberty and its twin, individual responsibility.

3. Capitalists can be Christian, and vice versa, Christians can be Capitalists.

But the latter is dangerous for Christians. Profits can easily become "god" and then we become idolaters! But with Marxian Communists this would be impossible! How could a Christian be an atheist - an anti-Christ? This is one of the reasons the church can prosper under Capitalism, but cannot under Communism.

But let us not forget that Christianity was here before our modem Capitalist system, and it will still be here when it is gone! It will go, for one day this greedy "Babylon" of commercialism will fall. (Rev. 18) At that time God's people will rejoice. It must fall before the "Reign of God" can truly begin on earth.

No, Capitalism is not the answer; it is not "the way." It is not God's answer to the world's problems. It can never answer our prayer, " Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

II. COMMUNISM IS NOT "THE WAY."
Although Capitalism is not the way to the Kingdom, Communism is even less so - much less! Here are its prime failures.

1. It destroys personal initiative among common people. They have little incentive to work, for they are just working for the state and not to better their lives and that of their children. 

For the motive of personal initiative Communism tries to substitute a kind of mass zeal; a world-wide mob spirit. Their cry is, "We are building a new world." This vision was stolen from the Christians and modified to suit their own diabolical ends. They leave for their citizens two main motivations. For the masses it is fear and for the elite it is party promotion. Remember for them "Paradise" is a purely material and sensual concept. It presupposes that if man has all his animal urges satisfied he will be supremely happy. But we know that the soul has hungers also. Without soul-food life on earth can be a hell and not a Paradise.

2. Secondly, Communism has solved no real problems for the Russians in the 52 years of its history there. It is true that some have somewhat better housing than before. Few families have automobiles and television sets, but Americans have fared much better under Capitalism. 

By living on black bread and beet soup the Soviets have built a superior war machine. But socially and spiritually they have failed! Their government is a robot without a heart. They have built a super-state, depending for its existence upon lies, betrayals, bloodpurges, slave camps, broken treaties and shattered promises! Just as the decay of the French monarchy in the 18th century led to the "Guillotine government" of a godless republic, so Communism is the poisonous toadstool which today is growing on the rotting stench of their modem, secular society.

3. Like Capitalism it has nothing to offer for the deep hungers of mankind Communism has no forgiveness - no answer for guilt, but punishment. Without God's grace fallible man can have only hopelessness, unhappiness and death. It has no word to offer the dying and no comfort for those loved ones who are left. There is no gleam of light in the darkness or in any other heart-breaking experience. He who knows a true believing communist knows the perfect example of St. Paul's prophecy that, "In the last days men shall be without natural affection." (II Timothy 3:3)

Communism has no redeemer, no comforter! Yet it has become a religion. Its gods are Marx and Lenin; its temporary saints Stalin and his successors - Mao and Ho Chi Minh. Its shrines are the tombs of its dead "gods," and its temples are their structures of material science.

The final note of Communism for the individual is despair, always despair! Why? Augustine answers in his prayer to God, "Thou last made us for thyself and our souls are restless until they rest in Them"

Somewhere, as a child, I read of a king who had inscribed near his throne a constant reminder; a simple but terrible sentence, "This, too, shall pass away." More than any age of the past this one needs the continual nagging statement of this hard truth! It ought to be on every deed, every pay check, every stock certificate or legal paper. It should be
inscribed on every great building; every humble home!

In contrast, there should always stand the words of Jesus, "My words shall not pass away." (Matt. 24:35) In the light of these truths and that of the text today, we can see clearly the failure of any human system to bring the final answer to the great problems of the world today.

And through all this, the Christian Way remains the untried answer. Economically, politically, socially, morally and above all spiritually, we have yet to see the day that it will be taken seriously as a solution to the ills of the world.

But it will be tried! It has been tried already by millions down through the almost 2000 years, and found to be "The Way." It does not fail those who really try it. It has forgiveness. a Redeemer, a Comforter, a hope for earth's future and eternal life. It is the Kingdom of God!

Will you take the only way into life and peace? Will you take that way now? Will you accept Christ and receive all those gifts now? For God's way is not only the best way - it is the only way.

Fourth in series on communism, November 9, 1969 at St Andrews church, Winter Park, Florida. (This morning, April 17, 1992, when I read the column by Cal Thomas, in the Orlando Sentinel, I had my feeling confirmed that Troy was a right good prophet, when preparing and delivering these four messages on communism. --E. T. B.)

Text: "And He that sat upon the throne said: "Behold I make all things new."

A careful study of God's word will not only give us a clear vision of what the coming Kingdom Age will be Like, but will also plainly show that our present Capitalistic Democracy will never lead us into such a future. And surely no one in his right mind would even suggest that an atheistic Communism could bring us to the "Reign of God" Both of these systems are essentially selfish, ruthless and man-made. Without control they would bring nothing but chaos or dictatorship. What then is the hope of the earth for the future? We believe that only the Bible has the answer. Let's look at three central
truths of that solution.

I. THE CHRISTIANS' POSSESSIONS: MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY
What kind of economic system will we have in this new rule of Christ? It will be a kind of Capitalism, with the greed removed! A socialism with the irresponsible laziness removed A divine Communism, with the Anti-Christ removed to the Lake of Fire! Its principles will be faith and love instead of force and lust.

Its basic principle will be Psalms 24:1. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."

All property, all abilities, all skills, all hours of every day will be His, without question and not ours! We will not own, but only manage our possessions for His glory. The early church discovered this principle very soon after Pentecost. "And none of them said that aught of the things he possessed was his own." (Acts 4:32)

But like so many today, they made the wrong application of the principle. They began to give away and divide what they had They became bureaucrats -spenders instead of stewards. They were not good managers, but Christian socialists! This system soon failed, because the emphasis was on spending, not responsible stewardship. The reason for their failure was that they did not apply the second principle. That is responsible management under the constant gaze of the true owner. Some of us today have applied that principle. We are conscious that He is continually watching us.

1. We are responsible to Him for how we get our possessions. They cannot come by graft, cheating, theft, gambling, etc. They cannot be 'blood-money" gained by the suffering of others, whether by unfair labor practices, or by profits from such killers as alcohol, illicit drugs or tobacco.

2. We are responsible to him for how we spend our money. This rules out waste! What a blow for government spenders. It also rules out selfish or lustful use of money.

3. We are responsible to him for how we share our possessions. If we all adhered to this principle there would be no hunger, need, poverty or depression in this age; as there will not be in the age to come.

4. We are responsible to him for returning a fair share to the owner. A fair percentage? He asks so little that it seems unfair to Him. In spite of the fact that it all belongs to him, he only asks that a tenth, called a tithe in the Bible, be returned to him.

We know that this "Kingdom Finance System" works, even in this age. Thousands have tried it. I need only name men like Colgate, Kraft, and LaTourneau as examples of good managers for God. In Malachi 3:10 is the promise, "Bring ye the whole tithe into the storehouse, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not pour you out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it!" In Lev. 27:30-33 this claim of God is emphasized, "The tithe is mine, saith the Lord; it is holy unto me."

If we all met our responsibilities at the four points above Communism could not come to America. But we will not meet our responsibility! So we must be on our guard that Communism does not overtake us before Christ comes to destroy the Anti-Christ and the evil systems of the world.

II. THE CHRIST OF POWER - MESSIAH'S REIGN
What kind of government does God intend for this coming Age of Glory? Deep in our hearts we already know, but we so often forget the meaning of our own prayers. We say as does every Christian, "Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This is the prayer our Lord taught his disciples. Is it to be branded a heresy or is it our hope? We do not pray, "Thy democracy come," or "Thy Communist System come." In truth, every time we pray the Lord's prayer we are asking for the end of earthly systems of government, including our own. If this makes me a traitor, then I thank God that I am a traitor!

Please do not misunderstand me. I do believe in our Capitalistic Democracy. It has worked in America, under the restraint of Christian conscience. So far, it is the best form of government ever devised by the minds of men. But fewer and fewer people have the restraints of a Christian conscience. Our gods have become money and pleasure! We in America are selling our souls for profit and thrills. If earth has no future, other than the money-mad, sin-crazed society in which we live today, then we had better pray for the return of Christ and his kingdom to come on earth! But, praise the Lord, there is a better age coming! An age ruled over by the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

By pure reason the early Greek philosophers saw the perfect government. They said, "Government by the wisest, purest and best men is the best government.

Government by one perfect man would be the perfect government. But he would have to be a god, and we know that this is impossible."

Him of whom the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, is now available as that one perfect man! The prophets promised, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders." (Isaiah 9:6) And again, "The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." (Rev. 11:15) At that time the earth shall have a new capital - Jerusalem - and a new king, the Son of God from heaven!

III. THE CHRISTLIKE POPULACE: MEN REGENERATED
The prime need of that day is a new people for the new government. Will we be among those new people?

The most evident fact of today's society is the failure of unregenerate humanity. Dr. Edmund Dwight Coker, an eminent political scientist, said in a lecture at Ohio State University in 1945, "Every scheme for Utopia ever devised by the mind of man has been spoiled by that ugly, uncontrollable factor called "human nature." Today our leaders are saying, "Man must change, or he will destroy himself from the face of the earth." The scientist, Steinmets, said, "Man's next mutation will be spiritual." He was almost 2000 years behind the times! That final mutation has already started. The first to experience it was a-little band of people in an upper room on a day called Pentecost, about the year of 30 A.D.

Is such a transformation in human nature needed? The Russian Communists are puzzled. They do not understand why the Russian people, living in what they consider a virtual Utopia, should keep on being selfish, getting drunk, committing suicide. High on the agenda of Communist leaders meetings now is the subject of "how to develop new Russian leaders for the New Russia." Yes, the need is clear!

Apart from human transformation, which we know can only come through the work of God's Holy Spirit in the new birth, man is headed for sure and certain self-destruction! The only hope is in what a few people, who are willing to submit themselves for the experiment, have undergone right here on earth. Jesus said it plainly! "Ye must be born again!" The hope of mankind to be part of that coming Kingdom of God lies alone in the regeneration of human nature by the power of God!

What happens when a person is really born again? God's word says, "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation. Old things are passed away for him. Look! Everything becomes new." (II Cor.5:17) Again the Bible says, "Don't be conformed (molded to fit) this world, but be transformed (made over completely) by the renewing of (making new) your mind---" (Rom 12:2)

In a class in political theory I was asked to tell the difference in major political systems. I used a homely illustration, saying, "On the farm as a boy, we used to raise pigs. We had some old-fashioned Capitalist pigs. They would get in the feed-trough with all four feet and try to keep the other pigs out. Some were Socialist pigs. They would move over and
let the other pigs share the swill. We had no Communist pigs for none of ours said, "You'll eat our brand of slop or we will kill you.." A young woman in the class was a member of the Young Communist League. She said, with a sneer, "I suppose you Christians would make angels out of the pigs." I replied "I thank you for the thought. You are not far wrong."

What kind of men will populate the New Earth? Transformed men! Men like Augustine, Savonarola, Jan Huss, Martin Luther, Calvin, John Knox, John Wesley, William Otterbein, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham. People like many of you. People who have become new creatures in Christ Jesus.

There are at least a dozen problems with us today which, if left unsolved, will bring an end to civilization; or even of people on earth. They are problems which we cannot or will not solve. It seems to me that the only way they will be solved will be with the return of Christ. This is the belief of much of the Christian world today.

In the first chapter and the 11th verse of the Gospel of Luke we have this promise given to those who saw Jesus ascend into heaven, "This same Jesus, which you see going up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go." With his return we will have the reign of Christ, and our prayer will be answered, "Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

But each of us must choose whether we will be a part of that wonderful age. We must make up our minds whether the wealth and pleasures of this world are more important to us than being alive in that coming blessed day. How will you choose? Will you take Jesus to be your Savior now? Today?

These messages were brought with a fourfold purpose:

1. That our church might better understand Christianity's greatest enemy and rival today, Marxian Communism.
2. That we might see clearly that Capitalism is not identical with Christianity, but that in reality it too is a rival.
3. That we might know that Jesus is coming again!
4. Above all, they were given in the hope that people in the church and out of it accept Jesus as their personal Savior.

Most of the people living in Florida have heard of, or visited the small town of Cassadega located near the center of the state. Occasionally some columnist will write an interesting article about the place and its inhabitants, which seem to have been drawn together by their mutual beliefs concerning spirits. Troy preached this sermon at the St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Winter Park Florida, on Dec. 14, 1969. Everyone was interested in the subject.

(Text--I Timothy 4:1) 'Now the Holy Spirit says clearly that, in the latter times, some shall abandon the true faith, obeying lying spirits and the teachings of demons."

It is usually in times of crises or uncertainty that people turn to the occult and magic for help. During and right after World Wars I and H and during the Great Depression of the 1930 interest was especially high. Now in these "latter times" that interest seems to be resurrecting. I believe this is due to our times of confusion and unbelief. People have turned more and more to consulting mediums and fortune tellers, astrology and ouija boards. A friend of mine who has done considerable research in this subject says that spiritualism is 95% parlor magic and 5% straight from the devil. It is one of today's biggest religious rackets and, along with astrology, bleeds millions from the pockets of gullible people.

The Bible, God's word, speaks plainly about this kind of practice. In our text today it is called "seducing spirits."

I. SEDUCING SPIRITS
When we study God's word we find that the term "familiar spirit" is used 16 times in the Bible. It is always pictured in an unfavorable light. Davis Bible Dictionary says that the term means, "Mediums claiming ability to talk with the spirits of the dead." A standard dictionary says, "A necromancer. One who foretells the future by talking to the dead." It is significant that it is associated in the Bible in one place with ventriloquism and in others with demon possession. Jesus was accused by his enemies of having a "familiar spirit or demon." (Matt. 12:24, John 8:48)

We can see plainly that Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is openly opposed to all such practices. It is plainly apostasy from God to Satan, "the god of this age." If they claim help from supernatural sources, this is the God who helps them! In Lev. 19:31 the scripture tells us not to even look in their direction. This is the very first reference to mediums in the Bible. In Acts 13:6-10 it tells of one who called himself "Bar-Jesus (son of Jesus), a sorcerer or medium. He is called a "false prophet." He was stricken blind by the apostle Paul for opposing the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Paul called him "Thou child of the Devil, thou enemy of righteousness." In Old Testament times the punishment for this was death by stoning. This punishment applied not only for mediums but for those who consulted them. "The soul that turneth after those who have a familiar spirit shall be put to death. Lev. 20:6-9, 27. You can believe that those people should be glad that we live under New Testament days of grace!

II. SAUL AND THE SORCERER
An interesting story is recorded in I Samuel the 28th chapter. King Saul of Israel had already decreed death to all spirit mediums in the land Yet he called a servant and ordered him to find him a medium because he said, "God refuses to hear me or answer 120 me." Israel's enemies, the Philistines, were in position ready to attack. Saul was deathly afraid! He disguised himself and went to a place called Endor, to consul a medium. Swearing that she would come to no harm he asked her to bring up the spirit of Samuel. She may have planned to bring up a demon, who would pose as Samuel. When Samuel appeared she was in mortal fear. God, not the medium, raised up Samuel.

In the consultation which followed Samuel said "why have you disturbed my rest?" Saul replied "The Philistines are ready to attack! God has left me, He won't answer me." Samuel then told him, "You will lose the battle and tomorrow you and your sons will be killed." He told him that God would give his kingdom to his servant, David. Saul's consultation with the medium ended in death for him and his sons.

III. SEDUCING LIES vs SCRIPTURAL TRUTH
"Spiritualist" is really a misleading term for these people. Their practice is spiritism." The false teaching of some of the leaders of this group are many. They teach that "God is impersonal; that to say that the Bible is inspired is a gross outrage; that Christ was just a medium of high order; that the teachings of the spirits is an advance over Christianity."

They also say that Jesus never claimed to be God in the flesh. How would we interpret John 14:9 where Jesus says, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father," if this were true.

The spiritists teach that, 'There are many spirits-but no Holy Spirit" That "The Holy Spirit is not personal." Jesus himself says as recorded in John 14:26, "when He, the spirit of truth is come, He will teach you all things." One of their teachings state, "There is no atoning value in the death of Jesus Christ." God's word says, "The blood of Jesus Christ
cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7)

Here are some more of their blasphemies: "Man is his own savior." "There is no devil, no bell, no resurrection and no judgment." "You can talk to your dead loved ones."

The truth is that our saved loved ones are "dead in Christ," "Asleep in Jesus." (I Thess, 4;16; 4:14) They shall arise only at our Lord's call! (I Thess. 4:16) In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus says that the rich man begged for Lazarus to be sent back from the dead to warn his brothers, but this was impossible. (Luke 16:26)

The mediums say that the spirits float in space. The Bible says that the spirits of our saved loved ones are "in Paradise--with Christ, which is far better than being in this world (Luke 23:43; II Cor. 12:4; Phil. 1:23)

On the other hand the Christ rejecting sinner, who refuses God's free grace are in Hades, awaiting the day of judgment and their condemnation to the lake of fire.

We see then that God and his word, the Bible, are totally against the work of spirit mediums. They do not accept the Bible as the word of God! Their so-called "church" is a false church, and is therefore a "church of Satan."

In these uncertain days the only safe place to be is to be in Jesus! The only place to go for spiritual truth is to the Bible, the word of God. The only true church is the assembly of born- again Christians; the household of faith; the family of God; the body of Christ.

Will you now repent of your sins, believe in Jesus' atoning blood and receive him as Lord
into your life to become your Savior?

This sermon could have been a logical fifth one in the series on communism. March 8, 1970 - St. Andrews United Methodist Church - Winter Park, FL.

(Text: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Iamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11)

The church in America has had it too easy. We have developed a generation of soft, mildmannered, respectable Sunday morning sermon tasters. Our Christianity has become a kind of "Churchanity." It is something we do on Sunday mornings, instead of a way to live every day of the week Have we had it too easy? Some even say, "We have had it, period!"

One thing is sure! The days of "Pollyanna Progressivism" are over. The times that try men's souls are upon us! We must now begin to teach our young people "Spiritual Survival Methods. "In the jungle of sin, secularism, socialism and sex which surround us, this is imperative! Some of our youth sitting here today will not survive. Our very own boys and girls will become victims of unbelief and eternal loss! What can we do about this? Can we find help in the text for today? Let's try.

I. THEIR ARMOR IS OUR ARMOR - IT IS IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
What is the nature of this armor? The purpose of armor is to cover the weak spots; to protect us where we are vulnerable. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, we all know what our weak spots are. We all know the areas where we are most likely to sin. How Satan uses our weaknesses! If we ever needed a protective covering it is in those vulnerable, easy to pierce spots.

The Old Testament had a remedy for guiltiness. It was a priest, a lamb and a knife. A remedy? Yes, for that ancient offering points a finger of hope to the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" The cross and its burden of death are an eternal reality! Yes, this is a strange armor! What is its power? The proof of the strength of that armor is that it will stand against Satan's "guns of accusation." In the 10th verse of this chapter a loud voice is heard speaking from heaven saying, "The accuser of our brethren is cast down." If we go to the book of Job we will find our accuser named. (Job 1:9-11) It is Satan himself?

Now we know what the words "The speaking blood" mean in the old hymn, "The Cleansing Stream." His blood is an unfailing armor against "all the fiery darts of the wicked one!" "And they overcame him, (meaning Satan) by the blood of the Iamb." If we want to survive, along with our children, in this jungle of sin, this is the way.

II. THEIR WEAPON IS OURS - IT IS "THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY."
And how can the "word" be a weapon? You must admit that words are the chief weapon of the "cold war" between the United States and the Soviet Union today. "Radio Free Europe" is all the proof of that we need It is the word of preaching which gives victory over unbelief. "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." (I Cor. 1:21)

Some of us need to be reminded that it is not the preaching that saves the sinner, but it is the "word" of confession - I believe -that brings to each of us the victory of salvation! It was the word of God that lifted the universe out of nothing! "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Heb. 11:3) It is "The word out of the mouth of the Son of God" which will be that great final weapon, the two-edged sword of ultimate victory.

(Troy either did not finish typing this sermon or the rest of k was lost. All of this was crowded on one sheet of typing paper in a loose leaf notebook, along with the rest of the sermons in this book)

(Sermon delivered May 24, 1970, at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Winter Park, Florida.)

Text: "That they may be one - in us." John 17:21
        "That ye may have fellowship with us," I John 1:3.

INTRODUCTION
The Devil has a new trick--he is trying to destroy our faith in words! A confused young seminary student recently said to me, "A professor says that truth is a very different thing for each person. He said that it is all a matter of "Your frame of reference." He used a big word for it--semantics. But how can we learn about the word of God unless we use words? Let's take a word this morning-- the word "fellowship," meaning the experiencing of spiritual joy together. It is a translation of the Greek word, "koinonia." Now all of us who have had this experience know what it means. Surely if we all fall into the lake, we all know it, we all feel it, and we all know exactly what we mean when we talk about it. It is this "fellowship of kindred minds" which is true Christian unity. It is the joy of knowing and loving the Lord Jesus together. It is our common experience of the love of Christ--the Holy Spirit!

I. IS THIS FELLOWSHIP IMPORTANT?
It is a difficult thing for us to realize--especially Americans. We are proud of our splendid "isolation!" We boast of our "independence." Many times we fall out with our fellow-Christians. We refuse to go and be reconciled to "our brother." (Matt. 5:24) We go out and start a new congregation or a new denomination. I once talked to a minister who had fallen out with the Wesleyan Methodist and had started a new group he called the Reformed Wesleyan Methodist Church. When I asked him if he could not have found a group with which he agreed, he replied, 'No sir, Brother! We've got the truth!"

In my home state a man by the name of "Jackson" became convinced that denominationalism was a sin. He began to preach this in his home. His followers increased and he moved to a schoolhouse for his meetings. Later he moved into other communities and started groups who believed as he did. Then the neighbors needed a name to distinguish these people and they called them "Jacksonites." Thus, this man who preached against denominations, calling them sinful, was guilty of starting another denomination. The word "denomination" means "a name that distinguishes." We will have them in spite of all! Every one of us belongs to a denomination, even if it is "The Association of Atheists."

But although denominations are not sinful in themselves, most are guilty of sin! Some of these sins ought to concern us deeply. Let's look at three of the worst!

(1) INSTITUTIONALISM -The promotion of our congregation, our group, at the expense of the Kingdom of God. These often are "Madison Avenue" techniques to promote their attendance, membership or finances. They are in jealous competition with other local churches, denominations , or even other congregations of the same group.

(2) ECCLESIOLATRY--The worship of a church or denomination instead of God. This is a form of idolatry. It exalts the body instead of the head--Christ. It promotes the organization instead of the organism. People who are guilty of this usually declare that their group is the only one which will be saved.

(3) THE PERSONALITY CULT-This is the sin that the Dr. Billy Graham must strive so hard to avoid. Some popular preachers yield to the temptation to build around themselves, instead of around Christ. like Diotrephes (III John 9) who "loved to have the preeminence among them," they become enamored with their ability to lead, or to preach, and so mislead many. They forget that the Word of God says, "Christ, who alone shall have the preeminence!" (Col. 1:15)

I once knew such a person. He was a gifted speaker and his wife was overly ambitious for him. He was promoted too rapidly and at age 43 had become pastor of one of the largest churches in his conference. He saw no place to go, except down and his ego would not permit that. He decided to take all his flock who would go and build a tabernacle just four blocks from the last church he had served. Within a year he was dead and the tabernacle was then used for a warehouse! It is significant that he named the tabernacle for himself!

THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT - Coming partly as a reaction to these "sins" is the so called ecumenical movement. The term itself is not a wholesome one, theologically speaking. Its root meaning is "the whole wide world" Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." To many it is a genuine protest against the scandal of divisions in the face of our Lord's prayer in John 17, "that they all may be one." In these days of growing Communism part of this background is fear. It is part of the "safety in numbers" idea. However, if the thought is to create an ecclesiastical cadaver bigger than the Communist robot, a dead monster is harmless.

The word "Ambition" cannot be left out in explaining the idea of "Ecumenism." Some of its leaders envision "One great World Wide Institution." Shades of the Beast and the false Prophet!!

III. WHAT DOES TRUE FELLOWSHIP IMPLY? (I John 1:3)
What really is our Lord's concern when he prays this prayer; when five times in four short verses he repeats this thought in the midst of his agony in the Garden? What is his true desire? It is so easy for us to forget that conditioning clause, "One as we are one." This means the closest possible spiritual. sympathetic, relationship. Here is no yearning for organizational solidarity and unity! But rather spiritual union in organic oneness! Not secular political association, but rather sacred spiritual plasma! "Unless our union is spiritual, it is spurious," says Dr. E. Stanley Jones. This is the deeper meaning of our text "that they all may be one, as we are one."

This spiritual union is not intended as an end in itself, but as a means of evangelism. It is in order "that the world may believe that you sent me, and that you, Father, love them." Only the bond of love can make these living stones into the one new temple in the Lord. (Eph. 2:21) This is the only way that the world will be convinced that Jesus is the "Savior sent from God." Hear him say it itself in John 17:21. "That they all may be one,-- that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

Jesus did not pray for a union that ignores heresy, either in doctrine or conduct. He was not praying for a union of expediency or convenience. He was not asking for a union of humanistic good- will, nor for a union of fear against a common foe. He was rather pleading for a Christ-centered , Holy Spirit oneness, "as we are one." This kind of unity can exist without organizational union,-- indeed it must, or there is no hope! Our Lord wept in Gethsemane for one spiritual body!

Jesus wants above everything "that the world may believe." The reason it does not believe is that his followers do not love one another. I have experienced this "koinonia" this holy fellowship with Roman Catholics when we shared our mutual love for the Lord Jesus. I have felt the same spirit cut in two in a small group of ministers of the same denomination, by selfishness, jealousy or ambition!

Brethren, Jesus "sweat as it were great drops of blood" as he prayed for our spirits to be one in holy love! Will it ever be? YES-- TO THE DEGREE THAT WE SURRENDER OUR WILLS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!

WILL YOU MAKE THAT SURRENDER NOW?

St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Winter Park Florida -- November 8, 1970.

Occasionally you will hear someone say, 'I guess I know my own mind" Most of us think we do, but we don't always know it. We never know all of it! In the last two Sundays we have seen how we excuse ourselves by giving the wrong reasons for our actions. We call this rationalization. We pointed out how we see our own faults in others without being aware that they are our faults. Today our Lord wants us to know how we often push down any bad thoughts or experiences we may have into the limbo of our sub-conscious minds and try to forget them. This trait is called repression by those who study the human mind, This is just another way our minds and emotions, called our hearts in the Bible will betray us. We do this by:

I. REPRESSION OR REJECTING THE UNPLEASANT
The dictionary tells us that those words mean, 'To conceal things in the subconscious mind." Things happen to us which are bad, unpleasant or painful - or things of which we are ashamed. The memory of them brings us mental pain or anguish. The result often is that we deliberately try to forget them. In other words we choose not to remember them! We push them down into our metal garbage cans the sub-conscious. We are not then really conscious of it, but our subconscious minds do not forget - not ever! A minister tells about a man who occasionally broke out with hives. After much questioning and study it was found that this happened every time his mother-in-law came for a visit. He secretly disliked her so much that it caused this affliction.

King David, when the Prophet Nathan came to him and preached a private sermon to him, about a rich man who stole a poor man's lamb, was very indignant. David cried out for justice for the poor man. I believe that he knew in his heart that the message was for him before Nathan proclaimed, "Thou art the man." The message hit home, but he chose in his sub-conscious mind not to listen! After the wrong was laid squarely on his shoulders David faced himself with his sin! Some cynic has said that, "Most clear consciences were due to faulty memories." This is not true! Conscience does not forget.

We just shove it down into our mental garbage cans, our sub-conscious, and try to forget it. King David, in his distress, "Remembered God and was troubled." (Psalms 77:3)

II. REFUSING TO FACE THE PAST - RESISTING
Very often the unconscious sets a guard at the door of the conscious. Here we must compare the sub-conscious to a garbage can. Here we note that having hidden some bad or unpleasant thing there, we deliberately sit on the lid. The mean trick of our minds here is that we just as often do not realize what we have done.

Doctors can sometimes make us "face the music" by the use of drugs or by hypnosis, even though our conscious minds have rejected the whole experience! This repression does not in any way get rid of it. It is still there in our mental garbage ans! It usually shows up in mental disorder, or in physical discomfort, such as hives.

Discomfort is apparent when someone else brings up the subject; there is a certain uneasiness! Why do some people squirm in the pews when the pastor is preaching along certain lines. When someone gets too near the nest of a ground-nesting mother bird she will often hobble away and pretend she has a broken leg or wing, to draw them away from her nest.

Very often people, in this matter of resistance, will come up squarely against God's psychiatry. Saul of Tarsus, before he became Paul the apostle, tried to hide his own deep need behind a zeal of Jewish orthodoxy. (Acts 8:3) The Bible says of him, "He made havoc of the church." In spite of the good they do, we are made to wonder if this explains the zeal of men like Carl McIntire and Billy J. Hargis! Many times a conviction of our own need in the sub-conscious makes us very critical of the church or of the preacher. Jesus explained it this way, "Men love darkness rather than light bemuse their deeds are evil." (John 3:19)

III. THE REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION - REPENTANCE
First of all, like other problems mentioned in previous messages, this one requires absolute self-honesty! We must take the lid off those mental garbage cans. Only if we are determined to find out the truth about ourselves can we do this! And then only by the help of the word and the Spirit of God. Truly "the word of God is ---a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
(Heb. 4:12) "The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (I Cor. 2:10) In Psalms 90:8 David cries out, "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance."

Sometimes we may need the help of a counselor to face our need. "Open confession" is indeed good for the soul! The way out is by self-honesty and self-emptying - never by self-excuse! Let the cry of our hearts be, "Search me, O God, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalms 139:23)

When we discover our mental garbage cans the only way they can be emptied is by repentance. For not only is the visible life changed by true repentance, but the inner self is transformed also! The Greek word translated "repentance" is "metanoia." This means "to have another mind - a completely new mind." When we "come clean" with God he gives us a new mind Even the subconscious mind is transformed!

By repentance, plus faith, we come into Christ! When we are truly "in Christ" everything changes for us. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation. Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Cor. 5:17) Even the old mind is gone, with its underworld, - our mental garbage cans.

A WRONG AND A RIGHT BURIAL PLACE
The right place to bury your fears, your hang-ups, your hates, your failures, your sins is never in the subconscious! If you try to bury them there they will only come back to haunt you in a case of nerves or illnesses or breakdowns. The right place to bury your past is under the blo2-4 of Jesus Christ. He paid the full price to remove your guilt and fear! If you come to the cross of Christ and there lay down your sins, he has promised that God 'will remember them against you no more forever." (Jer. 31:34)

To try to put your past down into the "Mental Garbage Can" of your own forgetfulness, is but to put them in the Devil's Graveyard! They will not stay buried there! Only in "The sea of God's forgetfulness" will they be forever removed!

St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Winter Park, Florida, January 17, 1971.

Text: "The word of God is---a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Today we will look at some of the things the Bible tells us about our minds - perhaps some things we would rather not learn. The Bible is the first and best book on psychology ever written. The text this morning tells why. Jesus, God's son, knew what was in man. (John 2:25) In the Old Testament book of I Samuel, in the 16th chapter and the 2nd verse we learn, "That the Lord looketh upon the heart." The word of God exposes our human nature in order to drive us to seek His divine nature. It shows up our weaknesses that we might turn to his strength. Among other truths, it reveals that the mind of man is basically dishonest.

THE RARITY OF SELF-HONESTY
In Luke 10:25-29 Jesus meets a young "expert" in Jewish law, who asks the way into eternal life. Jesus asks him a question in return, "What does the law say?" The young man then quotes the greatest of all commandments, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, strength and mind, and thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus said, "Do this and you will live." Then the young man tries to do what all of us try to do, except when Jesus convinces us o£ a better way! "He, seeking to justify himself, said, 'Who is my neighbor?"

This young man was fortunate, in that his attitude was known and open. Ours are not always so. We have a self-deception that goes deeper - even into the sub-conscious mind! Often, even when we try to be honest, our minds will lie to our souls! Self honesty is one of the most difficult things we try to do.

The man named Nicodemus in the third chapter of the Gospel of John instead of facing his own need wanted to talk about theology. Jesus told him to look at his own heart. "You need to be born again," Jesus told him.

The woman of Samaria, in John 4:5-26, wanted to change the subject and talk about the proper place to worship. Jesus the same as said to her, "Examine your low morals. You're living with a man who is not your husband. You need the water of life! You are spiritually dead"

David had the courage to fight the giant, Goliath, but couldn't face up to his own guilt in committing adultery with Bath-Sheba and planning the death of her husband God's man, Nathan, had to openly accuse him saying, "You are the man I mean!" before David would face his sin and be honest with himself.

Saul of Tarsus had to be stricken blind, on the way to do the Devil's errand, before he would stop to examine his own pharisaical self-righteous heart and life. The 9th chapter tells us this story.

Indeed, self-honesty is a rare and difficult thing.

THE REASONS FOR SELF-JUSTIFICATION
First of all, after we have done something we feel that we have to defend our own actions. Jesus said that in the Day of Judgment, "Many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out demons?' Then I will profess unto them, I never knew you." These men will certainly be sincere men! But the sad thing will be that they never knew Jesus. They were successful in thinking that profession was as good as possession! Jesus will tell them, "You knew my name, but you never knew me."

The alcoholic will give you many reasons as to why he drinks, but he will never give you the right one because he is lying to himself'. The unfaithful husband will give the excuse, "My wife doesn't understand me!" That excuse is as old as the human race! If the pastor speaks to a parishioner about his social drinking, he will give him a dozen reason why it is OK, but they are all weak ones. Yes, we all feel that we must defend our actions. It does not matter that they are illogical or how wrong they may be!

Closely related to the defense of our own actions is the desire to conceal our own faults. Often we get a glimpse of what kind of person we really are, and we don't like what we see! The urge to defend our own actions is a strong one! But, again, God says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" (Jet. 17:9)

The desire to appear good in our own eyes is so strong that a man will often lie, even to himself, about his own motives! "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the heart." (Prov. 21:2) God knows the real reason for our actions.

THE RATIONALIZING OF SELF-EXCUSES
Psychologists have a new term for an old trick! They call such attempts to excuse ourselves for our sins and errors rationalizing. Authorities say that such devious thinking must always ignore the real reasons for our actions. They further point out that this is "reason surrendered to wishful thinking, the process of hiding wrong actions behind accepted motives; an exercise in self-deception."

Self-excuse always involves some very neat tricks at twisting the truth! We often hear, "I did it, but I had good reasons," or "my motives were good" "I couldn't help myself," or "He had it coming to him!" People will compromise truth in order to gain approval of others or to escape the consequences of our own actions. This is when the mind lies to the soul, and the soul accepts the lie. At least it does so on the surface. There is every indication that deep in our hearts we know when we are doing wrong, but our attempts at self-deception is the cause of much mental illness and most spiritual disease.

WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR THIS CONDITION?
The only hope is through Divine Investigation. This involves five steps.

1.     We must be merciless with ourselves. and die out both the fault and the excuse.
2.     Seek and find the mercy of God in forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ.
3.     If we have blamed others confess openly, and ask pardon of them.
4.     Seek with all your hearts the complete unselfishness of a surrendered life.
5.     Seek with all your heart the complete unselfishness of the surrendered life.

These are the steps in "Divine Investigation." We must never forget that our Lord Jesus knows what is in man. "There is nothing hid that shall not be revealed!" It must come out now or in the judgment. Then it will be too late to seek forgiveness.

St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Winter Park, Florida, January 24, 1971.

Text: "When you sit in judgment against someone else, you condemn yourself." (Romans 2:1)

The man of God has a threefold duty. First: To reach the lost man with the good news that God has a way for his salvation. Second: To comfort the troubled and concerned. Third: To stir the sleepy saints that they grow and go and glow!

It is in this third area that we have labored the last three Sundays. Last week we were concerned with self-examination. We discussed the matter of "rationalizing" - excusing ourselves for our wrong actions. Today we will try to see what the Bible has to say about another trick of our minds and it is a mean trick!

Psychologists call it "projecting." It is the way we tend to blame others for our faults and to see our own weaknesses in the lives of others. The meanness in this trick of our minds is the way we do it without being conscious of it!

A professor in Asbury College once defined "projecting" as "the process of unknowingly attributing our traits and attitudes to others." Unwilling to look at the faults in our own souls, we believe that we see them in others. This is a very common thing, occurring every day, in every area of life. Most of us start very early to see ourselves mirrored in the lives of others.

The Bible teaching concerning this is summed up in the word translated "judging." The term "to judge" (Greek-krino) means the process of forming and expressing an opinion of others; especially without good, firm evidence of its truth. This is the reason for most cases of jealousy. The jealous person reasons, "I know they did wrong." The reason he or she is so sure of this is because that is what they would have done under the same circumstances. This is not spoken or even realized by the jealous person, unless he or she has developed the habit of extreme self-honesty.

Someone sent me a cartoon strip showing a young couple on the porch and the father appearing at frequent intervals. It ends by the father saying, "Sure I was young once myself'. Why do you think I keep coming out here to check on you."

The problem here is that we keep confusing the word "judge" with courtroom language. The judge at the trial hears all the evidence and then passes judgment. But the Bible means to form an opinion without evidence, The text this morning is saying, "How else can you understand someone else's act except by your own motives? When you pass such an opinion you are only describing your own guilty thoughts. You are condemning your own sin! Don't judge or you will be judged. (Matthew 7:1)

II. LET'S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES OF ITS WORKING.
First: Let us see how it works in modem life. Dr. Mavis, of Asbury College, gives us several examples of this.

1. The selfish man sees his own grasping spirit reflected in his associates in an exaggerated form. He'll see them as extremely stingy.

2. The vain person will magnify the vanity of others.

3. The ambitious minister will see others ministers as striving for the leading church or to be elevated to a higher position in his conference or denomination.

4. The drinking man, feeling guilt for his alcoholic compulsion, will blame others or society as a whole, or he will excuse himself by saying, "Everybody drinks a lot these days." etc.

5. The dishonest man, feeling guilty about his dishonesty, may say, "You can't trust anybody these days." (Oh Boy, Troy! I have been guilty of saying this! Your loving wife. 'E.T.B.')

6. The sexually immoral person, even though he may be conscience stricken, sees everyone as indulging in this sin.

7. Then there is the age-old practice of blaming the Devil. This is clearly reflected in the first sin of the human race. "The serpent beguiled me and I did eat" (Genesis 3:13)

Now let's look at some examples given in the Bible.

Why did Jacob run from Esau? He reasoned, "Esau has murder in his heart. At least, that is how I would feel if I were in his place." That is why he had to wrestle with God by the brook, Peniel. (Genesis: 27:41-45 and 32:24-32)

Why did Mary and Joseph, returning to Galilee from Jerusalem, go a whole day's journey supposing that Jesus was in the crowd? Because that is the way they would have acted in the same circumstances. (Luke 2:41-50)

Why did the jailer at Philippi suppose that the prisoners had tied, when he found the prison doors open and was on the verge of killing himself? Simply because that is what he would have done under the circumstances. (Acts: 16:25-34)

But in spite of our weaknesses, the mirror of someone else's life simply cannot reflect our conduct or reactions! If we try to see ourselves in others, what we behold will be a twisted, perverted image of ourselves! The trouble is that we are looking in the wrong mirror! There is only one reliable way of seeing ourselves as God sees us, and that is by looking into the word of God! James in the first chapter, and the 22nd to the 24th verses of his epistle says, "But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, ---For if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass---he straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." The Bible is the only true mirror of our ego, our true inner self.

Jesus gives us the cure for judging. He says plainly, "You fraud! Take the plank out of your own eye first, then you may be able to see to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matt. 7:5)

So self-examination, honestly done, is the first necessity. Then we must come to Christ for forgiveness, through his blood on the cross for the things that are wrong in our lives. Second Corinthians 13:5 says, "Examine your selves, --- put yourselves to the test. First John 1:9 tells us that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." What a wonderful promise! But this will only happen if you use the right mirror, the word of God!

The following is a sermon Troy prepared after our retirement. He has the following note at the end of his manuscript. "From a sermon preached several times lately, but never written out until May 25, 1980." His sermons were never written out before he gave them, but preached from a brief outline on one side of a five and a half by eight and a half sheet of paper, but this typed copy was as near like it was preached as he could remember.

(The Scripture for this sermon-study is John 4:31-38.)

Text: Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are ripe already to harvest. John 4:35.

Jesus said the words of this text. It is important to remember when and where he said them. He had just led an immoral woman to have faith in Him. She had returned to her village to lead others to hear and believe in him. Meanwhile his disciples were concerned about food. They came saying, "Master, eat!"

In my home town there was a Methodist Episcopal Church. The name was abbreviated to M. E. Local folks jokingly said the initials meant "meet and eat."

A pastor was trying to reconcile two men who were angry at one another. One of the men said to the pastor, "That guy can go to hell for all I care." "Shocking," you say. Which is worse, to say it or to act it? Millions of church members, by their unconcern, are saying by their actions, "My neighbors can go to hell as far as I am concerned." Many of them are concerned with social action. Which is more important, their neighbors' earthly welfare or their eternal welfare? Let Jesus say - "What good does it do you to gain the whole world, if you lose your own soul?" Matthew 16:26. This brings us face to face with three questions.

1. WHY MUST THE CHURCH PUT EVANGELISM FIRST?
People are lost unless they find the way in Christ. Every quietly frustrated life is whispering, "I'm lost." Every headline of crime or hate is shouting, "Lost." Every ragged hippie-type soul, destroying his life with drink, sex and drugs, is singing softly as he strums his guitar, "Lost! Lost!" Every alcoholic in home, bar or gutter is lisping, "Lost". Every church member who is trusting in false hopes or good works to save them are crying under their breath, "I'm lost!" Evangelist Dr. Ray Upson, standing at the door of Dayton, Ohio, First United Brethren Church, as the congregation filed out after his message asked each person as he shook hands, "Are you a Christian?" Just ahead of me was a tiny, gray-haired woman. When he questioned her she indignantly replied, "Why, Dr. Upson! I've been a member of this church since I was a little girl, and my father and mother were members of this church!" Dr. Upson said quietly, "I did not ask you if you were a church member. I asked if you were a Christian." She angrily turned on her heel and left the church.

2. ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE GOD WANTS PEOPLE TO BE SAVED.
"As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked," Ezekiel 33:11.
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." II Peter 3:9. God loves lost men! The Golden Text of the New Testament, John 3:16, declares it! Calvary proves it! "God commends his love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8.)

3. GOD HAS A PURPOSE AND PLAN FOR EACH AND EVERY LIFE.
God's purpose and plan is that all people live and work with Him forever. People are missing God's plan if they do not accept Jesus as Savior. The most precious thing in the world is a human soul.

A disgusted youth said to the pastor. "These Christians make me sick! They say they have the greatest news in the world, but they don't tell it!"

II. UPON WHOM DOES GOD DEPEND TO DO THE WORK OF EVANGELISM?
A World War I poster, which I vividly remember from my boyhood, was resurrected again during World War II. The poster pictured Uncle Sam, in characteristic dress, looking directly at the viewer and pointing his finger. It was captioned, "Uncle Sam needs you!" Christian, the finger of God is pointing directly at each of us and he is saying, "I need you!"

Why were you saved? Was it just to lead a good life and to eventually get to heaven? Well, the good life and heaven both demand that we serve God. What does serving God mean?

Just imagine that you invite me to your house for a meal, which is unlikely in these days. But suppose that I sit at your table and help myself to the fried chicken, green beans, potatoes and gravy, com bread and dessert and you say to me, "What are you doing, pastor?" Suppose I reply, "Brother, I am helping you!" If you are honest you will say, "You're crazy! You are helping yourself!"

Well, why in the world will people sit down in God's house and partake of spiritual food -- to bread and wine, to prayer and the Holy Spirit's joy; then go out and never try to see that others come and also feast at God's table; then think that they are serving the Lord? They are not serving God. They are serving themselves! Praying, reading the Bible, going to church is serving the Lord by your example, but they are more activities which serve you and feed your own soul. You can serve the Lord even better by helping others to know Him. The best way to help others is to help them find Jesus.

Besides this, there is just no one else on earth to do his work, except his children. An old retired minister stood up in a mid-week service and read Ephesians 4:8-10. He then said, "Our Lord Jesus has gone everywhere in the whole universe, except where we are expected to take him - into the hearts and homes of the unconverted and the unchurched.

"How shall they believe in whom they have not heard? How shall they hear unless someone goes and tell them?' The unconcerned will not go to church today! The pastor could never get into all those homes! So unless you, the LAY PEOPLE of the congregation help in this task they hill never be saved and brought into the church.

WHAT REWARD WILL YOU GET IF YOU DO GO AND TELL?
We are all so selfish! We expect to get paid for what we do, even for God. Jesus answers us even before we ask! "He that reapeth receiveth wages ---" "What wages?" you might ask. Well, there is JOY! How long has it been since you "Rejoiced in the Lord"? I realize that such joy is not quite "proper" today. I once heard a story of a little, old mountain woman who went to Dayton, Ohio, to visit her daughter. When Sunday came she wanted to go to church and since she was a United Brethren, she wanted to go to a U. B. Church. Her daughter took her to the big "First United Brethren Church" in downtown Dayton. The little lady endured, for her, the extreme formality of the worship service. The pastor was warm-hearted and fervent in his preaching and when he said something that she recognized as true, she said a rather loud "Amen." An usher leaned over her and said, "Sh-h-sh," with a finger to his lips. Again the pastor said something that warmed her heart and she exclaimed, "Praise tha Lord." The usher shook her shoulder and commanded her to be quiet. For a while she was quiet, but then the pastor said something that really touched her heart and she cried, "Hallelujah!" This time the usher led her out into the nartthex and said, what's wrong with you anyhow? Can't you be quiet?" The tiny lady replied, "Why, there's nothing wrong with me! I've just got the old time religion!" "Well, you didn't get it here!" the usher said indignantly.

Yes, joy will be a part of our payday. But, too many of us confuse Christianity with respectability t The pay is more than joy. It is a deeper fellowship with God and our fellow Christians. It means a closer walk with our Lord, power in prayer, a stronger faith and victorious Christian living! All these are a part of God's "Pay Day!" God freely gives if we freely serve Him and share the "Good News" with those who do not know Jesus.

However, our reward is much more than wages here! Jesus adds to his promise. "And gathereth fruit unto eternal life." What does this mean? What else but that we joyfully recognize in the heavenlies all those we helped to lead to Christ. Paul called his converts "my dearly beloved, my joy and my crown." (Phip. 4:1) I believe with all my heart that this will be a part of our joyful reward in eternity, as we share His glory!

Even in the Old Testament there is a strangely wonderful relationship between rejoicing and soul winning. Psalm 126:6 says, "He that goeth forth with weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bearing his sheaves with him."

In only one place in the Bible does it tell of Jesus being spiritually happy. When He sent "The Seventy" out to share the 'Good News" of the kingdom and they returned to tell of their victories, the scriptures tell us that "Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit"

ONE MORE PRECIOUS PROMISE IS GIVEN US HERE.
Jesus says, "--that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." You say that in our church some of the sowers may be dead before the coming of the reapers. Exactly! But they rejoice together! The saints in glory rejoice when souls are saved! My own mother sowed the seeds of my faith and she had been dead just nine years and one day on the date I was saved Jesus has told me that she knew it and was gloriously happy in the presence of the Lord the day I was saved. The scripture tells us, "There is joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repenteth." It doesn't say that the angels rejoice, but those in the presence of the angels rejoice.

My Christian friends, if we want to make all heaven rejoice then we will try to be soul winners!

(St. Andrews United Methodist Church, ii inter Park, Florida, in 1971.)