An Interview with G.S. Nair of India

This week on the Delve into the Depths Podcast…

Song – God is Still Holy
The John Marshall Family - Abide in Me
Interview – Church Planting in  India
G.S. Nair – People’s Baptist Ministries in India Society

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Dr. G.S. Nair

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Back Home

I just want everyone to know I had a great time out in Wisconsin with Jill and her family this past week.  But, now I have returned home to assume my regular blogging duties.  Ok, I’ve never been exactly regular with updating this blog, but oh well.  I’m sure in my absence you’ve been blogging elsewhere.  But I am now back and ready to go once again.  Yes, there will be a new podcast ready for this Saturday!  I can hear the cheering around the globe…

Going Away

There will be no Delve into the Depths podcast this week.  I am leaving tomorrow to be with my fiancee and her family in Wisconsin.  So, please pray as I travel and we will once again resume the podcast next year!

A Textual Fact

Did You Know?

The first text message was sent on December 3, 1992, when a British engineer named Neil Papworth sent the words “Merry Christmas” to a colleague’s mobile phone.  Now, in 2006, text messages are being sent at a rate of 130 billion per year in America alone.

- The Legal Alert, December 2006 – page 3

Sunday Night BlogBall

My friend Derek Makri has started a new blog site – Sunday Night Blogball.  I’ve got to admit – I love the title!  The idea here is that Derek will be updating the blog each Sunday night (I presume after church).  The posts thus far have been interesting and certianly worth your while.  I would encourage all of our readers to head on over there and join in the discussion!

What Kind of Man Are You? – Part 4

The Wicked Man, part 1

What does it mean to be wicked?  Is there a more offensive term I can call someone.  Its one thing to call someone lazy, or violent or even foolish, but to call someone wicked is a bit over the top.  We all have our standards of what seems right to us and what seems wrong to us.  But wickedness never seems to be an option.  Many people view others as bad or wrong, but wicked is not a word good people use to describe others. We think someone may be in error, but wicked?  Come on, go easy on the poor guy.  The Bible and book of Proverbs has much to say about wickedness.  We will spend a few weeks talking about the characteristics of wickedness.

I. The Wicked Man Has the Curse of God Upon His House (Pr 3:33)

A. The wicked one is someone who simply has continual problems at home.  Sometimes we over look this aspect.  If a man is an outstanding citizen, faithful tither, and always about the work of the ministry, we tend to over look to home life.  Or perhaps we just assume everything is ok.  We never really see what goes on in that facet of his life.  It has been my sad experience to see many preachers forced to leave the ministry because of problems in the home.  They seemed to be good preachers, but eventually the truth came out about them.  There was one such man I worked with in college.  He was a great preacher and I thought a Godly man.  But he went out to plant a church, only months later to find himself divorced.  Just recently another preacher I am familiar with had to resign his church, possibly over marital situations.  And of course, this is not just true of pastors.  I’ve mentioned before about a couple in another church I used to belong to, they seemed like a nice couple while sitting in church.  What many people did not know was the entire car ride to the church was filled with bitter and angry disputing.

B. A sign of wickedness is God’s curse upon a home.  Perhaps the situation is different.  Perhaps there is a wayward son, money problems or a whole host of other matters.  The point is, your sin does not simply effect yourself alone.  Other people will feel the effect of your sin.  How many homes have been destroyed because of one person’s wickedness.  Your sin will effect your family.  Make no doubt about it.  Sin is not an isolated issue.  Some men look at pornography and matter as that as seemingly innocent, but how does that effect his wife?  Laziness seems harmless, until your job is lost, paycheck lost and all of a sudden the family has nothing.  Stealing office supplies at work – what lesson does that teach your children as they see it?  We could say the same about lying, complaining, and any other sin.

C. We must guard our homes by living righteously ourselves, setting the example for our family and securing the blessings of God.

II. The Wicked Man is A Bound by His Own Sin (Pr 5:22)

A. The very sin the wicked man prides himself on, is the very sin that binds him.  He is not merely controlled by it, but his is limited to it.  Often we think of the addict who is constantly in bondage to his addiction.  The drunkard knows his addiction is causing him grief and pain, but still cannot help but to keep indulging in his sin.  I have heard people brag about how much they can drink.  Wouldn’t it be wonder if we could brag about he fact that we don’t have to drink?

B. I am reminded by the illustration I once heard.  Sin is powerful, but that is not the problem.  The problem is we are weak.  The sinful person does not fall into sin, he willingly jumps into it, giving up.  The power of sin is only known by the one who fights against it with all his will.

C. The fact is, we will always be bound by the amount of sin will allow in our lives.  We may not have worries about falling into big sins such as murder, but we too often allow small sins to fester and settle in our lives, thus limiting our ability to be the men God wants us to be.

III. A Wicked Man Is Wicked in His Speech (Pr 6:12 )

A. The idea of a forward mouth is one who speaks in a perverse manner.  Some men pride themselves in this area.  Let me say now, loud and clear, it is not manly to speak crudely – it is sin.  There are some men who look for any opportunity to make perverse comments on anything they hear.  They like to twist around innocent statements to have an immoral double-meaning.  This is not manly – it is the sign of immaturity and is childish. We all know people who do this.  Sometimes we even laugh along.  It irritates me to no end that we call pornographic material adult.  It is anything but adult.

B. Just because we are in a group of all men, does not mean we can take the opportunity to make crass comments.  Just because women are not present, does not mean that our Lord and Savior is not present.  It is never right to sin.

C. Recently I had sit down with a group of students who had been passing around an inappropriate picture and using inappropriate words to describe it.  What shocked them all is when I asked them if they would want their mothers or sisters been shown around like this.  They all got the point.  Do we all get the point?  Would you want others describing your wife the way you have described other women?  The bigger issue is, I wonder where these children got this from.  Why would they look at this picture this way?  Where did they hear this talk from?

D. Part of being a man is protecting and caring for women in general. 

E. Proverbs 10:6 adds the realm of violent language into the mix.  How violent is your language.  I know some people, that as soon as they get irritated, out comes the violent language.  For some, this comes by way of vulgarity.  Cursing and swearing out not to have any part of a Christian’s vocabulary.  It is wicked, it is usually said in anger.  Someone cuts me off in traffic, and all of a sudden we hear even Christians at times telling someone to “go to hell.”  What have we just said.  We have told someone that we hope that they suffer eternal punishment and flame with no hope of rescue.  By the way, this is the very hellfire you and I deserve.  It gets worse when we think of whose job it is to actually condemn people.  Are you really wanting to usurp God’s authority?

F. Perhaps your problem is not swearing, but other violent language.  Ever go to a ball game and hear the phrase, “Kill the ump!”  You hear things like that in sports all the time.  How about, if that guy does this one more time, I’ll kill him or I’ll strangle him.  Violent language is a sign of wickedness. 

G. Pr 10:20  adds in something further.  Even when they are not crude or violent, the wicked man’s words are useless.  They have no value.  Ever talk to someone who really has nothing good to say?  How about a person who can never quite feel comfortable speaking on spiritual matters, but can quote sports statistic after sports statistic?  Then there are those who feel it their only responsibility in serious conversation is to lighten the mood with a joke.  Sometimes that is a good thing, but if that is all someone is good for, of what value do they really have?

IV. The Wicked Man’s Actions All Lead to Sin (Pr 10:16)

A. There are some people who, no matter what their circumstance, always seem to cause trouble.  It amazes me to read about all the anti-war rallies back in the sixties that all lead to riots and terror.  The media often speak of the peaceful religion of Islam – but history tells us that whenever this religion gets control, violence, terrorism and tyranny soon follow.  We even have examples here.  You tell me, what has been the results of lax standards, sex education, the teaching of evolution and moral relativism (ie tolerance)?  Has this all lead to peace, prosperity, love and respect?

B. We must remember that every action has an equal proportionate reaction.  In other words, we all have consequences.

V. The Wicked Man has Good Reason to Be Afraid (Pr 10:24 )

A. Someone once asked, is it really paranoia if everyone is out to get you?  The wicked man is always worried about getting caught.  He has good reason to worry, he has done something worthy of being caught. 

B. Be aware of people who are always looking over their shoulders.  Most of the time, there is a reason why.

An Interview with Dr. Paul McLaughlin of Hope Haven Gospel Mission

This week on the Delve into the Depths Podcast…

Song – Listen to the People
Mac Lynch – My Son, Give Me Thine Heart
Interview – Ministering to the Needy
Dr. Paul McLaughlin – Hope Haven Gospel Mission

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Dr. Paul McLaughlin

For a complete listing of all archived podcasts,
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An Interesting Article

I try not to clog this blog with many links to other blogs – but from time to time I see the need to point out some intersting articles on other sites.  Today is such a day.  I saw this linked from SharperIron and read through it.  Some interesting thoughts…

The Pot and the Kettle: MacArthur and Driscoll

What Kind of Man Are You, part 3

The Foolish Man

What does it mean to be foolish?  They say that everyone likes a clown.  When we spoke of the Slothful man, we mentioned the fascination everyone has with entertainment and entertainers.  But much of that entertainment we see is comedy.  The most popular comedians on the sitcoms are ones who are foolish.  The one who acts in some crazt way to make us all laugh.  We laugh at his stupidity and we laugh at his outrageous behavior.  Perhaps we can say that not only does everyone love a clown, but everyone loves a fool.  We watch it on tv, and act it out for others the next day.  We oftentimes associate foolishness with comedy and in the process make fools of ourselves for the pleasure of others.  Yet, we see in the book of Proverbs a different side of foolishness.  Foolishness is funny on a 30 minute tv program, but the results of foolishness last a lifetime. 

I. A Foolish Man Hates Knowledge (Pr 1:22)

A. Hate is a strong word and this is a strong statement.  A foolish person despises knowledge.  What is knowledge?  Knowledge is facts.  Knowledge is the ability to learn.  Why would any one hate knowledge?  Its one thing to say that someone hates a know-it-all, but it is something else to say that hate knowledge.

B. I believe there are several reasons why fools hate knowledge,  I will list them for you here.

1. Fools hate knowledge because knowledge takes work.  It takes effort to learn things.  It takes time and it takes energy.   Too often we come to a perplexing situation and we just want to leave it for someone else. 

2. Fools hate knowledge because they do not want to deal with the reality of a situation.  Ignorance is bliss we often hear.  Rather than dealing with a difficult trial, we ignore and hope it will go away.  We don’t wish to deal with the harsh realities that may be revealed.  Instead, we would rather just not know. 

3. Fools hate knowledge because they prefer prideful experience.  All you know is book knowledge, you don’t know real life…  Everyday we preachers here the calls from evangelical preachers to forget doctrine, just be practical.  I have actually heard preachers stand before their people and acknowledge, “I’m no theologian…”  I heard another preacher apologize for mentioning a Greek word.  They didn’t want people to think they were studying!  Why, because they thought people would view them as elitist or scholars and not regular people.  By the way, what does that show us about their view of regular people?  Many people prefer experience.  To promote experience, ie what has happened to you in your life, over learning, study and knowledge is the ultimate act of pride.  I don’t believe a certina thing because I never seen it, or I just think that…  They promote their own opinion and experiences making themselves out to be the ultimate authority and judge.  They do not want to go through the scrutiny of other people’s thoughts because they think they are better.  Fools hate knowledge.

II. A Foolish Man Has No Regard for His Upbringing

A. Pr 10:1  describes for us the person who makes life difficult for his mother.  She is one who loves and cares for her son, and sees her son going in the wrong direction.  She is worried about him.  She stays up at night wondering what he is doing and where he is.  This is not just talking about rebellious teenagers.  When Brad Wilkinson was speaking at our singles conference, he mentioned the growing population of twixsters – a group of young people in their twenties but still living as if they were in their teens.  In other words, they haven’t grown up yet.  They were living irresponsible lives.  By the way parents, if you see your children, adult or teen, going in the wrong direction – you ought to speak up. 

B. Pr 15:20 tells us that this foolish man actually despises his mother.  He does not care at all what she has to say.  This could be said about both parents.  In prideful ignorance, he has gone his own direction.  I wonder if there is anyone in this room who is still in that situation?  You could be 14 or 40, and still be guilty of despising your parents.  Maybe you haven’t called them or contacted them in quite some time because you still hold some sort of grudge.  You call it stubbornness, the Bible calls it foolishness.

C. Pr 17:25  gives us a sad picture.  This foolish person is causing grief and bitterness.  What other result is there?  Foolishness has pride at its very center.  It does not take into account the thoughts and feelings of others.  I wonder how many parents are embarrassed over the actions of their grown children?

III. The Foolish Man Wastes the Resources Given To Him (Pr 21:20)
A. Foolish people squander what they have.  They may start off with much, but before long it is gone.  Why, they act foolishly.

B. Pastor Laitres mentioned last week about a man he knew who all his life, no matter what his salary, lived pay check to pay check.  He never had a surplus or a savings.  As soon as money came in, money went out.  Money was seen only as a means to fulfill temporal pleasure.  In the fool, there is no concept of thinking ahead, as we will see with the simple man later. 

C. The problem is there is no thought.  Remember, the foolish man hates knowledge.  He could sit down, map out a savings plan and a retitement plan, but he is too easily enticed with things readily available to him.  He is distracted easy.  They say you should not go shopping on an empty stomach.  The fool is the ultimate impulse buyer.  He sees it, he wants it, he buys it.  There is no thought.

D. We need to be careful to use wisely the things God has given to us. 

E. Pr 1:32  tells us when the fool is prosperous, that is his downfall.  Why?  Because whenever he gets something he wastes it.  It is almost better off that he not have things to start with.  That may be a principle you need to keep in mind.  Are you having trouble watching bad tv programs, you may want to consider not having a tv.  Are you having problems with internet porn, it may be better not to have the internet at your house to begin with.  Jesus spoke on this very same theme in Mt 5:29.

The Simple Man

I wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard a preacher give the KISS illustration – Keep It Simple Stupid.  The fact is, not everything in life is simple.  There are things that are rather complex and need to be dealt with.  When I contemplate the awesome majesty of a transcendent, omnipotent God – simplicity is outright disrespectful.  Rather than lining up with the intelligent and learned, we often see ourselves in the Matlock roles of, “I’m not no big city lawyer and I may not know much, but…”  Being understandable is one thing, simplicity is another.

I. The Simple Man Will Fall For Anything (Pr 14:15)

A. As we went through the book of Jude, we talked about some of the charlatans that passed themselves off as tv evangelists.  Maybe some of you were thinking as I was, how stupid can these people be!  How could anyone believe these guys?  The answer is found in this verse.  They believe every word they hear.  They don’t bother it check on it, study it or ask others.  They hear it, they believe it.

B. Its not that some of these simple people want to be tricked, they have trouble with a very foundational truth of Scripture – the depravity of man.  They want to trust people.  They want to think the best of all they meet.  They can’t believe that someone would lie to them. 

C. By their fruits, we shall know them.  In other words, we need to be able and willing to look into a situation first before jumping in.  Whether it be a Bible teacher, business deal, or personal advice – remember to evaluate the source and evaluate the situation.  Use your head.  We all would agree with this, but we all can look back and see times we have failed in this matter.

D. Some people just want to live life through rose-colored glasses.  They want to give everyone a chance.  This is foolish. 

E. I am not saying to be cynical – but thoughtful.  Don’t be a nit-picker, but check the basic facts.  Acts 17:10-11 gives us a perfect illustration. 

II. The Simple Man Fails to Learn From the Mistakes of Others (Pr 14:18)

A. This foolish person inherits his folly – in other words, he gets it from someone else.  It only makes sense – since this person refuses to think for himself, someone else will do his thinking for him.  We allows others to rule his life. 

B. It always amazes me who much television effects our lives.  A popular tv star wears there hair a certain way, and now it is the latest fad.  A cool catch phrase is uttered by a famous person and the next day you hear everyone talking about.  People have a strange relationship with this medium.  I see it in the children in our school all the time.  I recall last year watching one tv show I had heard the kids talk about.  I was amazed.  As I watched the actions of the main character, it dawned on me – I was seeing this EXACT behavior in this one particular student.  I wrote down some of his lines, and sure enough, I heard them the next day from the mouth of my students.  Don’t tell me tv doesn’t effect people.

C. I see this in our churches.  How many times have I run across someone who only believes what they believe because their pastor told them so?  In college, I used to get into debates all the time, and it irritated me to no end to hear, but my pastor says…  And the reverse is also true.  Every preacher can tell you stories of people who sit and listen to the Word faithfully taught, only to comment, but this Joel Osteen says.. Or John MacArthur says.  The problem is you are not thinking for yourself.  The errors of that preacher becomes your own errors now.  You inherited them from other people.

D. This is a person who fails to learn from the mistakes of other.  Instead of learning them, he repeats them.  To borrow from another common adage, those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.  They blindly follow others and fail to discern the good from the bad.

III. The Simple Man Cannot Plan Ahead (Pr 22:3)

A. He des not look at the ramifications of his actions.  He is only interested in the immediate and the temporal.  He does not have the foresight to be able to prepare for the future.  As Pastor Laitres would say, he is doomed to live a life of reaction instead of proaction.  He is limited to merely reacting to situations around him because he didn’t see any of it coming.  Had he been smart and prepared himself, he would be proactive and ahead of the game.  Instead he is finding out things as he goes along.

B. This upcoming summer, I will be driving from Wisconsin to Massachusetts after my wedding.  If I were a wise man, long before I ever step foot in the car, I would get a map, and map out my entire course.  Perhaps I would check mapquest.  Perhaps I would ask others I know the best routes they have taken.  The simple man would say, lets just get in the car and drive.  I know the general direction is east, so I’ll take a highway that says east and see where that leads me.  Not a smart move.  He will soon find himself lost because he didn’t prepare. 

C. I wonder how many people will find how simple they really where when it comes time for retirement and they realize nothing or little is there for them.

D. This verse is specifically dealing with wickedness and evil.  How are you at fighting temptation?  The truth is, God never entends for us to fight temptation.  We are to flee from it, avoid it at all costs.  If you are drunkard, the last place you need to be is in a bar ordering Coke.  Many people place themselves in the path of temptation and then wonder why they keep falling into it.

Conclusion:

We, as Christians, are not called to be mindless.  The world already considers us ignorant – and the fact is they already have plenty of proof. 

Why Another Church? With Dr. Bob McKeever

This week on the Delve into the Depths Podcast…

Song – To See As God Sees
Golden State Baptist College Chorale – Oh, I Want to See Him
Sermon – Why Another Church?
Bob McKeever – The McKeever Project

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Dr. Bob McKeever

Related Links:

Mountain View Baptist Church
New England Baptist College

For a complete listing of all archived podcasts,
please visit our podcast page at:

http://delveintothedepths.podomatic.com