MY TIMES ARE IN GOD'S HANDS
PSALM 31:1 A psalm of David. In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbours; I am a dread to my friends-- those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 15 My times are in your hands; 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
New Year's Eve is one of those few days in the year when just about everybody is thinking about the same thing. There's something dramatic about watching the old year slip away by counting the hours left in it, then the minutes, down the seconds when the old year has passed into history, never to come again.
We seldom think much about time except when we're running late. Time is a lot like a river and it's carrying all of us downstream. Where is it taking us? What are we doing while we're on the trip? A lot of people have trouble with time management, with putting first things first. Someone put it this way:
This is the age of the half-read page
and the quick hash and the mad dash
and the bright night with the nerves
tight the plane hop and the brief stop, the lamp tan in a short span,
the big shot and the good spot,
and the brain strain and the heart pain,
and the cat naps till the spring snaps
and the fun's done and then comes taps.
If there is anything we truly need in this New Year, it is to get closer to God, to grow in the love of our Savior, and to carry out His will for our lives. That will carry us through no matter what the river of time may bring our way. Psalm 31 is almost entirely a prayer, but you can tell that it's not the kind of prayer that one prays out loud or one that is prayed with folded hands. No, it appears to be the kind of prayer Paul had in mind when he told us to PRAY CONSTANTLY. It's the kind of prayer that you pray while working or driving or when you're under a lot of stress, as David was here.
Prayer and good Christian self-talk go a long way to having that Happy New Year that we have been wishing each other. Let me define my terms here: Christian self-talk is the fine art of handling the stress that comes your way by reacting to it in a Christian manner. David joins prayer and good self-talk when he tells God of his circumstances and lays it upon the Lord for help. Notice that he does not minimize his troubles; this is no whistling in the dark. He describes the trouble in all of its sorrowful details.
He said:
* 9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbours; I am a dread to my friends-- those who see me on the street flee from me.
*
(Then comes the good Christian self-talk, combined with prayer) But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
After all, it isn't what happens to us that determines whether we will be sad, mad, or glad. No, it is what we tell ourselves about what happens to us that creates our emotional state. What we tell ourselves as Christians is largely shaped by how familiar we are with the Bible. After all, God's word tells us that it is a lamp for our feet and our light for our path. Jesus himself used Ps. 31 for his comfort in the last thing he said on the cross: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. He set the example for us to pray fervently and often and to tell ourselves the truth about any circumstance that 1998 may bring our way. The psalm goes on to say:
* 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. 17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD 19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.21 Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. 22 In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
There may be times in this coming new year when you too will feel cut off from God's sight. You may wonder if God has forgotten you. Oh, there's good news for you here, my friend, good news that you hear at the end of many a worship service. The Lord make his face shine upon you. The Psalm says: Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
When God's face is shining upon His people, that means that he is SMILING upon them. What more could you ask from the New Year than that? We have a God who came here personally to smile upon us while He walked and talked with us. He endured the Father's dread frown over our sins so that we could see His face smiling upon us forever. God was forsaken by God so that we would not have to dread the time when our lives will pass in review before Him.
That's not all--not only do we have the goodness of God that we experience each day, but as we say today: there is more where that came from.. The Psalm says: How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. This is the God who is able to do so much more than we can ask or imagine. Trust him for your future, both your future on earth and your forever future. The Greyhound Bus Company used to have a slogan that every Christian should apply to the Lord God. They told us: leave the driving to us. The God who is smiling on us says: Leave the driving to me. You just trust me and I'll get you where you need to go.
Let God be your driver, and put yur time in God's hands!
Take time to work--it is the price of success.
Take time to think--it is the source of power
Take time to read--it is the fountain of wisdom
Take time to worship--it is the highway to reverence
Take time to be friendly--it is the road to happiness
Take time to laugh--it helps to lift life's load
Take time for God's Word--it brings Christ near and
It washes the dust of earth from your eyes.
Take time for God--it is life's only truly lasting
investment. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The Poetry of the Day We Call Christmas
The most profound things in life are often the simplest.
The birth of a child. The birth of THE child. So simple, yet so profound that theologians have wrestled with it for 2,000 years. And, often, their prose has failed them. Instead, they’ve resorted to poetry.
One of the first to wrestle the nativity into words was John,the author of the Fourth Gospel. “In the beginning,” he wrote, “was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Centuries later, Charles Spurgeon preached of the incarnation: “Everything here is simple; everything is sublime. Here is that simple gospel, by which the most ignorant may be saved. Here are profundities, in which the best-instructed may find themselves beyond their depth. Here are those everlasting hills of divine truth which man cannot climb; yet here is that plain path in which the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err, nor lose his way.”
Merry Christmas, friends. May you make room in your hearts, lives, and families for the babe in the manger. And may your mouth, too, be filled with poetry in the face of the awesomeness of God's gift of His Son!
Yes, this season is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and this season brings with it a reminiscence of Christmases, as we’ve known them throughout the ages spent amongst family and friends.
Christmas is a time for bonding with one another.
Christmas is a time for reaffirming our love toward our families.
Christmas is a time for celebration and reflection.
Christmas is a time for considering who you are in Christ.
May you experience all of these aspects of the holy day this year!
Merry Christmas -- and to all a Holy Night!
The birth of a child. The birth of THE child. So simple, yet so profound that theologians have wrestled with it for 2,000 years. And, often, their prose has failed them. Instead, they’ve resorted to poetry.
One of the first to wrestle the nativity into words was John,the author of the Fourth Gospel. “In the beginning,” he wrote, “was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Centuries later, Charles Spurgeon preached of the incarnation: “Everything here is simple; everything is sublime. Here is that simple gospel, by which the most ignorant may be saved. Here are profundities, in which the best-instructed may find themselves beyond their depth. Here are those everlasting hills of divine truth which man cannot climb; yet here is that plain path in which the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err, nor lose his way.”
Merry Christmas, friends. May you make room in your hearts, lives, and families for the babe in the manger. And may your mouth, too, be filled with poetry in the face of the awesomeness of God's gift of His Son!
Yes, this season is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and this season brings with it a reminiscence of Christmases, as we’ve known them throughout the ages spent amongst family and friends.
Christmas is a time for bonding with one another.
Christmas is a time for reaffirming our love toward our families.
Christmas is a time for celebration and reflection.
Christmas is a time for considering who you are in Christ.
May you experience all of these aspects of the holy day this year!
Merry Christmas -- and to all a Holy Night!
The Little Baby was the Savior of the World!
In Luke chapter 2; we see the Christmas story of Jesus as a baby:
Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 NASB)
Look at verse 7: “She gave birth.” Mary, a young girl, a virgin, a woman who had never had sexual relations with a man, gave birth. The conception was a miracle – but there is nothing here in the text to indicate that the birth was anything other than the normal process of labor.
Mary gave birth just as many of the women here this morning gave birth: her water broke, she began to have contractions, she felt overwhelmed by the process going on inside her body; her back hurt, there was pain and effort and sweat and pushing and stretching and burning – and then, finally, amazingly, this new little creature came forth from her body; a new creature covered with mucous and amniotic fluid and blood and vernix – hair (if any) plastered to his head, that head possibly misshapen from hours of pushing, his skin bluish in color until the first breath, and first cry.
Mary gave birth – and the baby, Jesus, came into this world just as you and I, through His mother’s strong efforts, bloody, slippery – and yet beautiful.
The point of all this? Jesus was a baby – a normal baby, born in the normal way. Jesus was really human. Jesus was a baby who soiled himself, spit up, cried when He was hungry; He was completely dependent upon his parents for meeting His every need. He could do nothing for himself. With His little hands, he grasped fingers held out to Him. He couldn’t communicate at first except by crying. He took months to learn to crawl, and more months to learn to walk, and to speak. Jesus was a normal, human baby.
Secondly, Jesus was born to a poor family in especially difficult circumstances. A teenaged girl and a young carpenter, struggling to protect the baby in the first days of His life.
And think of the humble circumstances of His birth. While I am sure Mary and Joseph did their best to make their newborn comfortable, safe, and clean, no stable is a sanitary place. How far were they from water? How did they clean Him up after the birth? What did that manger look like – that manger that for years had been the repository of grass and hay falling out of the mouths of cows?
Third, Jesus was born with the appearance of illegitimacy. Few believed Mary’s story of the angel Gabriel; surely most of those who saw her pregnant assumed she became that way through the normal process. Indeed, this stigma of illegitimacy followed Jesus all his life; the Pharisees allude to it in John chapter 8.
Such was the baby Jesus. Fully human. A humble baby from a poor family. In most eyes, illegitimate. But He grew up to be our Lord and Savior, and He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 NASB)
Look at verse 7: “She gave birth.” Mary, a young girl, a virgin, a woman who had never had sexual relations with a man, gave birth. The conception was a miracle – but there is nothing here in the text to indicate that the birth was anything other than the normal process of labor.
Mary gave birth just as many of the women here this morning gave birth: her water broke, she began to have contractions, she felt overwhelmed by the process going on inside her body; her back hurt, there was pain and effort and sweat and pushing and stretching and burning – and then, finally, amazingly, this new little creature came forth from her body; a new creature covered with mucous and amniotic fluid and blood and vernix – hair (if any) plastered to his head, that head possibly misshapen from hours of pushing, his skin bluish in color until the first breath, and first cry.
Mary gave birth – and the baby, Jesus, came into this world just as you and I, through His mother’s strong efforts, bloody, slippery – and yet beautiful.
The point of all this? Jesus was a baby – a normal baby, born in the normal way. Jesus was really human. Jesus was a baby who soiled himself, spit up, cried when He was hungry; He was completely dependent upon his parents for meeting His every need. He could do nothing for himself. With His little hands, he grasped fingers held out to Him. He couldn’t communicate at first except by crying. He took months to learn to crawl, and more months to learn to walk, and to speak. Jesus was a normal, human baby.
Secondly, Jesus was born to a poor family in especially difficult circumstances. A teenaged girl and a young carpenter, struggling to protect the baby in the first days of His life.
And think of the humble circumstances of His birth. While I am sure Mary and Joseph did their best to make their newborn comfortable, safe, and clean, no stable is a sanitary place. How far were they from water? How did they clean Him up after the birth? What did that manger look like – that manger that for years had been the repository of grass and hay falling out of the mouths of cows?
Third, Jesus was born with the appearance of illegitimacy. Few believed Mary’s story of the angel Gabriel; surely most of those who saw her pregnant assumed she became that way through the normal process. Indeed, this stigma of illegitimacy followed Jesus all his life; the Pharisees allude to it in John chapter 8.
Such was the baby Jesus. Fully human. A humble baby from a poor family. In most eyes, illegitimate. But He grew up to be our Lord and Savior, and He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
The Power of Music
Music has been called the universal language. Certainly, there is great power in worship and praise and instrumental music used in churches. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people, and there are few things as wonderful as a beautiful hymn or praise chorus. Every time our choir sings, I feel the whispers of angels moving their wings in affirmation.
I have posted in the previous three posts three songs that have touched my heart in recent weeks. I mainly listen to Christian radio, and songs like Casting Crowns "Praise You in the Storm" lift my spirit high. But there are a lot of wonderful songs seeping into the regular radio -- many Christian values are being spoken in country music songs like "Three Wooden Crosses." And every once in a while you will find a song in pop music or rap music that resonates with Christian values, such as the Black Eyed Peas "Where is the Love?" Listen closely to the lyrics and the prayer in the chorus. It echoes the remarks on love from Jesus in the Book of John. It is a good question to ask ourselves, all across this nation, "Where is the Love?"
I have posted in the previous three posts three songs that have touched my heart in recent weeks. I mainly listen to Christian radio, and songs like Casting Crowns "Praise You in the Storm" lift my spirit high. But there are a lot of wonderful songs seeping into the regular radio -- many Christian values are being spoken in country music songs like "Three Wooden Crosses." And every once in a while you will find a song in pop music or rap music that resonates with Christian values, such as the Black Eyed Peas "Where is the Love?" Listen closely to the lyrics and the prayer in the chorus. It echoes the remarks on love from Jesus in the Book of John. It is a good question to ask ourselves, all across this nation, "Where is the Love?"
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Making Mud Pies in a Slum
C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite writers wrote in “Weight Of Glory": "If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what it meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
“We must follow Jesus whole-heartedly vs half-heartedly. When we follow Jesus hardcore we get infinite joy and when we follow him half way we get “mud pies in a slum.” The question is can people see that the approval of others and financial security are merely “mud pies” in comparison to the adventure of following Christ.
1 Peter 4:1-5 “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
You must prepare yourself mentally! Do not quit. Stay faithful to Jesus Christ!
You must know that if you decide to live for God others will try to talk you out of it. But the rewards are far greater than anything they can give you. Stay strong in the Lord. Stand firm! Worship the One Who made you and guides you and loves you!
Isaiah 55:8-11 ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” NIV
“We must follow Jesus whole-heartedly vs half-heartedly. When we follow Jesus hardcore we get infinite joy and when we follow him half way we get “mud pies in a slum.” The question is can people see that the approval of others and financial security are merely “mud pies” in comparison to the adventure of following Christ.
1 Peter 4:1-5 “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
You must prepare yourself mentally! Do not quit. Stay faithful to Jesus Christ!
You must know that if you decide to live for God others will try to talk you out of it. But the rewards are far greater than anything they can give you. Stay strong in the Lord. Stand firm! Worship the One Who made you and guides you and loves you!
Isaiah 55:8-11 ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” NIV
Monday, December 03, 2007
Serving Him in All We Do
We hope and pray you are growing in Christ. We hope you desire to serve others though your church, to be a blessing for the Lord. The desire to serve is a wonderful sign of spiritual fruit in your life. Your God-given gifts and talents are given the chance to blossom when you serve your church body. The Bible tells us that we are a family, and we need each other. The apostle Peter taught, "Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10). "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).
The Lord put us together where we are to bless one another, and to complement one another. "Various forms," Peter said in the verse above. That means we are not all given the same gifts. Some may be gifted in the arts like writing, music or art. Others excel in organizing, children's ministry, youth work, counseling, teaching, construction, crafts, hospitality….and many spiritual gifts. The Spirit gives us great gifts! We want to encourage you to use your gifts for God.
Now you may be trying to decide just what area of ministry to serve. We will be doing a follow-up survey in December to help us get to know you better and to assist you in determining your place in the body of Christ. We desire to see God use your unique blend of experiences, talents, traits, and gifts to best accomplish His work. We each have a part to play in God’s great symphony.
The Apostle Paul calls us the '"Body of Christ," and like our human bodies, each part has a specific purpose. You were designed for a specific work and we want to make sure that you serve where your gifts will best be used. One of the main reasons for burnout in ministry is people serving in areas where they are not truly called. Carefully praying and discerning your gifts will maximize the potential for you to experience one of the greatest joys you'll ever know - being used by God in the capacity for which you were designed. God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.
We believe that no one has sinned so greatly that the blood of Christ cannot make a place for you to serve in the body of Christ. We want you involved where God will be glorified through the gifts and talents He has given you. I encourage you to trust God to place you in the perfect area of ministry for which He has equipped you. When we become part of a church body we are not only on the receiving end of others' gifts, but we get the opportunity to use our gifts to bless others. Once again, I want to thank you for your prayers and support. Your service is greatly appreciated. May God richly bless you as you experience the abundant joy of serving Him with all your heart!
The Lord put us together where we are to bless one another, and to complement one another. "Various forms," Peter said in the verse above. That means we are not all given the same gifts. Some may be gifted in the arts like writing, music or art. Others excel in organizing, children's ministry, youth work, counseling, teaching, construction, crafts, hospitality….and many spiritual gifts. The Spirit gives us great gifts! We want to encourage you to use your gifts for God.
Now you may be trying to decide just what area of ministry to serve. We will be doing a follow-up survey in December to help us get to know you better and to assist you in determining your place in the body of Christ. We desire to see God use your unique blend of experiences, talents, traits, and gifts to best accomplish His work. We each have a part to play in God’s great symphony.
The Apostle Paul calls us the '"Body of Christ," and like our human bodies, each part has a specific purpose. You were designed for a specific work and we want to make sure that you serve where your gifts will best be used. One of the main reasons for burnout in ministry is people serving in areas where they are not truly called. Carefully praying and discerning your gifts will maximize the potential for you to experience one of the greatest joys you'll ever know - being used by God in the capacity for which you were designed. God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.
We believe that no one has sinned so greatly that the blood of Christ cannot make a place for you to serve in the body of Christ. We want you involved where God will be glorified through the gifts and talents He has given you. I encourage you to trust God to place you in the perfect area of ministry for which He has equipped you. When we become part of a church body we are not only on the receiving end of others' gifts, but we get the opportunity to use our gifts to bless others. Once again, I want to thank you for your prayers and support. Your service is greatly appreciated. May God richly bless you as you experience the abundant joy of serving Him with all your heart!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Thanksgiving -- More Than Turkey Day -- It Should Be Everyday -- Thank the Lord Above!
Live your life as a thank offering to God! Count your blessings and cherish your loved ones and your church!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Why Should We Pray for Others?
Should we pray for others? I heard a story recently of a lady who did not think it right to pray for others, but who said she'd think about a man who needed prayer, and hope that all goes well.
Well, having good thoughts about someone is a good thing, but the Bible is clear that it is also a good thing to pray for others. Jesus gave us the example, as He prayed for others.
In John 16:6-24, Christ prays for his disciples—that God would protect them from the evil one as they went out into the world to spread the Word— and for those who would hear their message and come to believe that God had sent his son to save the world. In John 17 we have his High Priestly prayer for us. Christ prayed for others and so should we.
We are also commanded to pray for others:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" — Matthew 5:43-45a.
Paul asked his friends to pray for him and his ministry:
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should" — Colossians 4:2-4.
"I urge, then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. … I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" — 1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8.
We are also given some concrete Biblical examples of praying for others:
"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends his greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" — Colossians 4:12.
"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" — Ephesians 1:16-19a.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through out all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" —Ephesians 3:14-21.
“And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life…” 1 John 5:15-16
“15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:15-16
Praying for others, or intercession, is one of the opportunities we have to express God’s love to people. When we make the effort and time to pray for others, we can expect amazing results, assuming we are praying with the right heart attitude (in humility & reverence).
The above verses point out some of the possible results of intercession:
• God will hear us
• God will give life to the person we are praying for
• God will make the sick person well and raise him up
• God will forgive the person’s sins as we pray with him or her for forgiveness
A minister friend of mine also pointed out that prayer is a marvelous gift that blesses you and those for whom you pray. Whenever you pray for others, your connection with God will shift your consciousness and bless you. Of course, those for whom you pray are also blessed by the positive effect of your prayers—and the love of God—in their hearts, minds, and lives. After all, the experience of God is the real need of all people. The gift of your prayers is the love of God shared through you. Doesn’t it feel good to be loved and loving?
But prayer with others and for others is not only helpful to us, it is also associated with all the great spiritual awakenings. For example, the Evangelical Revival in England in the late 18th century began in a little "Holy Club" at Oxford. So impressed were John and Charles Wesley with the prayer principle that every Methodist society was organized into small prayer meetings for others. Similarly the great revival in America in 1857-1858 was empowered and nurtured in such prayer meetings.
All in all, the great evidence of the Bible and the witness of Christian History show that Praying for Each Other is a good and right thing to do. Good thoughts are a wonderful thing, but they should be partnered with prayer.
Well, having good thoughts about someone is a good thing, but the Bible is clear that it is also a good thing to pray for others. Jesus gave us the example, as He prayed for others.
In John 16:6-24, Christ prays for his disciples—that God would protect them from the evil one as they went out into the world to spread the Word— and for those who would hear their message and come to believe that God had sent his son to save the world. In John 17 we have his High Priestly prayer for us. Christ prayed for others and so should we.
We are also commanded to pray for others:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" — Matthew 5:43-45a.
Paul asked his friends to pray for him and his ministry:
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should" — Colossians 4:2-4.
"I urge, then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. … I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" — 1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8.
We are also given some concrete Biblical examples of praying for others:
"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends his greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" — Colossians 4:12.
"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" — Ephesians 1:16-19a.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through out all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" —Ephesians 3:14-21.
“And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life…” 1 John 5:15-16
“15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:15-16
Praying for others, or intercession, is one of the opportunities we have to express God’s love to people. When we make the effort and time to pray for others, we can expect amazing results, assuming we are praying with the right heart attitude (in humility & reverence).
The above verses point out some of the possible results of intercession:
• God will hear us
• God will give life to the person we are praying for
• God will make the sick person well and raise him up
• God will forgive the person’s sins as we pray with him or her for forgiveness
A minister friend of mine also pointed out that prayer is a marvelous gift that blesses you and those for whom you pray. Whenever you pray for others, your connection with God will shift your consciousness and bless you. Of course, those for whom you pray are also blessed by the positive effect of your prayers—and the love of God—in their hearts, minds, and lives. After all, the experience of God is the real need of all people. The gift of your prayers is the love of God shared through you. Doesn’t it feel good to be loved and loving?
But prayer with others and for others is not only helpful to us, it is also associated with all the great spiritual awakenings. For example, the Evangelical Revival in England in the late 18th century began in a little "Holy Club" at Oxford. So impressed were John and Charles Wesley with the prayer principle that every Methodist society was organized into small prayer meetings for others. Similarly the great revival in America in 1857-1858 was empowered and nurtured in such prayer meetings.
All in all, the great evidence of the Bible and the witness of Christian History show that Praying for Each Other is a good and right thing to do. Good thoughts are a wonderful thing, but they should be partnered with prayer.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Well Done My Good and Faithful Servant
Heaven will be wonderful place, far beyond our earthly ability to conceive it. We will be in the presence of the Lord God Almighty. The Bible clearly talks of some rewards, but it also talks of an equality in how God sees us and responds to us. God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34). We are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28) Jesus purchased people for every tribe and people and language and nation with his blood. (Rev.5:9).
It also is clear that what we do in this world is dependent on Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is Christ’s righteousness that takes us to heaven, not ours. We receive His righteousness when we become Christians. The Bible teaches us that when we believe, our sins are forgiven on the basis of Jesus’s death. He died for our sins. It also teaches us that we receive in the place of our sins credit for his righteous life. (See, Paul’s explanation in Romans 3 and 4.) We are credited with his righteousness. So, his record of works becomes our record of works. Our focus must be on serving Jesus and loving others, not on what rewards we might earn. Christianity is not capitalism, and it is not a meritocracy. The only one who truly has merit is Jesus Christ.
Our emphasis is supposed to be on God and Him alone, not on ourselves. I am to glorify Him – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31)
Some believe there are compartments, or divisions, of heaven wherein one is "more blessed" than someone in a different compartment. I have a hard time aligning this belief system with what I see from God in the whole Bible.
I do not see a separate room or place for the church with the more certain doctrine, etc. And if you think you are a better Christian than someone else because our sovereign God gave you a certain spiritual gift, then you are in the ditch, and a prideful ditch at that. Gifts are for helping the Body, not dividing it.
May we all be found faithful. There are those that give their life in living, as well as give your life in dying, faithfully following Christ to the best of their ability, a sacrifice of self that Paul called a “living sacrifice" It would seem that we may have different duties in heaven, all up to God's choosing, and we may have tangible rewards, but they may also be of a spiritual nature. But not great divisions on a merit system of post-salvation works righteousness. There is a strongly held point of view in moderate and evangelical Christian circles, with ample scriptural backing, that Jesus was way too inclusive, his message too overwhelming in love, for there to be divisions in Heaven.
Certainly, the Bible does speak of certain rewards and crowns. The Bible speaks of crowns given out. But they, in turn, will be tossed at the feet of Jesus in an offering of praise and thanksgiving. And yet we will also have a great similarity of reward, for even the last person saved will be in a place far more awesome than we can imagine.
In seminary I learned that .theologically speaking, in the Hebrew Bible crowns are often found to be symbols of righteousness, which is a gift of God's grace. In 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, Rev. 2:10; 3:11; and 4:10 we find references to Christians being given crowns in glory ... crows of glory, righteousness, or gold. My professor understood all references as being to the same thing -- a symbol of the perfection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we receive by grace and which we then cast down before the throne of God. In other words, the crowns we receive we receive for the purpose of returning them to God as an act of praise.
One thing is sure, pride and envy will not exist in heaven. All love will be perfected in heaven and thus it will be as the Apostle wrote: "If one member is honored, all members rejoice with it" (I Corinthians 12:26). Men will bless God for the radiance of His glory shining through other men, and envy and pride and other sins will have no part in His kingdom.
Everything we do is made possible with God. We have done nothing worthy of any merit without God’s help. We have done nothing worthy of the glorious reward that God has in store for us, even in just being allowed into heaven! We have done what was our duty to do. We have done what God 'Himself' has moved us to do.
This is the humility so present in the Apostles which so many Christians of our day seem to lack. Humility and the certain 'God Given' nobility to receive what the scriptures say about the true condition and nature of man. We are sinners saved by His grace. When we take this humble attitude, then are we in fellowship with God, and are assured that we are on the right track. Spiritual pride is the sin that God Lucifer thrown out of heaven.
The Lord God alone should have all the credit, praise, and Glory in heaven for the increase. It would seem to me that everlasting Life is as great a reward as one can ever receive. Certainly, we will see things more clearly there (1 Cor. 13).
Still, some great theologians have seen differences in rewards or assignments:
Augustine, the Early Church theologian said, ‘we believe that there is one life to all the saints, but the rewards are diverse according to labours’.
Ambrose, the great preacher of the Early Church, reflecting on Luke 6:21 said, ‘As the increase of virtues, so also is the increase of reward’.
John Calvin the 16th Century Reformer said, ‘We should regard as above all controversy the teaching of Scripture that, just as God, variously distributing his gifts to the saints in this world, beams upon them unequally, so there will not be an equal measure of glory in heaven, where God shall crown his own gifts’.
Calvin also said, ‘for anyone who closely studies the scriptures, they promise not only eternal life but a special reward for each’. Calvin seemed sure that although everyone who puts their trust in the saving work of Christ will be in heaven, nevertheless our life here on earth does contribute to our experience of glory in heaven. We will all be in God's great place, but with different duties, etc. Certainly, this is a subject that needs further study.
But let us pray that we will stand before our Lord and be rewarded on the basis of Christ's faithful works, that we may also hear our Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25:23) In this hope we can praise the Lord and be thankful!
It also is clear that what we do in this world is dependent on Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is Christ’s righteousness that takes us to heaven, not ours. We receive His righteousness when we become Christians. The Bible teaches us that when we believe, our sins are forgiven on the basis of Jesus’s death. He died for our sins. It also teaches us that we receive in the place of our sins credit for his righteous life. (See, Paul’s explanation in Romans 3 and 4.) We are credited with his righteousness. So, his record of works becomes our record of works. Our focus must be on serving Jesus and loving others, not on what rewards we might earn. Christianity is not capitalism, and it is not a meritocracy. The only one who truly has merit is Jesus Christ.
Our emphasis is supposed to be on God and Him alone, not on ourselves. I am to glorify Him – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31)
Some believe there are compartments, or divisions, of heaven wherein one is "more blessed" than someone in a different compartment. I have a hard time aligning this belief system with what I see from God in the whole Bible.
I do not see a separate room or place for the church with the more certain doctrine, etc. And if you think you are a better Christian than someone else because our sovereign God gave you a certain spiritual gift, then you are in the ditch, and a prideful ditch at that. Gifts are for helping the Body, not dividing it.
May we all be found faithful. There are those that give their life in living, as well as give your life in dying, faithfully following Christ to the best of their ability, a sacrifice of self that Paul called a “living sacrifice" It would seem that we may have different duties in heaven, all up to God's choosing, and we may have tangible rewards, but they may also be of a spiritual nature. But not great divisions on a merit system of post-salvation works righteousness. There is a strongly held point of view in moderate and evangelical Christian circles, with ample scriptural backing, that Jesus was way too inclusive, his message too overwhelming in love, for there to be divisions in Heaven.
Certainly, the Bible does speak of certain rewards and crowns. The Bible speaks of crowns given out. But they, in turn, will be tossed at the feet of Jesus in an offering of praise and thanksgiving. And yet we will also have a great similarity of reward, for even the last person saved will be in a place far more awesome than we can imagine.
In seminary I learned that .theologically speaking, in the Hebrew Bible crowns are often found to be symbols of righteousness, which is a gift of God's grace. In 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, Rev. 2:10; 3:11; and 4:10 we find references to Christians being given crowns in glory ... crows of glory, righteousness, or gold. My professor understood all references as being to the same thing -- a symbol of the perfection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we receive by grace and which we then cast down before the throne of God. In other words, the crowns we receive we receive for the purpose of returning them to God as an act of praise.
One thing is sure, pride and envy will not exist in heaven. All love will be perfected in heaven and thus it will be as the Apostle wrote: "If one member is honored, all members rejoice with it" (I Corinthians 12:26). Men will bless God for the radiance of His glory shining through other men, and envy and pride and other sins will have no part in His kingdom.
Everything we do is made possible with God. We have done nothing worthy of any merit without God’s help. We have done nothing worthy of the glorious reward that God has in store for us, even in just being allowed into heaven! We have done what was our duty to do. We have done what God 'Himself' has moved us to do.
This is the humility so present in the Apostles which so many Christians of our day seem to lack. Humility and the certain 'God Given' nobility to receive what the scriptures say about the true condition and nature of man. We are sinners saved by His grace. When we take this humble attitude, then are we in fellowship with God, and are assured that we are on the right track. Spiritual pride is the sin that God Lucifer thrown out of heaven.
The Lord God alone should have all the credit, praise, and Glory in heaven for the increase. It would seem to me that everlasting Life is as great a reward as one can ever receive. Certainly, we will see things more clearly there (1 Cor. 13).
Still, some great theologians have seen differences in rewards or assignments:
Augustine, the Early Church theologian said, ‘we believe that there is one life to all the saints, but the rewards are diverse according to labours’.
Ambrose, the great preacher of the Early Church, reflecting on Luke 6:21 said, ‘As the increase of virtues, so also is the increase of reward’.
John Calvin the 16th Century Reformer said, ‘We should regard as above all controversy the teaching of Scripture that, just as God, variously distributing his gifts to the saints in this world, beams upon them unequally, so there will not be an equal measure of glory in heaven, where God shall crown his own gifts’.
Calvin also said, ‘for anyone who closely studies the scriptures, they promise not only eternal life but a special reward for each’. Calvin seemed sure that although everyone who puts their trust in the saving work of Christ will be in heaven, nevertheless our life here on earth does contribute to our experience of glory in heaven. We will all be in God's great place, but with different duties, etc. Certainly, this is a subject that needs further study.
But let us pray that we will stand before our Lord and be rewarded on the basis of Christ's faithful works, that we may also hear our Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25:23) In this hope we can praise the Lord and be thankful!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
WHY? This is a fundamental question that all of us ask. It is the question "why?" And when it comes to suffering, it is an emphatic question indeed. Why is there pain in the world? Why do tragedies happen? Why is there war, racism, social injustice, and suffering? Why do "innocent", good people suffer?
One of our youth coordinators, a wonderful, saintly woman and the mother of four great children, is now battling cancer. It is quite a blow to all of us, especially her dear husband, as good a man as you will ever meet, who is a member of the session (administrative board) of our church. When they called me to come out to their house at 9:30 at night last Thursday, I knew something must be out of kilter. But I was shocked to the core by the news. Why was this fine Christian woman going through such a terrible trial?
The lament of "why?" becomes very real when they are applied to us and our friends and parishioners. Why her? Why us? Why me? What did I do to deserve this? The truth is that bad things do happen to us even when we do not think we deserve them. This brings us to the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
Before we seek to answer that question, consider the presuppositions that lie behind it. The author Warren Wiersbe claims that there are several assumptions that lie behind our even being able to ask that question. These assumptions reveal our view about the universe. Aldous Huxley wrote, "It is strictly impossible to be a human being and not have views of some kind about the universe at large."
Weirsbe gives us thoughts to ponder when we ask the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people," we are basically assuming five things. The first is that there are values in life. In other words, there are some "good" things and some "bad" things. How we define what is good and bad is another question altogether. But however we define good and bad, we would rather have the good things happen to us than the bad. The second assumption is that the universe is logical and orderly. We believe in a universe that "makes sense." When some sort of tragedy occurs, we look for some explanation. We believe that there is a cause for things happening in the universe.
The third assumption is that people are important. We are fairly unconcerned when bad things happen to ears of corn, or fish, or cows. People are different, in our estimation, from plants and animals, and are more important. The fourth assumption is that we believe life is worth living. If we judged life not to be worth living then why should we bother to ask questions at all? We believe life is worth living otherwise we would just end it all. And finally, the fifth assumption is that we believe we can find answers that will help us in understanding life. These are the assumptions behind the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
I read of an epitaph on a tombstone in an old cemetery, which read, "Pause, my friend, as you go by. As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be. Prepare, my friend, to follow me!" Quite a challenge, isn’t it? I also read that someone added this footnote to that epitaph: "To follow you is not my intent, until I know which way you went!" Choices. We are all faced with them. They impact our lives forever. God has given us this freedom.
But sometimes God may have a purpose beyond our hurt and unhappiness. In the Bible we find a story of Joseph. What happened to Joseph could be construed as "bad." He was hated by his brothers. They threw him into a pit and sold him to an Egyptian caravan as a slave. He was torn away from his aged father. While he was in Egypt he was wrongfully accused and thrown into prison where he spent several years. Finally he was elevated to the position of Prime Minister of Egypt.
All of this was for the purpose of eventually providing for the needs of his family and the household of Israel. In fact, Joseph said to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is know being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20). God is working out a purpose in all things. It says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Sometimes we think we have to understand the why of everything. Rather, what we really need to do is to trust. We must trust that God is good. We must trust that He is working out His purpose in our lives, even through the darkest difficulties. Sometimes that is a difficult task indeed. When we are in the midst of suffering, it is tempting to rise up in rebellion against God. It is easy to blame Him for our suffering. And sometimes it is hard to believe that He is good. But it is at this point where we must choose. You see, our own reaction to suffering, rather than the suffering itself, may determine whether we experience grace or despair. It has been said that the same sun which melts the butter hardens the clay. Our reaction to suffering may determine the result of suffering. God asks us to trust Him.
The greatest evidence we have that God is good is found in the Cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the Cross for us. There, on the Cross, is the greatest evidence of the pure love of God. While we might not see the details of all God is working out, through the Cross we understand that God will do what is right. In the Cross we come to understand that "In everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. If we can catch a vision of the goodness of God in the Cross, we will be able to trust the Lord in spite of the most difficult times.
The prophet Habakkuk was one who had come to an understanding of the goodness of God. He wrestled with the question of good and evil. His book ends with a tremendous testimony of faith. Listen to the words in Habakkuk 3:17-18,
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
What a testimony to the grace of God! You can only come to this kind of attitude about life through knowing Jesus, who will walk with you through the darkest times. I must confess, I do not know how someone without a firm faith in Jesus Christ can endure the trials of this world. Pain and suffering apart from Christ is enough to lead anyone to despair. Without Christ there is no purpose to life. Without the reality of eternity and a home in heaven when you die, life is a futile and vain endeavor. The courageus youth director and her husband have a strong faith, and that faith in the Lord is seeing them through this perilous time.
They know that in Christ, and through Christ, life has meaning. And in Christ even the deepest pit of despair can have meaning. He may not give you all the answers here and now, but He Himself is the answer to life. Jesus is acquainted with grief and sorrow. He endured it. He can give you the grace to endure it and come out on the other side with a life worth living. Praise the Lord!
One of our youth coordinators, a wonderful, saintly woman and the mother of four great children, is now battling cancer. It is quite a blow to all of us, especially her dear husband, as good a man as you will ever meet, who is a member of the session (administrative board) of our church. When they called me to come out to their house at 9:30 at night last Thursday, I knew something must be out of kilter. But I was shocked to the core by the news. Why was this fine Christian woman going through such a terrible trial?
The lament of "why?" becomes very real when they are applied to us and our friends and parishioners. Why her? Why us? Why me? What did I do to deserve this? The truth is that bad things do happen to us even when we do not think we deserve them. This brings us to the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
Before we seek to answer that question, consider the presuppositions that lie behind it. The author Warren Wiersbe claims that there are several assumptions that lie behind our even being able to ask that question. These assumptions reveal our view about the universe. Aldous Huxley wrote, "It is strictly impossible to be a human being and not have views of some kind about the universe at large."
Weirsbe gives us thoughts to ponder when we ask the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people," we are basically assuming five things. The first is that there are values in life. In other words, there are some "good" things and some "bad" things. How we define what is good and bad is another question altogether. But however we define good and bad, we would rather have the good things happen to us than the bad. The second assumption is that the universe is logical and orderly. We believe in a universe that "makes sense." When some sort of tragedy occurs, we look for some explanation. We believe that there is a cause for things happening in the universe.
The third assumption is that people are important. We are fairly unconcerned when bad things happen to ears of corn, or fish, or cows. People are different, in our estimation, from plants and animals, and are more important. The fourth assumption is that we believe life is worth living. If we judged life not to be worth living then why should we bother to ask questions at all? We believe life is worth living otherwise we would just end it all. And finally, the fifth assumption is that we believe we can find answers that will help us in understanding life. These are the assumptions behind the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
I read of an epitaph on a tombstone in an old cemetery, which read, "Pause, my friend, as you go by. As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be. Prepare, my friend, to follow me!" Quite a challenge, isn’t it? I also read that someone added this footnote to that epitaph: "To follow you is not my intent, until I know which way you went!" Choices. We are all faced with them. They impact our lives forever. God has given us this freedom.
But sometimes God may have a purpose beyond our hurt and unhappiness. In the Bible we find a story of Joseph. What happened to Joseph could be construed as "bad." He was hated by his brothers. They threw him into a pit and sold him to an Egyptian caravan as a slave. He was torn away from his aged father. While he was in Egypt he was wrongfully accused and thrown into prison where he spent several years. Finally he was elevated to the position of Prime Minister of Egypt.
All of this was for the purpose of eventually providing for the needs of his family and the household of Israel. In fact, Joseph said to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is know being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20). God is working out a purpose in all things. It says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Sometimes we think we have to understand the why of everything. Rather, what we really need to do is to trust. We must trust that God is good. We must trust that He is working out His purpose in our lives, even through the darkest difficulties. Sometimes that is a difficult task indeed. When we are in the midst of suffering, it is tempting to rise up in rebellion against God. It is easy to blame Him for our suffering. And sometimes it is hard to believe that He is good. But it is at this point where we must choose. You see, our own reaction to suffering, rather than the suffering itself, may determine whether we experience grace or despair. It has been said that the same sun which melts the butter hardens the clay. Our reaction to suffering may determine the result of suffering. God asks us to trust Him.
The greatest evidence we have that God is good is found in the Cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the Cross for us. There, on the Cross, is the greatest evidence of the pure love of God. While we might not see the details of all God is working out, through the Cross we understand that God will do what is right. In the Cross we come to understand that "In everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. If we can catch a vision of the goodness of God in the Cross, we will be able to trust the Lord in spite of the most difficult times.
The prophet Habakkuk was one who had come to an understanding of the goodness of God. He wrestled with the question of good and evil. His book ends with a tremendous testimony of faith. Listen to the words in Habakkuk 3:17-18,
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
What a testimony to the grace of God! You can only come to this kind of attitude about life through knowing Jesus, who will walk with you through the darkest times. I must confess, I do not know how someone without a firm faith in Jesus Christ can endure the trials of this world. Pain and suffering apart from Christ is enough to lead anyone to despair. Without Christ there is no purpose to life. Without the reality of eternity and a home in heaven when you die, life is a futile and vain endeavor. The courageus youth director and her husband have a strong faith, and that faith in the Lord is seeing them through this perilous time.
They know that in Christ, and through Christ, life has meaning. And in Christ even the deepest pit of despair can have meaning. He may not give you all the answers here and now, but He Himself is the answer to life. Jesus is acquainted with grief and sorrow. He endured it. He can give you the grace to endure it and come out on the other side with a life worth living. Praise the Lord!
Friday, November 09, 2007
Refreshment in Our Valleys
The Bible shows us that God walks with us in our valleys, whether they be the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23) or a valley of another variety. By studying and meditating on the Bible, we can learn how to positively handle the disappointments of life, and to discern the comforting truth found in God’s Word. We can be encouraged and learn to deal with the waves of trials, depression, and discouragement that threaten to flood our souls. Hidden in the Psalms are portraits of what faith looks like in times of trial.
Keys for our victory are to:
remember what God has done (Psalm 77)
hide in His presence (Psalm 46)
cling to Him (Psalm 63)
praise Him for all we cannot see (Psalm 84)
The glorious promise from Psalm 84 is that as we walk through the "valley of weeping," it can be turned into a place of blessing.
Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,(valley of weeping)
they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.
9 Look upon our shield, [c] O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.
The Psalm says "passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a well." This valley of Baca appears to have been a very perilous pass, through which pilgrims journeyed toward Jerusalem—and on account of the difficulties, dangers, and sufferings that they met with, it was named "the valley of Baca," or 'the valley of weeping,' 'the valley of tears.'
And is not this very emblematical and figurative of the valley of tears through which God's people journey in their course heavenward? There are many circumstances which draw tears from their weeping eyes. Depend upon it, if, in the course of your life, you have never known anything of this valley of Baca, you will someday. Parts of life can indeed be a valley of tears for the Lord's family, a "valley of Baca," which they have to pass through in the journey to the heavenly city.
But the Psalmist says, "Blessed is the man in whose heart are the ways of them, who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well." And David, thinking of water wells dug for the pilgrims, applies them spiritually to the refreshment of God's living water available for God's people.
Keys for our victory are to:
remember what God has done (Psalm 77)
hide in His presence (Psalm 46)
cling to Him (Psalm 63)
praise Him for all we cannot see (Psalm 84)
The glorious promise from Psalm 84 is that as we walk through the "valley of weeping," it can be turned into a place of blessing.
Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,(valley of weeping)
they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.
9 Look upon our shield, [c] O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.
The Psalm says "passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a well." This valley of Baca appears to have been a very perilous pass, through which pilgrims journeyed toward Jerusalem—and on account of the difficulties, dangers, and sufferings that they met with, it was named "the valley of Baca," or 'the valley of weeping,' 'the valley of tears.'
And is not this very emblematical and figurative of the valley of tears through which God's people journey in their course heavenward? There are many circumstances which draw tears from their weeping eyes. Depend upon it, if, in the course of your life, you have never known anything of this valley of Baca, you will someday. Parts of life can indeed be a valley of tears for the Lord's family, a "valley of Baca," which they have to pass through in the journey to the heavenly city.
But the Psalmist says, "Blessed is the man in whose heart are the ways of them, who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well." And David, thinking of water wells dug for the pilgrims, applies them spiritually to the refreshment of God's living water available for God's people.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Do Not Fear -- Jesus is Your Lord!
I was praying today and John 3:16 came to my mind and the words “you have nothing to fear!" Then again, the voice in my spirit said – “Christians have nothing to fear and everything to look forward to – this life, as sweet as it sometimes can be, is just the beginning of God’s goodness for those that love Him.”
As a Christian, you never have to fear anything, because God loves you and you love God, and Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. Such a no fear mindset can aid our healing and recovery in this life. May you have such a mindset
Everlasting Life Conquers Death
Death has always been humanity's enemy. It brings loneliness, sadness, disorientation. But it need not be a mystery nor be entirely devastating. Even though it is inevitable, death is not the end. Though at times death seems unfair and arbitrary, it does not thwart God's plan for eternal life. Through a resurrection God will reunite us with believing family and friends and extend His promises to everyone who has ever lived who claims Jesus as savior.
Eventually there will come a time when death itself will be banished. Writing about the resurrection that will take place when Jesus returns, Paul paraphrased from the book of Hosea: "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades [grave] where is your victory?'" (1 Corinthians 15:53-55). Death will be swallowed up and defeated in the victory of eternal life. We do not need to fear death or disease or pain – Jesus has defeated all of it forever.
Taking this view of the future can give us hope and optimism at a time of great loss. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep [died], lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:30).
What is our eternal reward?
Some are put off by the thought of eternal life. Some feel this life is painful and difficult enough, so why would anyone want to live forever? Others may think that eternity sounds vague and uninteresting, that if it means they have to give up pleasure in this lifetime it just isn't worth the effort. They would rather experience all the good times they can for now and worry about eternity some other time. But the Bible paints a wonderful picture of Heaven.
The Scriptures show that God wants to give us an everlasting, eternal, immortal life. We are assured that it is more valuable than any physical treasure (Colossians 1:26-27; 2:2-3).
Still, there is much we do not know and there is much we can only imagine. Let's remember the limitations of our human experience and observation. God is so far above us that it is difficult for us to understand His way of living (Isaiah 55:9). What God is preparing to give us is beyond our wildest imaginations and fantasies. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever" (Ephesians 3:20-21).
God is preparing our future
God is Creator. He plans, builds, implements. He designed the universe and devised His plan and our reward before He even started creating it (Matthew 25:34). He is planning and preparing an infinitely more exciting and rewarding life for us in His family (John 14:1-3). We can only try to begin to imagine the incredible, fulfilling and eternally enjoyable life He wants to give us-an eternal life free from human limitations and disappointments, weaknesses and suffering.
Pain, disappointment and death will be no more. John wrote of the "new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1): "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (verse 4). I, for one, am looking forward to no more pain, no more tears.
From Revelation 21 and 22 we learn that those who receive eternal life will be a family, the children of God, with community like relationships in the New Jerusalem. Relationship principles that God is now teaching us will be as applicable then as they are today. That is why God wants us to learn and apply His ways in our lives now. What we can take with us for all eternity is our love and concern for one another. Heaven will be a place beyond our greatest thoughts.
The full hope and meaning of an eternal existence with God and Jesus Christ are truly beyond what we can grasp or express. "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).
John states that God hasn't revealed everything that He has in mind for us. We have seen prophecies that take us into the future about 1,000 years beyond Christ's promised return. As Paul wrote, we see spiritual concepts and promises in a kind of vague outline as if we were looking through steamed glass (1 Corinthians 13:12). But someday, as Paul also says in this verse, we will see clearly. What a day of rejoicing that will be!
We are assured that God's promise of eternal life is more than worth the effort, struggles and disappointments of life and death: "Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
Everlasting life is a matter of faith (John 3:16). Faith is not just a warm, vague feeling that Jesus has done everything for us. Faith is a frame of mind that is expressed by the kind of person you choose to be, the actions that express what you believe (James 2:20-24). When all is said and done, we must have faith that eternal life is a gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:18; Philippians 3:12-14). Through Christ, because of what He did on the cross, with faith in Him we have nothing to fear! Praise the Lord!
As a Christian, you never have to fear anything, because God loves you and you love God, and Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. Such a no fear mindset can aid our healing and recovery in this life. May you have such a mindset
Everlasting Life Conquers Death
Death has always been humanity's enemy. It brings loneliness, sadness, disorientation. But it need not be a mystery nor be entirely devastating. Even though it is inevitable, death is not the end. Though at times death seems unfair and arbitrary, it does not thwart God's plan for eternal life. Through a resurrection God will reunite us with believing family and friends and extend His promises to everyone who has ever lived who claims Jesus as savior.
Eventually there will come a time when death itself will be banished. Writing about the resurrection that will take place when Jesus returns, Paul paraphrased from the book of Hosea: "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades [grave] where is your victory?'" (1 Corinthians 15:53-55). Death will be swallowed up and defeated in the victory of eternal life. We do not need to fear death or disease or pain – Jesus has defeated all of it forever.
Taking this view of the future can give us hope and optimism at a time of great loss. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep [died], lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:30).
What is our eternal reward?
Some are put off by the thought of eternal life. Some feel this life is painful and difficult enough, so why would anyone want to live forever? Others may think that eternity sounds vague and uninteresting, that if it means they have to give up pleasure in this lifetime it just isn't worth the effort. They would rather experience all the good times they can for now and worry about eternity some other time. But the Bible paints a wonderful picture of Heaven.
The Scriptures show that God wants to give us an everlasting, eternal, immortal life. We are assured that it is more valuable than any physical treasure (Colossians 1:26-27; 2:2-3).
Still, there is much we do not know and there is much we can only imagine. Let's remember the limitations of our human experience and observation. God is so far above us that it is difficult for us to understand His way of living (Isaiah 55:9). What God is preparing to give us is beyond our wildest imaginations and fantasies. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever" (Ephesians 3:20-21).
God is preparing our future
God is Creator. He plans, builds, implements. He designed the universe and devised His plan and our reward before He even started creating it (Matthew 25:34). He is planning and preparing an infinitely more exciting and rewarding life for us in His family (John 14:1-3). We can only try to begin to imagine the incredible, fulfilling and eternally enjoyable life He wants to give us-an eternal life free from human limitations and disappointments, weaknesses and suffering.
Pain, disappointment and death will be no more. John wrote of the "new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1): "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (verse 4). I, for one, am looking forward to no more pain, no more tears.
From Revelation 21 and 22 we learn that those who receive eternal life will be a family, the children of God, with community like relationships in the New Jerusalem. Relationship principles that God is now teaching us will be as applicable then as they are today. That is why God wants us to learn and apply His ways in our lives now. What we can take with us for all eternity is our love and concern for one another. Heaven will be a place beyond our greatest thoughts.
The full hope and meaning of an eternal existence with God and Jesus Christ are truly beyond what we can grasp or express. "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).
John states that God hasn't revealed everything that He has in mind for us. We have seen prophecies that take us into the future about 1,000 years beyond Christ's promised return. As Paul wrote, we see spiritual concepts and promises in a kind of vague outline as if we were looking through steamed glass (1 Corinthians 13:12). But someday, as Paul also says in this verse, we will see clearly. What a day of rejoicing that will be!
We are assured that God's promise of eternal life is more than worth the effort, struggles and disappointments of life and death: "Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
Everlasting life is a matter of faith (John 3:16). Faith is not just a warm, vague feeling that Jesus has done everything for us. Faith is a frame of mind that is expressed by the kind of person you choose to be, the actions that express what you believe (James 2:20-24). When all is said and done, we must have faith that eternal life is a gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:18; Philippians 3:12-14). Through Christ, because of what He did on the cross, with faith in Him we have nothing to fear! Praise the Lord!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Jesus Does Not Throw Stones!
Jesus was not a stone thrower. In his ministry on earth He reached out to the outcast adn the downtrodden, always reaching out to the human being in need. He was criticized for associating with sinners, but He did it anyway. He knew that when you point at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you.
Yet some off kilter Christians are so judgmental that they forget the great truth: "There, but for the grace of God, go I." They forget the great lesson that Jesus taught in John 8th Chapter, where He stands up for the woman caught in adultery.
We find that Jesus had gone across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.
The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her, "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?"
"No one, Master."
"Neither do I, " said Jesus. "Go and sin no more."
[No matter what our failures, Jesus does not condemn us. He lovingly tells the guilty woman (and to each of us) to "go and sin no more". You can read this passage in John 8: 1-11] Jesus, the only one without sin, the one who could have thrown the stone at the woman, chose not to toss the rock. Jesus does not condone sin. But He is big on mercy and repentance.
All of us should be thankful for that fact. We all deserve hell, but Jesus makes heaven possible. AMEN!
Yet some off kilter Christians are so judgmental that they forget the great truth: "There, but for the grace of God, go I." They forget the great lesson that Jesus taught in John 8th Chapter, where He stands up for the woman caught in adultery.
We find that Jesus had gone across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.
The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her, "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?"
"No one, Master."
"Neither do I, " said Jesus. "Go and sin no more."
[No matter what our failures, Jesus does not condemn us. He lovingly tells the guilty woman (and to each of us) to "go and sin no more". You can read this passage in John 8: 1-11] Jesus, the only one without sin, the one who could have thrown the stone at the woman, chose not to toss the rock. Jesus does not condone sin. But He is big on mercy and repentance.
All of us should be thankful for that fact. We all deserve hell, but Jesus makes heaven possible. AMEN!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Joseph and Jail -- Hope in the Midst of Sorrow
What follows is a letter I recently sent to a young man in jail. Bad choices led him into that sad place. I pray that good choices will lead him out.
We prayed for you in church last night. We are hoping for the best for you.
I am reminded of a famous speech given in Great Britain in 1941. Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited Harrow School to hear the traditional songs he had sung there as a youth, as well as to speak to the students. This became one of his most quoted speeches.
Churchill stood before the students and said, "Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up." Then he sat down. End of speech.
That is my message to you. Jail is a depressing place. Losing your freedom is terrible. But I challenge you to make the best of it. Bloom where you are planted, even in a very harsh environment. I pray you get out soon. But, until you do, hang in there. Do not give up.
There are folks in the Bible that went to prison, including Jesus (for a short time, then they killed him). You find Peter in jail, (Acts 5) and Paul and Silas (Acts 16), and many others. (Heb. 11)
One prisoner who made the best of his situation was Joseph in Genesis. The Old Testament patriarch Joseph was the 11th-born of Jacob's Children, oldest of the two sons of Jacob with Rachel (Genesis 30:23-24). Joseph was to fill a vital role in the history of ancient Israel.
At about age 17, Joseph found himself facing the jealousy and hatred of his brothers - "Now Israel [i.e. Jacob] loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe [KJV calls it the coat of many colors] for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him, and could not speak a kind word to him." (Genesis 37:3-4) The family tension became even worse when Joseph told them of a dream that he had in which he was actually ruling over them, and even his parents (Genesis 37:5-11).
Then one day, when Jacob sent Joseph out to see how things were going with his brothers who were tending the sheep near Shechem, they schemed to get rid of him. Most of the brothers wanted to murder him, but Reuben prevented it. Joseph was instead sold for 20 shekels (about 8 ounces) of silver to a group of Midianite merchants who were passing by. (Genesis 37:12-35). Joseph was then taken away by them in a caravan, going into slavery.
The brothers went back to Jacob and told him that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animal. As "proof," they had drenched Joseph's coat in animal blood to show to their father Jacob.
The Midianite merchants had been on their way to the Egyptian market, and once there they sold Joseph as a slave to Potiphar, "one of Pharaoh's officials, and the captain of the guard" (Genesis 37:36). The Lord blessed Potiphar's house for Joseph's sake, and realizing the source of his success, Potiphar eventually made Joseph overseer over his house (Genesis 39:2-6). After that, he house prospered even more. But Potiphar’s wife looked upon Joseph with lustful eyes.
Joseph's situation was soon to take another turn for the worse when he was falsely accused of improper behavior toward his master's wife (Genesis 39:6-19). She wanted him to have sex with her, because he was young and good looking, but he refused to do it, and so she cried rape. For this, he was imprisoned (Genesis 39:20). Once again however, even in jail, Joseph found favor with those in charge, and actually took part in running the place. Amazingly, he was at the same time a prisoner, and the warden (Genesis 39:21-23).
Joseph's best break finally came when, with the help of God, he correctly interpreted a number of dreams (Genesis 40:1-23, 41:1-40), which accurately included a warning of a coming famine. For this, he was released from prison and given a very high-ranking position in the Egyptian Kingdom. Joseph actually became the governor of all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:41-44). Joseph was given the name of Zaphnath-paaneah, meaning governor and preserver of life. He married Asenath, the daughter of the priest of On, and they had 2 sons - Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph was by then about 30 years old.
The great famine happened just as Joseph said it would, but Egypt was well-prepared for it. They had vast store houses full of grain, more than enough for their own nation. They even had sufficient supply to enable them to sell some to neighboring nations, including Joseph's brothers who came to Egypt to buy food. God gave Joseph the chance to show forgiveness and love.
Joseph was not immediately recognized by them, but after a bit of psychological revenge upon them, he revealed his identity (Genesis chapters 42-45). Although Joseph had the power to imprison or even execute them, he forgave them for what they had done to him. Joseph recognized that God had been the author of the entire series of events (Genesis 45:7).
Jacob and his entire family then went down to live in Egypt to escape the severe famine in Canaan. They were settled in the land of Goshen, where they would remain, eventually as slaves, for the next 400 years until the Exodus. Here we meet Moses, and he killed an Egyptian and was in exile for 40 years before the time came for God to use him to free the Hebrew people!
Consider, that prison was a road to power for Joseph, and it was all in God’s plan for his life. Joseph had favor with God and things changed miraculously for him, but it did take time. Still, there is much hope in the story of Joseph, the prisoner who became a powerful leader.
I hope you can take heart in the story of Joseph. We are thinking of you and hoping for you.
IN CHRIST,
Pastor Glenn
Scriptures to Read and Consider : Ps. 91, Ps. 37, Ps. 103, John 10:10, Proverbs 3, Philippians 2:5-11, Philippians 4, John 3.
We prayed for you in church last night. We are hoping for the best for you.
I am reminded of a famous speech given in Great Britain in 1941. Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited Harrow School to hear the traditional songs he had sung there as a youth, as well as to speak to the students. This became one of his most quoted speeches.
Churchill stood before the students and said, "Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up." Then he sat down. End of speech.
That is my message to you. Jail is a depressing place. Losing your freedom is terrible. But I challenge you to make the best of it. Bloom where you are planted, even in a very harsh environment. I pray you get out soon. But, until you do, hang in there. Do not give up.
There are folks in the Bible that went to prison, including Jesus (for a short time, then they killed him). You find Peter in jail, (Acts 5) and Paul and Silas (Acts 16), and many others. (Heb. 11)
One prisoner who made the best of his situation was Joseph in Genesis. The Old Testament patriarch Joseph was the 11th-born of Jacob's Children, oldest of the two sons of Jacob with Rachel (Genesis 30:23-24). Joseph was to fill a vital role in the history of ancient Israel.
At about age 17, Joseph found himself facing the jealousy and hatred of his brothers - "Now Israel [i.e. Jacob] loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe [KJV calls it the coat of many colors] for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him, and could not speak a kind word to him." (Genesis 37:3-4) The family tension became even worse when Joseph told them of a dream that he had in which he was actually ruling over them, and even his parents (Genesis 37:5-11).
Then one day, when Jacob sent Joseph out to see how things were going with his brothers who were tending the sheep near Shechem, they schemed to get rid of him. Most of the brothers wanted to murder him, but Reuben prevented it. Joseph was instead sold for 20 shekels (about 8 ounces) of silver to a group of Midianite merchants who were passing by. (Genesis 37:12-35). Joseph was then taken away by them in a caravan, going into slavery.
The brothers went back to Jacob and told him that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animal. As "proof," they had drenched Joseph's coat in animal blood to show to their father Jacob.
The Midianite merchants had been on their way to the Egyptian market, and once there they sold Joseph as a slave to Potiphar, "one of Pharaoh's officials, and the captain of the guard" (Genesis 37:36). The Lord blessed Potiphar's house for Joseph's sake, and realizing the source of his success, Potiphar eventually made Joseph overseer over his house (Genesis 39:2-6). After that, he house prospered even more. But Potiphar’s wife looked upon Joseph with lustful eyes.
Joseph's situation was soon to take another turn for the worse when he was falsely accused of improper behavior toward his master's wife (Genesis 39:6-19). She wanted him to have sex with her, because he was young and good looking, but he refused to do it, and so she cried rape. For this, he was imprisoned (Genesis 39:20). Once again however, even in jail, Joseph found favor with those in charge, and actually took part in running the place. Amazingly, he was at the same time a prisoner, and the warden (Genesis 39:21-23).
Joseph's best break finally came when, with the help of God, he correctly interpreted a number of dreams (Genesis 40:1-23, 41:1-40), which accurately included a warning of a coming famine. For this, he was released from prison and given a very high-ranking position in the Egyptian Kingdom. Joseph actually became the governor of all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:41-44). Joseph was given the name of Zaphnath-paaneah, meaning governor and preserver of life. He married Asenath, the daughter of the priest of On, and they had 2 sons - Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph was by then about 30 years old.
The great famine happened just as Joseph said it would, but Egypt was well-prepared for it. They had vast store houses full of grain, more than enough for their own nation. They even had sufficient supply to enable them to sell some to neighboring nations, including Joseph's brothers who came to Egypt to buy food. God gave Joseph the chance to show forgiveness and love.
Joseph was not immediately recognized by them, but after a bit of psychological revenge upon them, he revealed his identity (Genesis chapters 42-45). Although Joseph had the power to imprison or even execute them, he forgave them for what they had done to him. Joseph recognized that God had been the author of the entire series of events (Genesis 45:7).
Jacob and his entire family then went down to live in Egypt to escape the severe famine in Canaan. They were settled in the land of Goshen, where they would remain, eventually as slaves, for the next 400 years until the Exodus. Here we meet Moses, and he killed an Egyptian and was in exile for 40 years before the time came for God to use him to free the Hebrew people!
Consider, that prison was a road to power for Joseph, and it was all in God’s plan for his life. Joseph had favor with God and things changed miraculously for him, but it did take time. Still, there is much hope in the story of Joseph, the prisoner who became a powerful leader.
I hope you can take heart in the story of Joseph. We are thinking of you and hoping for you.
IN CHRIST,
Pastor Glenn
Scriptures to Read and Consider : Ps. 91, Ps. 37, Ps. 103, John 10:10, Proverbs 3, Philippians 2:5-11, Philippians 4, John 3.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Fighting Evil -- We Have the Victory!
We live in a broken world where evil has much power and influence. But never forget that the One we serve is greater! "You are from God, children ogf God, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
Don't worry about a demon behind every bush. That is not true. There is a demon behind every other bush! But that does not matter because we have Jesus and He is stronger -- just apply His authority and they must go! Watch your thought life. take captive those bad thoughts and throw them away. Think on the good things (Phillipians 4:8), and do not let a bad thought take up a nest in your brain.
Do not be afraid. Be strong and beleive in the Lord and the spiritual authority that He gives to us as believers. "Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9
Don't live in fear, but instead live in victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that we are fighting unseen powers that influence humans, but they will flee when we resist them -- the demons and devils of hell have no power that matches the Lord's power! “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms,” Ephesians 6: 12.
When someone is under opression from demons, we just need to stand up for the Lord and tell them to be gone in the name of Jesus Christ. Just as Moses stood up to Pharoah, we need to stand up to any spiritual evil that comes against us. “Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh. They told him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go,’” Exodus 5: 1.
In the same way, we are called to stand up to the powers of darkness and declare boldly, “Let my people go.” Evil forces have no right to hold God’s people. The blood of Jesus Christ purchased our freedom. As James 4:7 proclaims: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Our power comes from the Lord through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Remember, Jesus is the deliverer. It is His authority. It is His power. He just asks us to believe in Him and to use His authority.
When we experience or witness deliverance in His name, we are witnessing evidence of His power and resurrection. Jesus Christ resurrection witnesses the greatest power in the universe -- the awesome power of the Living God.
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them,” Mark 16: 15–18.
“They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer,” Acts 2:42
To fight against evil, believe firmly in the Lord and exercise the authority He has given to you. Build yourself up in the Lord by studying His Word and going to church.
1.Expose yourself to as much Bible based teaching as you can get.
2.Associate with other believers and cultivate close intimate relationships with them. Church is always a good place to be -- bind together in the Lord!
3.Participate in the Lord's Supper and be nurtured by it. Have people lay hands on you in prayer. If you are married, make your prayer time your first priority.
4.Pray, pray, pray. Do it from your heart. Just speak as honestly, fervently, and as transparently to God as you can. And make sure you also take time to listen.
David was an excellent prayer warrior and his psalms are a fine example for us to follow. Read them. Remember always, God has placed you in a community of believers. Depend on them, rely on them, cherish them. Be a strong link in God's chain of love.
Don't worry about a demon behind every bush. That is not true. There is a demon behind every other bush! But that does not matter because we have Jesus and He is stronger -- just apply His authority and they must go! Watch your thought life. take captive those bad thoughts and throw them away. Think on the good things (Phillipians 4:8), and do not let a bad thought take up a nest in your brain.
Do not be afraid. Be strong and beleive in the Lord and the spiritual authority that He gives to us as believers. "Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9
Don't live in fear, but instead live in victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that we are fighting unseen powers that influence humans, but they will flee when we resist them -- the demons and devils of hell have no power that matches the Lord's power! “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms,” Ephesians 6: 12.
When someone is under opression from demons, we just need to stand up for the Lord and tell them to be gone in the name of Jesus Christ. Just as Moses stood up to Pharoah, we need to stand up to any spiritual evil that comes against us. “Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh. They told him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go,’” Exodus 5: 1.
In the same way, we are called to stand up to the powers of darkness and declare boldly, “Let my people go.” Evil forces have no right to hold God’s people. The blood of Jesus Christ purchased our freedom. As James 4:7 proclaims: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Our power comes from the Lord through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Remember, Jesus is the deliverer. It is His authority. It is His power. He just asks us to believe in Him and to use His authority.
When we experience or witness deliverance in His name, we are witnessing evidence of His power and resurrection. Jesus Christ resurrection witnesses the greatest power in the universe -- the awesome power of the Living God.
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them,” Mark 16: 15–18.
“They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer,” Acts 2:42
To fight against evil, believe firmly in the Lord and exercise the authority He has given to you. Build yourself up in the Lord by studying His Word and going to church.
1.Expose yourself to as much Bible based teaching as you can get.
2.Associate with other believers and cultivate close intimate relationships with them. Church is always a good place to be -- bind together in the Lord!
3.Participate in the Lord's Supper and be nurtured by it. Have people lay hands on you in prayer. If you are married, make your prayer time your first priority.
4.Pray, pray, pray. Do it from your heart. Just speak as honestly, fervently, and as transparently to God as you can. And make sure you also take time to listen.
David was an excellent prayer warrior and his psalms are a fine example for us to follow. Read them. Remember always, God has placed you in a community of believers. Depend on them, rely on them, cherish them. Be a strong link in God's chain of love.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Psalms, John Calvin, and the Question "Why?"
This past week I received some news that knocked me out of my chair and right down to my knees. It was one of those moments that is the hardest for a pastor.
One of our church members, a wonderful woman who has worked hard all her life, came down with cancer last year. But she beat it back with prayer, Bible reading, courage and determination, coupled with the best medical treatment available in our area. Day after day she and her family drove to the major hospital sixty miles away for treatment. And all the while our church, and many other good Christians in the area prayed fervently.
Then we got the news that the cancer was totally gone! We rejoiced with this lady. She told her testimony in the congregation and she and we gave God all the praise and glory.
Last week we heard that the cancer had returned, in less than a year, and there were spots on her precious brain. It was a shock to us all, and as I hugged the lady and prayed with her, the tears in my eyes reflected the collective sadness of our church body.
A real trouper, the lady has mustered a positive attitude and is again in treatment for the cancer, with her dear family giving support, and the church praying daily. The dear woman is right with God and her eternal destiny is firmly placed in the hands of Jesus Christ. But we beg for her to have more time here. And. yes, we are still asking "Why?"
One outstanding feature of the book of Psalms, in the great thologian John Calvin’s estimation, is that they cover the whole range of Christian emotions and infirmities, exposing our hearts to the searching eye of our Father in heaven and calling or drawing us to self-examination. “I have been accustomed,” writes Calvin, “to call this book, I think not inappropriately, The Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul”.
He explains the reason for this insightful title:… there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has here drawn … all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated.
So it is that I searched the Psalmas and I came across Psalm 88 in my prayer time:
1 O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.
2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape;
9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day;
I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?
11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
"Why me, God? It isn't fair!" Life certainly seems to be a cruel joke at times. We wonder if there is any sense to anything in those times when we feel thoroughly crushed, when we don't know if we can bear the pain any longer, when there seems to be no hope at all. And it is in these times that we are tempted to wonder if God really cares.
Psalm 88 clearly expresses the anguish of death approaching and let God know about it. Day and night he cried out to the Lord about his plight and his sense of being forsaken and alone and without escape. And what answer does he get from God? Nothing.
"Lord, why dost thou cast me off? Why dost thou hide thy face from me?" (v.14) The psalmist knows of God's reputation for working wonders and of God's steadfast love and faithfulness and saving help (vs. 10-12) but where is God now?
That the psalmist laments is understandable, but what is amazing is that he continues to appeal to God. Even in his despair, (or perhaps, because of it), the psalmist displays an extraordinary trust in God. It is a trust that holds God accountable to his promises of love and faithfulness.
We too seem to be in a situation similar to that of the psalmist. We too can justifiably complain to God. We can wonder where God is. We can ask, "Why me, God?" The psalmist does not find any answers, nor do we find any simple solutions. But do we have any grounds for such trust as the psalmist expresses? Unlike the psalmist, we stand at a point in history where we have seen God revealed in Christ. We have seen Christ forsaken on a cross. Is this any answer, or does it raise another question: "Why did Christ have to die?'
Indeed, we have no easy answers. So what do we have? The psalmist had a God in whom he could trust even in his greatest despair. We do too. O God, we need your help! May we serve you with our lives.
One of our church members, a wonderful woman who has worked hard all her life, came down with cancer last year. But she beat it back with prayer, Bible reading, courage and determination, coupled with the best medical treatment available in our area. Day after day she and her family drove to the major hospital sixty miles away for treatment. And all the while our church, and many other good Christians in the area prayed fervently.
Then we got the news that the cancer was totally gone! We rejoiced with this lady. She told her testimony in the congregation and she and we gave God all the praise and glory.
Last week we heard that the cancer had returned, in less than a year, and there were spots on her precious brain. It was a shock to us all, and as I hugged the lady and prayed with her, the tears in my eyes reflected the collective sadness of our church body.
A real trouper, the lady has mustered a positive attitude and is again in treatment for the cancer, with her dear family giving support, and the church praying daily. The dear woman is right with God and her eternal destiny is firmly placed in the hands of Jesus Christ. But we beg for her to have more time here. And. yes, we are still asking "Why?"
One outstanding feature of the book of Psalms, in the great thologian John Calvin’s estimation, is that they cover the whole range of Christian emotions and infirmities, exposing our hearts to the searching eye of our Father in heaven and calling or drawing us to self-examination. “I have been accustomed,” writes Calvin, “to call this book, I think not inappropriately, The Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul”.
He explains the reason for this insightful title:… there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has here drawn … all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated.
So it is that I searched the Psalmas and I came across Psalm 88 in my prayer time:
1 O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.
2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them.
I am confined and cannot escape;
9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day;
I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?
11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
"Why me, God? It isn't fair!" Life certainly seems to be a cruel joke at times. We wonder if there is any sense to anything in those times when we feel thoroughly crushed, when we don't know if we can bear the pain any longer, when there seems to be no hope at all. And it is in these times that we are tempted to wonder if God really cares.
Psalm 88 clearly expresses the anguish of death approaching and let God know about it. Day and night he cried out to the Lord about his plight and his sense of being forsaken and alone and without escape. And what answer does he get from God? Nothing.
"Lord, why dost thou cast me off? Why dost thou hide thy face from me?" (v.14) The psalmist knows of God's reputation for working wonders and of God's steadfast love and faithfulness and saving help (vs. 10-12) but where is God now?
That the psalmist laments is understandable, but what is amazing is that he continues to appeal to God. Even in his despair, (or perhaps, because of it), the psalmist displays an extraordinary trust in God. It is a trust that holds God accountable to his promises of love and faithfulness.
We too seem to be in a situation similar to that of the psalmist. We too can justifiably complain to God. We can wonder where God is. We can ask, "Why me, God?" The psalmist does not find any answers, nor do we find any simple solutions. But do we have any grounds for such trust as the psalmist expresses? Unlike the psalmist, we stand at a point in history where we have seen God revealed in Christ. We have seen Christ forsaken on a cross. Is this any answer, or does it raise another question: "Why did Christ have to die?'
Indeed, we have no easy answers. So what do we have? The psalmist had a God in whom he could trust even in his greatest despair. We do too. O God, we need your help! May we serve you with our lives.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Pray Against Drugs, The Devil's Tools
Last week I went to see two people from one of my churches, who were in jail because of drug related charges. The father and son, 36 years old and 18 years old, are both remourseful and repentant.
It is very sad for them, for their families, and for our church family. While they had not come to church much in recent years, they are a part of us, and we love them, even though they have stumbled greatly. Since their arrest, they have reaffirmed their belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord for that sacred fact.
But they both remain locked up behind bars as I write this, two weeks after their arrest. Affected by their bad choices, they are two more statistics in a very sad chapter in American history. Drugs, mainly illegal ones, but also, to an extent legal ones, are destroying America, case by case. In our area, there is a terible outbreak of drug use with the drug crystal methamphetimene, which is a drug from the pits of hell.
Crystal Meth is certainly a drug that the devil has used to destroy people and nations. Methamphetamine, (also called crank), was first synthesised from amphetamine in Japan in 1919 by Akira Ogata (1887-1978). In 1932 Smith, Kline and French marketed Benzedrine, an over-the-counter bronchial dilator and inhaler with nearly one-third of a gram of methamphetamine to treat nasal congestion. By 1936, Benzedrine was the standard treatment for 39 disorders ranging from asthma to depression, but by the end of the decade abuse of the inhalers had reached such alarming proportions that methamphetamine was replaced by the weaker stimulant, propylhexedrine.
But then Crystal Meth was used by Nazi troops to stay awake and to fight longer and harder during World War II. Indeed, from 1942 onward, Adolf Hitler had regular "treatments" of methamphetamine, which surely severely affected his judgment, but limiting temporarily his need to sleep and eat. The drug is terribly addictive and prolonged use leterally rots away a person's body. But people have not learned through the years, even though many people lose their teeth and become walking cadavers with constant addictive use.
The Methamphetamine Problem is an epidemic of addiction that is sweeping this nation. The drug is called methamphetamine, an extremely potent form of “speed” that is ravaging our youth and young adults. Meth is the most addictive drug on the planet. Even just one dose can destroy the self control section of the brain. It is cheap and easy to make. Methamphetamine addiction is destroying homes and abandoning children by the thousands in communities just like yours all over America.
I saw a presentation by law enforcement recently that left me shuddering at the threat this drug is to our society. It is a living hell for the children, in a big way.
The addicted mother’s mind is racing. She doesn’t prepare meals because she is never hungry. She doesn’t put the children to bed because she is never tired. There are no clean clothes to wear and the bathtub is full of chemicals used to make meth.
As addiction deepens parents become abusive and violent. They abandon and abuse their children. Addicted parents leave the children locked in their bedroom for hours, even days, while they look for drugs and party. They expose their children to toxic chemicals while they ‘cook’ their dope. The addicted father's mind is just as jumbled, scrambled by crank, again and again.
Often, the methamphetamine residue coats the countertops and carpet. The ‘stash’ is left out where little one’s find it. Over 35% of the children removed from meth abusing homes test positive for drug exposure. Children raised in drug abusing homes are subjected to severe neglect and abuse. A first grade teacher noticed that one of her students smelled like dog food. “The child had been eating what the neighbors left out for their dog.” There are many pictures on the internet of the savage impact of methamphetamine on children and families under images of addiction.
Abused and drug endangered children grow up to be drug abusers themselves. They have seen first hand how to make a buy, fix a pipe and get high. They have seen their parents do it thousands of times. The cycle is endless and relentless.
Please pray against this hellish drug and the ones who make it and sell it. May they repent, and get right with God, and begin to build up this country, instead of tearing it down. Those who sell and use illegal drugs are, perhaps unknowingly, kinds of terrorists against the American way, because what they do is destroying the country from the inside out.
It is very sad for them, for their families, and for our church family. While they had not come to church much in recent years, they are a part of us, and we love them, even though they have stumbled greatly. Since their arrest, they have reaffirmed their belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord for that sacred fact.
But they both remain locked up behind bars as I write this, two weeks after their arrest. Affected by their bad choices, they are two more statistics in a very sad chapter in American history. Drugs, mainly illegal ones, but also, to an extent legal ones, are destroying America, case by case. In our area, there is a terible outbreak of drug use with the drug crystal methamphetimene, which is a drug from the pits of hell.
Crystal Meth is certainly a drug that the devil has used to destroy people and nations. Methamphetamine, (also called crank), was first synthesised from amphetamine in Japan in 1919 by Akira Ogata (1887-1978). In 1932 Smith, Kline and French marketed Benzedrine, an over-the-counter bronchial dilator and inhaler with nearly one-third of a gram of methamphetamine to treat nasal congestion. By 1936, Benzedrine was the standard treatment for 39 disorders ranging from asthma to depression, but by the end of the decade abuse of the inhalers had reached such alarming proportions that methamphetamine was replaced by the weaker stimulant, propylhexedrine.
But then Crystal Meth was used by Nazi troops to stay awake and to fight longer and harder during World War II. Indeed, from 1942 onward, Adolf Hitler had regular "treatments" of methamphetamine, which surely severely affected his judgment, but limiting temporarily his need to sleep and eat. The drug is terribly addictive and prolonged use leterally rots away a person's body. But people have not learned through the years, even though many people lose their teeth and become walking cadavers with constant addictive use.
The Methamphetamine Problem is an epidemic of addiction that is sweeping this nation. The drug is called methamphetamine, an extremely potent form of “speed” that is ravaging our youth and young adults. Meth is the most addictive drug on the planet. Even just one dose can destroy the self control section of the brain. It is cheap and easy to make. Methamphetamine addiction is destroying homes and abandoning children by the thousands in communities just like yours all over America.
I saw a presentation by law enforcement recently that left me shuddering at the threat this drug is to our society. It is a living hell for the children, in a big way.
The addicted mother’s mind is racing. She doesn’t prepare meals because she is never hungry. She doesn’t put the children to bed because she is never tired. There are no clean clothes to wear and the bathtub is full of chemicals used to make meth.
As addiction deepens parents become abusive and violent. They abandon and abuse their children. Addicted parents leave the children locked in their bedroom for hours, even days, while they look for drugs and party. They expose their children to toxic chemicals while they ‘cook’ their dope. The addicted father's mind is just as jumbled, scrambled by crank, again and again.
Often, the methamphetamine residue coats the countertops and carpet. The ‘stash’ is left out where little one’s find it. Over 35% of the children removed from meth abusing homes test positive for drug exposure. Children raised in drug abusing homes are subjected to severe neglect and abuse. A first grade teacher noticed that one of her students smelled like dog food. “The child had been eating what the neighbors left out for their dog.” There are many pictures on the internet of the savage impact of methamphetamine on children and families under images of addiction.
Abused and drug endangered children grow up to be drug abusers themselves. They have seen first hand how to make a buy, fix a pipe and get high. They have seen their parents do it thousands of times. The cycle is endless and relentless.
Please pray against this hellish drug and the ones who make it and sell it. May they repent, and get right with God, and begin to build up this country, instead of tearing it down. Those who sell and use illegal drugs are, perhaps unknowingly, kinds of terrorists against the American way, because what they do is destroying the country from the inside out.
Monday, October 22, 2007
The Eternal Power of Kind Words
One of the things I come across on a daily basis is the power of words in the lives of people. Words do have power. God made them that way. God framed the world with His words. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Hebrews 11:3 Today I want to focus on the great power of kind words.
The wonderful Catholic nun Mother Teresa once said, <"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." Kind words have the power to heal and to lift. Speaking kindly shows that we care about the person we're talking to. We all feel good when we say kind things to others and when kind things are said to us.
On the other hand, when we're spoken to harshly, it is easy to lash back defensively and speak unkindly. Along with harsh words come unpleasant feelings, such as anger, sadness, and regret. Sometimes our words, spoken too quickly and without thinking, can be hurtful even when we do not mean them to be. Hurtful words can leave psychic scars for a long time. Watch what you say and how you say it. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your speech and help you choose good words to say.
When we speak negatively it focuses our attention on what is wrong with our world and our circumstances. It doesn't help improve things, it makes our life worse.
An unkind remark to another person can range from seemingly harmless to truly hurtful. The truth is, however, whether we're being simply sarcastic or intently cruel, the effects are similar. Both types of remarks leave the giver and the receiver feeling negative and critical. The reverse is also true.
When we speak kindly of others it focuses our attention on their goodness. When we speak kindly of our circumstances it turns our thoughts toward gratitude for what we have.
Kindness is one of the characteristics of God's people. It's in the Bible, Colossians 3:12, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Kindness is at the very roots of the God's nature. And His Spirit is maturing the Father's kindness in our character. So when you speak kind words, you are doing God's work in the world.
The wonderful Catholic nun Mother Teresa once said, <"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." Kind words have the power to heal and to lift. Speaking kindly shows that we care about the person we're talking to. We all feel good when we say kind things to others and when kind things are said to us.
On the other hand, when we're spoken to harshly, it is easy to lash back defensively and speak unkindly. Along with harsh words come unpleasant feelings, such as anger, sadness, and regret. Sometimes our words, spoken too quickly and without thinking, can be hurtful even when we do not mean them to be. Hurtful words can leave psychic scars for a long time. Watch what you say and how you say it. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your speech and help you choose good words to say.
When we speak negatively it focuses our attention on what is wrong with our world and our circumstances. It doesn't help improve things, it makes our life worse.
An unkind remark to another person can range from seemingly harmless to truly hurtful. The truth is, however, whether we're being simply sarcastic or intently cruel, the effects are similar. Both types of remarks leave the giver and the receiver feeling negative and critical. The reverse is also true.
When we speak kindly of others it focuses our attention on their goodness. When we speak kindly of our circumstances it turns our thoughts toward gratitude for what we have.
Kindness is one of the characteristics of God's people. It's in the Bible, Colossians 3:12, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Kindness is at the very roots of the God's nature. And His Spirit is maturing the Father's kindness in our character. So when you speak kind words, you are doing God's work in the world.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Share God's Grace with Others -- Be Graceful Toward Them
There is a need in the church for us to share God's Grace with others -- to be graceful toward them, to really turn the other cheek, to model forgiveness and to know the truth in the statement -- "There, but for the grace of God, go I."
Yes, we need to share the gospel with everyone, but we do not need to beat them senseless with it. The Word of God is a two-edged sword to be used against the devil, but it is healing balm to bring restitution to those humans who have been attacked and deceived and used by the evil one.
As my mother used to warn me -- be careful when you point your finger at someone -- remember that three fingers are pointing back at you. This is something Christians, especially new Christians, need to learn real good. There was a reason Jesus hated the Pharisees ways -- they were way too judgmental. And yet we have Christians who would rather be like the Pharisees than like Jesus.
As God continues His work of restoring the Church and purifying the Bride of Christ, He is moving to rid His people of one of their deadliest sins. THAT SIN IS JUDGMENTALISM. I cannot think of a single problem that has brought more heartache, dissension, disease and destruction upon the Church than this sin.
The prophets asked, "Who will judge thy people?," and they raised a standard toward Zion (Jeremiah 4:6). No one has the right or privilege to take the place of God's Word and make himself a judge over a brother or any person in the world.
Jesus speaks clearly on this point. "Do not judge," (Matt 7:1). He said even the Father does not judge anyone, but that He has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22). Later, He lets it be known that He Himself does not judge. It is the words He speaks that will judge in the last day (John 12:47-48).
Judgment must be left to the Word of God. If Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save it, then we have no authority or right to judge. We can be fruit inspectors (Galatians 5th chapter) and encourage others to be filled with the Spirit. But judgmentalism and holier than thou attitudes are murderous to the church and the Christian cause. "There but for the grace of God go I" is the proper attitude -- one of humility, love and respect.
The consequences of judgmentalism can be devastating. People can be crippled emotionally and psychologically for life. Many are turned off to the Church and never know the love of God because of it. Others are kept in cruel bondage under the law, works, guilt and traditions of men.
But the devastation of judgmentalism does not stop with those who are judged. It rebounds against those who pass judgment, heaping misery and destruction upon them, too.
"Do not judge, lest you be judged yourselves," Jesus said. Then He went on to elaborate on the phrase, "LEST YOU BE JUDGED:" for in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it shall be measured to you" (Matt 7:2).
When you pass judgment upon another, that same judgment comes back upon you. By judging, you speak wrath, condemnation and death upon your own head.
Immediately following His model prayer, often called The Lord's Prayer, Jesus delivered a devastating pronouncement on the subject of judging. Expanding on one of the themes of the prayer - "and forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors:" - He said: "For if you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you".
"But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions" (Matt 6:14-15)
To refuse to forgive simply means to continue to judge. If you continue to judge others, Jesus is saying, God will continue to judge you. Every believer should ponder those words carefully. They say that, when you judge someone else, you are refusing to extend the grace of God to them. And when you you refuse to extend the grace of God to others you do not receive His grace for yourself. Rather, you receive the full impact of the law of God.
FORGIVENESS IS NECESSARY
People caught up in judgmentalism try to make forgiving sound impossible. But Jesus gives us both the ability to forgive and a demonstration of how to do it. "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained," (Jn 20:23). Clearly, Jesus is placing the power to forgive in the hands of the believer.
"But," some ask, "when should you forgive?" The answer, based on Jesus' demonstration of forgiveness: The moment you have been offended.
"But what if they did it on purpose?" some ask. The answer: Forgive them on purpose! "But what if they haven't repented?" Answer: Forgive them anyway.
What is the demonstration of forgiveness that provides all these answers? Jesus' forgiveness of those who were crucifying Him. In the midst of that terrible offense, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). Were they doing their foul deed on purpose? Of course. Had they repented? Certainly not. Yet, Jesus pleaded for their forgiveness.
The Lord was teaching us something of vital importance with that illustration. He was demonstrating the fact that, WHILE GRACE CAN'T BE RECEIVED UNTIL THERE IS REPENTANCE, NEITHER CAN GRACE BE RECEIVED BEFORE IT IS OFFERED.
Let's lift a standard toward Zion and love one another, leaving judgment to almighty God. Love is all the law fulfilled in one word (Galatians 5:14).
Yes, we need to share the gospel with everyone, but we do not need to beat them senseless with it. The Word of God is a two-edged sword to be used against the devil, but it is healing balm to bring restitution to those humans who have been attacked and deceived and used by the evil one.
As my mother used to warn me -- be careful when you point your finger at someone -- remember that three fingers are pointing back at you. This is something Christians, especially new Christians, need to learn real good. There was a reason Jesus hated the Pharisees ways -- they were way too judgmental. And yet we have Christians who would rather be like the Pharisees than like Jesus.
As God continues His work of restoring the Church and purifying the Bride of Christ, He is moving to rid His people of one of their deadliest sins. THAT SIN IS JUDGMENTALISM. I cannot think of a single problem that has brought more heartache, dissension, disease and destruction upon the Church than this sin.
The prophets asked, "Who will judge thy people?," and they raised a standard toward Zion (Jeremiah 4:6). No one has the right or privilege to take the place of God's Word and make himself a judge over a brother or any person in the world.
Jesus speaks clearly on this point. "Do not judge," (Matt 7:1). He said even the Father does not judge anyone, but that He has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22). Later, He lets it be known that He Himself does not judge. It is the words He speaks that will judge in the last day (John 12:47-48).
Judgment must be left to the Word of God. If Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save it, then we have no authority or right to judge. We can be fruit inspectors (Galatians 5th chapter) and encourage others to be filled with the Spirit. But judgmentalism and holier than thou attitudes are murderous to the church and the Christian cause. "There but for the grace of God go I" is the proper attitude -- one of humility, love and respect.
The consequences of judgmentalism can be devastating. People can be crippled emotionally and psychologically for life. Many are turned off to the Church and never know the love of God because of it. Others are kept in cruel bondage under the law, works, guilt and traditions of men.
But the devastation of judgmentalism does not stop with those who are judged. It rebounds against those who pass judgment, heaping misery and destruction upon them, too.
"Do not judge, lest you be judged yourselves," Jesus said. Then He went on to elaborate on the phrase, "LEST YOU BE JUDGED:" for in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it shall be measured to you" (Matt 7:2).
When you pass judgment upon another, that same judgment comes back upon you. By judging, you speak wrath, condemnation and death upon your own head.
Immediately following His model prayer, often called The Lord's Prayer, Jesus delivered a devastating pronouncement on the subject of judging. Expanding on one of the themes of the prayer - "and forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors:" - He said: "For if you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you".
"But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions" (Matt 6:14-15)
To refuse to forgive simply means to continue to judge. If you continue to judge others, Jesus is saying, God will continue to judge you. Every believer should ponder those words carefully. They say that, when you judge someone else, you are refusing to extend the grace of God to them. And when you you refuse to extend the grace of God to others you do not receive His grace for yourself. Rather, you receive the full impact of the law of God.
FORGIVENESS IS NECESSARY
People caught up in judgmentalism try to make forgiving sound impossible. But Jesus gives us both the ability to forgive and a demonstration of how to do it. "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained," (Jn 20:23). Clearly, Jesus is placing the power to forgive in the hands of the believer.
"But," some ask, "when should you forgive?" The answer, based on Jesus' demonstration of forgiveness: The moment you have been offended.
"But what if they did it on purpose?" some ask. The answer: Forgive them on purpose! "But what if they haven't repented?" Answer: Forgive them anyway.
What is the demonstration of forgiveness that provides all these answers? Jesus' forgiveness of those who were crucifying Him. In the midst of that terrible offense, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). Were they doing their foul deed on purpose? Of course. Had they repented? Certainly not. Yet, Jesus pleaded for their forgiveness.
The Lord was teaching us something of vital importance with that illustration. He was demonstrating the fact that, WHILE GRACE CAN'T BE RECEIVED UNTIL THERE IS REPENTANCE, NEITHER CAN GRACE BE RECEIVED BEFORE IT IS OFFERED.
Let's lift a standard toward Zion and love one another, leaving judgment to almighty God. Love is all the law fulfilled in one word (Galatians 5:14).
Monday, October 15, 2007
Be Still and Know That I Am God!
Often, in our busy, gerbil on a wheel world, with its often meaningless motion and wastes of time, we need to get quiet and still before God. As the Scripture says, (Psalm 46:10)- "Be still, and know that I am God." Make some space to be still before God and feel His presence within you. Remember "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
What a powerful, yet calming, piece of scripture is Psalm 46:10! "Be still, and know that I am God." The "be still" is so important. We need to make a space for ourselves, a time to be quiet. And we need to realize Who God is -- our Creator, our King, our breath and our being. When you read the whole of Psalm 46 you see a very powerful message: not only am I to be calm and spend time before God in humility and patient quietness, listening to His still small voice within me, but I am also to know that "God is in control."
He is almighty, the controller of every situation. We need to seek a quiet time, and we need to be humble as we consider how great God is and how weak we are without Him. May you enjoy your time alone with God -- and may it bring you strength for the day and the days ahead!
What a powerful, yet calming, piece of scripture is Psalm 46:10! "Be still, and know that I am God." The "be still" is so important. We need to make a space for ourselves, a time to be quiet. And we need to realize Who God is -- our Creator, our King, our breath and our being. When you read the whole of Psalm 46 you see a very powerful message: not only am I to be calm and spend time before God in humility and patient quietness, listening to His still small voice within me, but I am also to know that "God is in control."
He is almighty, the controller of every situation. We need to seek a quiet time, and we need to be humble as we consider how great God is and how weak we are without Him. May you enjoy your time alone with God -- and may it bring you strength for the day and the days ahead!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Let Us Appreciate the Wisdom of the Elders
This past week we had a great Sunday celebration in our church -- "Five Angels Day", celebrating God's faithfulness to the five women in our congregation who are over 90 years of age. Their ages range from 90 to 103 and they are all vital, smart, wonderful women. Their faithfulness to God, in response to God's faithfulness to them, was a remarkable thing to consider.
In celebrating the wisdom of these elders, we were reminded once again of the great resource that older people can be for thier churches and communities. Intergenerational worship is so important to us, and we need to make sure we do not build artificial barriers between young and old. They need each other -- and all the ages in between.
When I lived in Kake, Alaska the Native people taught me to revere the elders. One of the great things about Native culture is their deep appreciation of their older men and women.
Other great thinkers have agreed that age is something that does not need to hold one back from continuing to contribute to church and community.
As President Abraham Lincoln once said, "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." The writer Anais Nin wrote: "We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations."
Ashley Montagu put it well when he waid, "I want to die young at a ripe old age."
Robert McAfee Brown said. "How does one keep from 'growing old inside'? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people…. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are indispensable." And Billie Burke said, "Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese."
In celebrating the wisdom of these elders, we were reminded once again of the great resource that older people can be for thier churches and communities. Intergenerational worship is so important to us, and we need to make sure we do not build artificial barriers between young and old. They need each other -- and all the ages in between.
When I lived in Kake, Alaska the Native people taught me to revere the elders. One of the great things about Native culture is their deep appreciation of their older men and women.
Other great thinkers have agreed that age is something that does not need to hold one back from continuing to contribute to church and community.
As President Abraham Lincoln once said, "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." The writer Anais Nin wrote: "We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations."
Ashley Montagu put it well when he waid, "I want to die young at a ripe old age."
Robert McAfee Brown said. "How does one keep from 'growing old inside'? Surely only in community. The only way to make friends with time is to stay friends with people…. Taking community seriously not only gives us the companionship we need, it also relieves us of the notion that we are indispensable." And Billie Burke said, "Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese."
Monday, October 01, 2007
Church is Important! Please Be an Active Part!
"I worship God better at home. I am in the Word all the time and I listen to Christian music all day long." "I can feel the presence of God right out in my fishing boat." "I have my church right out in the woods when I go hunting." Such are some of the statements I have heard as a pastor over the last two decades. God and me, not God and we.
I first became a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1986, preaching from the pulpit and pastoring a small congregation. I took a year off in 1994, directing a Christian camp. but returned to pastoring in 1995 and have pastored in every year since, so I am in my 21st year of being a pastor for my Lord and Savior. And I have heard a lot of folks say that they did not need church, that they could do it on their own.
But I always remind them that the church needs them. They are blessed to be a blessing -- and they can bless others in church. Think of God and others first -- do not think only about yourself. And don't think that you know everything -- God has lots more to teach all of us, and one of the primary ways He teaches people is in the local church.
Well, the Bible clearly points us to worshipping God TOGETHER in a worshipping community. There’s no such thing as the Lone Ranger Christian. Worshipping God is an interactive experience. It’s meant to be shared with others. Even if you can’t understand everything or if you can’t find the Book of Malachi if your life depended upon it — spending time in church teaches you that God’s family is a whole lot bigger than your own. Get this: Heaven is gonna be packed with all kinds of people praising and worshipping God. Church is a good place to prepare. What’s more, our church family keeps us accountable.
Going to church plugs you into God’s truth. It does not matter how much you read the Bible or listen to Christian TV, you will probably get something from your pastor that is even more powerful, because the Holy Spirit is leading him or her to preach it. We need to focus on God. Face it, we encounter a lot of distractions during the week — at school, on TV, in the computer games we play. Too many things can pull us away from God. Sunday mornings give us a spiritual ZAP — and get us back on track.
Church gives you a fresh chance to be fed from God’s Word. Now you might say, "But, Pastor, I can do that by reading the Bible; can’t I have a day off?" And I would ask, what if your Mom had used that approach in cooking meals? "We feed you six days every week. Why don’t you take a day off from eating?" I don’t think you’d be amused. And church is a special spiritual meal -- it is the time the family dines together at the table of the Lord!
It's illogical to say that you are merely part of the worldwide, universal church, yet refuse to gather with the segment of that universal church that exists in your geographical area. It would be like claiming you have a car, when the right fender is in Des Moines, the engine is in Algona, and the wheels are in Mason City! You don't have a car; you have the beginning of the inventory for a junkyard. It just won't function until the pieces are put together. Likewise, the church must be together to carry out many of its purposes.
The Bible tells us that we need to attend church so we can worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). Church is the place where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), “spur” one another (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32). For a church body to function properly, all of its "body parts" need to be present (1 Corinthians 12:14-20). Likewise, a believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). Showing God's love,wives and husbands should always to attend worship services with their spouses and children, if at all possible. Your family's love witnesses of His love!
The local church is important because God chose to make it important. If it is important to be children of God and to be saved from sin, then the church is important, for these are the people in the church. If the purpose of God is important, then the church is, too, because the church is a fundamental part of God's eternal plan.
If Jesus' death is important, then the church is important, because Jesus died for the church. If worship and gospel preaching are important, then the church is important, because these are what the Lord established the church to accomplish.
The church is important because of its relationship to God and to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The church is the family of God, the body and kingdom of Christ. The church fulfills the purpose of God. The church was purchased by the blood of Jesus. The church exists to worship God and preach His message, witnessing and making disciples for Him. To attend the church is a way to exalt God and respect His almighty will.
I first became a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1986, preaching from the pulpit and pastoring a small congregation. I took a year off in 1994, directing a Christian camp. but returned to pastoring in 1995 and have pastored in every year since, so I am in my 21st year of being a pastor for my Lord and Savior. And I have heard a lot of folks say that they did not need church, that they could do it on their own.
But I always remind them that the church needs them. They are blessed to be a blessing -- and they can bless others in church. Think of God and others first -- do not think only about yourself. And don't think that you know everything -- God has lots more to teach all of us, and one of the primary ways He teaches people is in the local church.
Well, the Bible clearly points us to worshipping God TOGETHER in a worshipping community. There’s no such thing as the Lone Ranger Christian. Worshipping God is an interactive experience. It’s meant to be shared with others. Even if you can’t understand everything or if you can’t find the Book of Malachi if your life depended upon it — spending time in church teaches you that God’s family is a whole lot bigger than your own. Get this: Heaven is gonna be packed with all kinds of people praising and worshipping God. Church is a good place to prepare. What’s more, our church family keeps us accountable.
Going to church plugs you into God’s truth. It does not matter how much you read the Bible or listen to Christian TV, you will probably get something from your pastor that is even more powerful, because the Holy Spirit is leading him or her to preach it. We need to focus on God. Face it, we encounter a lot of distractions during the week — at school, on TV, in the computer games we play. Too many things can pull us away from God. Sunday mornings give us a spiritual ZAP — and get us back on track.
Church gives you a fresh chance to be fed from God’s Word. Now you might say, "But, Pastor, I can do that by reading the Bible; can’t I have a day off?" And I would ask, what if your Mom had used that approach in cooking meals? "We feed you six days every week. Why don’t you take a day off from eating?" I don’t think you’d be amused. And church is a special spiritual meal -- it is the time the family dines together at the table of the Lord!
It's illogical to say that you are merely part of the worldwide, universal church, yet refuse to gather with the segment of that universal church that exists in your geographical area. It would be like claiming you have a car, when the right fender is in Des Moines, the engine is in Algona, and the wheels are in Mason City! You don't have a car; you have the beginning of the inventory for a junkyard. It just won't function until the pieces are put together. Likewise, the church must be together to carry out many of its purposes.
The Bible tells us that we need to attend church so we can worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). Church is the place where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), “spur” one another (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32). For a church body to function properly, all of its "body parts" need to be present (1 Corinthians 12:14-20). Likewise, a believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). Showing God's love,wives and husbands should always to attend worship services with their spouses and children, if at all possible. Your family's love witnesses of His love!
The local church is important because God chose to make it important. If it is important to be children of God and to be saved from sin, then the church is important, for these are the people in the church. If the purpose of God is important, then the church is, too, because the church is a fundamental part of God's eternal plan.
If Jesus' death is important, then the church is important, because Jesus died for the church. If worship and gospel preaching are important, then the church is important, because these are what the Lord established the church to accomplish.
The church is important because of its relationship to God and to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The church is the family of God, the body and kingdom of Christ. The church fulfills the purpose of God. The church was purchased by the blood of Jesus. The church exists to worship God and preach His message, witnessing and making disciples for Him. To attend the church is a way to exalt God and respect His almighty will.
The Need for Every Family and Every Person to Come to Church, And for Some to Come Back
When someone stops coming to church, it grieves the heart of a pastor. A thousand questions go through the pastor’s mind – Why? Was it something I did? Or was it someone else in the church family, perhaps not even knowing that they may have offended someone. Or is it some other reason that can be prayed about and pershps worked out together? How can this break the fellowship of the church be repaired? How can a shepherd help the sheep back to the flock?
A pastor wants to make it right, to bring the person back into fellowship with the rest of the church. Perhaps the pastor personally misses the person, but it is much, much bigger than that – if the person was called to join the fellowship, and if the church saw that calling and welcomed them in, then the fellowship is less than it could be without that missing person or family being a regular part of the worshipping community. It is a spiritual thing of the highest importance. Unity in the body is prologue to power (Ps. 133, Act 1)
People leave churches or stop participating in God's mission for many reasons. But often they do not let the pastor know what the real reasons are, so that they might be dealt with in the right way – talking it out and seeking understanding and reconciliation. Certainly, some people are easily offended, even if it is not the correct Christian path in many cases. The Bible shows us that some people will always of necessity be offended by the churches of Jesus Christ, it is sad to say.
The gospel is a stumbling block to the Greeks and an offense to the self-concerned. And our current American society is every egocentric, rather than Christocentric. It is often all about me, while Christ calls us to be all about we – and not just Him and me, but Him and we – our families and our church families! To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what the church of Christ can do for you, ask what you can do for the church of Christ!”
The key to faithfulness is being offended by the right things, and forgiving others for their slights and mistakes. And the right things to be offended by have nothing to do with personal preference. Christians should only be offended by the things that offend Jesus Christ. If the Lord is not offended by something, then neither should His people be. But when something offends the Lord, His people should also be offended. The Lord is not offended by our personal preferences, unless such preferences lead to or are driven by unfaithfulness and/or sin. Accepting others as they are and helping them to grow is what Christ does, and we are to serve him in that process. As we are led by the Spirit toward unity, healing comes!
People are called to love Christ more than they love themselves, and to love His church and His people as much as they love themselves. Forgiving and loving others is a hallmark of the Christian life, and that life is lived out in our family life and in the life of the particular church He calls us to be together in.
People are blessed by God to be a blessing for others in His behalf. And, yes, you can worship God at home, or in a boat, in a car, or even on a golf course. But it is not the same as assembling together and praying for others in a church service, in person. And television pastors, no matter how telegenic or articulate, are no match for a Spirit-led pastor in a real life church service.
So pray for those who may not be coming to church services anymore. May they return to fellowship, so that the church may strive to pray in one accord (Acts 2) and seek God’s face as a congregation together, and in fullness. Without them, we are less than we can be. Without us, they are less than they could be. Together, with God, the sky is possible.
There is a story about a wealthy man, who was quite old, who, several centuries ago, admired a little mountain village in Switzerland and told them he wanted to build them something special before he died. The village council asked him to build them a church, since they had been meeting in the town hall for many years. So it was that the old man hired the best builders and had a church built. But to the puzzlement of the town people, his beautiful church building had no windows. It could only be lit by oil lamps hung along the walls of the church.
On the day of the dedication of the building, the old man explained that God had given him the idea for the building’s design. “Each family will have a lamp to hang in the sanctuary at each service,” the old man said. “If a family misses the service, there will be less light than there would have been if they were there. Only when everyone is in God’s house will the potential light be seen and experienced.”
We now have electricity, and lots of electric lights in our day. But the wisdom of this story may be even more relevant in our time. We need everyone to be in church and a part of church in order to accomplish the mission of God in our time and place.
A pastor wants to make it right, to bring the person back into fellowship with the rest of the church. Perhaps the pastor personally misses the person, but it is much, much bigger than that – if the person was called to join the fellowship, and if the church saw that calling and welcomed them in, then the fellowship is less than it could be without that missing person or family being a regular part of the worshipping community. It is a spiritual thing of the highest importance. Unity in the body is prologue to power (Ps. 133, Act 1)
People leave churches or stop participating in God's mission for many reasons. But often they do not let the pastor know what the real reasons are, so that they might be dealt with in the right way – talking it out and seeking understanding and reconciliation. Certainly, some people are easily offended, even if it is not the correct Christian path in many cases. The Bible shows us that some people will always of necessity be offended by the churches of Jesus Christ, it is sad to say.
The gospel is a stumbling block to the Greeks and an offense to the self-concerned. And our current American society is every egocentric, rather than Christocentric. It is often all about me, while Christ calls us to be all about we – and not just Him and me, but Him and we – our families and our church families! To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what the church of Christ can do for you, ask what you can do for the church of Christ!”
The key to faithfulness is being offended by the right things, and forgiving others for their slights and mistakes. And the right things to be offended by have nothing to do with personal preference. Christians should only be offended by the things that offend Jesus Christ. If the Lord is not offended by something, then neither should His people be. But when something offends the Lord, His people should also be offended. The Lord is not offended by our personal preferences, unless such preferences lead to or are driven by unfaithfulness and/or sin. Accepting others as they are and helping them to grow is what Christ does, and we are to serve him in that process. As we are led by the Spirit toward unity, healing comes!
People are called to love Christ more than they love themselves, and to love His church and His people as much as they love themselves. Forgiving and loving others is a hallmark of the Christian life, and that life is lived out in our family life and in the life of the particular church He calls us to be together in.
People are blessed by God to be a blessing for others in His behalf. And, yes, you can worship God at home, or in a boat, in a car, or even on a golf course. But it is not the same as assembling together and praying for others in a church service, in person. And television pastors, no matter how telegenic or articulate, are no match for a Spirit-led pastor in a real life church service.
So pray for those who may not be coming to church services anymore. May they return to fellowship, so that the church may strive to pray in one accord (Acts 2) and seek God’s face as a congregation together, and in fullness. Without them, we are less than we can be. Without us, they are less than they could be. Together, with God, the sky is possible.
There is a story about a wealthy man, who was quite old, who, several centuries ago, admired a little mountain village in Switzerland and told them he wanted to build them something special before he died. The village council asked him to build them a church, since they had been meeting in the town hall for many years. So it was that the old man hired the best builders and had a church built. But to the puzzlement of the town people, his beautiful church building had no windows. It could only be lit by oil lamps hung along the walls of the church.
On the day of the dedication of the building, the old man explained that God had given him the idea for the building’s design. “Each family will have a lamp to hang in the sanctuary at each service,” the old man said. “If a family misses the service, there will be less light than there would have been if they were there. Only when everyone is in God’s house will the potential light be seen and experienced.”
We now have electricity, and lots of electric lights in our day. But the wisdom of this story may be even more relevant in our time. We need everyone to be in church and a part of church in order to accomplish the mission of God in our time and place.
Potlucks are Spiritual Events!
Potlucks are more than a way to have a grand buffet of home cooking specialties. Potlucks are extremely spiritual events, based on Biblical models and Scriptural truths.
We had a potluck in our church yesterday. Over 160 people came and it was a remarkable day in the Lord. What a time of joy and celebration it was. We honored our five members who are over 90, (wonderful women, ages 103, 96, 92, 92 and 90), and our five confirmands, all youth in their early teens. It was a special time in the church service and the potluck. We had a great feast and God taught us a great deal.
The great feast we had was a glimpse of heaven, where Christ will call us to a great feast together. Luke 13:29 says,"People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God." That is something for which we can look forward with great expectation.
Certainly, the Bible talks of feasts on occasions of domestic joy (Luke 15:23; Gen. 21:8); on birthdays (Gen. 40:20; Job 1:4; Matt. 14:6); and on the occasion of a marriage (Judg. 14:10; Gen. 29:22). And feasting was a part of the observances connected with the offering up of sacrifices (Deut. 12:6, 7; 1 Sam. 9:19; 16:3, 5),and with the annual festivals (Deut. 16:11).
It was one of the designs of the greater worship and ritual of the festivals, to feast together, which required the attendance of the people at the sacred tent, that the oneness of the nation might be maintained and cemented together, by congregating in one place, and with a oneness in taking part in the same religious services.
They came to present themselves before him as one body, because God is the author of community and the inventor of church and all its predecessors in the life of the Hebrews, and in the life of Christians. The great feasts were in thier own nature a binding of the people of God, in fellowship with God, and with each other, and a tangible reminder of the people's covenant with God. The feasts helped to keep the people's consciousness alive to God's love and faithfulness, to revive, strengthen, and perpetuate their allegiance to God, and to each other.
Likewise, a big church potluck does this for a church. We get a glimpse of heaven and we get an opportunity to serve God by loving our church family, which is important to God> So the next time you hear the word potluck, know it is much, much more than just and opportunity to eat good food. It is a new change to love and be loved, to be blessed and to be a blessing!
We had a potluck in our church yesterday. Over 160 people came and it was a remarkable day in the Lord. What a time of joy and celebration it was. We honored our five members who are over 90, (wonderful women, ages 103, 96, 92, 92 and 90), and our five confirmands, all youth in their early teens. It was a special time in the church service and the potluck. We had a great feast and God taught us a great deal.
The great feast we had was a glimpse of heaven, where Christ will call us to a great feast together. Luke 13:29 says,"People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God." That is something for which we can look forward with great expectation.
Certainly, the Bible talks of feasts on occasions of domestic joy (Luke 15:23; Gen. 21:8); on birthdays (Gen. 40:20; Job 1:4; Matt. 14:6); and on the occasion of a marriage (Judg. 14:10; Gen. 29:22). And feasting was a part of the observances connected with the offering up of sacrifices (Deut. 12:6, 7; 1 Sam. 9:19; 16:3, 5),and with the annual festivals (Deut. 16:11).
It was one of the designs of the greater worship and ritual of the festivals, to feast together, which required the attendance of the people at the sacred tent, that the oneness of the nation might be maintained and cemented together, by congregating in one place, and with a oneness in taking part in the same religious services.
They came to present themselves before him as one body, because God is the author of community and the inventor of church and all its predecessors in the life of the Hebrews, and in the life of Christians. The great feasts were in thier own nature a binding of the people of God, in fellowship with God, and with each other, and a tangible reminder of the people's covenant with God. The feasts helped to keep the people's consciousness alive to God's love and faithfulness, to revive, strengthen, and perpetuate their allegiance to God, and to each other.
Likewise, a big church potluck does this for a church. We get a glimpse of heaven and we get an opportunity to serve God by loving our church family, which is important to God> So the next time you hear the word potluck, know it is much, much more than just and opportunity to eat good food. It is a new change to love and be loved, to be blessed and to be a blessing!
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