Last night my little boy
Confessed to me
Some childish wrong;
And kneeling at my knee
He prayed with tears:
"Dear God, make me a man
Like Daddy--wise and strong;
I know you can."
Then while he slept
I knelt beside his bed,
Confessed my sins,
And prayed with low-bowed head,
"O God, make me a child,
Like my child here--
Pure, guileless,
Trusting Thee with faith sincere."
~ Unknown.
When the pace seems slow
And few there be to care or know
That the world’s crept in the doors
And slackened every godly cause
When folks no longer want to pray
And seek the Lord to know His way
For sloth and ease have broken in
And robbed the church of the power to win
Then do not let this crippling sin
Take hold of you and lock you in.
Buckle up as ne’er before,
Take hold of heaven and knock its door.
Smash every tendency to be
Like others around who cannot see.
When the tempting battle gets to boiling’
Treat the world as deadly poison!
No matter how many may be your foes
They will never stand your knockout blows.
When all around are misbehaving,
Sound the trumpet with banners waving.
Though the world and devils around may scoff
Just lift up your sword and write them off.
There’s no time left to mess about,
Tell the lazy ones, “Stop being a lout!”
For there will be a sure reward
For those who diligently seek the Lord.
It is true you see, the surest way to victory
Is always on the bended knee.
Jesus said in John 4:34, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." Sticking fast arrows always hold their course. They do not quit what they start. They finish their task, no matter how difficult it may be. These arrows do not buckle at the knee or throw in the towel! "Surrender" is not in their vocabulary.
Of course, it makes no sense to keep something going if it has no profit and is a waste of time, energy, and has no moral value.
Men, this country is desperate for real men. Worldly institutions cannot produce this caliber of character in our children, neither can fathers who do not set a true godly example to their families. Sticking fast arrows are produced by parents who take their parenting seriously. It takes godly parents to raise godly sons and daughters.
Our nation needs fathers and mothers will lovingly teach their children importance of prayer and listening to God's Word. They encourage them to be filled with the Spirit of God. This, of course, must be taught by example. Sticking fast to the course and finishing the task must also be taught by example.
The great sticking fast arrow, the apostle Paul, said much on this subject. in 2 Timothy 4:7 he confesses, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Again in Philippians 3:14 he confesses, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Be encouraged. Colin Campbell
Sticking fast arrows are also enduring arrows. Daniel and his three friends were definitely sticking fast arrows. Lions and fiery furnaces could not deter their endurance.
Daniel 6:10 says, "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." Verse 22 says, "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me."
Daniel stuck to his guns when it came to prayer and worship. Three times per day on his knees and nothing would deter him, not even hungry roaring lions. The church needs Daniel type arrows today. It's hard to imagine how much benefit the church would receive if its present day arrows would pray on their knees three times per day. Twenty-first century lions are still roaring and devouring because the present day church arrows scarcely find time to pray three hours in a year! There are very few Daniels around these days that God could use to shut their mouths.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego defied the king's decree and gained victory over the hot fiery furnace that slew those who threw them in, resulting in a decree "That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort" (Daniel 3:29).
Fathers, what does it take to raise arrows that stick fast to their course and who will not deviate to the right or the left? May God help us.
Be encouraged. Colin Campbell
These arrows do not let go until their work is accomplished. These arrows are barbed and cannot be pulled backwards without doing a lot of damage. In the early days of America, the Indians used barbed arrows, which in some cases, had to be pushed all the way through.
Fathers, we must train arrows that will not retreat, quit, or back down.
How sickening it is when certain men who are leading our country conservatively, stand up for a little while, but cave in quickly when the enemy starts putting on the pressure.
Psalm 78:9 says, "The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle." Why? Because their "spirit was not steadfast with God... they kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; and forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them" (Verses 8-11).
Fathers, we are living in a time when so called "Christian" arrows have little or no punch in them. Much of the church has no interest in children being arrows that stick fast to God's enemies. Most of the church turns away arrows through contraception and sterilization, and now abortion is even practiced by some. How diabolical can an unsanctified church become?
The church, in many ways, has through ignorance and false doctrine relating to children being potential arrows to fight evil, become like a tired boxer who has lost his strength and power to punch hard knockout blows against a sick, slimy, sinister, but energetic, dirty, and powerful boxer. The truth is that the church is not ready go into the ring yet. It has to wake up and train hard for the battle.
Be encouraged. Colin Campbell
Deuteronomy 28 says, "The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways."
If we as true Christian men hearken diligently, as Israel was exhorted to do, and as the Word and the Spirit exhorts us to do, we will also see this promise come to pass in our lives and the lives of our families. Our enemies will be scattered seven ways. They will flee in all directions.
In Psalm 68:1 it says, "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him." When God arises to do something about evil, He uses His scattering arrows to put to flight the armies of His enemies.
Our nation is fast become filled with all types of evil enemies. Our government is also filled with corruption, such as the Benghazi scandal, targeting conservative groups, and wire tapping the media, etc. The question is: Do we have enough godly conservative arrows to scatter the enemies? The 2012 elections proved otherwise.
The point is that godly parents must raise and train as many children as possible in order to scatter evil on election day, as well as raising up as much opposition as possible toward all evil for every day of the week. This is what Psalm 127:4-5 is all about, "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
Speaking with the enemies means contending with them. It means scattering them with the arrows that are trained to scatter. In this they shall have victory and not be ashamed.
Be encouraged. Colin Campbell
How far the holy fragrance of
The family altar goes;
When childhood days are far behind
The beauty of it glows.
Though some things, to my memory,
Are indistinct and blurred,
I still can hear my father's voice
Expound the Holy Word.
I did not heed its counsel then
Or realize it's worth;
But now I know that shrine to be
The sweetest place on earth.
It's proved a shield to keep my faith
Undimmed through joy and care;
The mem'ry of that hallowed place--
My father's voice in prayer.
~ Unknown.
"He sent out his arrows and scattered the" (2 Samuel 22:15 and Psalm 18:14).
In the context of this passage David is singing a song of praise to God for the way He delivered him from all his enemies and from Saul who was constantly seeking to take his life.
It appears that God used a great thunderstorm with earth shaking thunder, smoke and fire, devouring coals, darkness caused by thick clouds, hail stones, powerful winds, and scattering arrows of lightening. Through these means God put fear into David's enemies and scattered them.
I believe that God wants us to raise up our children to be like a powerful storm, as described above, against all the gates of hell (Matthew 18:20). This can only be accomplished by parents who have the revelation of the potential that God has for our children on earth. Sad to say, there are many Christian parents who are ignorant of the vision for their children to become powerful weapons to scatter God's enemies. The devil operating in Pharaoh understood this truth. Read Exodus chapter one.
Why do you think that Jesus changed the surname of James and John Zebedee to "Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17)?
May God give us a vision to see our children become hell-shaking thunder and enemy scattering arrows of lightening. Wow. This is definitely the need of this hour.
God said to Israel, "Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms" (Jeremiah 51:20).
Be encouraged. Colin
THE BIBLICAL FATHER SEES HIS CHILDREN AS ARROWS
2) POLISHED ARROWS continued
The nation needs polished arrows, especially in these current times. Arrows of any kind are in short demand because of the affect of contraception, sterilization, and abortion on this western world. And even more so, polished arrows. They are really hard to find. Therefore, we stand ashamed before our enemies.
We have been deceived when we think that a good education is all that is needed to polish up the arrows. Sad to say, our government is a prime example of the falseness of education when it comes to being double tongued (speaking out of both sides of the mouth), bribery, political correctness, honesty, and morality. Much of our nation's leadership do not look very polished to me. In fact, to be honest, they look the opposite.
Secular education has seriously failed to produce the true type of polished arrows the nation so desperately needs. Moses did not become the mighty polished arrow he was through the education of Egypt, but rather through godly parenting which is mother gave him in his early years. Plus, the years Moses spent in the back side of the desert away from the pride of the education of the Pharaoh of Egypt.
Parents who fear God will realize that it is their God-given duty and privilege to begin polishing their arrows under the tuition of the greatest Educator of all, God Himself.
Be encouraged. Colin
THE BIBLICAL FATHER SEES HIS CHILREN AS ARROWS
2) POLISHED ARROWS
Isaiah 49:2 says, "He made me a polished shaft (arrow); in his quiver hath he hid me; and said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified." I believe that God uses parents to do most of the polishing in a child's life. Arrow polishing is not a short process in a child's life. It would be much shorter in a natural wooden arrow. Nevertheless, it would have still been a painstaking process and a mighty warrior would want every arrow to fly swift and straight to the heart of his enemy.
The purpose of polishing and smoothing arrows is to make them very fast and accurate. When you are facing a very formidable enemy you cannot afford to have inferior arrows. If David did not kill Goliath with that first SMOOTH stone, Goliath would have certainly torn David apart before he had a chance to sling the second stone. David knew that he would need a smooth stone, polished through the years of running water and the tumbling affect of rubbing against other stones. It would be an absolutely necessity in order to fly swiftly with enough speed to sink into the thick skull of Goliath and bring him crashing down (1Samuel 17:40).
State schools cannot polish our children to be the arrows to provide our nation with victories we so desperately need. We need arrows who can pierce the enemy's lies, falsehood, corruption, immoralities, and evils that are right now flooding our nation. It can only happen through wise enlightened fathers and mothers.
Be encouraged. Colin
The type of arrows God wants us to prepare as described in the Bible are...
1) READY ARROWS.
Psalm 21:12 says, "Thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them." This Scripture describes God's mighty men putting arrows on to the strings from the quiver. These arrows are attached to the many bow strings of God's well equipped army. The strings are obviously drawn into a firing position, ready and on the alert for the command to fire at the enemy.
From the very moment our children are born we need to understand that they have been given to us to "make ready" for the moment when God, in His sovereign wisdom, will place or notch them onto the string in order to be drawn against God's enemies. The great question is: how is it possible to have our children as "made ready" arrows to devastate the powers of darkness if we do not even have a military mindset to begin with?
"Ready arrows" come from ready parents who have applied the parenting skills necessary to make this happen. Moses' mother would have influenced and made ready, to the best of her ability, the mighty arrow called Moses. Likewise, Samson's father, who said to the angel, "How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?"(Judges 13:12). Zachariah prophesied over his son, John the Baptist, "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways" (Luke 1:76) and "The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the ay of his showing unto Israel" (Luke 1:80). The desert is always the best place to make "ready arrows."
Be encouraged. Colin
THE ARROWS WILL SPEAK IN THE GATES
Psalm 127:5 says, "They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
Nations and churches that willfully refuse to fill their quivers with young men and women, trained as sharp polished arrows, will stand ashamed before their enemies, whether they be physical or spiritual. The sad thing is that God is more than willing to provide us with arrows, but we are too deceived to receive them.
Some European nations have approximately 1.2 arrows in their quivers; others have 1.8 arrows. However, the population scientist, Theodore Lachish states that anything less than three is doomed to self destruction because some may have infertility, others may not marry, some could die before marriage or before their child-bearing years are over, and some, God forbid, will live alternative lifestyles that cannot produce children.
Most, if not all, of our western nations stand ashamed before their enemies, either within or outside the gates, and yet we are so deceived we will not accept our shame. Let alone repent. The truth of the matter is that God reveals that children of our youth (to young mothers and fathers) are to be recognized as arrows. If they are rightly polished and sharpened they can be enlisted in Christ's mighty army to destroy all darkness and evil. Jesus Christ is the mighty conqueror of Revelation 6:2: and 19:11-15.
All Christians should seek, with God's help, to fill their quivers and enlist them in Christ's army. He is the only one who can remove our shame. The gates our nation and cities are being knocked down daily. Where are the arrows who will speak and contend for the truth?
Be encouraged. Colin
WHICH ARE MORE IMPORTANT? THE STARS IN THE SKY OR THE STARS ON EARTH?
One starry night, God Gold Abraham, "Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them" (Genesis 15:5). God knew that it was impossible for Abraham to count all the shining stars filling the heavens. Abraham was over-awed that his children would number that many and shine just like those stars, not in the heavens, but upon the earth.
I believe that God is more interested in earthly stars (shining, righteous people, lit up with the glory of God) than the awesome soulless stars of the heavens. We know that each one of the myriads of stars in the heavens are different in character from each other and each one tells its own message to man of the glorious power of our great God who created them (Romans 1:20).
Psalm 19:1-4 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God;;and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line (rule or direction) has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."
We agree that the shining heavens speak and have a message for man. Genesis 1:14 says, "Let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years." Read The Witness of The Stars by E. W. Bullinger on this subject. But, do you agree that the earth needs to be filled with the godly seed who proclaim with shining faces the truth and grace of God? The humanists and agnostics do not. The devil certainly does not. And the unbelieving deceived church does not. However, Daniel prophesies, "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).
Philippians 2:15-16 Way's translation says, “That you may show yourselves blameless, uncontaminated, irreproachable children of God, in the midst of a society morally warped, spiritually perverted, amongst whom you shine out clearly, LIKE STARS IN THE WORLD'S SKY, holding out to it the light of the Word of Life.” The Good News Translation says, "You must SHINE LIKE STARS LIGHTING UP THE SKY."
Be encouraged. Colin
HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY CARE THAT THE WORLD BE FILLED WITH GOD'S LIGHT?
It's only the true Christians who can raise and nurture the godly seed. Not only does God have need of them, but the whole words has need of them, whether they know it or not.
Though much of the world is full of darkness, the only true answer to darkness is LIGHT, light manifested through the godly seed. The only reason why the world is full of darkness is because parents living in darkness have multiplied and raised children of darkness. Darkness can only multiply when there is insufficient light in order to counteract it. In this sense, spiritual light and spiritual darkness are both limited to the numbers and training of human beings who alone are able to convey these sources of power.
In the beginning, the first thing that God said was, "Let there be light... And God saw the light, that it was good" (Genesis 1:3-4). This was speaking of natural light, which is a type, and points toward the spiritual light. The heavens would not be lit at night if it were not for the countless numbers of stars filling the universe.
Christians all over the world who have the children God wants them to have and who raise them up to be powerful bearers of light and truth should fill the earth with as many stars as with which God fills the heavens.
God is still saying, "Let there be light." Only light has the power to scatter the horrible "gross" darkness (Isaiah 60:2). Today, Christians are limiting the light in opposition to God's command, "Let there be light."
Be encouraged. Colin
BIBLICAL FATHERS HAVE ALL THE CHILDREN GOD WANTS THEM TO HAVE.
On this point the majority of the Christian churches have been greatly deceived. Most Christian couples have little understanding of the importance of God being in charge of this area of their lives. They consult God on their career, college, home, finance, and many seemingly important issues, yet regarding children created in God's own image, they don't want God involved. This is one area where most Christians make their own decision.
What would have happened to God's promise to Abraham's descendants that they would be as the "dust of the earth, the sand of the seashore, and the stars of the heaven"* for multitude, if he had decided to take the lordship away from God to give him the children God wanted him and Sarah to have? I think you will agree with me that having children is more important to God for the multiplication of His image and all that He represents than all these other things that we seek Him for. I have come to believe that it is God's image and likeness that is at stake and on the line. For righteousness' sake, we had better not take this matter lightly or casually, for God does not.
Malachi 2:15 NIV says, "Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring." The great question is: If God seeks godly seed, shouldn't we also seek godly children? We should answer with a thousand "Amens" or "Yes" to this question.
Be encouraged. Colin
*(Genesis 13:16; 15:5; 22:17; 28:14; 32:12; Deuteronomy 1:10; 10:22; 2 Chronicles 1:9; 27:23 and Hebrews 11:12).
WHERE ARE THE FATHERS WHO FALL ON THEIR FACES WITH AWE AT THE PRIVILEGE OF BUILDING A GODLY DYNASTY?
The Pharaohs of Egypt built great pyramids in order to be remembered, and in a way, their plan was effective. My wife and I have both climbed to the top of the biggest pyramid in Egypt.
There was no godliness for what they are remembered, just massive tomb stones. But, Abraham, who would have been alive around the same time as the Pharaohs of Egypt is most definitely remembered. He was the patriarch of a great godly dynasty called Israel, through whom the great Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, was born. Without Abraham's vision for a godly dynasty, there would never had been a people called Israel. And there would never have been a true Messiah for Israel and the world.
We read in Genesis 17:2-3, "And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abraham FELL ON HIS FACE."
Abraham is the prototype of all that is called true biblical fatherhood. What reverence! What awe! What amazement Abraham has for the privilege God gives him to raise the godly seed. Where are the men today who will fall on their faces for such a privilege?
God has not changed and God still gives godly fathers this same privilege. No pyramid or tower, no matter how tall or costly, can compare to raising a godly dynasty. Pyramids and towers cannot change the world for good. Only godly dynasties can do that!
Building a godly dynasty is the greatest project of all time!
Be encouraged. Colin
I will be back to our theme of Biblical Fatherhood tomorrow, but felt constrained today to write a few thoughts about what is happening in our nation.
It already seems that a lot of cover up is going on over the Boston Marathon bombing. Why was the first "subject" so quickly sent back to Saudi Arabia? Leaks from the Immigration Department say that the official documents of deportation state that he was linked to terrorist activity, but because of political ties with the Saudis, and the fact that he is the son of a Saudi Prince, he was let off the hook! Where is the justice in all this?
It appears that the FBI were in close communication with the two brothers who planted the bombs and were using them to get information. This administration in the White House has wiped from all government information anything that links terrorism with Islam. Politicians should be screaming for an honest answer. We the people should not sit down, but rather stand up and demand the truth. By covering up, our government is aiding and abetting those who want to destroy us. When will enough be enough for America?
Terrorism, everyone knows, is primarily linked to Islam, for it demands it in order to covert the world to Islam. The people of America have to stand up now or you can guarantee that all major crowd events will be the most dangerous places to be. America must rid itself of all wimpy, soft-soap politicians and white-washing compromisers in leadership. We the people must stand for the truth. We must not tolerate lies or double smooth-talking politicians any more.
New Zealand is now the 13th country in the world to pass laws approving same sex marriage. They better be prepared for another big shake. The government is mocking God and sticking their finger in His eye. Who do they think they are? Galatians 6: 7 says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked.":
Fathers, please teach your children to pray for righteous leaders. Pray for the real truth to be revealed and that all cover ups which are corrupt will be exposed.
Be encouraged. Colin
Men, the godly fathers of the Bible were men that understood the importance of building dynasties for the glory of God. Just yesterday I was taking to one of my grand-daughters who had been looking into the Campbell generational family tree, and also the Bowen tree which is the maiden name of my wife, Nancy. It was an interesting conversation but it was exciting to discover those who had been successful and who made the family name honorable.
My great ancestor, Colin Campbell and his wife, Fiona, founded the large Scottish Highland clan and built at least two castles and owned vast areas of land. Sad to say, there were also some things that we would prefer not to talk about!
We must never forget that we are all part of a great generational chain that stretches back some 6,000 years to Adam. Many of these great family names are dying out. The dynasties are ending. Why? Because we have lost the vision for raising godly generations.
Raising children is without doubt a godly thing to do for in the beginning we were told to "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28). A godly legacy, which is built into godly generations, is I believe, one of the greatest blessings we can give back to God and to this world.
Be encouraged. Colin
Geneses 18:17-19 says, "And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will COMMAND HIS CHILDREN and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment."
We see that Abraham's fatherhood had a strong spiritual "command" to it. "Justice and judgment" are two major truths that require a strong understanding of what is right and what is wrong. Both are very dependent on one's relationship with God. It is one thing to know justice and judgment, and another thing to DO justice and judgment. Justice and judgment have no real value until they are done. The American Constitution, as great as it is, has no value if it is not lived in the lives of its citizens.
Abraham's fatherhood not only led by example, but by COMMAND. The question is, "Does our 21st century fatherhood have any genuine command to do justice and truth"? How can we command something we do not know and practice ourselves?
Be encouraged. Colin
Genesis 26:24 says, "And the Lord appeared unto him (Isaac) the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake."
I wrote yesterday that I don't believe it is possible for any of us to be the fathers God intends us to be without a close personal relationship with God as our own true Abba Father. It is true that there are men who are very good fathers in a natural sense. Some of these fathers, sad to say, are often better fathers than many so called "Christian" fathers. However, we must not make the mistake of equating fatherhood purely from a natural standpoint only.
The fatherhood God is calling for has a strong spiritual aspect to it also.
Biblical fatherhood covers the children with prayer.
Biblical fatherhood imparts the Scriptures and spiritual values to the children.
Biblical fatherhood teaches the children how to resist all evil.
Biblical fatherhood shows by example how to have God's blessing and favor on their lives.
In the above Scripture we see the amazing example Abraham was to Isaac. God's statement to Isaac that He was Abraham's God, and that He would bless Isaac for his father's sake must have blessed Isaac in an amazing way.
In today's world, would such a statement by God to our own sons be a blessing to them?
Some sons may reply to God, "But I did not really know my father that well. He never had time for me." But, Abraham was a "Friend of God" (James 2:23). Obviously, one could not be a friend of God who is the greatest Father and not have one's own fatherhood greatly influenced for good.
Be encouraged. Colin
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