The Old Man

September 2011

[An email newsletter ministry of Richard D. Swift, publishing the sermons of Rev. Reed A. Swift (1899-1973), a holiness preacher.

The following sermon was preached at the Cucamonga California Bible Missionary Church September 1961, 50 years ago this month! Some history and reminiscence is in order.

In the October 1961 Missionary Revivalist, General Moderator, J.E. Cook writes: "...The camp [at Cucamonga,CA] was already on when we arrived with Brother Dan Lemmons doing the preaching...The services were held in the open situated next to a beautiful orange grove. Dear Brother Chambers, one of God's chosen vessels, deeded four acres of orange grove to the Bible Missionary Church and willed ten more acres adjoining. He had already black-topped an area for services and parking costing some $1800 dollars and paying for it all himself. Brother Reed Swift, host pastor and Brother Tommy Elkins, District Moderator, were in charge of services...Brother and Sister Clyde Dilley were the song evangelists...[report of shouting and running aisles and victories at the altar]...The conference was held on Saturday...Rev. Dan Lemmons was elected Moderator...Sister Billie Holstein preached on missions."

In the November 1961 Missionary revivalist, Ruth Swift writes: "In June 1958, Brother Will Chambers felt a burden on his heart for Cucamonga, where he had lived for fifty years. He gave the use of a dwelling house [later becoming district parsonage] for a place of worship. As God moved on his heart, he felt it was God's will that he make a portion of his orange grove available for a camp ground. August 23 to September 3, the pilgrims of the California- Arizona District gathered for the first campmeeting on this lovely spacious ground. The beautiful dome of heaven was our tabernacle. Brother Charles Elkins, district moderator and Brother Reed Swift, pastor had labored faithfully...to make necessary arrangements. Brother Dan Lemmons preached the first two days and the last Sunday of the camp...Brother Lemmons was elected moderator...Our General Moderator, Brother J.E. Cook was at his best as evangelist and presiding officer of the conference...Sister

Billie Holstein, our India missionary was with us the last five days of the camp. [She preached Sunday afternoon.]...Brother and Sister Clyde Dilley...were wonderfully used of God in their singing ministry..."

As implied in the above report, the Cucamonga Bible Missionary Church was organized in June of 1958 by my grand parents, Reed and Ruth Swift. My parents, David and Dorothy Swift became charter members. I was born in July of '58. According to my '78 Diary under churches we attended, we attended the Cucamonga Church until July 1, '59 and then went back 4/1/61 to 6/1/64 when we moved to Clovis, New Mexico. Rev Reed Swift was pastor of Cucamonga until 10/1/62 when Rev. Wendell Dozier became pastor.

Some of my fondest memories are of attending the Cucamonga BMC as a child. I of course don't remember 1961; I was only three. But I do remember the services of '62-'64. At the time of this sermon until the church building was built in '64, the services were held in the what was the district parsonage. Oh my, I remember those services! One time, we were either singing "Victory in Jesus" or "Palms of Victory". Sister DeLaney, took a run through the house, shouting and praising God. Brother Will Chambers picked up a folding chair and started running too, right behind her. My childish mind didn't completely understand why he was chasing after her! Children never forget the presence of God and never forget the shouts and praises of God when the Holy Ghost comes.

Here then is the sermon preached 50 years ago this month. It is based on Beverly Carradine's book, The Old Man, chapters 13-17.]

The Old Man

Romans 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

A Picture of the Old Man

I just read [Beverly] Carradine's book, The Old Man. He says, "The Old Man doesn't like warmth and joy in service to God, but frost in the choir, snow in the pew and an icicle 6 ft long in the pulpit." Sin is two fold and salvation is two fold.

1. The Old man is easily offended. The Bible says, "Blessed are they which love God's law and nothing shall offend them!" A couple men were talking in church and a woman went home sick, thinking they were talking about her. A man in Louisiana was offended because he was not called to pray.

2. The Old Man loves to gossip, loves bad news.

3. The Old Man is a great fault finder. "Be content". He is critical.

4. The Old Man is gloomy. There are no "blue Mondays" after one is sanctified.

5. The Old Man is man fearing. Afraid of criticism. Different when free in Jesus.

6. The Old Man is cruel, corrupt and deceitful. The sermon was never preached that can destroy the Old Man. Only Jesus cand destroy the Old Man.

Human Methods of dealing with the Old Man.

No Christian wants the Old Man- there is no help but from Christ.

1. Men try seclusion: monasteries, convents, dens and caves. Purity moves among men and keeps one holy.

2. Punishment: whips, spikes, torture in sun or storm. In India, women throw their children into the Ganges River to appease their guilty conscience.

3. Fastings: Sin is not in the human flesh. You can't starve out the old man. Fasting is good but only as the Holy Ghost leads.

4. Time: Never makes one holy. Brother Dresslehouse- the monkey tail. He cut it off a little at a time. It screamed the same loud scream everytime a piece came off.

5. Old age: Carnality never dies of itself in old age. It may change from lust for pleasure in youth to money in old age.

6. Growth theory: Growth is in grace, not into grace. I never grew weeds out of my garden. I had to take them out!

7. Repression or suppression: Many try this method. There is no rest to the saint here of holding the old man down. No amount of good church work, zeal, etc. will get rid of the old man. Carradine likens it to a boat load of slaves coming from Africa to America. Always a fear of they'll break out and cause consternation. "We keep the body under" because we control the body, but we don't keep the old man under because he is worse.

8. White washed: there is a difference between "white washed" and "washed white". The first is of man and the second is of God. There is no sin in the set containing the TV. The sin is [when it is on] one running it. [In other words, the device is not sinful until it is turned on.] There is no sin in the body itself; it is the one living in the body. God doesn't white wash but makes a new creature.

9. Reformation: Illustration of our drunken neighbor trying to tutrn over a new leaf. Billy Sunday. Chopping off the monkey's tail might come under this too.

10. Education and Refinement: You cannot improve the old man. He is carnal and will trouble you if left in your heart. A cultured and refined old carnal man is even more dangerous. let the Holy Ghost cast him out and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Bitter is changed to sweet! i believe God can use a well educated man better than a dumb-bell, but satan can too.

11. Death Bed: That is too near eternity to suit me. I want the old man out while I'm still strong and vigorous. Don't you? You can! Would you trust death rather than the Divine Saviour to sanctify you? No! I hope not! "As the tree falleth, so shall it lie." Death is man's last enemy if we are Christians.

12. Purgatory: A human and devilish imagination is this! Try anything rather than have God purify and sanctify the soul. Some will be shocked in hell! Walk in God's light. You are not condemned for having inbred sin in you, but for not getting rid of him when God provided a way through the death of Christ and His resurrection. If the old man is not taken out before we die, he'll never be taken out. He'll bother you forever! Sister Billie Holstein gives the illustration of a snake in the house. She had to get of it out of the house and kill it!

The Divine Method of Dealing With the Old Man

Human methods and desires fail in getting rid of the "carnal old man". Jesus must destroy. Jesus purges with fire from the Holy Ghost. Isaiah's experience in Isaiah 6 is good example. Pentecost! Purify! The Promise!

The Word of God teaches:

1. That God's Holy Ghost Fire will purge us of sin.

2. He will Crucify the Old Man.

3. We are to put off the Old Man.

4. "That the body of sin might be destroyed".

Read Hebrews 10:14,15, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:"

How to Obtain the Great Deliverance

Holiness is not an attainment or achievement But an Obtainment or instantaneous work.

Brother Shelhamer is afraid of mere consecration! I believe it takes consecration and faith for a death to the old man!

Keep nothing good or bad back. tell Jesus you loathe carnality in you and put all else on the altar: body, soul, talents, ignorance, time, will, reputation, property, family, and all. We volunteer to die to self!

Good! Now, faith is the next step! you can say truthfully, "I believe it Lord. You promised and I believe!" Seeker, live on your knees. pray whether you feel like it or not. Pray with or without words. Pray with groanings. heaven suffereth violence- keep praying. heaven will open! Your soul will be conscious of a change and His voice!

Carradine says,

"We believe God's Word for our cleansing. We have a conviction for cleansing. We pray. We consecrate and die out to carnality. We continue to pray. We believe God-Faith! God does a Divine Instantaneous work. God's Spirit witnesses that it is done. Our soul knows it is done. we witness to it and the feelings come. We are established in Entire Sanctification. Glorification and Heaven are next in order!"

[This concludes my grandfather's sermon preached 50 years ago this month. Reader, is your "old man", the carnal nature, original sin dead today? Have you died to it and is the "body of sin" crucified? It can be! If you need to be sanctified, I urge you to find a place of prayer and follow the steps given above! What He could do 50 years ago, He can do today!]

Yours for Radical Second Blessing Holiness,

Richard D. Swift

505 Hickory Hills Dr

Dexter, Mo 63841

573-625-9535