It Never Rains In California?

“It Never Rains In California” – except of course when you are attending a Bible Conference (having forgotten an umbrella – actually Pastor Ed has one, but Jase’s is somewhere in Texas). I awoke this morning to the pitter-patter of raindrops on the roof. And while so many dislike such “dreary” days, perhaps singing “Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down,” I would rather draw from the line of the great hymn, “Immortal, Invisible” where we sing, “Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.”

The LORD has most certainly been raining down His love, mercy and truth upon us here at the conference. Yesterday’s general session conference speakers included Mark Dever, and Al Mohler, both of which hit right to the heart. Some of us were commenting how their messages spoke right to the very situations in which we find ourselves in, situations that are often so divergent and yet, these men, as they proclaim the truth of God’s Word, become vehicles of the Holy Spirit, speaking to our hearts, our concerns – encouraging us on to greater dependence upon our loving Savior and greater devotion to our living God.

Some of you know that I have always appreciated the life and ministry of George Whitefield. One of the break out sessions cover these very things. It was a well-attended and well-received seminar. Whitefield was admired by his contemporaries and continues to be the source of inspiration to subsequent generations of preachers. Giving glory to God for his life, men like Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan Edwards, J.C. Ryle, Charles Spurgeon and D. Martin Lloyd Jones have been encouraged by the life and preaching of this man. By all conservative estimates, Whitefield preached more than 30,000 sermons over his 34 years of ministry (that’s about 2.5 sermons a day, everyday). When someone asked how he prepared for a Sunday sermon, he remarked that the best way to prepare to preach for Sunday is to be preaching all week long. I wonder what would happen if we were preaching 2 or 3 sermons a day, would there be people coming out to listen (of course Whitefield was the father of open air preaching, often preaching to crowds of 10,000, 20,000 or more.) There was one occasion in Scotland where it was estimated that he preached to more than 100,000 people, all without the aid of electronic amplification.

We truly are being blessed here. I am being fired up to “preach the word” with more passion, more fire and by a greater dependence upon the Holy Spirit of God. Our hearts desire must be the conversion of souls to Jesus Christ. We have been left upon this earth not to live for ourselves, but to live for Jesus. Our mandate is clear – your mandate is clear –

Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Do you belong to the LORD? Are you ready to see others come to Christ? Then “go” I say and make learners of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that He commands.

Romans 10:13-17
13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" 16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Be one of “beautiful feet” today!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Ed