I just came across this quote: “Don’t be afraid of death. It is the stake one puts up in order to play the game of life.”

That’s a politically correct view these days, I suspect. Life is a game. Death has no horrors. (Implied, there is no afterlife.) The noun “stake” might even suggest life as a “gamble” too.

Mankind without God would say a hearty “Amen” to such philosophy. Godless philosophy anyway.

But I think I have a better view. Death not as a gamble but as an appointment. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27, the New Testament.

Death as a time of reckoning, not simply a shot in the dark. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Death as a penalty the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, experienced in my stead! So that I might never die (spiritually) and enjoy an eternity of Bliss in Heaven! “Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died FOR (in our stead) us.” 1st Thessalonians 5:9-10

This too: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3

“In due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6

And on that matter of fearing death … “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Corinthains 15:55 (Jesus has robbed death of its sting! He conquered death the moment He came out of the tomb!)

And the Lord clearly promises to those who have trusted Him as Saviour … “Because I live, ye shall live also.” John 14:19

Now, how does one become a Christian, a follower of Jesus, a victor in Christ?

Jesus answers that question best of all. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

I think I’ve said enough.

Are you saved?

Don’t gamble with your life.

Don’t gamble with death.

Trust Jesus!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Here is the verse …

“For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” Quoting 2nd Timothy 1:12.

Yes, there are many things in life I do not know (we as Christians can’t live on explanations anyway) … BUT ONE THING I DO KNOW … I have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour!

(While we cannot live our Christain lives on explanations, because some things we will NEVER be able to understand here on earth … we can live our lives based on PROMISES, the Promises of God!)

Yes, I am in agreement with Paul the Apostle … “I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIVED!”

Have YOU believed in Him, dear friend?

Now, my favorite song …

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

This is a lot I do not know!

But now this, the Chorus or Refrain … I do know!

But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”

The song quoting the Apostle!

Again I ask … DO YOU KNOW?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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In our Revival Meetings I have recently felt led of the Lord to preach the “Life of Elijah,” that great Old Testament Prophet. The “apex” of his ministry might have been the day he prayed the Fire of the Lord down from Heaven! Thus proving the false god Baal to be just that; powerless, futile!

Here is the Prayer … “Hear me, O LORD, hear me.” (1 Kings 18:37) Of course there was a brief lead-in to this Petition and a short postscript as well … but you’re looking at the Core (Prayer) itself.

“Hear me, O LORD, hear me.”

The verb “hear” in our Verse (used twice) is spelled in Hebrew “anah.” It is translated “hear” 42 times in the King James Bible. But it is also translated “answer” 242 times in the King James!

Folks, the emphasis here is not just on God “hearing” … but God “answering” as well! And answer our mighty God did …

“Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” 1 Kings 18:38-39

Wow!

What a God!

But wait a second. This is the same God Who has pledged to us … “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

So I merely remind you … the God of Elijah lives. And if He can send Fire … He can certainly meet your need this vey hour!

Take your burden to the Lord right now.

Plead, as did Elijah … “Hear me, O LORD, hear me.”

And see what happens …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Yes, the old Rabbis of Israel taught their people that two of the precious Psalms in the Psalter (our Old Testament Book of Psalms) were particularly suitable for those times of day, dawn and dusk.

Recall Psalm 119:164 please … “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.” Apparently we need to do a whole lot more praising and praying and thanking and worshipping than we do! “Seven times a day!”

Well then, here is the morning Psalm, or the part of it that is especially pertinent to my thought in this little article.

Psalm 63 it is. The first verse immediately gets us started right … “O God, early will I seek Thee!”

Now the first 8 verses … “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”

Great worship anytime, but obviously crafted for the early morning!

Now for the evening time … Psalm 141.

“LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Notice please, “the evening sacrifice.”

This great Psalm/Prayer continues … “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.”  Wise petitions, aspirations!

Part of what I am saying (although in reality any Psalm will work well) is that we need to talk to God, adore and worship and thank and praise Him … morning and evening!

In ancient Israel, at the command of Almighty God, both a morning and evening sacrifice were offered to the Lord on the altar at the Tabernacle (or Temple in later years).

That fact alone teaches us (even if indirectly) to spend time with God … early and late!

Wow, what a challenge!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, the dear Lord deserves our best in every area of life! Including that of our daily schedule.

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And here it is, revealing the mettle, the character of God’s man Jeremiah!

“Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.”

Jeremiah is often (and correctly) called “the weeping Prophet.” Read Jeremiah 9:1 with me. “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!”

Overall, Jeremiah suffered as much as any Prophet in the Old Testament, apart from the martyrs.

His own kinsfolk tried to kill him.

Kings (all wicked) tried to kill him.

The general population tried to kill him.

His Message was heavily loaded with judgment.

Judgment against his own Nation, Judah.

No wonder he could lament (as in our Title Verse) …

“Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is grievous: but I said, truly this is a grief …”

Yet, under all that load, he trusted his Lord!

He knew his job was to be fithful.

To “endure” to the end!

So, he beautifully resolved …

“I MUST BEAR IT.”

I will finish the course.

I will patiently serve God.

Wow!

I think Jeremiah has today left us all a great example.

Be steadfast!

Do not quit!

Do not grumble!

Bear the load God has sent your way!

Jesus, in fact, bore the load of all our sin … on the old rugged Cross!

Now, let us serve Him … whatever be the burden!

Challenge us one more time, Jeremiah …

“Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.”

Let’s be faithful, strong workers in our Lord’s fields of service!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell