Dr. Walter B. Smith

For years, I've been told that there are two types of people: pessimists and optimists. I’ve also been told that there are realists, optimistic pessimists and pessimistic optimists. I suppose the variations could go on and on. I once heard a sermon that was very realistic. The preacher laid bare the bad, unembellished facts. As I left that service, the conclusion in my hearts was “Boy, things are really bad. Everything and everyone is bad. The church is bad. I must be really bad.” I left discouraged, defeated, more a pessimist than ever, even hurt. I didn’t want to do a thing but sit in my chair and languish. All hope was seemingly gone. Gradually, God brought healing to my heart through His written Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He showed me that although the facts may show things to be bad, God was still good, He was still on His throne in control, the sky wasn’t about to fall, and that although there was a lot of sin and even hate in this world, God’s amazing

Where is God? He is omnipresent. A Christian parent told his fearful children when closing their door after tucking them into bed, “God will be with you.” Years later, when they were teens, he asked if they wanted to go to store with him and they replied, "No, but God will be with you." Although God is everywhere, He is more present in some places than others - He said so. Notice where God says He is: In Church. Matthew 18:20 says “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Revelation 1:13 and 20 say “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man; the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”   He walks in midst of His churches! Revelation 2:1 – “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;” In Giving. As Jesus walked into Temple next to

DOING GOD’S WORK GOD’S WAY – PART 2 God's work must not be done superficially. In our text, I Corinthians 16:6, the Apostle Paul said, “And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.” Paul did winter at Corinth. Paul also said in verse 7, “For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit”. Here we see thoroughness in ministry, a long-term commitment. The Great Commission given in Matthew 28:19-20 says: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Part of the commission says “teach em to do all that I've commanded you.” That takes time. It’s no quick stopover.   Paul spent 18 months at Corinth the first time. Je spent a winter th

Some of Bible doesn't appear to have much spiritual value at first glance. But, a thorough study will uncover valuable truths and insights. I Corinthians 16 is like that.  In that text, Paul identifies as well as describes the Lord's work. It seems as we read this text that Paul is having conflicting thoughts: "I'm going here but I might go there." "If Timothy arrives, take care of him." "I wanted Appollos to come but he didn't want to." How can we benefit from such seemingly insignificant material? The key to text is the phrase, "the work of the Lord" (vs. 10). In I Corinthians 15:58 it says, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." So, Paul's talking about God's work in these verses. He is saying, 'You ought to be always abounding in God's work, as Timothy and I are.'