Old Paths Journal

10/04/2025

Learn the three things the election of grace means

Many stumble at the phrase, the election of grace. You must look at the verse in context to understand this phrase. Paul used Elijah’s life as an illustration when he felt sorry for himself and asked God to take his life as he sat under the juniper tree, but God reminded Elijah that there were sev...

10/04/2025

To live a victorious Christian life, you must have an overcoming mindset that nothing too hard that faith living cannot conquer

10/04/2025

There's a key phrase that tells us what we are doing as believers in reaching the lost that the man whose son had a dumb spirit did. This phrase, "I have brought unto thee my son..." Later, after Jesus talked with this man, Jesus commanded them to bring to Him this young boy. Again, we see this very important phrase, "And they brought him onto him." You see, the only answer for this boy was Jesus. They could bring this boy to a political rally, but this would not change this boy. They could bring this boy to fellowships, but this would not change this boy. They could bring this boy to the Dumb Spirit's Anonymous, but this addictions group would not change this boy. The only hope of this boy was that somebody brought him to Jesus. Because they brought him to Jesus, the problem this boy had was resolved, and this boy became a new young man because he had met Jesus.
Let's be very clear, the only hope of this old world is Jesus. Jesus is the hope of the drunkard. Jesus is the hope of the drug addict. Jesus is the hope of the mentally ill. Jesus is the hope of the criminal getting right. Jesus is the hope of all societal problems, but somebody must bring these people to Jesus if these problems are going to get fixed.
There are two ways people are brought to Jesus. The first way is through personal soul winning. Every believer ought to be a personal soul winner. All we are doing when we go soul winning is we are bringing people to Jesus. Please understand, it is not how good of a soul winner you are that changes a person, but it is the power of Jesus Christ that saves and changes that person's life. All you need to do is simply bring the Gospel to that person and let them choose to accept Christ as their personal Saviour.
The second way people are brought to Jesus is by simply bringing people to church with you. Andrew did not know how to lead someone to Christ, so he just brought Peter to Jesus. Anyone can invite and bring someone to church. Please understand that you are bringing people to Jesus when you bring people to church. This person that is brought to church is going to hear the Gospel if you are in a good church, and that is the only way their problems in life will be resolved is through Jesus Christ.
My friend, will you join me in bringing people to Jesus? Whether you are a personal soul winner or just simply bringing people to church, either way, this is the answer for the broken lives in society. If you will just bring someone to Jesus by bringing them to church or by winning them to Christ yourself, we can make a dent and all the societal problems that we are having because Jesus is still the answer.

10/03/2025

Learn the four things must happen if the Holy Spirit is to bring life to a dying ministry

The power of the Holy Spirit is not emphasized enough. In the Book of Romans, you will see several works the Holy Spirit does in the life of the believer. One of those works is

10/03/2025

The reason our cities are not reached with the Gospel is because believers are unwilling to do the hard work to reach their city

10/03/2025

When Jesus started His church, He did not go to His disciples, but He called His disciples to Himself. Jesus understood that the church was not to go to the world, but the church is to call the world to come to Christ. This is one of the great mistakes that many make today. We think that if we go to the world and become like them that they will change to become like Christ; however, what does the world have to come to if you've already gone to them?
My friend, there is a principle that is taught in this verse about coming to Christ that will help you in your soul winning as well. I often say that doors don't get saved, but people do. When I am out following up on converts or my Sunday school class, when I see someone walking or doing something, I always call to them. It is amazing to me that many will turn and start coming toward me. This tells me one thing: they've already accepted the invitation for what I'm about to give. You would do yourself a great favor by following this principle that Jesus taught about asking people to come. If they are not willing to come, they will likely not be willing to follow. If they are not willing to come, they will likely not be willing to accept Christ.
Let's take this principle one step further. As a leader, I give my time to those who are willing to come to me. This does not mean that I don't reach out to people to try to win them to Christ or try to help them, but what I have learned is that if someone is not willing to come to me to learn what I have to teach them, or to get help, then they likely will never follow what I am trying to teach them or what advice I will to give them. Invest your time in those who are willing to come to you, and you will find that your time invested in them will be used much more wisely and will do much more good in their lives.

10/02/2025

Discover the four hindrances that keep people from living by faith

There is only one way to please God in life or for your payment for eternity, and that is through faith. It takes faith to get saved. It takes faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who

10/02/2025

You will likely have problems witnessing to people if you're a grouch

10/02/2025

Jesus talks about the love of many shall wax cold. The word wax means gradually. In other words, the love gradually gets colder and colder. It is never an immediate coldness that a person has with their love, but it is a gradual coolness that begins that leads to the coldness in the heart.
Those who know me know that I truly hate cold weather. I lived in Chicago area for many years and endured the cold weather there. I've lived in cold places, and even here in the Oklahoma City area we have our cold spell. One of the things I hate about cold weather is that you get out in the cold, and eventually the coldness starts taking over to the point that you're so cold you can't feel your feet, your ears, and if you have no gloves on your fingers.
This is what God is saying when He talks about our love waxing cold. Our hearts can get so cold that we don't feel for others the same way that God does. Our heart for souls being saved is no longer passionate. It does not bother us if we are there for a big day in our church or not because our love has waxed cold. When your love has waxed cold, it does not bother you when you don't read your Bible or pray. When your love has waxed cold, it does not bother you that others are hurting, because you're so wrapped up in yourself and your love is so cold that the only one you are concerned with is yourself.
Sadly, our churches seem to have waxed cold in their loved toward the lost and toward God. I remember when COVID hit and churches were closed, that many talked about how church is essential; yet the same people have no problem with missing church today. Right after Charlie Kirk was tragically killed, many believers talked about how they need to get back to serving God and telling others about Christ. Yet, just a couple weeks later, and here our love is beginning to wax cold, and the passion we talked about having to tell others about Christ has so quickly vanished. Why is it that a tragic event must always be what shakes us up to realize that our love for God and for the lost has waxed cold?
My friend, has your love for the souls of men and for serving God waxed cold? Are you as passionate about doing something big for God as you used to be? Does it bother you when you never lead someone to Christ? The reason you have waxed cold is because you have left the fire that kept you warm, and that fire is God's Word, prayer, and soul winning. You will find that your heart can stay warm if you purposely stay close to the fire. It is when you get away from the heat of the fire that you gradually get cold to the point that even sin does not bother you. This society does not need believers whose love has waxed cold, but it needs believers who have a heart that is passionate and on fire about reaching the lost for Christ and doing something great for God.

10/01/2025

One of the great traits of Dr. Jack Hyles what his love for people as evidenced in him giving up his office so the deaf ministry could be started. Most preachers would never think of letting a class meet in their office, and yet Dr. Jack Hyles so badly wanted people to hear the Gospel that even his office was not off-limits.
People wonder why he built a great work. The reason is because he would find any way he could to make sure that people who needed to hear the Gospel had a place to meet. He never considered helping people and inconvenience; instead, it was his honor to help those who needed a place to hear that Christ could save them.
The excerpt below was from a book that Elmer Towns wrote about Bro Hyles ministry at First Baptist Church.

10/01/2025

Five things that caused significant increase in the early church

Every person should want to see a significant increase in their church attendance. I would hope that every pastor wants their church to grow significantly. If a pastor does not want their church to grow significantly, that pastor has no vision and likely should either get

10/01/2025

Serving God in the tough times will turn the tough times into fruitful times