Friday Church News Notes
September 27, 2024 - Volume 25, Issue 39
The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, though this does not imply an endorsement.
FIRST BAPTIST HAMMOND MISSIONARY WINS NEARLY 12,000 IN SUMMER EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) Recently a friend sent me the prayer letter of the Darrell Ratcliff Family serving in Mexico out of First Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana (of the late Jack Hyles fame). I don’t know Darrell, but I would imagine he is a likable man with a nice Christian family. But his evangelism methodology is unscriptural, terrible, horrible, wretched, damaging to the cause of Christ, and harmful to the souls of men. The poor fellow has been brainwashed with a man-made Quick Prayerism program and he is using it on steroids, leaving a multitude of empty professions in his wake. Here is a quote from his recent prayer letter: “This summer, God gave me the privilege of taking 13 different people with me. Every few days, we were in a different church, so we were with 13 churches. Every day, we were doing something to reach others for Christ. God blessed; and, praise the Lord, we preached the Gospel to around 12,000 precious souls, with the majority of them trusting Christ as their Saviour! To God be all the glory! Let me share with you a personal soul-winning story. One Sunday, a church had an early evening service. With the extra time in the evening, my family and I went soul winning because they hadn’t gotten to share Christ that day. God blessed in a powerful way. My wife got to win Enrique, Gabi, Jaci, and Abi to Christ. Later our son Michael won three kids—Rodrigo, Eleazer, and Mayra—to the Lord. Then Michael won an entire group of 7 more people. My wife then got to win Julissa, Edrick, and Mia. I wanted to enjoy the blessing as well, so I won 5 precious souls to the Lord. Then Michael won a family of 5 to the Lord. Then Buffy got to win 4 boys and another group of 8 people to the Lord. So that night, God gave us a great blessing, with 39 precious people reached through personal soul winning.” CONCLUSION: The evangelistic zeal is commendable. The question we have is, Where are the 12,000? Where are the 39? It is a right, biblical question. We are to test everything by Scripture, and the 3,000 that were saved on Pentecost “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). All 3,000 gave clear evidence of supernatural conversion. That is biblical evangelism. To be baptized, to be growing in the Lord, and to be a faithful, participating member of a New Testament church is the “for sure” biblical evidence according to Acts 2:41-42; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, etc. Fifty years ago, as a young preacher and a student at Tennessee Temple, I was taught the same type of soul winning program that Darrell was taught. We used “Let’s Go Soulwinning” in the evangelism class. I was at Temple to learn God’s Word and serve Christ. I worked in the bus ministry and pastored one of Highland Park’s chapels. But I wasn’t there to be brainwashed. By God’s grace I obeyed His Word (Acts 17:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:21), proved this evangelism methodology with Scripture, and rejected it. I didn’t reject evangelism; I rejected unbiblical evangelism. To all the Darrells out there, I would plead with you to listen to the King James Bible and compare it with what you have been taught. “Prove ALL things.” Don’t be a man follower, be a Christ follower; don’t be tradition bound, be a Biblicist. Don’t be a gullible fundamental Baptist mindlessly following some man-made program. I intend to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good. Note the “hold fast that which is good” part. I’m not joining the fundamentalist haters and mockers who only negate and tear down, who are bitter and offended and who see nothing but evil. I’m going to prove all things, but I’m also going to hold fast that which is good, and in a large number of fundamental Baptist churches there is a lot of good, a lot of very important truth. I’ve been in fundamental Baptist churches for more than 50 years, preached in hundreds of them, and not all fundamental Baptists are the same. While I consider First Baptist of Hammond a cult, not all fundamental Baptists are cultish, thank the Lord. Many are Christ-centered, lovers of God’s Word more than lovers of tradition, careful, wise, and biblical in evangelism, sound in fundamental doctrines such as the infallible inspiration of Scripture and the vicarious atonement of Christ and the pre-Tribulational Rapture, all of which are under broad attack even within “evangelicalism,” and many other good things. For more on the subject of evangelism, we recommend “Quick Prayerism Summarized,” June 13, 2024, and for evidence that First Baptist Hammond is a cult, see The Hyles Effect, a free eBook available from www.wayoflife.org.
HIP HOP KING UNDER INDICTMENT FOR HIS FILTHY LIFESTYLE (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) Hip Hop is notoriously filthy, and it is no surprise that the filthy lyrics are not mere innocent entertainment. A window into that world has been opened by a federal jury indictment of Sean “Diddy” Combs (also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy) for sex trafficking and prostitution. “The indictment painted an unsavory picture of Mr. Combs, 54, as an all-powerful sex fiend presiding over ‘Freak Offs’” (“Sean ‘Diddy,’” The Washington Times, Sept. 17, 2024). The details are too wicked to be repeated. A year ago, the hip-hop mogul was flying high and seemingly the apex of success, with a fortune estimated at $1 billion, multiple awards, executive power, mansions, super cars, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, everything a hip-hoper could dream of. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley named Oct. 13, 2006, “Diddy Day.” Appearing in Times Square, Combs was given the key to New York City. One of his hits was “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down,” but it was a lie. Now his perverted lifestyle is on display before the world. He is also being sued by multiple persons and is likely facing decades of imprisonment and the loss of his financial fortune. All men should take heed and learn a lesson from Sean Diddy. Nothing is hidden from God. “... be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Not only will sin be found out; it will be judged with the judgment of eternal death in the lake of fire. The only salvation is by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial atonement. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Last year, Combs said he believes that God is a woman.
WHAT, OH WHAT, HAS HAPPENED TO AMERICA?! (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) What, oh what, has happened to America? Let God’s Word to ancient Israel answer: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). “They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel” (Psalm 106:13). “A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God” (Jeremiah 3:21). “This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood” (Jeremiah 13:25). “Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up; To make their land desolate” (Jeremiah 18:15-16). “And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD” (Hosea 2:13).
ISRAEL’S PAGER BOMBS AND THE FUTURE (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) Israel rigged her enemies’ pagers with explosives and set them off in groups, killing many and wounding thousands. Israel is clever and has technological genius, and she has used this to beat her enemies since the War of Independence of 1948. For its size, Israel’s military is the best in the world. But Israel can’t obtain peace no matter what she does. It is illusive. Every time it seems like there will be a workable peace plan, peace flees away. Israel’s enemies are like the hydra of Greek mythology, with heads that multiply when cut off. When she destroys Hamas, another will take its place. This is because Israel is not right with God. Israel is still in apostasy. She is back in the land to prepare unwittingly for the completion of Bible prophecy and the fulfillment of God’s covenants. She is helped by God, but only to a certain extent, only enough to do what she is there to do, which is to prepare for the rise of the Antichrist, the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70 Week prophecy (Daniel 9:27), and her own repentance and the New Covenant (Zechariah 12:10-13; 13:8-9; Jeremiah 31:27-34). The raging of the nations against God; the raging of the nations against Israel; Israel’s own present situation, all of this is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, all of this is irrefutable evidence of the Bible’s divine inspiration. God’s redeemed people must awake out of carnal, worldly slumber and stop playing and start meditating in God’s Word day and night (Ps. 1) in order to have spiritual wisdom and insight into the times. It is time to build godly homes and raise up a godly seed (Malachi 2:15) and preach the gospel and greatly strengthen the New Testament churches, rather than while away the time on politics and vanities. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
THE PASTOR AND HIS STUDY (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) The following was stated by Frederick Trestrail, speaking at Bristol Baptist College, 1860: “They must feed the flock, and to this end they must be students of God’s word, which he insisted, required hard work, and this is the pastor’s duty. It is your duty to study truth; to illustrate and enforce the doctrines and precepts of Christianity. This cannot be done without continued application and study. No man can preach well who does not prepare well, and this includes not leaving preparation to the last moment. And in all this, their aim is to preach Christ in His person, teachings, sufferings, and death, to preach Christ, in what He has done for man, in dying as a substitutionary sacrifice, and what He is doing now--interceding for all that come unto God by Him. And this is not just preaching the gospel to sinners, but to show all the doctrines relating to Christ’s person, work, and death, and declaring these as the great truths of the Bible” (The Story of Bristol Baptist College Three Hundred Years of Ministerial Formation by Ruth Gouldbourne and Anthony Cross).
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “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” (Rom. 13:11-14).
HIP HOP KING UNDER INDICTMENT FOR HIS FILTHY LIFESTYLE (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) Hip Hop is notoriously filthy, and it is no surprise that the filthy lyrics are not mere innocent entertainment. A window into that world has been opened by a federal jury indictment of Sean “Diddy” Combs (also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy) for sex trafficking and prostitution. “The indictment painted an unsavory picture of Mr. Combs, 54, as an all-powerful sex fiend presiding over ‘Freak Offs’” (“Sean ‘Diddy,’” The Washington Times, Sept. 17, 2024). The details are too wicked to be repeated. A year ago, the hip-hop mogul was flying high and seemingly the apex of success, with a fortune estimated at $1 billion, multiple awards, executive power, mansions, super cars, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, everything a hip-hoper could dream of. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley named Oct. 13, 2006, “Diddy Day.” Appearing in Times Square, Combs was given the key to New York City. One of his hits was “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down,” but it was a lie. Now his perverted lifestyle is on display before the world. He is also being sued by multiple persons and is likely facing decades of imprisonment and the loss of his financial fortune. All men should take heed and learn a lesson from Sean Diddy. Nothing is hidden from God. “... be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Not only will sin be found out; it will be judged with the judgment of eternal death in the lake of fire. The only salvation is by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial atonement. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Last year, Combs said he believes that God is a woman.
WHAT, OH WHAT, HAS HAPPENED TO AMERICA?! (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) What, oh what, has happened to America? Let God’s Word to ancient Israel answer: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). “They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel” (Psalm 106:13). “A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God” (Jeremiah 3:21). “This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood” (Jeremiah 13:25). “Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up; To make their land desolate” (Jeremiah 18:15-16). “And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD” (Hosea 2:13).
ISRAEL’S PAGER BOMBS AND THE FUTURE (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) Israel rigged her enemies’ pagers with explosives and set them off in groups, killing many and wounding thousands. Israel is clever and has technological genius, and she has used this to beat her enemies since the War of Independence of 1948. For its size, Israel’s military is the best in the world. But Israel can’t obtain peace no matter what she does. It is illusive. Every time it seems like there will be a workable peace plan, peace flees away. Israel’s enemies are like the hydra of Greek mythology, with heads that multiply when cut off. When she destroys Hamas, another will take its place. This is because Israel is not right with God. Israel is still in apostasy. She is back in the land to prepare unwittingly for the completion of Bible prophecy and the fulfillment of God’s covenants. She is helped by God, but only to a certain extent, only enough to do what she is there to do, which is to prepare for the rise of the Antichrist, the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70 Week prophecy (Daniel 9:27), and her own repentance and the New Covenant (Zechariah 12:10-13; 13:8-9; Jeremiah 31:27-34). The raging of the nations against God; the raging of the nations against Israel; Israel’s own present situation, all of this is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, all of this is irrefutable evidence of the Bible’s divine inspiration. God’s redeemed people must awake out of carnal, worldly slumber and stop playing and start meditating in God’s Word day and night (Ps. 1) in order to have spiritual wisdom and insight into the times. It is time to build godly homes and raise up a godly seed (Malachi 2:15) and preach the gospel and greatly strengthen the New Testament churches, rather than while away the time on politics and vanities. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
THE PASTOR AND HIS STUDY (Friday Church News Notes, September 27, 2024, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) The following was stated by Frederick Trestrail, speaking at Bristol Baptist College, 1860: “They must feed the flock, and to this end they must be students of God’s word, which he insisted, required hard work, and this is the pastor’s duty. It is your duty to study truth; to illustrate and enforce the doctrines and precepts of Christianity. This cannot be done without continued application and study. No man can preach well who does not prepare well, and this includes not leaving preparation to the last moment. And in all this, their aim is to preach Christ in His person, teachings, sufferings, and death, to preach Christ, in what He has done for man, in dying as a substitutionary sacrifice, and what He is doing now--interceding for all that come unto God by Him. And this is not just preaching the gospel to sinners, but to show all the doctrines relating to Christ’s person, work, and death, and declaring these as the great truths of the Bible” (The Story of Bristol Baptist College Three Hundred Years of Ministerial Formation by Ruth Gouldbourne and Anthony Cross).
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mat. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “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” (Rom. 13:11-14).
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Distributed by Way of Life Literature., publisher of Bible Study Materials and reports for Fundamental Baptists and other fundamentalist, Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. OUR GOAL IN THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF OUR MINISTRY (REPORTS AND FRIDAY NEWS) IS NOT DEVOTIONAL. IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ASSIST PREACHERS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCHES IN THIS APOSTATE HOUR.
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
The Way of Life Literature preaching and publishing ministry is based at Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. A mail stop is maintained in Port Huron, Michigan.
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