Grieving

Friends,

This past Thursday the family of First Baptist Church in Laurel, Montana received a very unexpected blow. Our dear friend and brother, Greg Trout went home to be with the Lord. Greg had been a long time staff member of First Baptist and had gone to Ireland with his wife Marta to preach the gospel.

He had been suffering from an infection in his lungs that was giving him asthma like symptoms and causing him to pass out and loose consciousness. Of course we began to pray for this pressing need. Yet in our prayers for his recovery, as is often the case in situations like this, we don’t fully know what the Lord is seeking to accomplish in our lives and the lives of those around us. At such times we can be comforted by the reality the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

In this long journey of Greg and Marta’s travels on deputation and finally arriving in Ireland, their one desire was to submitted to their Saviour. Even in this most recent struggle they were totally surrendered to Him. Their desire was God’s will in their life, not just God’s blessings for living. In the Lord’s wisdom, it was time for Greg to go to heaven. “But, what about our prayers? Didn’t God hear them? ” You may ask. Of course, we have a God that hears our prayers.

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he hearth the prayer of the righteous.

Let me remind you that prayer is not for the purpose of getting what we want from God (Ja. 4:3). God is not an indulgent parent satisfying the whim and wishes of a spoiled child, even if those wishes seem righteous. Rather prayer is our submission to His will, and an act of acknowledging  our dependence upon Him.

In light of the circumstances of the passing of Greg Trout let me share some thoughts that I trust the Lord will use to help and comfort you.

Wonder – The Why of our Questions.

Romans 9:20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Of course when we receive news of this nature we are shocked and almost immediately ask, “What happened?” This is natural. There seems to be an inner need for us to have an answer for the for the events that take place in our lives. But we can quickly digress to questions of curiosity. “Did you do this?” “Why did you not do that?” Such questions may be innocent but harmful. We can inadvertently introduce doubt in the mind and cause the one already grieving and suffering to think that they are responsible for the loss.

Certainly such questions should never be asked out of a sense pride. Subtly implying that, somehow we would have done the “right” thing and hence the outcome would have been different. That is sinful.

Never should we question the Lord’s wisdom. He knows the end from the beginning.

Waste – The Wisdom of Submission

Matthew 26:8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

Mary was rebuked for her great gift to the Lord. The disciples saw it as a waste. The Lord saw it as an act of worship. Like the disciples we, at times, when face to face with the loss of a life, see only the loss and not the gift.

Was it a waste to travel the many miles on deputation to spend so short a time on the field of service? Was it a waste to incur all the financial expense without the visible return on our investment? The answer depends on the value we place on the souls of men and women; boys and girls. The answer depends on the value we place on our worship to the Lord. Do we have the omniscience to see the eternal impact of a life lived for God? Were we investing for a return in this life or eternity? I am not dismissing the normal desired intent of missionary service, just reminding us that we are not the master, just the servants. The Lord has the right to use His servants as He wishes. He owns me by right of creation and redemption. Perhaps Greg’s example will inspire others to go to the Emerald Isle and thereby multiplying the work of the Gospel in that nation.

Worship – The Willingness of Sacrifice

2Corinthians 8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

Our Saviour gave His life. Our heavenly Father gave His one and only begotten son. All this, that you and I may have the privilege of coming to Him. What have you given His to show your love and gratitude? Would you give yourself to Lord?

Walk – The Way of Action

James 2:17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

What does Marta and the rest of the family need now? Certainly they need our prayers for the Lord’s comfort and wisdom in the days ahead. Marta, specifically, will need our help. There is a great transition coming in her life. There is the move back to America. The establishment of normal living without the aid of her husband. Could you help. All can pray. Some can give. If you are so lead you may send gifts to the church designated for Marta’s transition fund. Thank you.

First Baptist Church, 400 7th Avenue, Laurel, MT 59044

Complete In Christ

The New Year has begun. Our theme this year at First Baptist is “Complete in Christ.” This comes on the heels of a year long focus on prayer. Jesus made the promise several times in John 14-16 that he would hear and answer our prayers. Specifically he said:

John 15:7 (KJV)
⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

In short the promise what we ask He will do. There is no Biblical foundation for accepting a life of unanswered prayer. Jesus is the very door way in to the throne of heaven. If we are content to live with our prayers unanswered, we send the message that Christ is unable. How sad. The Saviour we desire to introduce to the world is undermined by the testimony of our prayer life. Rather than content myself with some ambiguous yes/no/maybe/later I should seek to “abide in Christ” and therefore I am assured of the answer of my request (1John 5:14,15).

Our God is able to answer. The foundation of this truth is that we are Complete in Christ.

W.E. Widdis

1 Able to Answer

1 Able to AnswerDisciples Pray

Prayer

Prayer – A Privilege, A Command, A Promise

Our focus this year in our church is the topic of prayer. Prayer is something that we talk about, say we believe in, and affirm that we should be diligent about doing it. But honestly, we all are amazed or indignant about the answers to prayer recorded for men like George Mueller. Why is that?

I have been teaching on various texts about prayer at the midweek prayer and bible study. Recently I was teaching on Philippians 4:6.

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Rather than giving our limited mental resources to our burdens, needs, circumstances, and “concerns” we are to ask God.

So, what’s my request?

What’s yours?

Wow!

Obviously I am not a very proficient blogger. Based on the date of my last post you would think that nothing as happened in my life or ministry. That certainly is not the case!
For the last two January’s I have traveled to Burma (Myanmar) on a mission trip. I have met some amazing servant of Jesus. They serve faithfully in spite of their lack of the multitude of resources we have in America. I am inspired and ashamed at the same time.
Ashamed: They are open, bold, and productive with so little.
Inspired: I ought to be so much more bolder in the midst of the wonderful freedoms that we enjoy in America.
May we be faithful to the Saviour, who gave His all!
Recently I completed the editing on the book Baptist Luminaries. It is the compilation of the citations of all those inducted into the Baptist Hall of Fame which is located at Mountain States Baptist College in Great Falls, MT. I you would like a copy drop me a line.

I promise to try and be more diligent with this blog. I really do have much to share. I will leave you with a quote from Scripture and a thought.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Jesus promises that if we are basically walking according to the word and in the Spirit, our prayers will be heard. What that means is that Jesus always answers with a yes! What is the testimony of your prayer life?

In His Service,
WEW

History of Fundamentalism

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

There are truths that we ought to stand and contend for. Dr. George Dollar gives a history of this ongoing struggle in his work A History Of Fundamentalism in America. First published in 1973, it has been updated by his daughter, Marcia Dollar Phillips. The updated edition includes material that Dr. Dollar had been preparing for an update covering the three decades that had elapsed since its first issue.

This work is well worth procuring for the serious student of the history of our movement. Though not as easy to read as Beale’s Pursuit of Purity by BJU Press, it is perhaps, more thorough and gives proper emphasis of the contribution of Baptists. I highly recommend it!

In His Service,
WEW

Revival with Dr. Flanders

Psalm 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Last month we had a week of revival meetings with Dr. Rick Flanders. They were a real blessing to me as well as to our church. Of course there were the usual evening meetings. There were 4 individuals saved through out the week and many other decisions. Two of those that came to Christ were during the meetings, one Wednesday evening and the other Thursday evening. One of our teenagers was burdened for her friend that evening and after the service chatted with him through Facebook and he trusted Christ. Thursday afternoon we had a “Gospel luncheon outreach” at a local business. The owner allowed us to have a brief service with his employees and the foreman got saved. On Friday afternoon I hosted a Pastor’s luncheon at Perkin’s restaurant in Billings. The purpose of the luncheon was to encourage area IFB pastor’s in the are of revival.

As you can no doubt tell, the week was very helpful and spiritually productive. Perhaps the most moving other than the sound preaching was the revival prayer meetings that were held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening after the service. Those that could stay did, with no pressure to pray or stay. We definitely seemed to come to a unity with each other as we sought the Lord’s will and favour for the meetings.

Mat 18:19-20 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

In His Service,
WEW

Donny’s Day

Recently Bridget and I were on a trip and read the book The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up. This is the true story of a Buffalo, NY firefighter that suffered an on the job accident and went into a coma like condition for nine years and then came back and talked almost non-stop for 16 hours. This is a great illustration for the reason all life is sacred.

In His Service,
WEW

Revival – What, When, How?

There is much talk of revival among independent Baptists. Some of that talk is negative – they don’t believe that it can come, and relegate the desires of the other side to Keswickian leanings. The other extreme seems almost Pelagian in that it is all dependent upon man’s actions, faith, submission, and that God is obligated to give it due to our spiritual arm-twisting. Not to mention the many works that are available from other corners of “Evangelical Christianity.”

With all this confusion no wonder so many christians either don’t know what it is or if it is even necessary or wanted. Let me say that I do believe that revival is a biblical truth and that it is possible to have revival today. I desire such a moving in my life and ministry. But with so many voices the truth of Scripture sometimes gets drownded out by the good sounding ideas of men.

While I don’t claim to know all and am still learning what it is, I do know the true revival that I desire and that every Christian needs is through the power of the Holy Spirit. Also it is clear from Scripture that He can be quenched and grieved when my life is not in line with God’s truth. I encourage you to listen to the sermon included in this post. It is entitled A Heart and Mind for God. While one sermon can not be all-inclusive of the truth concerning revival, this may be a start for you.

In His Service,

WEW

Family & Fidelity

Family is a very precious thing! Recently I had the priviledge of finally meeting my paternal grandfather. That was a rather awkward meeting. I am almost 50 and had never met him. He and my father had become estranged at my older brother’s birth almost 50 years ago, and so I grew up without him as an active part of my life. He passed away last Friday. He was a rather interesting man who I wish I could have known longer and better. This loss has certainly highlighted for all in my family the importance  of our relationship with each other.
As I pastor a wonderful group of people, here in Montana, I have opportunity to reach and influence the lives of a varied group of people – stable, churched families to children from difficult broken homes. The extent of pain and sorrow due to a loose moral attitude toward family should be obvious to all, but it is not. How we need the leading and enabling of the Holy Spirit to help us in our daily lives. The 7th commandment has become a joke to our so-called Christian nation: THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. If you would like to listen drop me a post and I will forward it to you.

In His Service,
WEW

Sanctity of Life & Teens

This evening Bridget and I were with our daughter and son-in-law.  He is a youth pastor at an independent Baptist church.  As I observed the teens behaviour, which some no doubt would attribute to normal teenager living, my heart was grieved.  I became burdened for them to such a degree that I requested to preach to them.  What was considered common courtesy a  century ago is an endangered species today.  What we do not realize is that courtesy of days long ago was routed in a common understanding that man was made in God’s image, an opinion that today goes by the nomenclature of “Sanctity of Life.”

I shared the following with the teens:

Gen. 1:26-26 – Humanity was created in the image of God.  Both genders show characteristics of God’s being.

Gen. 9:6 – God delegated punishment for those that commit murder to man.  In fact man was authorized to execute people that care so little about the life of other humans that they would take the life of another.  Such individuals give up the privilege of life themselves.

James 3:8-9  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  (9)  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

This final passage shows that even our conversation about and toward others is a reflection of our opinion of the image of God reflected in other humans.  In summary all humans regardless of gender, ethnicity, ability, intelligence, etc… are in God’s image and reflect Him.  Also, God takes very seriously the physical actions we exhibit towards others.  We are to be held accountable for such actions even to the point of forfeiture of life.  Lastly our very words express our opinion of the sanctity of life.  Our words are an expression of our thoughts and attitudes within (Prov. 23:7; Matt. 12:34).  When we behave in act or word in a disrespectful way towards others we disrespect God.  When we act or speak in such a way that we disrespect or devalue ourselves we do so to God, for we also are made in His image.

Each person is extremely valuable to God.  He spent the precious blood of His son to purchase us off the slave market of sin.  Are we living in such a way that we reflect the truth we as Christians say we believe?  Friend, are you struggling to find value in the opinions and acceptance of others, only to find yourself with an even greater sense of no value?  God sees you as worthy of His love – in action by the giving of His son; in word in His written revelation of His love in the Bible.  Won’t you come to Christ?

Life is sacred.  Life is eternal.  Where will you spend yours?

In His Service,

WEW