Cedars in Lebanon!

By Donald Kitchell

Cedars In Lebanon is a two-part series on Christian character development emphasizing Believers Growth and Development through Biblical Principles. The work is informative, inspirational, and sound in Biblical truth with the goal of giving principles that can be activated in one's life to achieve and continue to develop a strong personal value system to deal with life's challenges. Developing a strong set of Biblical values in one's life is absolutely essential to meet the on-going tests that godly, righteous living presents itself. Character is the subconscious of thinking right, desiring to do right, which results in right action. These values and core principles must be planted in the heart of every believer to meet the challenges presented in one's life and to overcome them successfully. The sub-title to the original study of Cedars In Lebanon was Pentecostal Conquerors Maturity Manual. The demand and need for such teaching has become a need for all believers young and old. The need is met with this revised study that benefits all believers regardless of denominational affiliation. Times change, situations change, feelings change, but godly principles do not change. Sea-faring men guided their journeys by the North Star which remains constant and reliable. God's Word is time-tested constant and reliable in guiding one's life through the calm and rough waters of life. Be challenged, grow, mature, and develop true moral and spiritual strength of character through Cedars In Lebanon. Cedars In Lebanon can be useful in individual study, family study, and group study. The principles, values, and ideals studied, memorized, and put into active daily practice will make a difference in one's life now and throughout eternity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644621615

Book preview

Outer Pressures and Inner Braces

Text: "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom" (Psalm 51:6).

"As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing" (2 Samuel 11:4–17).

Introduction

The inspiration for this message came after reading a very interesting story about one of our very well-known past congressional leaders. The story is true and brings to surface something of great value to God’s people and especially to Bible believers. The story goes like this:

It seems that near the end of Congressman Martin Barnaby Madden’s career as a congressman from Illinois, Representative Madden observed that a certain young congressman was often voting as pressure groups dictated. He would also notice that this young man would never express open dissent with anyone but always agreed affably with whatever was being said.

Congressman Madden spoke of this to the younger man who admitted that he had this fault. But, the young congressman said, you know how it is, Mr. Madden. The external pressures on us legislators are tremendous.

Young man, said Madden, "I know all about the outer pressures, but where are your inner braces?"

I. Outer Pressures

Bible believers, saint of God, there are outer pressures against your walk with God, your holiness, your purity, your morality, your so-called old-fashioned standards of dress and conduct, and your Christian character. There are also outer pressures of permissiveness and liberalism in theology and doctrine that press against the Bible’s straight and narrow way of salvation (Acts 2:38), the scriptural revelation of one God (1 Timothy 3:16), and the basic biblical old paths of truth. The outer pressures are getting worse in our society:

Rebellion against authority

Disrespect for law, order, and decency

Disrespect for older people and moral conduct

Disobedience to parents, teachers, and ministers

Flagrant disrespect to God, his truth, his Word, and his person

Letting down of integrity, honesty, respect, and responsibility

Words such as the following are becoming a thing of the past in our world:

Discipline

Self-respect

Respect for others

Maturity

Responsibility

Obedience

Thriftiness

Principle

Ethics

Manhood

Womanhood

There is much temptation in our world. There is a lot of outer pressure from friends, school, the world, false doctrine, false religion, cults, family, and job associates to let down on the truth and give in on the basic Bible teachings that we hold and are absolutely necessary for salvation.

Our Bible believers face drugs, dirty literature, liquor, cigarettes, bad language, disrespect to teachers, and immorality in the school halls. They face peer group pressure to compromise and join the crowd. Yes, young person, God knows all about your outer pressures, your pastor knows all about your outer pressures, and your parents know about your outer pressures.

In light of the outer pressures that not only you as a young believer face but all one God, Jesus’s name, and Holy Ghost–filled, Bible-believing, Bible-preaching Christians face, we must realize that we can’t do anything about the outer pressures, but we can do something about our ——.

II. Inner Braces

The second scripture from our two scripture texts gives one excellent example of a Bible character who faced some very unusual and strong outer pressures. However, when you read about Uriah the Hittite, you will find that his inner braces of devotion to duty, devotion to a cause, love for God’s truth, integrity, honor, principle, self-discipline, self-control, and feeling responsible were much stronger than the outer pressures placed upon him by his own king. The pressure of the battle is more than enough, but on top of that, King David brought him from the battle back home to enjoy the comfort of his home and the love of his own wife. King David’s motive, however, was to cover his own sin with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. Uriah had loyalty and respect for his king but refused to violate his principles even under pressure from the king. Uriah’s inner braces were much stronger than the outer pressures. Note Uriah’s solid response to David in verse 11, "As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing." Uriah reveals in the first portion of that verse his deep inner convictions, his solid principles, and his top priorities that he refused to compromise even at the command of his king. David could not even trick Uriah into enjoying his wife’s love because of Uriah’s devotion to duty, devotion to the battle, devotion to a cause, and respect for time.

Uriah’s respect for time was an inner brace that kept him from enjoying his wife. He realized there was time for all things, but this was a time when kings went forth to battle and not time to sit home while others were dying on the battlefield. Uriah had established some inner priorities.

It is important to note that David, as a last resort, tried to get Uriah drunk, which he did in verse 13. David thought, while Uriah was drunk, that he would go down to his house. Here is a time when most people lose their senses and yield to their flesh but not Uriah. His inner braces held even while drunk. His inward convictions were so strong that even intoxication could not alter them.

As a last resort, David sent Uriah into the battle to have him killed. What is even more startling is the fact that David gave Uriah the letter to carry. Uriah carried his own death warrant back into the battle. Some say Uriah knew what was in his hand, and he probably did but not from reading the mail. I believe he only sensed what was to come and did not know from reading his king’s mail. Be that as it may, his inner braces of principle were to lead him to death, but Uriah would rather die than violate what was the right thing to do. To Uriah, it was much better to die honorably than to live as a compromiser and a coward. Uriah’s inner braces held to his dying day.

III. Other Scriptural Examples of Men and Women with Inner Braces

Joseph—Genesis 37–50

Jeremiah—Jeremiah 20:2, 9; 19:14–15

Daniel—Daniel 6

Three Hebrew children—Daniel 4:13–18

Jesus—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Gethsemane → Judgment Hall →Betrayal → Calvary

His inner braces Held

Esther—Book of Esther

Peter—Acts 4

Paul—2 Corinthians 11:2–30 and Acts 16

Conclusion

Most everything that is built, including ships, cars, airplanes, boats, buildings, and homes, has inner braces, which everything else is attached to. If those inner braces are not strong, even though the house may be beautiful on the outside, it is very liable to collapse. It may stand for a while, but when the storm comes and the wind blows, it is likely to fall under the outer pressure.

When people are buying a home, a mobile home, or even a motor home, the first things they want to know are the following: What is the floor supported by? How far apart are the studs? What size are the studs? Are they on 18- or 24-inch centers?

There are two vital parts to any building:

The foundation

The framework

It is important that a building be attractive and look nice, but it is more important that a building be built upon a strong foundation and have strong inner framing. The strength of a building is not its outer appearance but its guts and its framework.

Jesus said, "Upon this rock, I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18–19). What Jesus was really talking about was not a physical building made of wood and mortar but people. God’s church is made up of people. People must be built. Holy Ghost Christians must have the proper foundation and have strong framing of truth, principle, standards, conviction, spirit, and character.

While preaching this particular message to a group of young people, the writer pounded on the walls of the church to find its weak spots. There was one particular spot that was not braced up sufficiently, and when the wall was hit with the outer pressure, it gave in sufficiently. That wall needed some more bracing.

The world, flesh, and the devil will pound at our spiritual and moral walls to find a place of weakness. It is necessary that we have sufficient inner character braces to stand the pounding.

The most important thing in our life is to be saved and ready for heaven. Our most important possession is our soul. In order to keep our soul protected and ready for his coming, we must build our inner braces. We must study and know ourselves enough that we know our weak areas and brace them up.

We can brace up our lives by bracing up our character with principles from God’s Word and spiritual disciplines such as prayer, consecration, fasting, doctrine, moral and ethical righteousness, sound habits, and faithfulness to God and his house (1 Peter 1:5–9).

It’s time to build our inner braces.

If we’ll be what we ought to be, then we can do what we ought to do.

Not for Sale

Text: "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not" (Proverbs 1:10).

Introduction

In every generation of humanity since the Garden of Eden, there have been many who were prone to sell out for a price.

Politicians, policemen, government agents, preachers, teachers, and other men and women in almost every field have sold out to be someone great, someone rich, or someone recognized. Some folks sell out for much, and some sell out for little.

I. Eve

Eve in Genesis chapter 3 sold out her relationship with God, her protection from God, and her sustenance with God for something so much less and so little:

And when the woman saw that tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat. (Genesis 3:6)

The next portion of this verse indites Adam in the same sell out:

And gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Adam and Eve sold out their experience for three things:

The lust of the flesh (1 John 2:15–17)

The lust of the eyes

The pride of life

The devil offered his price, and they sold out on God.

II. Esau

Esau sold out his birthright to his brother, Jacob, for a bowl of red pottage (Genesis 25:29–34).

Esau