January 2023
The Trumpet
The Trumpet is a monthly paper offered to the good folks of Faith Bible Baptist, Toledo Ohio, and is the work of the pastor. He assembles the articles and edits them as a ministry to his church. We offer it to those who read our Web Site but in a different format than is presented to the Church. The purpose is simple, to generate spiritual thought, and to encourage spiritual discussion within the body. Where credit can be given, it is, but there is no claim of originality. Further, the Trumpet is an avenue of current and future events scheduled for The Faith Bible Baptist Church of Toledo.
May the Lord bless you as you read this month’s issue of The Trumpet.
Pastor Tim Goodman
January 2023
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Made From Nothing
God Uses Humble Servants
By Dr. John Goetsch
Executive Vice President of
West Coast Baptist College
The Bible declares that God made the world out of nothing—He created! He did not make something out of something—He created something out of nothing. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). I marvel that the “theory” of evolution is still being taught by supposedly intelligent people, when it has been proven false time after time.
Someone might ask, “But what about the tests that show certain things, such as rock formations, are millions of years old?” How old do you think Adam was when he was created? He was an adult, right? Therefore, he was created with age. Would it not be logical to conclude that God also made the rocks, trees, and animals with age as well? The fact that something dates back a million years does not disprove Creation.
As Bible-believing Christians, we believe that God spoke the world into existence. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:6–9). Yes, when God said, “Let there be light,” that light came out of nowhere, for it was created—spoken by God into existence.
The reformer, Martin Luther, once said, “God made the world out of nothing. It is only when we become nothing that God can make something out of us.” We have no trouble believing that God made the entire universe out of nothing without any help from anyone or anything else. Yet, we struggle with the thought that God can accomplish something great in our lives without our help.
In our selfish pride, we want to believe that God needs our talents or our personalities to accomplish His work. The truth is, we have nothing outside of Him! The Apostle Paul poses the question: “…and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Whatever you and I possess by way of ability or opportunity is a direct gift from God. “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27). Jesus said, “…for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
It is when God gets us down to nothing that He can make something from us. We used to sing a song in our teen department when I was young that I understand a lot more now than I did back then.
One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most.
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost.
And I walked earth’s highway grieving,
In my rags and poverty;
‘Til I heard His voice inviting:
Lift your empty hands to me.
So I held my hands toward Heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
‘Til they could contain no more.
And at that I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.
Why don’t you empty yourself today of everything “you” are—your will, your goals, your dreams, your agenda? Pour it out before the Lord and confess to Him that you are nothing. Then step back and watch God take “…the things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29).
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Parson to Person
The first Sunday of a New Year is really a great Sunday! When we think about the new year, there’s always the hope that the new year will be better than the prior year. If 2022 wasn’t the best year, then there’s the hope, maybe an expectation that 2024 will be better. And if 2022 was the perfect year, you’re hoping for more of the same. Often times we move into the new year with expectation and anticipation that it will be a good year!
So, with that in mind, what are you going to do to ensure that this will be a great year? How will you seek God? How will you honor God? How will you give back to God so that you can make a difference in the world? How will you show who Jesus is in you? How will you serve God? How will you give of your material or financial blessings? How will you use your gifts in 2023?
I can go on and ask lots of questions about who we are and who we will become this year. As I was thinking and envisioning God’s plans for us this year, my mind was racing in 100 different directions.
It’s interesting that when we make New Year’s resolutions, most of them are more self-centered in nature. That’s not necessarily bad, it’s just an observation. We might say, we want to lose weight, to get in better shape, to get a new job, to be a better spouse … and all those are good things.
Many of us don’t have spiritual goals or expectations when it comes to what we want to do in the new year. They’re me centered as opposed to God centered. I hope that makes sense.
When it comes to God, we try to get God to do what we want, as opposed to doing the hard work of intentionally drawing closer to God. We want God to get us that new job, to help us wake up in the morning weighing less. We want God to take away those bad desires. You know what I mean?
If we want to be a disciple of Jesus, it’s less about us and it’s more about Him. And that’s why as we move into a new year, in the culture that we live in, a very self-centered, selfish culture, I want us to move closer to God, to become more selfless as we follow Jesus.
As I considered what God expects of us this new year, He impressed upon me we need to be in prayer. Prayer is the privilege of God’s saints. When we exercise this great privilege, we can impact earth and Heaven. We can reach beyond today and touch tomorrow. Prayer is a great privilege, let’s exercise it at every opportunity!
As I close let me say thank you for your faithfulness last year and I want to challenge you to be faithful in 2023. A great year doesn’t happen by accident lets strive to see God give us a blessed and fruitful 2023.
Pastor Tim Goodman
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Rooted In Christ’s Mission
Making His Last Command Our First Priority
By Dr. Don Sisk
Missions Department Chairman
of West Coast Baptist College
The people of Capernaum were clamoring for Jesus to stay with them. Jesus was just beginning His public ministry, and He amazed the people. He taught with authority. He cast out an unclean spirit. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law. (So much for the idea that Peter was not married.) As the day came to a close, Mark 1:32-33 records, “And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door.”
Everyone wanted to be near Jesus. Peter told Him, “All men seek for thee” (Mark 1:37). But notice His response at the height of His popularity: “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth” (Mark 1:38). He was always looking beyond. His Gospel was not meant for a few; it was for everyone.
The Lord Jesus Christ had the entire world in mind when He left Heaven and came to earth as the God-man. Even though His primary ministry on earth was to the Jewish people, His teaching clearly indicates that He includes all humanity in His great plan.
Jesus is described in Hebrews 7:26 as “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” but He did not isolate Himself from sinners. He ate with tax collectors, spoke with sinful women, healed the servant of a Gentile, and cast out demons from those who were possessed. It is obvious He had a love for all men.
Christ’s purpose for coming to earth wasn’t a secret. He said Himself, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). We were all lost, and we all needed to be saved. Jesus uprooted Himself from Heaven’s throne to shed His royal blood on Calvary. He became the sacrifice that satisfies the payment to God for the sins of the whole world. “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
But are we willing to be uprooted from our homes and comforts to be rooted in Christ’s plan for redemption? Christ’s post-Resurrection ministry leaves no room to question that worldwide evangelism is rooted in Christ:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
“Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).
“As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21).
Churches fulfill many functions, but many have completely forgotten or choose to ignore their primary purpose. Much less than 10 percent of all money given for Christian ministries is given for non-English speaking ministries. Even while churches know that it is important to send and support missionaries, the average Baptist gives less than $1 per week for world evangelization. We may have knowledge of what needs to be done, but our hearts are not rooted in this purpose. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).
While there is a great need to support missionaries, God has called many to be missionaries in foreign fields. Every year in summer camps, revivals, and mission conferences, hundreds of young people express the belief that God has called them to missions. But from my experience, only one out of a hundred will actually go. Let me suggest that the sins of the flesh—pride, prejudice, materialism, erroneous thinking, selfishness, unconcern, and prayerlessness—prevent those who have been called from going.
What would happen if each of us would ask God to show us individually what is keeping us from being totally involved in His primary mission? What would a church look like if its people held loosely to roots of convenience and dug deep into Christ? Some have a part to give so that the work can continue. Others will personally start works in foreign fields. Most Christians say that one day they will be totally involved. God must be asking, “When?”
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Why We Haven’t Reached the World With, the Gospel
By Dr. Paul Chappell
Senior Pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church
and President of West Coast Baptist College
The Great Commission of Christ is, in fact, the mission of the local church. As Christians, and especially as local churches, Christ’s last command must be our first priority.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
And this is not only true on a local level—that we should be reaching our own communities with the gospel—but it is also true on a global scale. Every church should be actively engaged in preaching the gospel around the world.
Why is it, then, that there are yet so many places where the gospel has not yet been preached? Why are there so many people who have not yet heard of Jesus and His sacrifice for their sins?
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Disobedience
It is truly amazing how we can call Jesus our Saviour, our Lord, and our Master, and yet so easily choose to disobey His direct instructions.
If we are not actively, passionately, and sacrificially engaged in reaching the world with the gospel, we are disobeying Christ.
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Selfishness
In recent decades, we have seen an unprecedented spirit of selfishness when it comes to the need of worldwide missions.
Christian parents are hoping their children will not surrender to missions. And young people are adapting to the spiritual climate so that a large majority are no longer considering missionary service. Thank God for those young people who have surrendered their lives to whatever God wants for them. Let us as pastors, youth pastors, and parents continually encourage our young people to be yielded to the Lord, no matter what the cost.
This enemy of selfishness has also found its way into the hearts of Christians who are not willing to give generously of their finances for the gospel. The Apostle Paul was very clear when speaking to the Philippian church: “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:17). Those Christians who faithfully support missions through their local churches will rejoice throughout eternity for the part they had in bringing lost souls to the Saviour.
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False Excuses
We can look for excuses or we can look for a way. Too often, we look for excuses.
Some of the excuses given for missions today are laughable in light of the challenges Paul and other missionaries faced in the first century. Danger, distance from home, language barriers, lack of people seeking to hear…all of these are obstacles Paul faced.
What we need in today’s churches are men and women who will overcome any and every excuse with a fiery heart of faith. We need courageous men and women who will trust that God can and will do a great work through their obedience.
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Apathy
Worse than excuse-making is not even caring enough to make an excuse at all. In today’s Laodicean church age, there are too many Christians who care only that their own needs are met but who never obey Christ’s instruction to “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35)” or to “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38).
Too often, we aren’t doing more for missions—not because we’ve done all we can, but because we simply don’t care.
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Satanic Opposition
Finally, at the root of all opposition toward the advancement of the gospel is the fact that Satan fights every effort of the local church to lift up the Cross of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:12).
Whether satanic opposition manifests itself in the form of perverted doctrine, pride, or even assaults against Christians in their efforts to spread the gospel, we know that Satan is always busy fighting against the work of God. Jesus said, “…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
We could mention many other enemies—prayerlessness, laziness, materialism, prejudice, and more.
But if our lives are overtaken by the obstacles to missions, it is because we have forgotten it is a great privilege to be a part of God’s plan to reach the world with the gospel.
That is why this week, Lancaster Baptist Church, for the thirty-fourth time in thirty-four years, set aside three days to focus on the needs of the unreached people of the world. May we take Christ’s Great Commission seriously and “Go…into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
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We Are in A Mess, But There Is Hope
Shining As Bright Lights in A Dark World
By Dr. Kevin Folger
North American Director
of Spiritual Leadership Asia
Have you looked around our country recently? America is in deep water morally. For the first time in our history there are more unmarried households than married, and divorce is a real problem in our world. More and more children are being reared in single parent homes. Too many children in our country are living without the guidance and direction of their fathers.
The statistics of the negative effects on children reared in these kinds of homes are alarming. According to statistical facts found in the book entitled Correct, Not Politically Correct written by Frank Turek, children from fatherless homes account for:
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60% of America’s rapists
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63% of America’s youth suicides
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70% of America’s long-term prison inmates
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70% of America’s reform school attendees
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71% of America’s teenage pregnancies
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71% of America’s high school dropouts
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72% of America’s adolescent murders
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85% of America’s youth prisoners
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85% of America’s youth with behavioral disorders
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90% of America’s runaways
We are currently in the throes of the great marriage debate in our nation. We have mayors of major cities as well as our president saying they favor same-sex marriage.
Then we have credibility problems among the Christian community. Christian people seem to be dealing with the same issues as the unsaved world. Divorce is a problem, and hypocrisy plaques many spiritual leaders.
Some men refuse to take a stand and speak out for fear of reprisal from their church or the community in which they minister. Others are nothing more than hypocrites, preaching one thing and living another.
When I think of all the problems that we are dealing with both as Americans and as Christians, I am reminded of the book of 1 Samuel. When you read the first several chapters, you will see dark moments in the nation of Israel. The priests and spiritual leaders were poor examples to the people. In fact, their conduct both in the ministry and outside the ministry was so unbecoming that, “Men abhorred the offering of the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:17).
Their behavior was so wicked that God said He was going to bring judgment on the house of Eli. God sent a message through an unnamed prophet that Eli and his two sons would die. The prophecy was fulfilled in a battle with the Philistines. Eli’s sons were killed in battle, and Eli died when he received word that the Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines and his two sons were dead.
Times were tough in Israel, yet God was at work. In the midst of the darkness there was a light that grew brighter and brighter as days went on. This light was the life of a child named Samuel. He grew into a man of God that brought the nation back to God.
In some respects, we are in similar circumstances. We are living in dark hours morally, spiritually, politically, and economically. In spite of the darkness, there is a light—the light of truth found in the Word of God. The Bible speaks clearly of the day when Jesus Christ will return and the final days of this world will begin to unfold. What a day that will be when we hear the trump of God and the voice of an archangel!
Don’t think I am a fatalist who believes we should just sit back and wait for Christ; that is not the case at all. I do believe He is coming, and it motivates me to live a righteous and holy life. However, I also believe that we can see God move again in this world before Christ’s return. Here are a few things God’s people should be doing:
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We need to pray for a spiritual awakening among the people of the world.
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We need to get thoroughly right with God and walk in the Holy Spirit’s power.
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We need to love people and show them grace even when they are not kind to us and even when their lives are not what they ought to be.
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We need to work on our homes and families. If you are married, work on your marriage, and make sure you model the truths found in Scripture. Train your children to know and live for God.
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Pray for your pastor and your church leaders to be people of great faith and credibility.
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Live in the light that Christ will soon return.