Lemuel Haynes (1753-1833)

Abandoned at birth, Lemuel Haynes (1753-1833) was adopted and named by David Rose, a blind church deacon in Massachusetts colony. His mother was an indentured servant, so by British law, Haynes was too. He labored on the farm by day, but by night read every book in the home where he was considered a son. During his childhood, Lemuel was born again through a reliance on the merits of the Saviour that supported me.

A member of the Rose family was selected each week to choose and read a sermon on Saturday evening. When old enough, the task fell to Lemuel and he read a sermon from John 3:3. Amazed by the clarity and power of the sermon, the family guessed the sermon to be from the famous preacher Jonathan Edwards or George Whitefield. It was in fact, a sermon by Lemuel!

Freed from servitude at the age of 21, and inspired by the American Declaration of Independence, Haynes joined the fight against the British king. He was one of over 5,000 black volunteers to fight in the American War of Independence.

Lemuel taught himself Greek and Latin to better understand the Bible, and at the age of 33 was ordained as pastor of the Congregational Church of Middle Granville, Massachusetts. He also pastored white congregations in Connecticut, Vermont (for 33 years), and New York State (11 years). His preaching filled churches and he was counted one of the most gifted preachers of his day.

Haynes was a Bible-thinker. Every answer, act, and decision was based on the Bible alone. Considering himself a partner with the Protestant Reformers and Puritans, he saw in the Bible that people differed in abilities, gifts, and outcomes, yet all existed for the glory of the sovereign God. The Doctrines of Grace meant that God had a divine purpose in all things … including the evil of slavery. He believed God raised up America to free physical slaves, but that only accepting the gospel of salvation from sin in Jesus could unite oppressed and oppressors as one Heavenly citizenry on earth.

As he aged, Lemuel’s ministry suffered significantly as Americans turned to the free-will religion of Charles Finney, for whom all things future were but a series of free-choices over which God had no control, nor history a divine purpose. At the end of his life, Lemuel Haynes, the first ordained black pastor in the United States, was rejected and forgotten by the black community for being a Calvinist.

* Click here to listen to my latest sermon in the Book of Haggai; A Prophet, Priest, and King.

Bread and Cup Evangelism

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Christians partake together of what Scripture calls of breaking of bread (Acts 2:42), the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:20), the giving of thanks (Luke 22:17), and communion (1 Corinthians 10:16). The word communion describes a fellowship, partnership, or sharing, revealing a  people of the same heart, purpose, and work. In the ancient world, enemies never sat at the same table for a meal; it was reserved only for those in fellowship.

When we come to the Lord’s table, it is as one in fellowship with the One wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, by whose chastisement we receive peace, and by whose stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5). Communion is a picture of sharing with Jesus in His death, resurrection, and soon coming by faith (1 Corinthians 11:23-26); it’s only through faith in Him that anyone is ever saved. It also symbolizes our fellowship with one another as children of our Father in Heaven.  

The bread symbolizes the flesh of Jesus, broken by the Roman whip for our healing from sin. The cup illustrates Jesus’ shed blood, the sacrifice of His life, given for the forgiveness of our sins.

There is nothing magical in the bread or the cup. There’s no special power or grace bestowed when you partake of these. That’s superstition that has led to wickedness and abuse throughout the centuries. The bread and the cup are memorial symbols to help us focus our attention in a busy world back upon the life and suffering of Jesus, the death and resurrection of Jesus, the first and the soon coming of Jesus for His Church.

In First Corinthians 11:26, Paul adds that taking communion together is a public declaration of the gospel of salvation. It reminds the Church of Christ’s sacrifice for our sin and God’s grace in saving us. It calls the unbelieving world to believe upon Jesus to be saved. At the same time, it declares that anyone not in fellowship with Jesus through His work of redemption, will be judged at His return. If a local church really wants pursue a corporate evangelism program, it must start with its celebration of the Lord’s supper. The Lord’s Table is the corporate evangelism program of the church.

We Must Preach Jesus

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).

We don’t decide who is worthy to hear. We don’t determine who will believe. As Christians, our responsibility is to simply, genuinely, and obediently tell others about Jesus as He gives the opportunity. Jesus commanded us to be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).

A man heard one of my sermons on Youtube and found it necessary to criticize me for pleading for sinners to be born again. I explained that presenting Jesus as the only Saviour from man’s sin and eternal damnation must never be half-hearted, like throwing bread crumbs to pigeons. The Apostle Paul wrote that we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). Did you notice those two impassioned words pleading and implore? Yes, we must share the gospel of Christ faithfully and truthfully; not robotically but sincerely.

The Bible records how the prophet Jonah walked the streets of Nineveh calling its citizens to turn to God. He was faithful in the proclamation. He spoke the truth. He delivered the message. He was the first recorded street preacher.

I’ve witnessed many like Jonah. They stand on a street with microphone in hand, yelling at everyone who walks by. They are so proud because they’ve proclaimed the gospel. Passersby hear, but they don’t “hear.” They hear shouting, not love; screeching, not pleading and imploring.

Jonah was obedient while his heart was rebellious toward God and hateful toward his audience. He didn’t plead with his heart but preached with loud voice, clenched hands, and disingenuous heart. Yet God was greater than His servant, forgiving and saving the people of that great city.

Remember that you represent Jesus and it is He who speaks His heart through you to a spiritually dead generation.

The Sower

Wheat harvest in Kalispell, Montana (RLR 2020)

Therefore hear the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:18).

A 2010 report by the United States government found that an American farmer, depending on his machinery, can plant up to 1,200 acres of seed (486 hectares) in a 12 hour day. In the ancient world, planting seed was done by hand. Seed was placed in a bag over the shoulder and tossed onto hand-tilled soil. It could take a whole day to plant just one acre of wheat.

Readers of the Bible know that Jesus was fond of telling parables, stories about nature or ordinary daily life that made a single spiritual point. One parable He told was about a farmer planting seeds (Matthew 13:1-9). As the farmer walked through his field tossing the seeds in the air, some of them fell on the tilled soil. Others fell on unprepared ground. Over time, the seed which fell on the tilled soil grew and produced abundantly, but the seeds on un-tilled soil were unproductive.

The problem is never with the seed, but the ground on which it falls.

Jesus explained that the acceptance of the gospel of salvation varies according to the heart of the one who hears (Matthew 13:18-23). In some people, the gospel takes root, grows, and is fruitful producing the character of Christ. In others, the gospel falls on hard hearts and is snatched away. For some, there is an appearance of acceptance with joy (Matthew 13:20), but that emotional acceptance soon evaporates with life’s difficulties and temptations. All religious enthusiasm burns out quickly if it is not grounded in truth.

Spiritual detachment, dullness, disinterest, and despair quickly set in where a false religious experiences exist. Real spirituality doesn’t disappear with trials; the roots grow deeper and the life spiritually productive with Christ-like character!

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect [grown up] and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

If Scripture isn’t Enough …

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar (Proverbs 30:5-6).

The Bible claims to be the very Word of God. He’s protected it for millennia. It’s shaken politicians and pundits, demons and denizens of every nation. It’s awakened dead souls, empowered the weak and wanting, enlightened sin-darkened minds, and made crooked men straight. While it came via the pens of prophets and the direction of disciples, it was inspired by the Holy Spirit to reveal the Godhead and announce the gospel of salvation in Jesus.

God didn’t create and then disappear into the realms of glory. He came into this world as the living Word and is still among us as the written Word. The Scriptures prove God hasn’t left us to our own devices but speaks to us today so we might know and enjoy Him now and forever! The Bible is sufficient until we reach eternity.

Some won’t say it, but believe the Bible isn’t enough. They crave new revelations to replace what God’s already said, offer special encouragement for today, and provide fantastical dreams about tomorrow. They need trips to Heaven and private conversations with God. These claims aren’t only ridiculous, they’re blasphemy.

If God’s provision of Holy Scripture isn’t enough, then the God who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, isn’t enough (Hebrews 1:1-2).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). If the Word of God isn’t enough, then Jesus isn’t enough!

Since few modern apostles and prophets claim their words should be added to the Bible, why do they persist and insist on claiming new revelations from God?

The Bible says it’s enough to instill faith in the Saviour and educate and direct the saint. It’s all-sufficient for the spiritual life because it came from the All-Sufficient One. His words never fail; they’re worth clinging to with both head and heart.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (1 Timothy 3:16-17).