Gospel Dynamite with J. Allen Mashburn

The Gospel According to Nebuchadnezzar | Daniel 4:34-37 | J. Allen Mashburn

For over two decades a defiant, cocky man by the name of Napoleon created turmoil in Europe. Despite his small stature, 5 feet 2 inches, he caused great trouble for all the people around him. In a bid to regain some of the power he had lost due to a forced exile, Napoleon led his armies in a swath of devastation across the battlefields of Europe. On June 18, 1815, Napoleon and his armies faced the allied armies of England, Prussia, Russia, Austria, Belgium and The Netherlands, led by the Duke of Wellington.
Before the battle commenced Napoleon, speaking to of his commanding officer, said "We will put the infantry here, the calvary over there, and the artillery in that spot. At the end of the day, England will be at the feet of France, and Wellington will be the prisoner of Napoleon."
The officer responded, "But, we must not forget that man proposes and God disposes."
With his typical arrogance, Napoleon stood as straight and as tall as his 5-foot-two-inch frame would allow ans replied, "I want you to understand, sir, that Napoleon proposes and Napoleon disposes!"
Victor Hugo, the writer, penned these words concerning that battle, "From that moment Waterloo was lost, for God sent rain and hail so that the troops of Napoleon could not maneuver as he had planned, and on the night of the battle it was Napoleon who was prisoner of Wellington, and France who was at the feet of England."
Pride is a ruthless taskmaster! It will convince us that we have all the answers and that we know better than even God. The passage we have read today gives us the testimony of a man who has learned a harsh lesson about the sin and pride that was in his own heart. In these verses, and in several others that precede them, we are given the details of Nebuchadnezzar's journey from sin to salvation. Join us in our study of The Gospel According to Nebuchadnezzar.

The Abundant Life | Romans 15:8-13 | J. Allen Mashburn

I read a story of two mountain villages.  One of these villages got its water from a mountain spring.  In the summer months when the weather was dry, that spring would dwindle down until there was barely a trickle of water coming into that little village.  There is just barely enough water to keep the village alive until wetter weather comes in.
In the center of the other village, there is a fountain that is always flowing with a seemingly endless supple of thirst-quenching, life-sustaining water.  It is an artesian well that continues to gush regardless of how dry the summer months may become.  This village always has an abundance of water for its own needs and for the needs of others.
These two towns stand as a parable for you and I.  They picture to two kinds of Christian life that are available to each of us.  Some believers live a life that is like a dwindling, trickling little stream that barely gives evidence of its existence.  Others live a life that is overflowing with the spiritual blessings of the redeemed: peace, joy and power.  When Jesus was here on this earth, He said that He came to give us “abundant life”, John 10:10.  This is a life that is overflowing with all the blessings of the Spirit of God.  He tells us that when we trust Him, we will be like that artesian well.  Our life will literally gush with the overflow of His work within us, John 4:14. 

The Tolerant Christian | Romans 15:1-7 | J. Allen Mashburn

Beginning with Romans chapter 13, Paul has been talking about we should relate to the believers around us.  We have learned that, as believers, we are to love one another, help one another and accept one another.  This section serves as the climax of those thoughts.  Here, we learn that we are to have a spirit of toleration toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.
You see, I don’t know whether you have noticed it or not, but we are all different.  We are here from different places, with different backgrounds and different types of upbringing.  If we aren’t careful, we can allow the differences we have become a problem in the fellowship.  We can look at a brother or sister who has some different ideas that we do and we can conclude that we just won’t fellowship with them because they are just plain weird.  However, it is our differences that make the church possible.  
If we were all the same, this would be a dull and boring place, but the fact that we are different allows the church to be a place where unique personalities meet and produce a dynamic that can be found no where else in the world.
Take a band for instance.  In that band there are all types of instruments, they sound different, they look different and they are all played differently.  You also have all types of musicians, who have all kinds of playing habits.  Yet, when all of this comes together, and all follow the leader and stay together, they can produce some beautiful music.
This is the Lord’s desire for His church.  When we allow the Spirit of the Lord to operate in the church, we will love, respect and tolerate one another and produce a symphony of harmony that the world cannot duplicate.  When we all love the Lord, as we should.  When He is allowed to lead, as He should.  There will be peace, harmony and power in the church!
There is a lot of talk in the world today about tolerance.  They mean that we are to affirm other people regardless of what they do in life.  For instance, if a person is openly homosexual, then the rest of the world is supposed to honor that person and encourage their lifestyle.  That is what the world means by tolerance.  Well, friends, there are some things that we just can’t tolerate! 
What we are exploring here is an attitude within the church that accepts the personal differences of our brother or sister in Christ.  An attitude that loves them just like they are, even when we disagree, or even when they are wrong!  We might not be able to support their view, but we can still practice love for them; this is the theme of this passage.

O, What a Morning! | Luke 24:1-12 | J. Allen Mashburn

Our Bibles are filled with statements about the morning. We are told that our Savior prayed early in the morning. Joshua, in the Old Testament, is pictured as a man who rose up early in the morning. Think of that morning in Gen. 22 when Abraham rose up early and took Isaac to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice him. What a morning it was for Jacob when he awakened from sleep in the morning and set up a pillar of stones in honor of God at Bethel. It must have been a glorious morning for Daniel when the first rays of sunshine lit up the city of Babylon after that night in the lions den. Imagine how beautiful was the morning for the disciples after they spent that terrible night on the Sea of Galilee in that storm. Yes, all of these were great mornings. However none of them can compare to the morning that is discussed in the passage we have read this morning.
I would like for us to spend some time today looking at that great morning when our Lord, Jesus Christ, conquered death, Hell and the grave forever. There has never been a morning like that before, nor shall there ever be one like it hereafter. Oh what a morning it was when Jesus rose again! Oh what a morning it was when He pulled the stinger from death and gave life eternal to all those who will place their faith in Him. Oh, what a morning that was! Now, please understand that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus has effects that reach down to this very day. You see: HE IS ALIVE this morning! Please join me for a few minutes as we journey through these verses and think on the thought: Oh, What A Morning!

Relationships with Fellow-Believers | Romans 14:1-12 | J. Allen Mashburn

The church of Jesus Christ is made up of individuals at every possible level of spirituality.  There are those who are fully aware of the freedom and the liberty that they enjoy in Jesus and they live accordingly.  On the other end of the spectrum are those who walk in fear of becoming defiled with the contamination of the world and they live accordingly.  If that were the end of it, there would be no problem.  However, those who realize and enjoy their liberty in Jesus are constantly being judged by those who think they live too loose of a life.  While those who are strict in their application of biblical standards are constantly being criticized by those who have adopted a looser standard.  One group is called liberal and compromisers, while the other group is legalistic and harsh.
Paul here discusses the proper attitude Christians should have toward each other in debatable areas of conduct (things that are not clearly stated to be wrong).  He says that we are not to judge one another in such matter because God has received, both the weaker and stronger believer (vv. 1-3), because we can differ in good conscience (vv.4-6) and because we shall all be judged by the Lord (vv. 7-12).  You see, there are some things in life that are crystal clear!  The Bible is plain when it tells us that we should not drink, use drugs, curse, commit adultery, kill, steal, lie, etc.  These things are beyond debate and people who practice such things are sinners.  That is not my judgment, but that is a clear statement of the Word of God.
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The First Resurrection Sunday | Matthew 28:1-15 | J. Allen Mashburn

This is the morning when the Christian church celebrates what we have come to know as Easter. It is the day when we commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. May I remind you that Resurrection Sunday is not about Easter bunnies, Easter eggs or the giving of gifts, BUT is about celebrating the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the first Resurrection Sunday.
With that in our minds this morning, let's journey back to that first Resurrection Sunday morning.

The Believer's Spiritual Duty | Romans 13:11-14 | J. Allen Mashburn

Having begun this chapter talking about the duty of the believer to respect and submit to government, Paul now turns his attention to the believers duty as he lives out his daily life. While government passes laws that are designed to protect and control society, the Christian has a duty to live out the life of Christ as he passes through this world. That is the emphasis of these verses.
If you were observant as we read the text, you noticed that Paul uses the language of haste and urgency. He is telling us that the duties mentioned here are not to be put off for another day, but are to be carried out every day as the believer lives his or her life in the world.
Let's take a few minutes this evening to consider The Believer's Spiritual Duty.

The Believer's Secular Duty | Romans 13:1-10 | J. Allen Mashburn

There are three institutions that have been ordained of God in this world. In each of them, there are levels of submission and authority. Those three institutions are:
1.   The Family - The family is a small community of related people who have as their interest the mutual care of one another. There is fellowship and sharing. There is labor and provision. There is also submission and authority. God has designated the husband as the head of the family. The wife is to submit to her husband. The children are, in turn, to submit to the parents. This makes for a happy home. When things are out of place, there is confusion and turmoil in the family.
2.   The Church - The church is a small community of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. They have as their interest the worship and service of God as well as the mutual care of one another. The head of the church is the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole church is to submit to His leadership. Under Him fall the Pastor, then the Deacons, and other members of the congregation. When God's order is maintained in the church there is blessing and harmony. When that order is violated, there will division and hurt.
3. The Government - The government is a larger community of people who are brought together under central leadership. They have as their interest the mutual good of all other citizens. The submission of the citizens to the authorities of the government will produce a tranquil society.
It is the last of these three institutions that is in view in these verses. Since we are part of a secular society, we have certain responsibilities to that society. In chapter 12, Paul spoke at length of our duties on a spiritual and social level. In this chapter, he turns the focus to secular matters. How we relate to those outside the church, especially those who have the rule over us in society, it a very important matter.