Author Archives: Andrew Schank

About Andrew Schank

Andrew Schank is an Independent Baptist Missionary/Pastor who loves to blog about spiritual matters! His main ministry website is http://www.togetherinthegap.com. Andrew is also a contributing author to two other blogs/websites including http://linked2leadership.com and http://www.ifbkjv.com. Pastor Schank's Church website is http://www.greatcommissionbaptist.org
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Do Unconverted Pastors Have Any Authority To Preach The Bible?

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If a man got up before a room full of people and authoritatively disseminated information on the subject of brain surgery without having actually been a brain surgeon, then a vast majority would relegate this man to a non-essential status. If a man began pontificating about engine building having never built one prior to his public address, then, very possibly, he would be considered ignorant. One could endlessly provide scenarios where people teach and share supposed first hand information about certain subjects without having been involved in what they are proposing. With each illustration, one would emphatically state that the speaker was absolutely out of place to do so with zero credibility!

In view of this fact, why is credibility given to individuals who speak about the Bible and its various doctrines without having been born again? What’s more, how is it possible for a man to get up in front of a congregation of people as a pastor and preach without having been saved? Again, how is it conscionable for a man or woman to communicate Bible truths without having full confidence that what the Bible says is true? The fact is that no person has any right or authority to preach and teach God’s Word unless they are a child of God. That is… they have been born again as John chapter three describes.

Ramifications Of The Unconverted Preacher…

Cults are born from the teachings of unconverted ministers. The Bible makes it plain that the natural man or unsaved man, cannot understand the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:14). Only an enlightened soul can rightly divide the Word of God. This enlightenment does not come through mortification of the flesh, channeling departed saints, the worshiping of angels or even through yoga exercises. It only comes through the teaching ministry of the Holy Ghost (John 14:26). The Word of God is spiritually discerned. Great is the scope of destruction from a person who tries to herald forth God’s Word without having been saved prior to!

Results Of The Unconverted Preacher’s Message…

Though there are some exceptions, a vast majority of people who have been indoctrinated by the unconverted have been made a twofold child of the Devil with the contortions fashioned from verses of Scripture taken completely out of context. When people view the Bible through the prism of publications like the Book of Mormon, or The Watchtower, it is very difficult to unravel the cords woven by the unregenerate messages ingrained into them. Great is the accountability to God, whatever the affiliation (Baptist, Methodist, Mormon,etc.), for how one explains God’s Infallible Word!

Rewards Of The Unconverted Preacher In Eternity…

Preacher or not, all of the individuals who have ever lived on planet Earth, that have never been saved by God’s grace, will be cast into the lake of fire! Lost, unregenerate, wicked theologians have for centuries tried to denounce, discredit and disprove this. Though, possibly, millions have been swayed by their message, it still does not change the truth about the future damnation of the unsaved! See Revelation 20:11-15 and Revelation 21:8

Conclusion

It is my personal opinion that the unsaved have no right to authoritatively expound the precepts of God’s Word. Any person, and there are many, who openly denies the need of the new birth, is lost and in need of Jesus Christ! Thus, they should not even attempt to handle the Bible until they are converted by the Holy Ghost! It is for certain, they will continue to spread their poisonous venom until their souls are snuffed out into eternity. Hopefully, those who are in this awful condition will see the error of their way and come to Jesus for Salvation!

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Will You Consider Purchasing…

503131: Family Religion: Principles for Raising a Godly Family Family Religion: Principles for Raising a Godly Family

By Matthew Henry / Christian Heritage

Matthew Henry’s Family Religion is a collection of his writings on the Christian family. A proponent of religious education in the home, he expounds upon ways to better your devotional, practical, and spiritual exercises. He also speaks strongly regarding the necessity, nature, efficacy and improvement of baptism. Paperback.

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The Completeness Of Our Salvation

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This outline shows, from the Scripture, how that salvation, in Christ, is complete. It encourages every Christian about the completeness of their redemption. Just looking back over this outline stirred my soul! Trust it will encourage you.


Title: “The Completeness Of Our Salvation!”

Text: Colossians 2:10-15

(Colossians 2:10-15) “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”  (KJV)

Introduction:

•    In our day we find that so much is not what it seems. Though there is merit in this attitude in some cases, it is not so with salvation!
•    There is not some hidden knowledge found in salvation as the Gnostics believe!
•    Many seem to think that salvation is only a matter of the intellect. The direct result of this thinking produces loose and sinful living.
•    They see Christ as only a medium of truth, relegated to that of a higher order of beings in relation to humans, but lower than Deity.
•    Paul writes to the Colossians to refute the error of intellectual salvation and to establish the fact that Christ was God in the flesh!
•    He went on to make it clear that salvation in Christ is complete!
•    Our text verse will show how complete our salvation really is!


Proposition: There are three things that happen when a soul is saved that show how completely one is saved!

I.    When A Soul Is Saved He Has A New Identification!

(Colossians 2:11-12) “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”  (KJV)

A.    The Old Covenant was with the sign of circumcision. This was enacted by the volition of man, but the New Covenant is enacted by God Himself when He regenerates a man.

B.    This circumcision is made by God and not man!

C.    Paul relates this new Spiritual Identification of inner circumcision with the outward symbol of baptism.

D.    As baptism relates to all outwardly that you have a new Lord and that you are identified Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

E.    The inner circumcision by God and the outward act of baptism both serve to illustrate that every soul which is saved has a new identification!

F.    This identification is permanent and real so long as one is truly converted!

G.    Thus we see that In Christ we are complete in our new identification! We are under a new authority and power, which completely consumes our person and identity!


II.    When A Soul Is Saved He Is Made Alive Spiritually!


(Colossians 2:13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  (KJV)

A.    We were reckoned dead spiritually, and when we were regenerated we were made alive! Ephesians 2:1-10

(Ephesians 2:1-10) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  (KJV)

B.    Jesus termed it as the new birth! (John 3)

C.    We were once dead, now we are alive!

D.    This is very significant because we now have the ability to serve the Lord and live for Him! This is very complete as is described in II Corinthians 5:17

(2 Corinthians 5:17) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  (KJV)

E.    Thus we see that salvation brings about a complete change!

III.    When A Soul Is Saved He Is Entirely Forgiven!

(Colossians 2:13-14) “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”  (KJV)

A.    Forgiveness is not on an installment plan as some believe, though they will never admit it, but they display it by their actions!

B.    When the soul was saved, he or she was then completely forgiven of all sins: past, present and future!

C.    You may ask, “How did Christ do this?” Here in our verses we see that he “rubbed out” all of the sins we committed. This is picturesque of marking out a sheet with writing on it!

D.    He suffered the penalty for these sins as he “nailed it” to the cross!

E.    He shed His precious blood for my sins! He died for my sins and your sins, etc!

(1 Peter 1:18-21) “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”  (KJV)

F.    A man is saved and forgiven completely based upon what Christ did on the cross!

Conclusion:

To The Sinner:

•    Repent and believe the Gospel!
•    Get your sins under the blood!

To the Christian:

•    Your salvation is complete in Christ!

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Principles For The Preacher With Pastor Mark Shumaker – #1

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Pastor Mark Shumaker is a church planting missionary sent out of the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Belmont, Mississippi and serving with Macedonia World Baptist Missions. He is currently the pastor of Faith Baptist Church of Ralston, Nebraska. Brother Mark enjoys serving the Lord, and he has a tender spot for fellow preachers. This series of posts are straight from Pastor Shumaker’s heart to yours. Feel free to visit his CHURCH WEBSITE and BLOG!


Listed below are 25 Tips To Better Your Ministry


1.  True preaching is running out of your ability and running into His. Any preaching, other than that, is a loud, boisterous Bible lesson.

2.  It is God that moves on the heart of the preacher. Without that touch there will be no awakening!

3.  Listen for the Holy Ghost to lead you in other ways than your outline, and be obedient to follow if need be.

4.  If God has burned a message in your heart, then there is no need to find another message. If not, then be sensitive to the Holy Ghost.

5.  God cannot make your heart sensitive unless your prayer life is in subordination.

6.  You must trust God at ALL times. Without that trust you will never follow His leadership.

7.  Put your trust in Him and never lean on your own thoughts or actions.

8.  God cannot move, but upon what’s within. Know your Bible, so God can use you to preach the whole council of His Word.

9.  God’s mind is on the preaching… so should the preacher’s mind be on the preaching, and not upon etiquette, or upon “great” Bible knowledge.

10. Talk with God enough that you will know it when he speaks to you.

11.  If you do not soak your sermon in the Holy Ghost, then He will not speak to hearts through the Holy Ghost.

12.  Knowing that you do not know how to preach is the first step in preaching.

13.  With much years, comes much knowledge, but many times with many years, comes much pride. Allow God to humble your heart, and kill the pride.

14.  Always be true with who you really are.

15.  Never be afraid of offending someone. The love of a true God breathed Bible sermon will cover many (thought to be) offenses.

16.  If you stop falling asleep in your prayer time, others will stop falling asleep during your preaching.

17.  You must touch heaven with your prayers if you want God to touch hearts with your preaching.

18.  If you are sincere and steady about learning God’s Word, then He will use what you know without you knowing it all.

19.  Communion with God is essential! No fellowship, no fire!

20.  Stubbornness and rebellion are born of the same nature. You can say you are not rebellious to God, but your stubbornness behind the pulpit shows differently.

21.  We deceive our hearts about the sermon to preach, when we know our sermon was never born in prayer.

22.  The reality of the message will not be clear, if the revelation of the message is not clear. Speak in a way that others can relate with, and be to the point.

23.  The miracle of the message is more or less a direct result of the mirror of the man. A pure image before people conducts a confidence toward the message, and an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work.

24.  Failure is an option for those who fail to prepare, pray, or preach with passion.

25.  You will never preach a message that you fully believe until it is birthed in your heart. After it is birthed in your heart, then and only then can it be delivered to the people.

Conclusion

These are valuable axioms for every preacher to consider. If this post was an encouragement to you, then please EMAILPastor Shumaker and let him know about it! Check back soon for more great thoughts from Pastor Mark Shumaker.

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Would You Consider Purchasing…

838309: The Preacher and His Preaching The Preacher and His Preaching

By A.P. Gibbs / ECS Ministries

This present books brings Gibb’s encyclopedic knowledge of the subject within our reach. Gibb’s seriousness, thoroughness, energy, and urgency breath from this book. First entitled A Primer on Preaching, as Gibbs matured so his study of the sacred art of preaching grew. His final edition was completed just months before his sudden homecall in an auto accident enroute to Hamilton, Ontario, for a two week series of Gospel meetings.

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