One of the Godliest Men You've Never Heard Of

Every moment spent in the presence of God is time well-spent.  This morning was no exception.  During my quiet time, the suggested reading for today involved two amazing biblical stories.  One of the stories was Paul & Silas, and their imprisonment in Philippi.  I'm sure you know the story - God amazingly delivered them from captivity and brought salvation to the very man who had imprisoned them (Acts 16).

The other story I read this morning came from 2 Chronicles 18 and had to do with one of my favorite characters in the all the Bible.  My guess is that he is one of the godliest men you've never heard of.  The man's name was Micaiah.  Micaiah was a prophet of the Lord who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel.  It's only by the providence of God that Micaiah even lived in the northern kingdom.  One would've expected to have found a prophet of the Lord in Judah (the southern kingdom) following the division of Israel.  That's because Jeroboam had kicked all the priests, Levites, and prophets of the Lord out of the northern kingdom when he took control.  I'm sure Micaiah spent many lonely days in the northern kingdom of Israel as a result.

Let me summarize Micaiah's story.  One day evil King Ahab (of the northern kingdom) decided that he wanted to go to war with one of his enemies.  He asked good King Jehoshaphat (of the southern kingdom) if he would go to war with him.  Jehoshaphat foolishly agreed to go, but at least he had enough sense to ask Ahab if there was a prophet of the Lord who could seek God's will before they went.  The only such man left was Micaiah, and Ahab knew it.  This is what he said about the prophet of the Lord:  "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophecies good concerning me but always evil" (v. 7).  And rightfully so, because Ahab was a wicked man and was leading Israel to to forsake the Lord.  Micaiah was a man of God - no amount of money could persuade him to be anything less than a prophet of the Lord.

So they sent for Micaiah.  When they went to get him, the messenger told Micaiah to let his word be like that of Ahab's 400 false prophets:  "Let your word be like one of them, and speak encouragement" (v. 12).  By the way, there are a lot of false prophets preaching a message of peace and encouragement in America these days.  One of them stands in an old basketball arena each Sunday.  His "message of encouragement" is nothing new - it is an old tactic that Satan has been using for thousands of years to distract God's people from hearing "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).  Sadly, we live in a generation that is too biblically illiterate to see through it.  There's nothing wrong with encouragement - we just need to be sure the encouragement we're offering is God's encouragement and not the invention of man.

Here was Micaiah's response to the king's messenger:  "As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak" (v. 13).  I love that verse.  God so impressed that verse of my heart that I had a little plaque made and placed on our church's pulpit with those words.  If that's not the desire of my heart when I stand to preach, then I need to sit down and go find something else to do.  I have nothing to offer anyone, but the power of God's precious Word has the power to transform lives.

Well, to finish Micaiah's story, he was persecuted for preaching God's Word, but the results of the war vindicated his preaching.  Not only was Israel thoroughly beaten in war, but Ahab's life was taken and King Jehoshaphat barely escaped death, and that was only because God intervened on his behalf.  Micaiah was a man who would not be shaken.  It didn't matter that every other prophet in Israel had sold out to evil King Ahab.  Micaiah wasn't working for King Ahab - he was laboring for the King of Kings.  I hope we'll all learn from this mighty man of God.  Now that you've heard his story, I hope you'll be challenged to go and live life for an Audience of One.

The Encouraging Word - 9/26/10

This week's installment of the Encouraging Word comes from 2 Corinthians 5:17.  The message is entitled Change You Can REALLY Believe In.  You can access the message here.  I hope it will cause you to rejoice in change everyone can believe in.

Where's the Beef?

Remember those old Wendy's ads with the little lady that used to ask that question?  Maybe this video will refresh your memory.  Sometimes I wonder if that little lady's question couldn't be applied to some of the "songs of worship" that our churches offer up to God these days.  Don't misunderstand me.  I LOVE much of the praise music we sing in our worship services.  "In Christ Alone" is a perfect example of a newer praise song that has both substance and a more contemporary sound.  I think we should definitely be singing a "new song" (Ps. 96:1) unto the Lord.

But with that said, some of the newer praise music has earned the 7-11 reputation (7 words repeated 11 times). Some would say there is nothing wrong with that.  After all, some of the highest praise in Scripture makes use of repetition.  They would point to a passage such as Isaiah 6:3 as an example:  "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is filled with His glory."  I would certainly agree that repetition has its place in our praise.  And yet, I'm still prone to wonder if much of the modern praise music has become so repetitive and shallow because we've simply run out of anything to say.  I have finished singing some worship songs and thought to myself, "Where's the beef?"

Say what you will about hymns, but I don't think that much of the modern verse captures the substance of some of those great songs.  I was reminded of this recently when our minister of music, Mike Martin, led us in the singing of "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me."  Just consider the second stanza:

Not the labors of my hands

Can fulfill Thy laws demands.

These for sin could not atone;

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

In my hand no price I bring,

Simply to thy cross I cling.

In that one stanza, man's sinfulness is confessed.  The need for an atoning sacrifice is demonstrated.  The worthless of man's works to make reconciliation with God is clearly seen.  The truth of Jonah 2:9 is plainly professed:  "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9).

I don't know about you, but when I sing a powerful hymn like that I'm not left wondering about "the beef."  The substance is there.  It all begs the question:  Where did the hymn writers of yester-year get their substance from?  From the same place the song writers of today can get theirs' - the precious, timeless, inerrant Word of God.  What a day it will be when the worship of today is met with the power of God's Word and the leadership of His Spirit.  Then we will finally have worship "in Spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24).

The Encouraging Word - 9/19/10

Each week I'm going to post a link to my most recent Sunday morning message.  You may not have time to listen to it - trust me I understand.  But if you do, I hope it encourages your heart, challenges your walk, and helps you to live more godly in Christ Jesus.  Please feel free to comment!  Check out this week's sermon here.

Have You Ever "Googled" Yourself?

Maybe you've tried this out before.  If you have a common name, consider yourself lucky.  We live in a day and time where it seems anyone can write anything about anybody without any repercussions.  Not too long ago I googled myself and found this story that had been written a few years ago:  Todd Stinnett Takes Issue.  If I believed every word of what this person wrote about me, I don't think I'd like myself too much either.  So then, a bad thing about blogs is that they give others a chance to write what they will about you - often anonymously, as was the case in the story above.


And yet, the good thing about blogs is that they give you a chance to let others know you in your own words.  On this occasion, I'd like to respond to some of the things that were said about me in the story above.  First, I do not, nor have I ever felt that Tennessee Baptists who don't agree completely with the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (our doctrinal statement) are "second-class."  Just because two Baptists don't agree doesn't mean that they aren't still brothers/sisters in Christ.  It's quite unfortunate that someone would seek to explain how I feel about others, especially when they've never met me.  But, such is the landscape of the 21st century blog world we live in.


Second, I have no desire to "remove the word 'Baptist' from the name of the state convention."  I'm Baptist-born, Baptist-bred, and when I die I hope to be Baptist-dead.  Just because I believe that the leaders and trustees of our committees and institutions should faithfully represent the doctrinal commitments of Tennessee Baptists doesn't mean that I want us to take the word "Baptist" out of our name.  Again, that was another very unfortunate interpretation of my position.


Finally, I don't think it is fair to suggest that those of us who value doctrinal accountability throughout all spheres of TBC life are not eager to "get on with the mission of our calling."  It is entirely possible for someone to be passionate about fulfilling the Great Commission while also being passionate about the doctrines we hold dear as cooperating Baptists.  From the Schleitheim Confession of 1527 to the BF&M 2000, Baptists have always been a people that have defined fellowship along doctrinal lines.  Yet, that has not worked to deter our evangelistic spirit.  We continue to offer men, women, and children the Living Word through the power of the written Word.


Some of you will read this blog and go google yourself.  If you find something you don't like or that is not true, it's not the end of the world.  Remember, Christ said we would have to suffer much more than false accusations for His name's sake (John 16:33).  If you do find something you don't like, I would challenge you to do what I've attempted to do - respond!  Don't let others define who you are.  Let the world get to know you in your own words.  Above all else, shine bright and bear faithful witness for Christ.

My First Blog Entry

Hey everyone - this is my first attempt at blogging.  I guess I should've been here a long time ago, but when you're a husband, father, pastor, student, coach, etc., you only have so much time on your hands.  Very simply, I want this blog to be just another means of bringing glory to my Heavenly Father.  He is worthy of all praise and glory forever!  I hope this blog will encourage your spirit, challenge your thinking, and compel you to walk closer to Christ.  If you like what you find here, please share it with others.