Brother Walt

My brother Johnny and I stood together looking down upon our father as he lay in the casket. I will never forget my brother’s words. He looked at me with tears streaming down his face and said, “Walter, our daddy is dead.”  I was 20 years old and he was only 17.  We were certainly not prepared to lose our dad at such an early age. I wandered for years hurting, longing, and looking to somehow replace the hole in my heart. It was only when I turned to the Lord Jesus in faith that I was comforted. I will tell that story at another time.

I couldn’t understand why my dad couldn’t hear me or respond to my words of affection. I held his hand, brushed his flat top hair, and talked to him, yet he did not answer. He did not move. He was cold. He was dead. I did not know what that meant. I have been a pastor for thirty plus years and I still don’t know.

I am reminded when a man who had been dead four days responded to someone’s voice. You remember Lazarus; he was raised from the dead by the Lord Jesus. The Lord knew His friend was going to die, yet He remained where He was until Lazarus was dead. When He finally arrived at Bethany the two sisters of Lazarus told Him, “If you had been here, he would not have died.”  He encouraged Martha and Mary, telling them their brother would rise from the dead. They both thought He was referring to the last day. He asked to go to the graveside where we are told He wept. Ordering the stone which covered the entrance to the tomb to be taken away, He stood and cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” And that was exactly what the dead man did, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

I once heard a preacher say if Jesus had not called Lazarus by name, the dead of all the ages would have come forth! I believe this to be true. Jesus taught his disciples about a day when all the dead would be raised. He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:53-54). He had previously said, “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out” (Jn. 5:28-29).  When Jesus said “his Voice,” He was referring to Himself.

 Just think about this for a moment: the VOICE of the Lord Jesus is so powerful that when He addresses the dead of all the ages, they will immediately get up out of their graves! It comforts me to know that on that day, my dad will respond to the VOICE of the Lord Jesus. He will hear Him, and like Lazarus, he too will come forth, and so will your loved ones.  What a glorious voice!

                                                                                  Brother Walt

Elijah was one of the most remarkable characters in the Bible. He is described as wearing clothing made of animal skin and a leather string as a belt. This outward dress was a real contrast to his self-indulgent contemporaries. He was certainly not lacking in zeal for the Lord God of Israel. He met head on with the false prophets of Baal, challenging and taunting them on Mount Carmel. The God who would answer by fire would be proclaimed the true God. He mocked them as they called on Baal all day long to no avail.  In answer to Elijah’s prayer, fire came down which burned up the evening sacrifice and put the false prophets to shame. The people immediately began to shout, “The Lord–He is God! The Lord–He is God!”

Yet after such a resounding demonstration of God’s power and the defeat of Baal, a few days later Elijah was running for his life. He fled into the desert where he sat beneath the shade of a broom tree and in essence said, “I have had enough, Lord.  Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”  The despondent, exhausted prophet rested there and was fed and ministered to by an angel.  From there he journeyed forty days and nights until he reached Mount Horeb, where he found shelter for the night in a cave.  Still not back on top of things at this point, he had convinced himself that  he was the only one left who really cared about the work of God and was audacious enough to even tell God so!  But God had a word or two for him also. He directed Elijah to go out of the cave and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for He was about to pass by.

Elijah was witness first to a great and terrible wind, followed by a huge earthquake, and then a fire. These three extraordinary displays of power all had something in common: God was not in any of them. Finally, Elijah heard a gentle whisper, and he knew it was God. He threw his cloak over his head and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then God spoke to him in an audible voice.

We have those today who are always looking for the extraordinary displays of God’s power. If God doesn’t do something supernatural, the service is a bust. These seekers of the sensational are looking for a divine fix week after week. I was once in a church where the pastor got everyone up on their feet to dance to “set the captives free.”  The rams horns were blowing, the banners were flying, the people were dancing, but God was a “no show.”

I believe the lesson from Elijah’s experience is that God is not always found in the extraordinary events. The great powerful God of this universe was in the gentle whisper. Elijah recognized the presence of God in that still, small voice. He was then given more revelation. We need to be tuned in so we will hear the whisper of God. When we respond to his whisper, then we are in a position to hear His VOICE.  Like Elijah, we need to listen up!

                                                                                                     Brother Walt

My oldest son lives near the Northeast Georgia Medical Center. The upside to this location is that it gives him only a 5 minute drive to his office. There is a down side to this location, though: the sirens. Of course, after a while you may be able to tune out most of them. However, his neighbor’s dog makes sure you listen up. The other day we were sitting on Jason’s deck and the neighbor’s dog starting barking for no apparent reason.  My son told me to wait a while and I would hear the siren. Sure enough, after several minutes we both heard the blaring sound. The dog heard the siren several seconds before we did. No doubt you have noticed dogs have a keen sense of hearing. I believe this to be true of sheep as well.

I admit I do not know much about sheep personally, yet Jesus, the Good Shepherd, speaks of their sense of hearing in John 10. Notice how He refers to their ability, “…and the sheep listen to his voice….And his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice…. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them…. They too will listen to my voice…. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they will follow me.”

It does not take a theologian to figure out what the Lord Jesus is saying about His sheep. He makes it clear; His sheep will hear His voice. However, in order for them to hear His voice He must be speaking to them. The sheep also must be listening for His voice. Now this is a simple yet profound truth.

I have heard so many sermons on how dumb sheep are supposed to be. Maybe we should rethink our position on sheep. They have been described as not having any sense of direction. They wander away from the flock and get lost. We have been told they are unable to protect themselves or find pasture on their own. It seems to me that their so-called dumbness is overcome by their sense of hearing. These little wooly things absolutely will run away from a stranger, for his voice is not familiar to them.  However, they immediately recognize their shepherd’s voice. He is there to lead them and they know and trust Him. Their ears are tuned in to hear only one voice–their shepherd’s. The response of the sheep is noted: they hear and they follow.

Let me make a remarkable observation since I am such a thorough student. It is the VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD the sheep hear and follow. I am totally committed to the verbal plenary inspiration of the Scriptures. I will defend this truth until my dying day, but may I point out that Jesus did not ask if we read our Bibles, but have we heard His VOICE. Have you heard the Shepherd’s voice lately?

                                                                                                 Brother Walt

During the Gulf War of 1991, the millions of people watching Super Bowl XXV were treated to the most powerful rendition of America’s national anthem. Recording artist Whitney Houston filled the stadium and the world with her amazing voice. The spirit of nationalism was given a quick kick in the seat of the pants by that voice.  Since then, each time I hear someone sing “The Star Spangled Banner,” I hope for another performance of this power. But then I am reminded there is only one Whitney Houston. She rose to the occasion like no other performer during our time of crisis. She will be remembered for many things, but I believe her singing of our national anthem on January 27, 1991, will be on the top of the list.

I was just recently reminded of the powerful voice of our God from Psalm 33:6, 9, “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth….For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” I have spent some time thinking about this description of His voice. This person whom we call Father has the power to speak something out of nothing. I well remember my son Justin while leading our church in worship one Sunday saying, “There was nothing. He spoke, and then there was everything!” This statement has stayed with me for years.  I shall never forget how I felt at that moment.

The psalmist tells us we are to fear and revere the Lord because of the power in his voice. The Lord our God spoke and it stood fast. He speaks and whatever He says is done. The power in His word is without equal. While at my brother’s place out in the country, I looked up into the starry sky on a clear night. I could see the constellations and the Milky Way.  What an awesome sight I witnessed. I spoke into the night to the One who spoke all this into existence. I remembered what Justin had said that morning at worship. Take a moment and walk outside on a clear night and look up into the heavens. Remind yourself that your heavenly Father spoke into existence what you are seeing.

I have noticed in the Old Testament that often the saints began their prayer by referring to God as the maker of heaven and earth. This is a good reminder when we are praying. If the One to whom I am speaking spoke the heavens into being, maybe He can help me! This exercise in your prayer life will cause you to focus on the POWER OF GOD, not on your problem. Could there possibly be a problem too big for the One who spoke everything into existence?

                                                                                                    Brother Walt

Perhaps the most widely known account of God speaking to someone in the Old Testament was the “Burning Bush” event in the life of Moses. I doubt any Christian would argue against Moses actually hearing the voice of God. In the New Testament God spoke to Jesus, Peter, and Paul, whose experiences are well-documented in Scripture.  I am aware we put all these people in a special category.  I have no problem when we place Jesus at the top. He is indeed the incarnate Son of God. He is described by Paul as being SUPREME (Col. 1:15-20).

But what about the others God spoke to in an audible voice? We are quick to say these folks were special to God’s redemptive plan.  In this way we remove the possibility of God speaking in an audible voice today. After all, we have all that God needs to say in written form; therefore, we should never look outside of scripture. We falsely think this protects the inspiration of the Bible. Our purpose is to guard the integrity of the written Word. We dare not put someone’s experience on the level with the revelation in Scripture. Of course not! I would not think of doing that either. I have never heard of anyone to whom God spoke putting their experience on the same level with Scripture, yet the inspiration of the Word of God is in no way threatened or lessened if God chooses to speak to someone outside of the written page.

Now about God only speaking to these special people, take a look at John 12:27-30, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name! Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, this voice was for your benefit, not mine….” For whose benefit? Jesus expressly says the voice was for their benefit, not His. What we have here is God speaking audibly to Jesus, but for the benefit of those assembled around him.

What I see here is God desiring to communicate to those other than just the “special ones.” I also see here their inability to actually hear what was said to Jesus. It was not God’s fault–He fully intended for this group of people to really benefit from His message to Jesus. The problem is these people, having ears, do not hear. How often do we read, “Let him who has ears hear”?  I believe that God, at unusual times in the lives of His people, does speak to them in an audible voice.

I am going to take a risk here with my readers. You may not read my blog again after this, but here goes.  I had been saved just a few weeks. I was in a hurry to get to work (see Brown Bus: May 24, 2011). I had been preaching on the street, witnessing, and leading a lot of people to faith in the Lord Jesus. I was feeling quite proud of myself. My attitude and heart were headed in the wrong direction. I was crossing the street in a dead run when out of a clear sky a booming thunder clap stopped me and others in our tracks. However, it was not a thunder clap for me: God spoke directly to me in an audible voice. This is the only time in my walk with God that He has done this.  He broke the silence of heaven and spoke to me. I knew it was God’s voice and I knew exactly what He said to me. I was stunned, rebuked, changed, and have never forgotten what my Father said to me. It is as clear today, some 42 years later, as it was on that day on Okinawa.

(To Be Continued)

                                                                                             Brother Walt

In 1975, I was visiting Chicago to attend a conference.  Coming from a small town, I was blown away by all the tall buildings. In my home town the tallest building was the Leland Hotel–only two stories high.  As a friend and I walked by the early construction site of another skyscraper, I was surprised to look down into a very deep hole. I was informed the workers were digging down to bedrock. The new building would need a foundation of rock in order to be stable. This foundation would provide the strength needed to survive the high winds, the weight of the structure, and the test of time.

I recently heard a preacher say, “The voice of God is the bedrock of faith.” He went on to say the voice of God removes all doubt. When one has heard God speak, all uncertainty is gone. I think too often we say, “the Lord told me” thus and so. I could give example after example of those who said God spoke to them. However, their lives were not changed, nor their behavior. I think sometimes this is a catch phrase to justify a decision we have made. When God is brought into the situation in this manner, who can argue?

I agree the voice of God is indeed the bedrock of our faith. When one has really heard from God all doubt is removed. The person who truly hears from God is empowered like no other. He may look strange to his church friends. No doubt, to most he seems a little eccentric. I have heard well meaning teachers give good theological arguments supporting the idea that God is now mute. Their argument is simple: God spoke to the saints in olden days until the Scriptures were completed, but now He has chosen to speak to us through His written word. So I am to believe God desired to speak to all the others but not to me. I am left holding a book full of stories which will never be true of my relationship with my heavenly Father. This leaves me with what I call a “pretend Christianity.” I find myself then speaking into the air during my devotional time.  I stand singing and praising God who hears me but does not respond. I am to pretend I have met with God, yet I have no evidence. I did not hear Him say a word, but that must be OK. I am told not to expect to hear Him–JUST BELIEVE. We are to pretend we met with God. We don’t know if God was there or not, but we are to keep pretending.

I ask you to check out the only document we have which tells us how God relates to His people—the Bible. Now ask yourself this question, “Did those people have to pretend they were hearing the voice of God?”

(To be continued)

                                                                                                         Brother Walt

I would guess all of us have played the game of hide and seek. I well remember one game in particular. My brother, cousins, and I had been playing for a half hour or so, and it was my brother’s turn to be “it.” I found a place to hide where he would never look–in an old refrigerator. I climbed in and pulled the door toward me. I was horrified when the door closed, locking me inside. I could hear my mother and Aunt Hazel talking. They were standing only a few feet away doing the weekly wash. It did not take me long to realize they could not hear my screams or my kicking on the door.  I was in total darkness and having trouble breathing. I cried to the top of my little voice, but nobody could hear me. I still have a problem to this day with enclosed places. The memory of the fridge is still with me!

At what felt like the last moment, my brother opened the door, saving my life. With a thud, I fell out in the floor gasping for air, but I was alive. I did not mind losing the game. I was glad to be found! I have asked him several times over the years why he looked for me in the refrigerator. He really does not know. He had passed by it several times during his search for me. But we all know why he looked: my heavenly father directed him to open that door and save my life.

A passage which recently caught my attention concerning hide and seek is Isaiah 45:15, “Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel.” This statement is in the context of God revealing Himself as the creator and savior of His people. The prophet is telling us God hides Himself from the makers of idols. This reminds me of the Russian cosmonaut who said while circling the earth he did not see God. The reason: He is hidden from those who are serving false gods.

I also believe there are times when God hides from His own people.  You may think I am talking about that distant feeling we experience when we have sinned; I am not. I believe God hides Himself from us that we might seek Him with all our heart. Perhaps you have found yourself in the desert and have not heard from God in a long time. You cry out to Him, but the heavens are brass. You know your bible tells you God hears you, yet there is no answer to your questions. You are not experiencing the words, “This is the way; walk ye in it.”

What are you to do? Well, I for one will believe His promise that when I seek Him with all my heart, I will find Him. He has His reasons for hiding at this time, perhaps known only to Him.  I believe God desires our white-hot pursuit of Him, no holds barred, and any other clichés you can think of.  I am convinced I will find Him. I am also convinced He will be delighted to be found—even more so than I was in that fridge!

                                                                                                       Brother Walt

The Lord’s Supper is a time to come together as a family. When we partake of the bread and cup we look back and remember his death. We look up and forward to his second coming for the Church. We are encouraged to look inward to prepare ourselves for communion. Finally, the believer looks around the room, acknowledging the body of the Lord Jesus.

We should not look around the room to judge others. If any judging takes place, it is to be self- judgment. The believer is to discern the body of Christ. This can have two meanings. On the one hand, it can refer to the presence of the Lord Jesus. On the other hand, it can refer to the believers who make up the body of Christ. I for one believe Paul has both in mind here. He has rebuked them for having a party and not waiting on the others. In their eating and drinking they show their disgust for the body. In their selfishness they have abused the Lord’s Supper. What they are doing is in fact not the Lord’s Supper at all; it is a mockery. This lack of love has brought down upon them the discipline of the Lord Himself. He cites that as a result, many are weak, some are sick, and a few of them sleep.  They actually paid with their lives for their mishandling of the Lord’s table!  Now that’s serious business!

Then what is the proper way to approach communion? The answer is simple: just take time to look around you. When one becomes a Christian he becomes a member of a family. He is placed into the body of Christ. He becomes part of all those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus. He is now a brother. She is now a sister. It is true that communion is a personal thing between us and the Lord Jesus, yet Paul emphasizes our need to recognize that we are part of the body of Christ. The elements of communion remind us Jesus bought and paid for a family. He is referred to as “the first-born of many brethren.” I suggest we greet each other as brother or sister at the Lord’s Supper. This simple act reminds us we are all members of the same family.

When you take communion, look back and remember that someone—a real living person– died so you could have life everlasting.  Break the bread, drink the cup, and then look up expectantly, for your redemption draws near. He has promised to come back for us, and communion reminds us of this truth. Remember, the apostle challenged us to examine ourselves so we would partake in a worthy manner. Our attitude is to be one of acceptance and deference to the others in the body. Finally, remind yourself by looking around you that you are a brother or a sister to those in the room. You are meeting with your family for a special occasion, THE LORD’S SUPPER. And nothing takes the place of family!

                                                                                                     Brother Walt

The church at Corinth had plenty of problems, a major one being their abuse of the Lord’s Supper. The apostle Paul had commended them for holding firmly to the traditions of the Faith; however, he did not praise them in their treatment of one another at communion.

Here was the problem: some of the people were getting to the love feast early and getting a little tipsy. When the others–mostly the poor—arrived, they found a party going on rather than worship. Paul strongly rebuked them for this treatment of one another and the Lord’s Supper. He actually told them the way they were acting prevented them from celebrating the Communion. He then set forth his instructions as to what they should do.

In his rebuke Paul told them they should examine themselves with a look inward. He warned, “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.”

The presence of divisions, factions, and drunkenness is shameful for any body of believers. In these actions they were “despising” the church of God. They were not discerning the reality of what he had told them in the previous chapter. He said, “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.” The consequence of their rudeness toward one another was severe: many were weak, some were sick and a number were dead. This judgment by God should make it clear the Lord’s Supper is much more than a memorial. 

Paul instructed them to pass judgment upon themselves. In this way they would not face the discipline of the Lord Jesus. As it was in the early church at Corinth, it is dangerous the way some people approach communion today. Paul says, “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” It is always easier to look at the splinter in my brother’s eye and disregard the log in mine. However, I am not to be a spiritual detective at communion. God did not put me in charge to judge everyone else.  I am to examine myself, not others.

 The next time we arrive at church for the Lord’s Supper, let’s be prepared by taking a long look inward. The Corinthians learned the hard way that it’s serious business.

                                                                                                  Brother Walt

This past week we as a nation have been remembering.  We have been looking back to events that took place on a cloudless September morning which changed our lives forever as Americans.  We have watched on television as memorials to the victims of that day we simply call “9/11” have been unveiled.  Webster defines the word “memorial” as something designed to keep remembrance alive.  How fitting it is that the people of America look back and remember those who died a decade ago today.

An even greater memorial was instituted two thousand years ago by the Jesus himself just before he died.  We call this remembrance the Lord’s Supper or communion.  Its purpose is simple yet profound: to remember the Lord Jesus.  Unlike other religions, Christians celebrate the death of our leader. Why? Because the acceptance of his death by the Father as a sacrifice for our sins was confirmed by his resurrection.  His death was like no other.

And so we look back during the Lord’s Supper, but we also look up. We are told, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).  The believer remembers that the one who died for him is also the one coming for him.  Jesus promised to come back and get us! No matter what you and I may go through in this life  here,  we have a home in heaven. This life is short compared to the eternity we will spend with our Lord Jesus. He promised, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (Jn. 14:3).

The communion time is to be indeed a time of celebration of sins removed. However, we must look up and remind ourselves there is so much more out there in the future for us. Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” And, “Therefore we do not lose heart, though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17-18).

In another place we read, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

When I take communion I think back to when the Lord Jesus was taken up while his disciples stood looking up into the air. At that moment two angels appeared saying, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Ten years ago today we looked up into that blue sky with horror, yet there is coming a day when Jesus himself will break through the blue! The believer has such a bright future. Yes, we do remember the death of Jesus, but we also look forward to his return. The next time you take communion, celebrate his death, but make sure you turn your eyes upward, for your redemption draws near!

                                                                                                    Brother Walt