The Preacher’s Notebook

The Paper and Electronic Pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC
(Delivered by E-mail and Us Postage Through Subscription as an Extension of the Pulpit Ministry of this Church)
Dr. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – M ineral Springs, NC 28108
(704)843-3858 – E-Mail: preslar12@windstream.net
Copyright (C) 2008. Terry W. Preslar All rights reserved.

Vol. II October, 2008 Issue 10

The Introduction
The Bible begins with God. It does not set out to prove His existence. After all, if He doesn’t exist, there
is no reason to study what He says in His Word. The only requirement God lays down for you is found in
Hebrews chapter 11, verse 6 – “...he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.” If you will approach this Bible study with the simple acknowledgment
that God IS, he will reward your efforts by revealing Himself and His gift of Eternal Life to you.
Some Things That must Be
Done to be
Saved
“...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
(Acts 16:25-32 *Vs.30)
The quest for “Salvation” is a search
that has rules to insure success. These rules
are few but very inflexible. Direct
statements are declared and unmistakable
truths support these mandates. Words like
“will”, “shall” and “must” are frequently
used to preface these rules.
I- You Must hear the “WORD” (“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Rom. 10:17). There must be a quality of the Word: not the “corruptible seed” (“Being born again, not
of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1
Peter 1:23-25). There must not be a passing word: but the “preserved WORD” (“The words of the LORD
are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O
LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” Psa. 12:6-7). And, there must be
purposeful words: the WORDS of life (“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63).
II- Must SEE yourself a “SINNER” (“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one
to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6) [Rom. 3:23]. You must
see your status: separated from God (“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;
neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your
God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isa. 59:1-2). You must see your
standing: sin brings death (“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23; 8:6) [James 1:15]. Then, you must see your state: Sin damns the soul
(“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his
mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the

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 presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” 2 Thes. 1:7-9).
III- But, most of all, you must accept God’s way (“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but
the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12; 16:25). This way is specifically God’s way: not
man’s way (“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col. 2:8). God has only one way: God’s
only way is provided in Christ (“By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through
the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” Heb. 10:20). That way is clear: the only way of redemption (“Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John
14:6).
Dear Reader, please don’t allow “the rules” to imped you in this search. As one who seeks Christ, you
are rare and thus must be, already, under the call of God. God calls all who are finally saved. Every seeking
sinner finds that his search answers that of a seeking Saviour! What a wonderful truth: “Jesus IS tenderly
calling today...” The evangelist is unlike any other in this fact: the salesman must deliver a product to be
rewarded, the servant must render service to the client and the professional must practice that profession,
but, the Christian gospeler is to deliver the message that tells where the product is. He serves the Saviour
of sinners and the “reward” is the souls who, therefore, trust that Saviour. The profession belongs to the
evangelist but it is all about Him. (“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” Heb. 3:1).
The best definition of a preacher is: “One hungry sinner telling all the other hungry sinners where the
bread is.” The bread of the Gospel is the finest of all confections. It is made of the wheat of God’s self and
given for the souls of men. Like the loaves of shewbread in the Wilderness Tabernacle is the bread of God’s
Son. (“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from
heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which
cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” John 6:32-33).
The Bible is known as: A)”the Book of Blood” – D.L. Moody said; “cut it anywhere, it will bleed,”
B)”the Book of CHRIST” – it’s main theme is this mighty personality, HE dominates the stories of the
Bible, C)”the Book of Grace” – it’s grand doctrine is GRACE and all others revolve around this Truth and
D) “the Book of the Gospel” – it has been proven to be true, given an honest test, by every reader and
remains true to the term “Gospel”. However; the description of the Bible as “the Book of Bread” is one that
is largely forgotten. The figurative display of the Bread is so clear in the Scripture. Please inspect this
marvelous bread for your selves. Its historical trust and identity are seen in the declaration of the MASTER
in John 6:33-58. Its incomparable flavor is certified by the Revelator in Rev.10:9. Its Exceptional work
and way of action are attested to in John 6:31-33.
Put aside all distractions now and seek after Him Who’s call you now hear. The Song writer said: “Turn
your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In
the light of His glory and grace.” (Helen H. Lemmel, 1922).

Conclusion
Every time I consider this line of study my eyes tear up and my heart beats a little faster as I think of this
work of regeneration that was brought to pass on my sinning heart - Benighted with darkness deeper than
a “...thousand midnights in a cypress swamp.” No Hope!!! - Then Hope offered itself in Free Grace. And
with willing, yet trembling hands I answered HIM unto Salvation... Is it possible that HE is calling you from
the pins of the old rugged tree even now and you are about to say yes? - Fear is all passed by and the Truth
that there will be enough Blood to save the lost of every generation is the greatest of all these truths. The line
from the old Ira F Stanphill song said: “Though Millions have come, there IS still room for one...There’s
room at the cross for you...”
Oh!! For the want of His pleasant place of the Cross. In all the fluster and chaos of the average daily life,
most who read this are under a cloud of discouragement that is sadly stressful in light of the prospect of that

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wonderful day that is just ahead for the saved. The distress of modern times has darkened the bright future
of the saint and most, full of melancholy over their plight, are plagued with doubt for want of the refreshing
water of the well of GOD’S Grace.
In Jeremiah chapter 23 and verse 10 we read these words: “...the pleasant places of the wilderness are
dried up...” The reference to the “pleasant places” must be a mention of the perennial pleasantness found
in the oasis of desert life in Bible times. How pleasant it must have been to enjoy the refreshment of the cool
shade and the water that flowed fresh from the springs in these “pleasant places”. The several allegations
of this verse were crowned by this report of disaster for the desert dweller. In the life of many, in our day,
the “wilderness” has closed in and the “pleasant places” are found to be “dried up” and there seems to be
no recovery. But; Thanks be unto GOD there remains a thrilling report to render.
Where there seems to be no refreshment it should be declared that there is notable pleasantness in unity
and fellowship. (Psa. 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity!”) We invariably think of fellowship in GOD’S HOUSE and it is needed so badly there. (Psa. 23:6)
GOD meant that the Church should be a place of sweetness, a shelter from the storm, and a “pleasant place”
in the bitter hour.
Then, the HOME has necessity to fill in refreshing the parched wilderness wanderer. (1 Peter 3:5-9) How
the home must be pleasant with the wholeness of unity?
But; dear reader, the most important of all “pleasant places” is inside the heart. Fellowship in the heart
of the human soul is so badly misunderstood. In the HEART, fellowship must be with CHRIST. (1 John 1:7)
Thomas à Kempis, the fifteenth-century Christian said: “Many are HIS visits to the man of inward life. With
such a one HE holds delightful converse, granting him sweet comfort...”
To fellowship in the Church one must live in the favor of man. To fellowship in the home one must agree
in harmony with the few of his family. These being outward, the heart yet needs fellowship with the Holy
Person spiritually in light.
Words are often pleasant and of exceptional comfort. (Prov. 16:24 “Pleasant words are as an
honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”) We need “good words” in the distress and care of
these last days. (Prov.12:25; 1 Thes.16:18) The stress of fast paced life is cooled when a word is spoken in
season. (Prov.15:23) Many are ready to debate almost anything but we are instructed to address our hope
and not the doubt of the distressed day with a ready testimony. (1 Peter 3:15 “...be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you...”) These pleasant words, fitly
spoken are “apples of gold in pictures of silver”. (Prov. 25:11)
In Prov. 25:25 we read of the last “pleasant place.” Good News From A Far Country is no doubt a thrill
and uplifting to the restless. (see John 16:8-11) When a loved one is away and word comes of that loved
one’s safety it is so pleasant. As a pastor, I often read letters from the regions beyond that tell of great
progress in the work of GOD in that far country. And, what a thrill for the Apostle to see the Macedonian
vision and heed the missionary call to the far country. (Acts 16:9)
Deep in the heart of man, at the time of redemption, comes Good
News From A Far Country, in the sides of the North, at the throne of
God. First, News of sin S The Good News of liberty from Bondage.
(Gal.5:1) Next, of Righteousness S Good News that Righteousness is by
Faith. (Matt.5:6) Then, of Judgement S Good News that someone else has
stood the JUDGEMENT of mankind in substitution for him. (1 Peter
2:24) It might be that at the end of your reading, you would also desire
a word of “Good News From A Far Country” S Address your cry to the
Father in the Saviour’s name and receive the report of HIS Grace to Save,
to Satisfy, and to Secure; so as to always have “A Pleasant Place” with
HIM, both here and in the forever.

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This Periodical is printed by Gospel Publishing and Colportage, a ministry of the First Baptist
Church of Mineral Springs, NC, and is designed for education, evangelism, and edification. If we may
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Baptist Church of Mineral Springs PO Box 388, Mineral Springs, NC 28108 (704)843-3858
Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2
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First Baptist Church

PO Box 388
Mineral Springs, NC 28108