I listen to an awesome video sermon by Pastor Danny Castle this week. The sermon is from 2005. Here is what I learned from the sermon. I hope you'll watch the entire video and pray for God to speak to your heart as you listen to Brother Castle preach on The Pony Express.
The Pony Express was the fastest means of sending a message before the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century. Back in the old days it would take a month for a message to get from New York to California. So what they invented was a system, by which a pony rider would rise to a relay station 50 miles away; and then relay that message to the next rider, who would carry it to the next. Messages could be sent thousands of miles without wearing out one rider, and he could carry multiple letters at once.
This eventually became what we know today as the post office. That is very interesting. The original mail service was simply a bunch of pony riders relaying mail from one horse rider to the next, and then the next. This is the way truth is spread. The most important thing is that no never quit, no matter what. The Devil can't do anything with somebody who won't quit. You say, “I'm discouraged”; go on anyway! Just don't quit!
This is what preachers are supposed to do... deliver the truth no matter what! We take the truth that God puts into our hearts, and we relay those truths for others to hear. Preachers are supposed to ride to deliver the truth whether it be rain or shine, dry or snow. If you're discouraged, then keep on in discouragement. If you despair, then keep on in despair. If you are timid, then suck your thumb while your preaching. Preach when it's easy, preach when it's hard; preach when they like it, and preach when they don't. JUST KEEP ON PREACHING!!!
Some preachers criticize other preachers who are faithfully riding and proclaiming the truth. They ought to hush up and get their own pony. The Pony Express only lasted for 18-months. The fastest they ever made it from Saint Joseph's, Missouri to Sacramento, California was 11-days. That's over 2,000 miles!!! It was hot, desert, dangerous, and took 11-days. After 18-months the telegraph was invented and the Pony Express was no longer the fastest means of communication.
I agree with Pastor Danny Castle, who said: “Some of my best compliments I've ever been paid was by some old drunk. I don't trust preachers.” Amen to that. The biggest critics of my online ministry have been other professed Christians; while some of the best compliments I have received is from atheists and wicked people. One man wrote to me and .
If you've been saved, then get on that pony brother and proclaim the TRUTH by the grace of God!
The Pony Express put certain demands on the riders. They began with 200 selected men, who were rough and durable. A 1861 ad published by Smith and Wesson said Pony Express Riders must be: “Young, skinny, wiry, anxious for adventure, expert riders, willing to risk death daily, orphans preferred.” They preferred orphans so no one's mama would be heartbroken when her son got killed. It was a dangerous task.
God is looking for some little men, i.e., humble men. God isn't looking for blessed peacocks. If there's one thing that God hates in His people it's pride. If you ever step inside the pearly gates it will be because of God's grace PLUS NOTHING. We ought to all be little men.
Pony Express riders were prohibited from drinking alcohol, because the knew it would hinder you from doing what you were supposed to do. They also took an oath not to swear or cuss. They wanted moral men. Isn't that great! It's not important than what you want, or your feelings; the truth is the most important. If someone does you wrong, let it go; let's get the mail out. The mail's what's important!
The horse was second most important. More than the man, the horse was most important. In 1860, a good horse back then cost $50. Land was 25 cents an acre. Of course, if you've ever been to Nebraska, Montana, and Wyoming you know why. The boys were paid $200 to ride the pony. The Church is more important than you or me. No expenses should be barred when it comes to the Church. The Pony Express bought the best horses that money could buy to get the mail out. The riders of the Pony Express made the equivalent today of 1,500 daily!
The most important thing was the mail; not the man. THE TRUTH is most important.
Beside the mail, the rider was given 3 things: a bottle of water, a .44 caliber pistol, and a special edition of the King James Bible. The gun was only to defend the mail and get it through. The gun isn't for preachers to shoot other preachers or to enjoy. Some preachers today can't do anything more than criticize and gossip about other preachers who are getting the job done. Bless God, get on that pony and ride to get the mail through. Critics never accomplish anything for God. Stop shooting others with your words; get so busy serving God that you don't have time to think about your problems, enemies, and heartaches. Lose yourself in a cause!
LET THE PONY EXPRESS RIDE!!!
