by Dan Barnes, Senior Pastor

Someone once said, “Opportunities are seldom labeled.”  – However, I have always felt that every day is a new opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- It is a new opportunity to move forward along life’s journey and to make one’s life more eternally meaningful.

Romans 13:8-14    ”Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  And that, knowing  the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

If we believe today is a new opportunity for the Lord, then we must spend much time in Prayer, Bible Reading, and Goal Setting.  I trust that you, too, have set some goals and are trusting the Lord to use you in a greater way today!

It has been said, “He who aims at nothing hits it every time!” I would rather try and fail than never try to do the things God lays upon my heart.  Let me encourage you to step out by faith each and every day!

Pastor Paul Chappel posted this list witten by Pastor Walter Schoedel.  He had  prepared this list as resolutions for his new year and called it his “The Seven Ups.”  I’ve taken that list and added a few Bible verses to it…hopefully it can be a help to you and yours…as you live in this crazy world.

1.  The first is WAKE UP – begin the day with the Lord. It is His day. Rejoice in it.

Romans 13:10-12  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing  the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

 I Corinthians 15:31-34  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

           Psalm 118:22-28  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

2.  The second is DRESS UP – put on a smile.  It improves your looks. It says something about your attitude.

 Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 

 Proverbs 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.  

Proverbs 15:15  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.                

Proverbs 15:23  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

3.  The third is SHUT UP – watch your tongue. Don’t gossip. Say nice things. Learn to listen.

Proverbs 4:24  Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.                                         

Proverbs 6:2  Thou art snared with the mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.                                

Proverbs 6:12  A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.  He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his finger; frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

James 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

4.  The fourth is STAND UP – take a stand for what you believe. Resist evil. Do good.

James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves

James 4:5-8  Do ye think the scriptures saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

5.  The fifth is LOOK UP – open your eyes to the Lord.  After all, He is your only Saviour and He has promised to return!

 Psalm 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 40:8-13    I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine heard: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.

Luke 21:25-28    And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.   And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

6.  The sixth is REACH UP – spend time in prayer with adoration, confession, thanksgiving, & supplications to God.

 James 5:13-16  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of the faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Philippians 4:6-7   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

7.  And finally, LIFT UP – be available to those in need, serving, supporting and sharing with each of them.

James 4:7-10  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Okay!  I must admit! When I was a child, every Saturday night, my family and I sat down to watch “Hee Haw” on television.  Now, that’s not something I’m proud of, but…there was one song from that show I remember most vividly…and it describes perfectly the nature of some in the ministry today…it goes: 

“Gloom, despair and agony on me-e!    Deep dark depression, excessive misery-y!

If it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all!    Gloom, despair and agony on me-e-e!”

      My husband and I have been in the ministry for some years, and we use to go to area preacher meetings. It was suppose to be a time of rejoicing and fellowship but it always seemed to end up turning into a complain fest! Dan, my husband, got tired of hearing preacher after preacher stand to tell some horror story about where they were serving.  They would complain about “how hard it is to convince people to serve God” or “my people just don’t care about me!” and his favorite, “you just can’t do it anymore.”  He said “every time I go to one of those meetings I want to quit everything!”  All this complaining and wining caused a dark cloud to hover over the meetings leaving everyone with a feeling of “gloom, despair and agony!” What causes us to get this kind of perspective of life? Especially in the ministry?  Is that all God has for us is gloom, despair and agony on me-e?  I personally believe God’s plan is much better.

      Now, I’m not being critical, and I must admit the ministry can be trying at times!  It is difficult and there is a lot of heartache and pain.  As a pastor’s wife, I’ve seen it first hand, you open your heart to person after person often to your own detriment!  Believe me!  I’m no stranger when it comes to heartache…I’ve given myself to the ministry…only to go home and cry myself to sleep.  You watch the people you’ve given your life for head down the wrong path and you’re helpless to do anything…accept pray and cry…alone!

     Then, here it comes…what my husband calls the “dark monster”  better known as depression!  It comes like a thick, dark cloud, surrounding every aspect of your life.  It’s like falling into a dark room with no door, and as this depression takes control of your life, you fall into a gloomy despair and it brings agony into your heart.  Once this “dark monster” attacks it’s so hard to keep yourself from falling into excessive misery! 

     And once you’ve given into excessive misery, you will begin to say “If it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all! Gloom, despair and agony on me-e-e!” 

     Now, here’s something to think about…if you choose to allow this “monster” to control you…you are not going alone!  Your depression will affect everyone around you.  It will upset your relationships, such as but not limited to: your walk with God, your spouse, your kids, your extended family, your church, not to mention your job performance, and on and on!  This depression monster is a rabid creature!  It will cause you to imagine things that don’t even exist. You’ll begin to do things like:  thinking everyone is against you; or blame your problems on others; or you may become hateful and very selfish, because you think you deserve better.  And if you’re not careful, you might even begin to think your life is not worth living! 

     Oh! Depression!  It’s a terrible creature and I believe with all my heart, if the Devil can bring you down by throwing the fiery dart of depression, he has won a spiritual battle that will destroy many souls!  But the good news is…it can be defeated!  You can beat this fiend!  God has given you the victory and the arsenal to stop this brutal attack!  The problem is, to possess the weapons of defense is not good enough, you must know how to use them too!  It’s like buying a piece of exercise equipment…owning the treadmill is not good enough…you must use the treadmill to shed the extra pounds! Having the weapons to defeat depression (i.e. the attacks of Satan) is a wonderful gift from God, but unless you use the weapons they are useless to you and Satan will win.

      God says in Ephesians 6  “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” That’s weapon #1!  Be Strong in the LORD!!! And in the power of him might!  God is able!  Don’t listen to those who say “it can’t be done” or “God’s just not working anymore.”  God is alive and well!  He is with you right now!  Be strong in that!  Be strong in the Lord!  His power is the greatest of all-time, if He is with you, you have nothing to fear!

     Weapon # 2, God has given you the things necessary to make it through any attack, it’s call the armour of God!  Put it on!  It’s not going to work its self, you must ready yourself for battle!

     My husband tells us all the time “I can’t change you, but I CAN change me!”  I can’t make you strong in the Lord, but I will be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.  It doesn’t matter if anyone else is trusting in God, I’m going to trust God.  It’s doesn’t matter if anyone else is living in the power of His might, I’m going to live in the power of His might!  Victory comes only if I decide to have victory, God told me I can stand if I want too! Therefore, I choose to stand!

     But there’s more, the battle is going to be a vicious one. Satan is not going to go down without a fight. Yes, God is on my side but I must fight too!  I can’t just stand there and let the fiery darts hit me and tear me apart.  God has provided armour for me, He has  given me truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, and salvation to protect me and He has placed in my hand the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, to fight with, to stop the enemy where he stands! But if I do not use God’s armour, Satan’s attacks will ruin my life and my usefulness for God will be limited. 

     Depression will destroy you!  You must beat it!  But victory can only come through God and the power of his might!  And as you fight, you must wear the whole armour of God. You must carry the truth of God in your heart. It is God that has made you righteous, Satan will try to cloud your mind telling you “you are not good enough.” That’s why God gave us the breastplate of righteousness…it’s God that makes you righteous, not you.  Always be ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Never let your faith down!  Keep your mind clear, never forget you are born-again. And most of all, never set your sword down!  The Word of God is your greatest protection against any attack Satan may send your way. And after all is said and done…and it comes your time to stand before the Lord, you can say as the Apostle Paul, “I have fought a good fight!”

     Ladies, depression is everywhere.  So many ladies give into the “dark monster” of depression. Don’t let it destroy you and all the people you influence! Stay strong in the Lord and use the defenses of God.  May God bless you as you serve Him!

                                                                             - Mrs. Dalisa Barnes

                                                                                      Lighthouse Baptist Church  105 Shun Pike    Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356

With the new “holiday” spirit roaring loudly, stores opened for business.  At one store a 34 year old man was trampled to death by some ”holiday” shoppers who were in the “holiday” spirit (remember: the all about me spirit)!  Then, with the man lying DEAD (where the “holiday” shoppers left him), those same ”holiday” shoppers were “irate” because the authorities were closing the store.  It seems that none of the “holiday” shoppers even cared that the man was DEAD! In my town alone the police were called to break-up two fights of those in the new, politically correct “holiday” spirit! 

This out-of-control political correctness is slowly taking and destorying anything that is good!  Christmas used to be such a wonderful time of year!  Buying to give! Not buying to have or get!  It seemed that people slowed down to Celebrate the Birth of a Savior!  Remember:  That Peace and good will story?!  Well that’s forgotten!  Replaced by “holiday” spirit!  That “I don’t care one bit about you” spirit!

Do you remember the old Coca-Cola company song “Christ-mas-time is coming, Christ-mas-time is coming!”  That song uses to give us such a good feeling!  But that’s gone!  Replace by “holiday 2008″.

 Even the local radio station is playing, quote, ”holiday” songs, not “Christmas” song (even though the songs are Christmas song) but they have to be politically correct so the “holiday” people don’t get their feelings hurt as they are trampling people to death, so they can save $5!

The hateful, anti-American, bigoted “holiday” people have forgotten that which makes this time of year great!  They have forgotten the reason for “Christmas” time!  That reason is REDEMPTION!  To Love our fellowman!  To give because we love God and we love our neighbors as we love our-self!  Christ came to give man:  hope, love, peace and most important: Forgivness!  That’s what Christmas time should be again! 

But Christmas will never be the same unless YOU do something!  Here’s what you need to do: 

1.  Stand for The Christ of Christmas! The Peace and good-will toward all men.  And most importantly remember Jesus Christ came to Redeem sinful people!   The whole reason Christmas is!

2.  Stand for American Tradition!  Do not let these hateful, anti-American, bigoted “holiday” people take away our heritage in the name of diversity and tolerance! 

3.  Stand Against Political correctness when ever you can! 

4. Stand for Common Sense!

Political correctness is the opposite of Common sense!  Let’s get Common Sense back!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Twelve years ago, Lighthouse Baptist Church began as a desire to be a soul winning, Bible-based, community oriented congregation. Along our way we have been guided by the grace of God.

Much of our mission and vision is already being realized. Right now many critical pieces are coming to reality. The Time 2 Grow campaign hopes to move us forward into both the ministry and growth as our vision has described. The timing of our progress has been unpredictable. At one point we could not advance as we desired; at other points our movement toward the vision has been miraculous. This reinforces our belief that God is leading us-holding us back sometimes, and pushing us forward at others. It appears that now is one of those pushing times. We can take heart that the push is in the direction of the vision we began with-the vision we have worked and prayed for, the same vision that Time 2 Grow hopes to fulfill. It’s a good feeling to know that we are growing with vision-a vision to reach the lost of Jessamine County! A vision to become a great ministry so we can do more around the world.

God has blessed Lighthouse with bountiful provision for which we are thankful! Our members have opened their hearts and their wallets to build this ministry to where we are today! Now the future is before us and we must plan to do as much as we can for our Lord and Savior before His imminent return! Ephesians 5:14-17 says “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Reach the lost at any cost ought to be our desire as a New Testament Church.
We have set 10 Outrageous Goals for the next 5 years, they are as follows:
1. 600 People Saved and Baptized.
2. Share Jesus Christ with 38,000 People.
3. Double the Size of Our Church to 850 People.
4. Develop 10 Adult Sunday School Classes.
5. 80% Church Involvement in Ministries.
6. Start 2 More Churches.
7. Partner with 5 Missionaries.
8. Raise-up 2 Full-Time Christian Workers.
9. Have One Community event per year.
10. Launch a Spanish Language Church.

We have set 6 goals for the next 6 Months (Now-December 31, 2008):
1. 60 People Saved & Baptized. 4. Finish Other Building by 3/1/09.
2. Record setting Generation X. 5. $25,000 Thanksgiving Offering.
3. Record Setting Fall Program. 6. Christmas Sing for Community.

James 4:

1. Pray Constantly

Seeking God’s will is the foundation for the Time 2 Grow Campaign.

Pray for your church, your pastor, and its ministries.

Pray that God will open your heart and mind and that this will be a building time in your faith.

2. Get Involved

See what is happening and what God is doing in your church.

Learn everything you can about our ministries, our vision, and the outreach of our church.

Attend all church services; volunteer for service; be faithful to your call.

3. Share Your Faith

Good things happen every week at our church. Friendship is extended, support and encouragement offered, and hope grows.

Find ways to share the excitement of how God is at work in your life and in your church with your friends and neighbors.

4. Be Faithful in Your Giving

Turn your prayers and faith into action. Make giving decisions that honor God and are right to do.

Faithfully and joyfully give to the work of God.

MSNBC’s David Shuster made a comment about Chelsea Clinton being “pimped-out” by the her mother’s campaign to stir up votes for the presidential run.  I’m not here to decided if that comment is right or wrong but I do have to decide if Mr. Shuster has the right to say it or not! 

It seems lately that these so-called “defenders of truth” networks sure are trying to squash “freedom of speech!”  

“You can say anything you want as long as it doesn’t go against what we believe!”  This seems to be the cry of the politically correct groups around America.

“If you disagree with us, then we will destroy you in whatever manner we can!”  is the action they will take to get rid of you or whoever stands in their way of controlling America!

Ask Don Imus.  Or now David Shuster.  Maybe Kelly Tilghman for her joking comments (which were blown way out of control).

Ask Ann Coulter on how these so-called “defenders of truth” will use anything they can to ruin lives to promote their self-centered agenda.   The list could go on and on of those who have been attacked by the PC crowd.  Whether the PC crowd likes it or not – the free people of the USA are allow to have their political or personal views, right or wrong and even if they are stupid, dumb, moronic views they are still allow to have them!  But the joy of America is – you don’t have to listen!  Turn them off or don’t buy their product – but no one has the right to take their views away!  Regardless if there name is Clinton, Kennedy, or MSNBC.  The only time freedom of speech should be taken away is when someone is a traitor to the United States of America.  But that will never happen because half of congress would have to shut-up.

David Shuster believes Mrs. Clinton’s camp was “pimping-out” her daughter to get votes.  That’s his view – right or wrong he is entitled to it!  Now, MSNBC (the great defend of American freedom) has suspended him because he did not follow the goosestep of their network. 

America is losing her freedoms.  Freedom of speech is being attacked every day!  Beware of these politically correct individuals who say they are defending your rights and are at the same time controlling what you hear. 

These people who are “defending” your rights are the same people who are giving the United States of America away to illegal aliens.

Right now America is still free!  Thank God!  But there are those who would love to take it away!  Just be aware of those who are politically correct and want to “take” from you for the betterment of us all!  They will not stop “taking” until they have it all!

Send Comments to  PastorBarnes@aol.com

There are people in the ministry today who are who have the wrong motives!  But there are great people who are glorifying Christ also!  But what should we do about those who are unethical?Paul tells us what to do about it in verse 18: He tells us to rejoice and keep rejoicing because Christ is being preached!
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

We need to totally put our trust in Christ!  He is the author and finisher of our faith.  Some day He will deal with the unethical among us but until then I know we need to make sure that our own personal motives are pure! 

Paul tells us what to do about it in verse 18: to rejoice and keep rejoicing because Christ is being preached!

(18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.)

 Dan BarnesSenior Pastor

Lighthouse Baptist Church

105 Shun Pike

Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356

859-887-4215

PastorBarnes@aol.com

http://www.lighthousebc.net/

http://www.ironsharp.com/

                                                                     Senior Pastor Dan Barnes

The pride in Christians is becoming unbelievable!  The work we are doing is suppose to be bringing  glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, yet, it appears, that the glory is going to those who are doing the work and God is only a means to that glory!  Can you hear the pastor, who has name his ministry after himself, ”God is using me to…”?  Can you hear the Television Evangelist bragging on how God has used him to do this and to do that…?

Even in independent Baptist churches, many seem so proud of the crowds they are drawing and the souls they are winning.  Our attractions are becoming more and more exciting and vibrant.  Our music programs are loud and claim to be “spirit-filled.” Many churches, according to those running them, are the best and by the way there is no body better then their pastor.  There seems to be a simple Bible verses that has been forgotten… “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”  Psalm 127:1

Oh!  Don’t get me wrong!  I believe is working hard to bring people the foot of the Cross to meet the Saviour, Jesus Christ, but I also believe the only thing I am is a tools being used by God to do His great work!  We must always remember… It is God winning and building and changing lives, as John the Baptist said, I am only a “voice” for God to use where, when, and how He chooses. If God chooses to give me some glory, I will accept and rejoice in it…but I must also remember when I am in the valley and no one will even speak my name, if that is what God chooses I must be content.

Several days ago, while sitting in a revival meeting, the Holy Spirit convicted my heart.  He whispered in my ear “son, you are full of pride and you need to get right.”  I was minding my own business.  I wasn’t bothering anyone!  All I’m trying to do is what God wants.  But the truth became very evident as the Holy Ghost did His chastening.  He began to point out things I knew where there,  I just didn’t want to admit it because of my pride.  But thanks be to God for His correction.

Christians are screaming for revival and not seeing it.  Why?  I think I can answer it:  PRIDE!

II Chronicles 7:13-14  “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among the people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

I want to focus on 3 words “shall humble themselves.” 
The other stuff – I understand – I don’t mind praying or seeking God’s face or even turning from my wicked ways!
BUT that “humble myself”  that is a tough one!
The word “humble” means = to be humble, be humbled, be subdued, be brought down, be low, be under, be brought into subjection.
If I have to humble myself that means I am something else other then humble!
And the opposite of being “humble” is to be full of pride, disrespect, rudeness, impertinence,  conceit, bighead, arrogance, egotism, overconfidence, self-importance, condescension.
God warns about pride!
He tells the us in I Timothy 3 about the pastor
            “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
He tells us that pride will keep us from seeking God
        Psalms 10:4 “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God:  God is not in all his thoughts.”
He tells us that pride will bring shame
            Proverbs 11:2  “When pride cometh, then cometh shame:…”
He tells us that Pride brings contention
            Proverbs 13:10  “Only by pride cometh contention:…”
He tells us that you can tell the pride of a fool by his words
            Proverbs 14:3  “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride:…”
God tells us that Pride will destroy you
            Proverbs 16:18  “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
God says that pride will cause depression
            Proverbs 29:23  “A man’s pride shall bring him low:…”
God says that pride is not part of Him – but is of this world
            I John 2:16  “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is
                                    not of the Father, but is of the world.”Since pride is so destructive – since it can so easily entangles us – it would behoove us to learn to recognize it.
So how can we?
I mean, how do we know if we are slipping into the grasp of this sin?
To help you answer that question, here are some common symptoms that are found in prideful people.
Read and see if you recognize any of them in yourself.

1.  Terrible prayer life!

2.  Lack of Bible Study!

3.  Always Angry at everyone who seems to be doing better than themselves.

4.  A critical spirit.

5.  Taking responsibility for any success they may have and making excuses for failures! 

6.  Impatience

7.  Always weary and ready to faint!

8.  Longing to be praised and lifted up in front of others.

OUR PRIDE IS KEEPING GOD FROM BRINGING REVIVAL. 

If we are going to see revival in America – it’s not going to come through any program we may invent.  Or any worldly event that churches think are necessary to bring people to Christ. Though I believe we should be compelling people to come to church.  But real revival, that only going to come through God and Him alone – but we must follow His plan to the letter!  Then we will see God do amazing things in our great country!  And we must begin by “humbling” ourselves. To be “humble” is not to be weak, “humble” is to be NOTHING in our own eyes!  As a dead man! 

A dead man response only to the call of God!  Nothing else can move a dead man to action, only God’s voice!  If I am “dead” to self…you can insult me and I will not responsed; and you can praise me and pride will not enter in…because I am dead to everything but the will of God for my life…humble!

Pride has taken hold and is choking the life out of America and the people of God!  To heal this land we must “humble” ourselves!
 Dan BarnesSenior Pastor

Lighthouse Baptist Church

105 Shun Pike

Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356

859-887-4215

PastorBarnes@aol.com

http://www.lighthousebc.net/

http://www.ironsharp.com/