Scripture Reading: Philemon 1:1-9
Text Philemon 1:9
Philemon 1:9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Introduction: Today I'm thanking God for the wonderful privilege of preaching His word for the last 30 years. On Mar. 20, 1972 I surrendered to God's call upon my heart to the ministry of His word, which calling I have always believed was for the pastorate. Within a few days of God's call, I had the opportunity to preach three times in one week.
God has been good over these years. The largest church I have pastored during that time only averaged just over 200 in Sunday School (which was the largest independent Baptist Sunday School in town at the time), but little is much when God is in it. :-) Even the "little stuff" is "BIG stuff" to me, when it's GOD'S stuff! :-)
I'm not an evangelist or missionary. I'm just a small-time country pastor. Yet, over these 30 years God has allowed me to preach:
In Spain and Brazil
On the streets and sidewalks of New York City; Washington, DC; Mobile, AL; Tallahassee, FL; and Albany, GA; where I live
In revivals, conferences, and special services in churches in California, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland
In nursing homes, servicemen's centers, senior citizens' centers, jails, on a ship in the middle of the ocean while I was in the Navy, on a daily radio program on that ship
BEHIND bars in a jail in Fort Walton Beach, FL
In a tent for six months, from a bridge, on top of a dumpster, on top of a large water fountain, on a bench at the Moultrie fairgrounds ...
... and those are just the things I remember without having them all written down before today!
Now, after 30 years I've seen a lot of changes in the religious world. And I'm determined more than ever not to change from just being an OLD-FASHIONED, barn-storming, sin-hating, devil-fighting, no-holds-barred, Bible-believing, independent Baptist preacher!
However, I don't want just to be OLD-FASHIONED myself; I want my family to be old-fashioned, too! I want my church to be OLD-FASHIONED, too!
Romans 12:2 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.
Galatians 4:12a Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am ...
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Let's ALL be old-fashioned! Now give me a little grace here. If I get long-winded, remember: My assistant pastor is preaching tonight. Jerry Rockwell is preaching Wednesday through Sunday in our Spring Revival meeting. What I'm preaching this morning could easily be a series of sermons. Some of you folks want to leave out of here at 12 noon sharp and 12:01 DULL.
If you want a revival, and a revival doesn't have to wait until the scheduled revival meeting, don't come to church wanting to know what time we're LEAVING, but come wanting to know when it STARTS; don't park in position to leave, but park to stay and enjoy; don't beg for a 30-minute message this morning so you can watch a two-hour sports program this morning or movie tonight on television; keep your watch OUT of sight and keep the word of God and the Lord IN sight; and ENJOY an old-fashioned church service this morning!!!
LET'S ALL BE OLD FASHIONED!
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 5:24-25 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
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