November 8

Grady Lemmons was born on this day in 1909.  He was born again at the age of 29.  The highlights of his life sound strange in today’s circumstances, but the Lord uses many means to get His work done.  The Holy Spirit spoke to Grady’s heart through a radio message one...

Three Triads of Witness – I John 5:6-10

God’s saints and churches were being assaulted by false doctrine as early as the end of the first century. The doctrines taught by the apostles of Christ were being attacked very early on. Heresies were creeping into Christ’s churches, and even festering within those...

This is the Victory – I John 5:1-4

With chapter 5 John transitions from his emphasis on love to more of an emphasis on faith. Verse 1, for example, refers to both: “Whosoever BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and every one that LOVETH him that begat (ie. God the Father) LOVETH him also...

Do You Believe Jesus is the Christ? – I John 5:1

Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ? Thou doest well, but the devils also believe and tremble. Do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary? Then you believe something that Catholics believe. Do you believe that Jesus’ ethical teachings in the Sermon...

November 1

Over the years I have asked many pastors from Virginia and the Carolinas if they have visited the site of the Sandy Creek Baptist Church: the North Carolina home of Shubal Sterns.  I have often heard they had.  But I don’t know of a single person, besides myself, who...

Let Us Love One Another – I John 4:7

The Holy Spirit won’t let me leave chapter 4 without one or two more lessons on the subject of “love.” If you are thinking, “Oh no, not this again,” I assured you, you are not the first to have that cross your mind. I had to remind myself that John has referred to...

Divine Love Manifested – I John 4:9-10

Obviously, the theme of these two verses, as well as the theme of the entire context, is “love.” And as I said the other day, poets may be the better than most people at describing love. A case in point is a well-known hymn written by Frederick Lehman. We sang this...

October 25

Allen Wyley was not an ordained minister, but late in his life he did preach and exhort the brethren.  After being baptized by David Thomas in 1765 he yearned to have a Baptist preacher to come to Culpepper, Virginia, to evangelize the people and possibly to start a...

Love: Nature, Source and Manifestation – I John 4:7-5:3

Many have left the subject of “love” to poets and song writers. There have been some good poems on the subject. “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning. “I will always love you” – Dolly Parton. More spiritual people fight...