Sam Houston's Conversion

How Houston became a true believer in Christ is inextricably bound up with the marriage to his third wife. Badly wounded in the battle of San Jacinto, Houston was evacuated by boat to New Orleans for medical treatment. He arrived there in terrible shape, his dreadful appearance shocking the well-wishers gathered on the dock to welcome him. In the crowd that day was a 17-year old girl from Marion, Alabama named Margaret Lea. In her girlish naiveté, she soon began telling--almost prophesying--to family and friends that someday she would personally meet the great Sam Houston. That meeting took place more than three years later when Houston, having served one term as President of Texas, was in Mississippi buying horses. At a social gathering, he was introduced to Margaret, then all of 20, by her younger sister Emily. Business soon took Houston away but in a matter of months, he was back in Alabama and the couple became engaged, over her mother’s strenuous and understandable objections. In May 1840, they were married, he 47, she just 21. Together they would have 8 children.

Margaret set out to “reform” Sam Houston, and saw herself as God’s instrument in this. She was a devout Baptist (her late father had been a Baptist pastor, and she herself had been converted at a girl’s academy at age 19). Of course, strictly speaking, she had no Biblical grounds for marrying Houston--he was an unbeliever (to say nothing of his two divorces, neither of which seems to have been within Biblical guidelines). Sometimes God in His mercy over-rules our sinful follies (and sometimes He doesn’t--the two wives of Thomas Alvah Edison were both devout Christians, one the daughter of a Methodist bishop; both inadvisedly and unbiblically married Edison, a lifelong unbeliever, skeptic, and virtual atheist. He never came to Christ, though he might have, had they refused marriage out of Biblical convictions).

Margaret transformed Houston’s life, greatly restricting his alcohol use. For the first several years of marriage he was irreligious and disrespectful toward his wife’s faith, refusing to attend church at all, even at Christmas. But because of his wife’s Christian character and consistent testimony, Houston did finally begin attending church with her in 1846, and thereafter led family prayers at home when he wasn’t away on business or politics. Margaret set as her chief purpose in life the conversion of Sam Houston.

When Houston went to Washington, D. C. as senator from Texas, his wife and growing family remained behind. Out of respect for his wife’s faith, Houston regularly attended E Street Baptist Church where G. W. Samson was pastor. Samson befriended Houston and loaned him books on Christian apologetics.

The separation from his wife and family made Houston very introspective. Letters from home were precious; Margaret filled her letters with Bible verses aimed at his conversion. Each evening, he read from the New Testament. While in Washington, Houston took a temperance pledge.

Back in Texas, Houston and family moved to Independence, then home to Baylor College. In November 1854, Houston publicly professed faith in Christ (his actual conversion came some while before), and was immersed in a creek by Baylor president Rufus Burleson.

Thereafter, Houston was a transformed man--in habits, in language, in outlook. The evidence of both his subsequent life and his words prove that his conversion was genuine.

A diversity of factors led to Houston’s conversion. No doubt the early thorough Bible training he received as a child was crucial. So, too, were the prayers of his mother. The consistent Christian conduct of wife Margaret (in spite of her blameworthy act of marrying the unconverted Houston), was essential, as was the faithful preaching of the Gospel by various pastors, and also Houston’s own personal reading of the Bible. Houston, a sinner profane, drunken, immoral and blasphemous, yet gloriously and unquestionably converted--and transformed--at age 61, is testimony to the abundant mercy and grace of God. Charts and demographics about the odds of being converted at such-and-such an age are irrelevant. God does not save sinners by demographics; He saves them one at a time, whoever they are, whatever they are, when they come to Christ. We dare never presume that a particular sinner is too far gone in sin or age so as to be beyond the reach of the Gospel.

Houston’s last years were not those of a much admired, much venerated hero; rather, because he opposed secession, and later refused to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy, he was considered a traitor, and was first refused a third term as senator in 1857, then removed from the governorship of Texas in March 1961 (he had been elected in 1859). He retired to his farm and watched with knowing eyes as the Union began to strangle, ultimately to crush, the Confederacy, bankrupting Texas, the ill-advised war leaving only ruin in its wake, as Houston foretold it would. Houston’s death in 1863 spared him from seeing the full extent of the ruin secession would bring.

---Doug Kutilek (As I See It from Feb. 2004, see The King James Only Resource Center Link at left)

RELATIONAL PROBLEMS ON THE ROMANS ROAD

ROMANS 14

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. PREFERENCES [v.1-6]

1. Reception of the Weak in Faith [v. 1]

2. Realization of His Master [v. 2-4]

3. Recognition of the Priesthood of the Believer [v. 5-6] “a Baptist Distinctive”

II. PREEMINENCE [v. 7-12]

1. We are the Lord’s [v. 7-8]

2. The Lord is The Judge [v. 9-10a]

3. All Will Be Judged [v. 10b-12]

III. PROBLEMS [v. 13-23]

1. Distractions [v. 13-18, 1 Cor. 8:1-13]

2. Destruction [v. 19-21, 1 Cor. 10:18-33]

3. Doubts [v. 22-23]

SEEING AND HEARING

ISAIAH 6

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. WHEN YOU “SEE” GOD [v. 1-4, Heb. 11:27]

1. You See His Highness [v. 1]

2. You See His Holiness [v. 2-3]

3. You See His Honorableness [v. 3-4, 40:5, 42:8]

II. WHEN YOU “SEE” YOURSELF [v. 5-7]

1. You See That you are Undone [v. 5, Ps. 49:12, 20] “dead man walking” 1820.  

damah;  a primitive root; to be dumb or silent; hence, to fail or perish; … be undone, × utterly.

2. You See That you are Unclean [v. 5, 64:6]

3. You See That you are Unable [v. 6-7, Rm. 5:6]

III. WHEN YOU “HEAR” GOD [v. 8-13, Rm. 10:17]

1. He Reveals the Trinity [v. 8, 3]

2. He Reveals the Tragedy [v. 9-10]

3. He Reveals the Truth [v. 11-13]

Question of the Week: Is the Bible Made Up? These 3 Evidences Say No!

From the highly recommended: Answers in Genesis <www.answersingenesis.org>

 

We occasionally get asked "How do you know the Bible isn't just made up?" (View in Browser)

3 Evidences That Confirm the Bible Surely, even the most ardent skeptic will have a difficult time believing that the entire Bible was just made up, since many of its details are corroborated by archaeology and in other historical writings. So let's look at three aspects of the Bible taken together to explain how we know it wasn't simply made up.   Find Out More →   Get Equipped How Do We Know the Bible Is True? Shop Now 〉

Echidna—Outback Oddity Evolution is hard-pressed to explain this prickly little digger. That's because the Creator made it like no other single animal. The Intricacies of Flight in the Natural World Richard Dawkins sought to justify an idea of gradually producing flight, but showed little understanding of the engineering principles involved in aerodynamics. Stunning Why the Bible Is True Exhibit Opens with Ribbon Cutting Our brand-new exhibit, Why the Bible Is True, officially opened to the public after a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Ark Encounter. Have You Ever Wondered . . . ? Watch the two new videos for our "I Wonder" campaign, and find out how to get answers at the Creation Museum to three of the featured questions.

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John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

If you don't read the Bible through, then you are going to be led off by Armstrong, or by Thieme, or by Ruckman or by somebody else, or by somebody talking in tongues, or some other heresy. Nobody is a strong Christian who doesn't read the bible and try to learn what God said do, and try to live by it. - John R. Rice

I hope every Christian who hears me will set out to read the Bible through within a year. To read four chapters a day is the easiest way. You might read three chapters in the rest of the Old Testament besides the Psalms, and one chapter a day either in the Psalms or the New Testament. There are 150 Psalms and about that many chapters in the New Testament. If you read one chapter a day in the New Testament or the Psalms, you get through those parts in a year. If you read three chapters a day in the rest of the Old Testament, then you get that part read in a year. Set out to read four chapters a day. Be a good Christian. - John R. Rice

When one says, "Well, I'm not ready to be saved yet," he means, "I have another god on the throne. I have put self up there and let self be the boss. I am going to have my way." How it comes out in every child ever born! - John R. Rice

Notice that God has quite a bit of comment about this command: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God. . . . " What is this commandment? You are not to use any kind of an image in worship. - John R. Rice

The Bible is not against images and pictures. In the Temple they had lilies on the posts of the Temple, the capitals, the engraved lilies and pomegranates and beautiful flowers. And under the big brass laver out in the front of the tabernacle in the Temple courtyard there was a laver resting on twelve oxen that were graven out. And under Solomon's Temple there were figures of lions. The Bible is not against figures, not against pictures, but against using them in worship. - John R. Rice

Now what do people put before them representing God? Sometimes they may pray to Mary instead of to Jesus. "Oh, I just want to honor her." But you put her in a place the Bible does not put her. Let me say this: Mary was a good woman. Now people often mean well, but they have been deceived and mistaught about it. The Bible makes clear that Mary was no better than other Christians.
When somebody told Jesus, "Your mother, Your brothers are outside: they want to see You," Jesus looked about on the crowd and said, "Who is My mother, or My brethren?" Then He said, "Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother." - John R. Rice

I want you to see this: To put anybody in the place of Jesus is wrong. To depend on anybody else for salvation is wrong. To depend on any other sacrifice is wrong. You say, "We have the sacrifice of the mass, which is the sacrifice of Jesus repeated. That bread becomes the body of Christ, and that grape juice or wine becomes the blood of Christ."
No. When Jesus died on the cross He said, "It is finished." That is the end of it. He paid it all. In Hebrews, chapter 8, the Lord said, "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts." Then He said, ". . .there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins" (Heb. 10:26). When Jesus died, that is enough. What He paid, it pays all that needs to be paid. No one ought ever add anything else in the place of His sacrifice or add it to His sacrifice. It is idolatry to put anything else in the place of representing God, except Christ Himself, the Scriptures said. - John R. Rice

GIVING THANKS UNTO THE FATHER

COLOSSIANS 1:12-13                                       Pastor Rick Jackson

I. FOR MAKING US QUALIFIED IN CHRIST! [v. 12] (to make sufficient, render fit)

If unregenerated man should enter Heaven, heaven would be hell to him. Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. -Oliver B. Greene

1. Made us righteousness [II Co. 5:19-21]

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2. Made us holy [Eph. 1:3-6]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

B.R. Lakin asked a man, "Will you come?"

"I don't know if I've ever been elected or not."

"Have you ever been a candidate? When you become a candidate God votes for you, the devil votes against you. That ties the vote. Then it's on to how you vote after that!"

3. Made us inheritors [Col. 1:12, 3:24, I Pt. 1:4]

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

II. FOR DELIVERING US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS [v. 13] (rescued)

1. From the love of darkness (the world) [John 3:19-21]

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

2. From the works of darkness (the flesh) [Rom. 13:11-14]

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.

3. From the rulers of darkness (Satan & his angels) [Eph. 6:12]

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

-by faith in Christ [Acts 26:15-18]

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

-by walking in the light [I Jn. 1:5-7]

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

III. FOR TRANSLATING US INTO CHRIST'S KINGDOM

1. He put me over (transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another) [1:13]

Similar to Heb. 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

2. He preserves me [II Tm. 4:18]

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

3. He promised me [James 2:5]

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Naming Names

From the highly recommended: The Institute for Creation Research <www.icr.org>

Subject: February 19 - Naming Names

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February 19, 2017 Naming Names "Their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:17-18) Many Christians decry the citing of actual names of those Christian leaders who teach heretical doctrines, saying that such an act is "unloving." Paul, however, considered it an important evidence of true love to warn against those who would "overthrow the faith of some," realizing that generalities would be useless. Not only did Hymenaeus and Philetus make Paul's list, but so did Demas (2 Timothy 4:10), Alexander the coppersmith (2 Timothy 4:14), the Cretians (Titus 1:12), another Alexander (1 Timothy 1:20), and even Peter (Galatians 2:11-14) when he began to teach legalism. Likewise, John warned against Diotrephes (3 John 1:9) and the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6). On the other hand, Paul was much more generous with name recognition when he was giving out commendations (e.g., Romans 16:1-15; Colossians 4:7-17). We undoubtedly need to follow his example in appreciating by name those who are faithful in teaching and living the truth. Likewise, we need to be ready and willing to name those individuals, churches, schools, and other organizations that are denying biblical inerrant authority, compromising the doctrine of special creation, requiring humanistic works for salvation, or bringing in other heretical doctrines. We obviously need to be sure of our facts when we do this and also to bring such charges only if motivated by genuine concern for those apt to be led astray if we don't speak out. But then we must, indeed, "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17). HMM | Print this article | Subscribe

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

"But, Brother Rice, how are you going to have any fun?" Well, If I couldn't have fun being decent and clean and pure and respectable like a good Christian, I would decide to get along without having fun. The idea that you have more fun being dirty and by lying and cheating and breaking your vows and breaking obligations to your country or a man's duty to his wife or parents' duty to their children - to think that makes you happier is a silly teaching of the Devil, and Christians ought never be taken in by it. - John R. Rice

There are never too many children of good, God-fearing, hard-working Christian people who raise godly children. They are the salt of the earth. Do you think God wants less salt in this earth? "Ye are the light of the world" - godly, Christian young people. Do you think God wants less light? Do you think we have too many true preachers, too many missionaries, too many godly, patriotic American citizens who work for a living and earn a good salary and make good and keep this country straight? Do you think it was too bad that John the Baptist was born? - John R. Rice 

In Hebrews 13:4 the Lord says, "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." It is normal for people to get hungry, but it is wrong to steal food to eat. So it is expected that there should be normal sex drive. A man needs a wife. A woman needs a husband. They ought to have children and a happy family. Such instincts and desires are normal, right and holy. It is not wrong that one should have some natural sex desires. But it is wrong that any man should take what is not his, that is, violate somebody else's wife or the one who will be somebody else's. That is always sinful. It is wrong to take what is not yours, but it is not wrong to have normal happy marriages and the blessing of God on the home and with children. - John R. Rice

Christians are to marry only Christians. The Bible says,

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?"

A marriage ought to be a happy and a godly marriage. A girl who is a Christian ought not to be dating unsaved boys. If you don't fall in love with a lost man, you are not likely to marry a lost man. So Christians ought to marry only Christians. - John R. Rice

"Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." - 1 Cor. 11:2-3
Christ is not ashamed to be subject to the Father. And a man ought not to be ashamed to be subject to Christ. And a woman ought not be ashamed to be subject to her husband. - John R. Rice

Children are to be brought up in the chastening or discipline and the admonition of the world.
You say, "Well, you ought to love your children." Sure you ought to love your children so much you are never content for one of them to land in Hell. You ought to love your children so much you will never be content for them to grow up as wild, irresponsible young people who never learn to obey the law and have no God but their own desires. No, children will be happy when they are reared right, and that means discipline. - John R. Rice

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. . . ." You are to diligently teach it to your children. You can read the Bible through, four chapters a day, in about eleven months. Then you are ready to start on another year and read it through again. And certainly every Christian ought to read the Bible through every year. I do that, although I do an enormous amount of other Bible study. Maybe forty times a day I may refer to a concordance and look up a verse or quote it. When I preach a sermon, I may use thirty-five or fifty Scriptures. - John R. Rice

Praise of the Generations

From the highly recommended: The Institute for Creation Research <www.icr.org>

 

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February 16, 2017 Praise of the Generations "That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children." (Psalm 78:6)   Each generation of people tends to regard its own times as the most significant of all, toward which all past history has been merely a preparation. The fact is, however, that God has "been our dwelling place in all generations" (90:1), and He is equally concerned about any generations yet to come.   This is why He stresses repeatedly that the great truths concerning God's creation, His character, His great work of salvation, and His long-range plans for the ages to come be transmitted faithfully from one generation to another. "One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts" (145:4).   Our modern scientific generation almost idolizes new research, new gadgets, new discoveries. The God of eternity, however, is not so concerned that we develop new ideas as that we not lose what He already has given us. "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth" (119:89-90).   Christ said: "That which ye have already hold fast till I come." "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Revelation 2:25; 3:11).   The great principle of true education is given by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:2: "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." The great account of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, especially, is to be taught forever. "They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this" (Psalm 22:31). HMM     | Print this article | Subscribe

THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD NEWS- YOU ARE DESIRED

Pastor Rick Jackson

Here it is the day after Valentine’s Day. Remember as a kid the many Valentines in school that said “Be Mine”? Many folks dislike the day like a Charlie Brown cartoon where poor ol’ Charlie Brown gets none- at least at first. Many singles dislike Valentine’s Day but a college friend of mine on FB had this take, “It’s the day before half-off chocolate day- so there is that.” But the Bible declares that you are desired by at least three individuals and/or groups – and that is both the good news and the bad news.

I. BAD NEWS – THE DEVIL DESIRES YOU [Luke 22:31]

1. The Devil Desires to Defeat Christians [Luke 22:31-32]

2. The Devil Desires to Deceive Non-Christians [2 Cor. 4:4]

3.  The Devil Desires to Destroy Everyone [Is. 14:12-17, 1 Peter. 5:8]

II. GOOD NEWS – GOD DESIRES YOU [Eph. 1:4-7]

1. God Desires for You to Be Saved [Eph. 1:5, 2 Peter 3:9, Lk. 19:10]

2. God Desires for You to Be Serving [Phil. 2:12-13]

3. God Desires for You to Be Seeking [Lk. 19:10, John 20:21]

III. MIXED NEWS – PEOPLE DESIRE YOU [Rom. 10:1]

1. Some People Want You to be Saved [Rom. 10:1, 1 Th. 2L8]

2. Some People Want You to Be Sanctified [Phil. 4:3, 17; Col. 1:9]

3. Some People want You to be Sinful [Dt. 5:21, Psalm 10:3, Romans 1:28-32]