We can learn a great deal from story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John Chapter 4. Jesus went to where she would be, He broke down barriers, and he met her need in spite of all of her previous bad choices. And then she became a very effective evangelist for the Lord!
In his encounter with the woman at the well, Jesus broke three Jewish customs: first, he spoke to a woman; second, she was a Samaritan woman, a group the Jews traditionally despised; and third, he asked her to get him a drink of water, which would have made him ceremonially unclean from using her cup or jar. This shocked the woman at the well. But Jesus tore down barriers between people, and he still will, if we let him.
Then Jesus told the woman he could give her "living water" so that she would never thirst again. Jesus used the words living water to refer to eternal life, the gift that would satisfy her soul's desire only available through him. At first, the Samaritan woman did not fully understand Jesus' meaning.
Although they had never met before, Jesus revealed that he knew she had had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus now had her attention!
As they talked about their two views on worship, the woman voiced her faith that Messiah was coming. Jesus answered, "I who speak to you am he." (John 4:26, ESV)
As the woman began to grasp the reality of her encounter with Jesus, the disciples returned. They were equally shocked to find him speaking to a woman. Leaving behind her water jar, the woman returned to town, inviting the people to "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did." (John 4:29, ESV)
Meanwhile, Jesus told his disciples the harvest of souls was ready, sown by the prophets, writers of the Old Testament, and John the Baptist.
Excited by what the woman told them, the Samaritans came from Sychar and begged Jesus to stay with them. So Jesus stayed two days, teaching the Samaritan people about the Kingdom of God. When he left, the people told the woman, "... we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:42, ESV)
The Samaritans were a mixed race people, who had intermarried with the Assyrians centuries before. They were hated by the Jews because of this cultural mixing, and because they had their own version of the Bible and their own temple on Mount Gerizim. The Jews saw their religion as impure, but Jesus reached out ot them anyway!
The woman at the well came to draw water at the hottest part of the day, instead of the usual morning or evening times, because she was shunned and rejected by the other women of the area for her immorality. Jesus knew her history but still accepted her and ministered to her.
By reaching out to the Samaritans, Jesus showed that his mission was to the entire earth, not just the Jews. In the book of Acts, after Jesus' ascension into heaven, his apostles carried on his work in Samaria and to the Gentile world. Ironically, while the High Priest and Sanhedrin rejected Jesus as the Messiah, the outcast Samaritans recognized him and accepted him for who he truly was: the Savior of the world.
Our human tendency is to judge others because of stereotypes, customs or prejudices. Jesus did not judge people as a groupm but rather Jesus treats people as individuals, accepting them with love and compassion. Do you dismiss certain people as lost causes, or do you see them as valuable in their own right, worthy of knowing about the Gospel?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Let Your Light Shine So Folks Will Give God the Glory!
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."
Jesus clearly commands that the goal of our lives should be to behave so that God gets the glory. Live so that men will see your life and give your Father in heaven glory, not you. So it should be very clear that glorifying God is not merely an act of worship on Sunday. It is a peculiar kind of living.
Let us look at 1 Peter 4:10, 11. Probably no other New Testament book besides James reflects an acquaintance with the teachings of Jesus as clearly as 1 Peter. In 2:12, Peter gives a loose quotation of Matthew 5:16, "Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles so that in case they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." But in chapter 4, verses 10 and 11, Peter shows more explicitly what it is about the good deeds of Christians that makes them a means to God's glory.
He says:
We see in Isaiah 43:7 that God's great goal in creating and governing the world was to be glorified. That is, he created us for his glory. Not to increase the beauty of his perfections or fill up some emptiness in God, but rather to display his glory in the way we live and to win praise for himself, which in turn brings Him closer to us and His power more evident in our lives.
To maintain the honor of his name and display his glory—these are the driving motives in all that God does in history, in the church, and in individual lives.
At the end of last week's message two crucial questions remained:
In order for God to get glory from the way we live, we must be engaged in good deeds. It is not so much by avoiding gross sins that God's people display his glory, but rather in the pursuit of good deeds, acts of generosity, works of kindness, ways of love. Since it is God's goal to be glorified in his people, and since Jesus says this happens when his people do good deeds, we would expect the Bible to tell us that God's goal in redeeming a people is that they might do good deeds. And this is exactly what we find.
Paul says in Titus 2:14 that Christ "gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds." Christ died that we might do good deeds and so bring glory to our Father in heaven.
God created us for his glory, says the prophet Isaiah. We bring him glory through our good deeds, says the Lord Jesus. So we are not surprised when we hear the apostle say, God created us for good deeds. Ephesians 2:10: "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Created for his glory, and created for good deeds, because it is by our good deeds that God gets glory.
One final observation from Matthew 5. It is possible to be a kind of do-gooder that brings no glory to God. There are philanthropists and benefactors and others who for one reason or another spend time and money to alleviate suffering, but who may not even believe in God let alone do it all for his glory.
So when Jesus says, Let your light shine that men may see your good deeds and glorify God, the light must include more than the mere action of the good deed. "You are the light of the world!" (5:14). Not just your bodily motions but your attitude and your motivation also. There is a spirit from which the good deeds must flow if they are to bring God glory and so be pleasing to him.
Remember: To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. AMEN.
Jesus clearly commands that the goal of our lives should be to behave so that God gets the glory. Live so that men will see your life and give your Father in heaven glory, not you. So it should be very clear that glorifying God is not merely an act of worship on Sunday. It is a peculiar kind of living.
Let us look at 1 Peter 4:10, 11. Probably no other New Testament book besides James reflects an acquaintance with the teachings of Jesus as clearly as 1 Peter. In 2:12, Peter gives a loose quotation of Matthew 5:16, "Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles so that in case they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." But in chapter 4, verses 10 and 11, Peter shows more explicitly what it is about the good deeds of Christians that makes them a means to God's glory.
He says:
We see in Isaiah 43:7 that God's great goal in creating and governing the world was to be glorified. That is, he created us for his glory. Not to increase the beauty of his perfections or fill up some emptiness in God, but rather to display his glory in the way we live and to win praise for himself, which in turn brings Him closer to us and His power more evident in our lives.
To maintain the honor of his name and display his glory—these are the driving motives in all that God does in history, in the church, and in individual lives.
At the end of last week's message two crucial questions remained:
In order for God to get glory from the way we live, we must be engaged in good deeds. It is not so much by avoiding gross sins that God's people display his glory, but rather in the pursuit of good deeds, acts of generosity, works of kindness, ways of love. Since it is God's goal to be glorified in his people, and since Jesus says this happens when his people do good deeds, we would expect the Bible to tell us that God's goal in redeeming a people is that they might do good deeds. And this is exactly what we find.
Paul says in Titus 2:14 that Christ "gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds." Christ died that we might do good deeds and so bring glory to our Father in heaven.
God created us for his glory, says the prophet Isaiah. We bring him glory through our good deeds, says the Lord Jesus. So we are not surprised when we hear the apostle say, God created us for good deeds. Ephesians 2:10: "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Created for his glory, and created for good deeds, because it is by our good deeds that God gets glory.
One final observation from Matthew 5. It is possible to be a kind of do-gooder that brings no glory to God. There are philanthropists and benefactors and others who for one reason or another spend time and money to alleviate suffering, but who may not even believe in God let alone do it all for his glory.
So when Jesus says, Let your light shine that men may see your good deeds and glorify God, the light must include more than the mere action of the good deed. "You are the light of the world!" (5:14). Not just your bodily motions but your attitude and your motivation also. There is a spirit from which the good deeds must flow if they are to bring God glory and so be pleasing to him.
Remember: To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. AMEN.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
God Is Doing A New Thing! Keep Pressing on Toward the Goal!
The prophet Isaiah quotes our God as saying: "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19)
The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians: …. straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)
God is still moving, still speaking. Faith, therefore, should not be static either. But rather a process, a journey, a Way of life.
Isaiah proclaims: I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Or are you set in seeing and knowing God the same way you did five years ago? ten years ago? thirty years ago?
Paul writes: pressing (straining) forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Do you share that goal? Are you mindfully on a journey toward that heavenly prize?
In our prayers we regularly pray that, as a people, we might be transformed and conformed into the mind of Christ. There are many reasons, of course, to go to church. But the most important is that going to church makes transformation happen. In church we have an abundant opportunity to cultivate what Walter Brueggermann calls a “healthy imagination.”
There are, in our world and environment, all kinds of images and words, reports and data that can fill our minds and take over our eyeballs with unhealthy things that sap our lives. In church, we have the opportunity to engage our hearts, our minds, our souls, our bodies, in healthy and life-giving ways. Let us become the people God calls us to be. May we be transformed! May we know Whose we are and Who we are in Christ!
The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians: …. straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)
God is still moving, still speaking. Faith, therefore, should not be static either. But rather a process, a journey, a Way of life.
Isaiah proclaims: I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Or are you set in seeing and knowing God the same way you did five years ago? ten years ago? thirty years ago?
Paul writes: pressing (straining) forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Do you share that goal? Are you mindfully on a journey toward that heavenly prize?
In our prayers we regularly pray that, as a people, we might be transformed and conformed into the mind of Christ. There are many reasons, of course, to go to church. But the most important is that going to church makes transformation happen. In church we have an abundant opportunity to cultivate what Walter Brueggermann calls a “healthy imagination.”
There are, in our world and environment, all kinds of images and words, reports and data that can fill our minds and take over our eyeballs with unhealthy things that sap our lives. In church, we have the opportunity to engage our hearts, our minds, our souls, our bodies, in healthy and life-giving ways. Let us become the people God calls us to be. May we be transformed! May we know Whose we are and Who we are in Christ!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Chief End of Man is the Glorify God and Enjoy God Forever!
“Enjoy Life, Enjoy God: This is Our Chief End”
Life is meant to be enjoyed. God declared it good. Yet we know that the wholesome earthiness of life is best savored by a robust faith in God through Jesus Christ. Healthy followers of Christ are learning to do both well: enjoy life, and to enjoy God…they are not in opposition, but inseparably connected. May you be encouraged in God’s love. Encouragement, at its root meaning, involves not only a pep talk, or pat on the back, but sometimes a candid voice of exhortation. But it’s all cloaked in the grace of God.
Acts 16:5 leader Rev. Dale Patterson notes that the Westminster Catechism, one of the great documents the church ever produced, is a series of one hundred Q&As. But the first question is the most famous:
Q: What is the chief end of man? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever."
As Paul writes: “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” - Romans 11:36
In light of this truth, there is nothing that deserves our greater care than to fulfill the great end for which each of us was made—to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! ""Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
Life is meant to be enjoyed. God declared it good. Yet we know that the wholesome earthiness of life is best savored by a robust faith in God through Jesus Christ. Healthy followers of Christ are learning to do both well: enjoy life, and to enjoy God…they are not in opposition, but inseparably connected. May you be encouraged in God’s love. Encouragement, at its root meaning, involves not only a pep talk, or pat on the back, but sometimes a candid voice of exhortation. But it’s all cloaked in the grace of God.
Acts 16:5 leader Rev. Dale Patterson notes that the Westminster Catechism, one of the great documents the church ever produced, is a series of one hundred Q&As. But the first question is the most famous:
Q: What is the chief end of man? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever."
As Paul writes: “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” - Romans 11:36
In light of this truth, there is nothing that deserves our greater care than to fulfill the great end for which each of us was made—to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! ""Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
Sunday, September 05, 2010
The Amazing Gift of the Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is an amazing gift from God. We are urged to do this sacrament in remembrance of Christ.
We Are To Remember A Suffering Lord - The blood and juice represent the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we partake of this observance, we need to remember the awful price that Jesus paid to save our souls. Please remember that when He died on the cross, He was dying in your place, and that He suffered greatly when He did, fie you and for me.
We Are to Remember An Achieving Lord - As we take the bread and the juice today, we need to remember that Jesus Christ died, but that three days later, He arose from the dead. He lives, Matt. 28:1-6; Rev. 1:18!
We Are To Remember An Appearing Lord - After Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended hack to Heaven and sat down at His Father's right hand to await the day when He will return to this earth to receive His people unto Himself. Every time we take the Lord's Supper, we are declaring to a lost world that we believe in a returning Lord, who will surely come again! And, if we really believe that Jesus is coming again, we will live like we are looking for Him to come back any day now.
Be Sure You Take It In The Right Spirit - Please focus your heart and mind on the Lord and do your best to be in communion with Him as you receive His Supper. He did it all for YOU!
We Are To Remember A Suffering Lord - The blood and juice represent the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we partake of this observance, we need to remember the awful price that Jesus paid to save our souls. Please remember that when He died on the cross, He was dying in your place, and that He suffered greatly when He did, fie you and for me.
We Are to Remember An Achieving Lord - As we take the bread and the juice today, we need to remember that Jesus Christ died, but that three days later, He arose from the dead. He lives, Matt. 28:1-6; Rev. 1:18!
We Are To Remember An Appearing Lord - After Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended hack to Heaven and sat down at His Father's right hand to await the day when He will return to this earth to receive His people unto Himself. Every time we take the Lord's Supper, we are declaring to a lost world that we believe in a returning Lord, who will surely come again! And, if we really believe that Jesus is coming again, we will live like we are looking for Him to come back any day now.
Be Sure You Take It In The Right Spirit - Please focus your heart and mind on the Lord and do your best to be in communion with Him as you receive His Supper. He did it all for YOU!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Random Acts of KIndness -- Spreading the Love of Jesus One Kind Action at a Time
Helping others at the moment of need -- Do Random and PLANNED Acts of Kindness!
Nearly every day we encounter people that, for whatever reason, could use a little help. As Christians,we need to be prepared to offfer that help to others. We need to be known by our love and kindness.
Suppose you are standing in line at a pharmacy and the elderly woman in front of you is checking out. You can’t help but overhear the conversation. The cashier tells the woman that the co-pay amounts for her medication total $60. The woman hunts through her purse and says that all she has is $45. She will will have to put one of the prescriptions back. Then you remember you have enough to pay for it in your wallet. You hand her the $45 and say, “I hope this helps. The Lord has blessed me and He wants me to bless you!"
That is what the Kindness Project is all about; simply helping others at the very moment of their need. It is a “Random Act of Christian Kindness.”
Kindness is Love in action. We are to emulate God: Loving, Merciful, Compassionate, gracious, generous, Long-suffering, I believe the best word to describe the Christian attitude to those in need is love. Love.....your neighbour, your enemy, the LORD your God, one another, does no harm, fulfills the Law, covers a multitude of sins, forgives all. Therefore we should Love each other.. 1 Cor 13:13 "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." Lets make sure that our acts gain us treasures in heaven and that we dont recieve our reward in full now.
. Jesus of course told us to be kind, compassionate and loving. The often quoted verse of "Love your neighbour as yourself" rings in our ears and our minds spring to verses where Jesus heals people, or talks to prostitutes, or one of the other humanitarian actions he does.
Matthew 7:12"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.": Bracketed by verses 7-8 and verses 13-14, both of which are about becoming and living as Christians. Matthew makes it quite clear here, and throughout his whole Gospel that acts are a natural outworking of faith and that our acts should lead people to Jesus.
Luke 6:31"Do to others as you would have them do to you.": becuase (V35) it emulates God and (Vs 43-45) it is the outworking of our new nature. Following these teaching Luke writes this "When Jesus has finished teaching all this in the hearing of the poepl, he entered Capernaum" (7:1). Queue the first gentile convert, the centurion, then the widows son is raised from the dead in Nain of which Luke writes this: "They [the Large crowd] were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country."(7:16-17) When we do good works we open an opportunity to share the Gospel.
Finally, St. Francis of Assisi famously commented, "Preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words", for our actions often speak far lounder than words. Do some acts of kindness today and every day, in Jesus Name!
Monday, August 30, 2010
We Reap What We Sow -- So Let Us Not Grow Weary in Doing Good!
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8
We will reap what we sow -- so we need to sow good, to sow from the Spirit. And we must keep doing it!
In June of 1955, Sir Winston Churchill, who was the near the end of his life, was asked to give a commencement address at a British university. At this time he was physically infirm; he had to be helped to the podium. Then he held on to the podium for what seemed an endless amount of time.
He stood with his head bowed down but finally looked up. Then the voice that years before had called Britain back from the brink of destruction sounded publicly for the last time in history: "Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."
With that, Churchill turned and went back to his seat. there was silence, and then, as if one person, the whole audience rose to applaud him. They rose to applaud him because here was a man whose life and words were together. During the darkest days of World War II when country after country was being swallowed by the Nazis, when German planes were bombing English cities into piles of rubble, when the threat of invasion seemed imminent, when even the hardiest of souls was giving up hope, Churchill never lost hope and never gave up. Also, again and again throughout his political career, Churchill had known setbacks. Three times, his career apparently over, he was sent off to oblivion. Three times he came back to lead his country. Here was a man who never gave up.
"Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."
This is excellent advice for politicians and soldiers facing defeat, for students facing exams and papers, for athletes facing stiff competition, for parents despairing over wayward children, for married couples wondering if they should divorce, for those lost in the despair that follows the death of a loved one. To all these people I say, "Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."
Especially, though, this is excellent advice for anybody who is seeking to serve the Lord and accomplish His work. In the Lord's service, it is always too soon to quit. In the Lord's service, it is never time to slacken our efforts. In the Lord's service, we never come to the point of giving up. Paul had this in mind when he wrote,
A Paul speaks to us about our Christian calling. As Christians, what is our calling? It is "doing good." Each one of us is called to do good. That is what Christian life and service are all about. We Christians are not only believers; we also are behavers. As James puts it,
It is clear from the Bible that God expects all of His people to be involved in doing good. Don't forget, in our text Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia. That means he is writing to men and women, adult singles and young people and children, leaders and followers, teachers and students. To all of these church members he says, "Let us not become weary in doing good ..." Every church member is expected to do good.
What it comes down to is that all of God's people are to consider it their calling to do good.
It is also clear from the Bible to whom God expects us to do good. Did you catch what Paul said in verse 10? He writes,
If there is any book of the Bible that deals with good deeds, it is the book of James. James tells us that
When we do good, we are simply following the example of Christ. Paul tells us in another place to adopt the mind of Christ, to imitate His example (Phil 2:5). We all should know that Jesus "went around doing good" (Acts 10:38). He healed the disabled – the lame, the deaf, the blind. He embraced outcasts – lepers, prostitutes, tax-collectors (their equivalent today are those with AIDS). He made time for widows, orphans, and children. He took the side of the poor, the little guy, and the underdog against those who were rich, powerful, and influential. He fed the hungry. He befriended the lonely. He went out of His way to minister to the sick. He not only had compassion on the crowds but He also taught them. Every time we do good, we who are Christians are simply following in the steps of the Master.
The last thing Paul speaks of is a promise. "Let us not become weary in doing good," says Paul, "for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
The image here is of a farm. If there is one worker who knows what it means to stay on the job, it is the farmer. He must prepare the soil, sow the seed, pull the weeds, and water the plants. He can never afford to give up or quit. Regardless of the long hours, the heat of the sun, or the cold of the rain, he must keep on working. And in spite of all this he has no guarantee of reaping a harvest.
The farmer has no guarantee of the harvest, but the Christian worker does have a guarantee. God promises a harvest to those who not give up on doing good. God promises a harvest to those who do not become weary in doing good.
B What is this harvest promised, guaranteed, by the Lord? Listen to these verses:
According to these verses something wonderful happens when God's people do not become weary in doing good. What happens is that people are attracted to us and our God because of our love for each other. You see, there is a whole world out there that is desperate for love. People are surrounded everyday by hate, murder, rape, theft, abuse, selfishness, and greed. They are looking for and crying for love. When they find it in the church they come to God in faith. The result: the church grows and God's name is praised.
In his sermon on the Mount Jesus talks to us about storing up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:20). When we do not become weary in doing good, we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven. By grace, God rewards us for the good we have done. He one day will say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
"Never give up. Never give up. Never give up." In the Lord's service, it is always too soon to quit. In the Lord's service, it is never time to slacken our efforts. In the Lord's service, we never come to the point of giving up.
You will surely reap what you sow -- sow good!
You can e-mail our pastor at: Pastor, Trinity United Reformed Church
We will reap what we sow -- so we need to sow good, to sow from the Spirit. And we must keep doing it!
In June of 1955, Sir Winston Churchill, who was the near the end of his life, was asked to give a commencement address at a British university. At this time he was physically infirm; he had to be helped to the podium. Then he held on to the podium for what seemed an endless amount of time.
He stood with his head bowed down but finally looked up. Then the voice that years before had called Britain back from the brink of destruction sounded publicly for the last time in history: "Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."
With that, Churchill turned and went back to his seat. there was silence, and then, as if one person, the whole audience rose to applaud him. They rose to applaud him because here was a man whose life and words were together. During the darkest days of World War II when country after country was being swallowed by the Nazis, when German planes were bombing English cities into piles of rubble, when the threat of invasion seemed imminent, when even the hardiest of souls was giving up hope, Churchill never lost hope and never gave up. Also, again and again throughout his political career, Churchill had known setbacks. Three times, his career apparently over, he was sent off to oblivion. Three times he came back to lead his country. Here was a man who never gave up.
"Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."
This is excellent advice for politicians and soldiers facing defeat, for students facing exams and papers, for athletes facing stiff competition, for parents despairing over wayward children, for married couples wondering if they should divorce, for those lost in the despair that follows the death of a loved one. To all these people I say, "Never give up. Never give up. Never give up."
Especially, though, this is excellent advice for anybody who is seeking to serve the Lord and accomplish His work. In the Lord's service, it is always too soon to quit. In the Lord's service, it is never time to slacken our efforts. In the Lord's service, we never come to the point of giving up. Paul had this in mind when he wrote,
(Gal 6:9) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Whenever we are tempted to do less than our best, or perhaps to quit completely, we ought to remember this verse and the truths that it contains. Whenever we find ourselves getting tired of or burned out from or losing enthusiasm for the Lord's work we need to remember the words of our text.
A Paul speaks to us about our Christian calling. As Christians, what is our calling? It is "doing good." Each one of us is called to do good. That is what Christian life and service are all about. We Christians are not only believers; we also are behavers. As James puts it,
(James 1:22) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.We are not only called to faith but we are also called to do the will of God and the work of God.
It is clear from the Bible that God expects all of His people to be involved in doing good. Don't forget, in our text Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia. That means he is writing to men and women, adult singles and young people and children, leaders and followers, teachers and students. To all of these church members he says, "Let us not become weary in doing good ..." Every church member is expected to do good.
What it comes down to is that all of God's people are to consider it their calling to do good.
It is also clear from the Bible to whom God expects us to do good. Did you catch what Paul said in verse 10? He writes,
(Gal 6:10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.We are to do good to all people. But it starts off with fellow Christians. It makes no sense to do good in the world if we don't first do good to those in the household of faith. It makes no sense to help out our unbelieving neighbor if we ignore our own family.
If there is any book of the Bible that deals with good deeds, it is the book of James. James tells us that
(James 1:27) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ... (Cf James 2:15-17)Our good deeds are not to be limited to acts of charity. Also in mind is involvement in the causes of the church and kingdom. I think of such things as being willing to serve on a committee or board or in a leadership function; being willing to work with our youth through GEMS, Cadets, Young People, or Church School; helping out in the nursery; using your talents in worship; leading a Bible Study, and so on.
When we do good, we are simply following the example of Christ. Paul tells us in another place to adopt the mind of Christ, to imitate His example (Phil 2:5). We all should know that Jesus "went around doing good" (Acts 10:38). He healed the disabled – the lame, the deaf, the blind. He embraced outcasts – lepers, prostitutes, tax-collectors (their equivalent today are those with AIDS). He made time for widows, orphans, and children. He took the side of the poor, the little guy, and the underdog against those who were rich, powerful, and influential. He fed the hungry. He befriended the lonely. He went out of His way to minister to the sick. He not only had compassion on the crowds but He also taught them. Every time we do good, we who are Christians are simply following in the steps of the Master.
In other words, "Let us not become weary in doing good."
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest pride.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for some underdogs anyway.
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway!
The last thing Paul speaks of is a promise. "Let us not become weary in doing good," says Paul, "for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
The image here is of a farm. If there is one worker who knows what it means to stay on the job, it is the farmer. He must prepare the soil, sow the seed, pull the weeds, and water the plants. He can never afford to give up or quit. Regardless of the long hours, the heat of the sun, or the cold of the rain, he must keep on working. And in spite of all this he has no guarantee of reaping a harvest.
The farmer has no guarantee of the harvest, but the Christian worker does have a guarantee. God promises a harvest to those who not give up on doing good. God promises a harvest to those who do not become weary in doing good.
B What is this harvest promised, guaranteed, by the Lord? Listen to these verses:
(Matt 5:16) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
(1 Pet 2:12) Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
According to these verses something wonderful happens when God's people do not become weary in doing good. What happens is that people are attracted to us and our God because of our love for each other. You see, there is a whole world out there that is desperate for love. People are surrounded everyday by hate, murder, rape, theft, abuse, selfishness, and greed. They are looking for and crying for love. When they find it in the church they come to God in faith. The result: the church grows and God's name is praised.
In his sermon on the Mount Jesus talks to us about storing up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:20). When we do not become weary in doing good, we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven. By grace, God rewards us for the good we have done. He one day will say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
"Never give up. Never give up. Never give up." In the Lord's service, it is always too soon to quit. In the Lord's service, it is never time to slacken our efforts. In the Lord's service, we never come to the point of giving up.
You will surely reap what you sow -- sow good!
You can e-mail our pastor at: Pastor, Trinity United Reformed Church
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Jesus Challenges Us to Love the Ones Who are Different From Us and to Love Our Enemies
Sometimes some folks who call themselves Christians spew forth a lot of hate. Often it is just racism or its cousin radical intolerance -- forms of hate usually caused by fear and ignorance -- disguised behind a Bible verse taken out of context. Sometimes it is a misguided form of patriotism that wants to keep others from enjoying the freedom we love so much, instead of reasonably extending the welcome that many of our ancestors received when they came here.
As my Native American friends in Alaska remind me -- all of us who are not Native are really immigrants, and many of our ancestors did not come here "legally." Likewise, many of our ancestors came here seeking religious freedom. If we start downsizing that freedom for some citizens, where will it all stop?
What we need is that Christians, those who profess to follow Jesus Christ, should actually put his words into action to guide their own actions. Living by the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) and the Great Commandments (Mark 12:28-31) would transform our national politics and discourse, and work wonders in local situations.
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:`12
"28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[b] 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c]There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31
Remember, Christians -- God first, country second. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, not a political leader or cable news pundit or television evangelist. His words must light our path, not the glow of our television sets or our computers or cell phones.
Often the Bible is not mentioned directly, folks just allude to it, as if what they are saying the gospel truth, when it is actually just their own ideas shaped by the political winds of the day. And when the Bible is mentioned, we need to make sure we are guided by the whole Bible, and especially by the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus that the Bible comes together and makes the divine sense it is intended to give us. Jesus is the theme of the Bible -- and He came because of love (John 3:16).
Often Christians are distracted by hyped up issues thar are used for political purposes, and that is not helpful. The devil is effective at doing that -- and modern media and the politics of personal attack plays right into his evil hands. And when we let ourselves be distracted, we lose sight of the acts that we should be doing as Christians --acts of love in action.
The Bible says feed the hungry. The Bible says clothe the naked. The Bible says love your neighbor, not to persecute those who differ from you. ..Jesus tells us we need to break through the envelope to show love for those different from us, even our enemies:
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48
As my Native American friends in Alaska remind me -- all of us who are not Native are really immigrants, and many of our ancestors did not come here "legally." Likewise, many of our ancestors came here seeking religious freedom. If we start downsizing that freedom for some citizens, where will it all stop?
What we need is that Christians, those who profess to follow Jesus Christ, should actually put his words into action to guide their own actions. Living by the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) and the Great Commandments (Mark 12:28-31) would transform our national politics and discourse, and work wonders in local situations.
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:`12
"28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[b] 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c]There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31
Remember, Christians -- God first, country second. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, not a political leader or cable news pundit or television evangelist. His words must light our path, not the glow of our television sets or our computers or cell phones.
Often the Bible is not mentioned directly, folks just allude to it, as if what they are saying the gospel truth, when it is actually just their own ideas shaped by the political winds of the day. And when the Bible is mentioned, we need to make sure we are guided by the whole Bible, and especially by the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus that the Bible comes together and makes the divine sense it is intended to give us. Jesus is the theme of the Bible -- and He came because of love (John 3:16).
Often Christians are distracted by hyped up issues thar are used for political purposes, and that is not helpful. The devil is effective at doing that -- and modern media and the politics of personal attack plays right into his evil hands. And when we let ourselves be distracted, we lose sight of the acts that we should be doing as Christians --acts of love in action.
The Bible says feed the hungry. The Bible says clothe the naked. The Bible says love your neighbor, not to persecute those who differ from you. ..Jesus tells us we need to break through the envelope to show love for those different from us, even our enemies:
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Love Extended -- Seeking Forgiveness and Peace
One of the strongest themes in Jesus' teaching is forgiveness. He certainly intends us to forgive each other as individuals. But he was often speaking of the community. In his community there were a number of people who were looked down upon. These included tax collectors, who were regarded as collaborators with the Romans, and prostitutes, whose sin is obvious, but apparently also many ordinary people who didn't have the time and resources to carry out all of the commandments that some considered essential.
Jesus spent much of his time with these people, reassuring them of God's love. However the people who are shown as responding to him are also shown as repenting of their sins. A tax collector who followed him, Zaccheus,vowed to return anything he had fraudulently taken fourfold.
Jesus seems to have accomplished what most of us find nearly impossible: He seems to have accepted everyone on their own terms, but also inspired people to change their lives for the better, without appearing to be judgmental in the process. Christians try to capture this with concepts such as "hate the sin but love the sinner", and "tough love". A more traditional description is to say that Christianity must balance Law and Gospel. I'm afraid that these attempts are not always successful.
Christians are called on to forgive enemies, both Christian and non-Christian. This forgiveness is intended to benefit both parties. In many cases it may win over the other person, and restore (or establish) a relationship with them. However even when it does not, forgiveness is important. Bitterness and resentment are two of the more destructive emotions.
Wars and fights and dehumanizing acts should be a thing of the past for the Christian.. Christians should be able to come up with better ways to deal with conflict. Peacemaking is a priority among Christians. We serve the Prince of Peace. This goes for national events and personal confkicts. We need to work for peace. We need to encourage members to study conflict resolution and personal peacemaking techniques.Love and forgiveness and peace are things that Christians must pursue -- and urge others to pursue.
Jesus spent much of his time with these people, reassuring them of God's love. However the people who are shown as responding to him are also shown as repenting of their sins. A tax collector who followed him, Zaccheus,vowed to return anything he had fraudulently taken fourfold.
Jesus seems to have accomplished what most of us find nearly impossible: He seems to have accepted everyone on their own terms, but also inspired people to change their lives for the better, without appearing to be judgmental in the process. Christians try to capture this with concepts such as "hate the sin but love the sinner", and "tough love". A more traditional description is to say that Christianity must balance Law and Gospel. I'm afraid that these attempts are not always successful.
Christians are called on to forgive enemies, both Christian and non-Christian. This forgiveness is intended to benefit both parties. In many cases it may win over the other person, and restore (or establish) a relationship with them. However even when it does not, forgiveness is important. Bitterness and resentment are two of the more destructive emotions.
Wars and fights and dehumanizing acts should be a thing of the past for the Christian.. Christians should be able to come up with better ways to deal with conflict. Peacemaking is a priority among Christians. We serve the Prince of Peace. This goes for national events and personal confkicts. We need to work for peace. We need to encourage members to study conflict resolution and personal peacemaking techniques.Love and forgiveness and peace are things that Christians must pursue -- and urge others to pursue.
Love is the Necessity of the Christian Life!
Jesus accepted the validity of the Jewish laws of his day. However he encouraged people to emphasize the intent behind the law, and to focus on their motivations. He summarized the law as love for God and for our neighbor. Thus much of Christian practice is focused on finding ways to show love for our fellow men and women on this planet. How do you show your love?
Are you a person who acts in love, or do you allow the lesser emotions of hate and greed to dominate you and your actions? Do you allow prejudice and intolerance to win out in your life? Are you a person who lives in fear, or one who lives by faith? Do you live in love, or do you live in racism and hate and gossip and the fine art of running people down. Much of modern media and so-called news is not "fair and balanced," but rather is unfair and imbalanced and oozing hate. Christians must rise above the culture in this regard.
At its best, Christianity has been characterized by helping people. This ranges from the personal to the institutional. At the personal level, Christians should help others. This includes direct help for friends, and participation in more organized activities such as soup kitchens and help for the homeless. At the institutional level, Christians have been active in creating hospitals, schools, and other institutions to help people.
The term "love" in English covers many things, including erotic love, love between parent and child, brotherly love, etc. Christian love can be modeled on love between parent and child and brotherly love.
We are told to love everyone, particularly enemies. It's useful to start by looking at what this does NOT mean. It does not mean that we will like everyone, bur rather that we purpose to act in love in Jesus' Name. Love is not primarily an emotion, although it often involves the emotions, and is supported by them. It is primarily a commitment to care about someone.
Jesus' teachings are largely a description of what love means. However the briefest and perhaps most eloquent description is from one of Paul's letters, the first one to the church in Corinth:
Are you a person who acts in love, or do you allow the lesser emotions of hate and greed to dominate you and your actions? Do you allow prejudice and intolerance to win out in your life? Are you a person who lives in fear, or one who lives by faith? Do you live in love, or do you live in racism and hate and gossip and the fine art of running people down. Much of modern media and so-called news is not "fair and balanced," but rather is unfair and imbalanced and oozing hate. Christians must rise above the culture in this regard.
At its best, Christianity has been characterized by helping people. This ranges from the personal to the institutional. At the personal level, Christians should help others. This includes direct help for friends, and participation in more organized activities such as soup kitchens and help for the homeless. At the institutional level, Christians have been active in creating hospitals, schools, and other institutions to help people.
The term "love" in English covers many things, including erotic love, love between parent and child, brotherly love, etc. Christian love can be modeled on love between parent and child and brotherly love.
We are told to love everyone, particularly enemies. It's useful to start by looking at what this does NOT mean. It does not mean that we will like everyone, bur rather that we purpose to act in love in Jesus' Name. Love is not primarily an emotion, although it often involves the emotions, and is supported by them. It is primarily a commitment to care about someone.
Jesus' teachings are largely a description of what love means. However the briefest and perhaps most eloquent description is from one of Paul's letters, the first one to the church in Corinth:
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love is based on our status as fellow children of God. This means that there is at least potentially a close spiritual bond between all of us. It is a reflection of the fact that God loves us, and is an expression of Christ's love active in us. It is also based on honesty and justice, on compassion and service. It is God's hand extended through us as we act in love.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Expecting Miracles -- The Faith of Friends -- Extending Your Faith to Help Others
Two of Jesus Christ's seventeen healing miracles involve healing a paralyzed person. The healing recorded in Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; and Luke 5:17-26 is the first of the two. It took place in Capernaum, which Matthew calls Jesus' "own city" because it was His continuous home as an adult and certainly after His rejection by the Nazarenes. The miracle's focus is the issue of Christ as the Son of God, which is shown in an obvious and amazing way. Friends bring a man in need of help to Jesus -- and Jesus transforms his life!
The healing of the paralytic impressed and excited everyone present. Energetic crowds of interested people pressed in at the door to hear the Teacher proclaim the "new" truths. The Pharisees, the scribes, and the common people were unaware that they were about to
Four men arrive late, carrying a paralyzed man on his bed. When they realize that they cannot possibly get him through the door, they carry their helpless paralytic friend upstairs to the roof and lower the bed in front of Jesus as He is speaking. Their determination to place him before Jesus displays their faith that he would be healed. Instead of being deterred by the problem of the crowds, they see the possibilities for solving it. If they could only involve God, they thought, things would go well. The persevering efforts of the four friends pay off for their paralytic friend as they help make possible his spiritual healing as well as his physical healing. Their actions are an example of the apostle James' statement in James 2:18: "I will show you my faith by my works."
Christ finds faith in the friends, and He honors their faith, rather than any faith the sufferer has. Of course, no one can be saved by another's faith. Yet, another or others can help him along to Christ since only He can deliver him from the bondage of sin. Being pleased with their works, which exhibited their faith, Christ responds to their resourcefulness and perseverance in behalf of their suffering friend. Their faith in Christ, then, is the catalyst in His performing this miracle. Our Savior works where faith is present (Luke 5:20). Obviously, He can perform His work anywhere regardless of human faith, but He often chooses not to act when people lack faith in Him, as happened in Nazareth (Matthew 13:58).
Hope motivates the paralytic's friends to manifest faith. First, their faith is a wise faith in that it brought the paralytic to the only One who could heal. Second, it is a persistent faith because it is undeterred by seemingly overwhelming obstacles. Third, it is a sacrificial faith in that it gives of its time and effort to bring the paralytic before Christ. Fourth, it is an unintimidated faith because it is unashamedly displayed in public. Fifth, it is a humble faith since the friends do not ask Jesus to come to him but take him to Jesus. Sixth, it is a loving faith because the friends willingly expend great effort to get him real help. Finally, it is an active faith in that they take the man to Christ rather than sit around complaining and grumbling about their friend's woeful condition.
Christ deals first with the spiritual problem—the forgiveness of sins—and then the physical problem—the physical affliction. Most people want it the other way around, putting greater emphasis on healing the physical ailment than fixing the spiritual problem. Solomon gives us the answer to which is more important: "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?" (Proverbs 18:14). From God's perfect perspective, spiritual needs are always more critical than physical ones (Mark 8:36), so in this miracle, forgiveness precedes healing.
Jesus tells the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." Seeing his friends' faith, Jesus' first words to the paralytic offer simple encouragement: "Be of good cheer." His comforting support refers directly to the forgiveness of the sufferer's sins. The paralytic, troubled by sin that had caused or was causing his suffering, now had reason for optimism. Having our sins forgiven always brings a deep relief and joy, even if the physical affliction is not healed. David's psalm on the joy of forgiveness speaks of this satisfying comfort: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit" (Psalm 32:1-2).
Now let us look at what the friends did for their paralyzed friend -- According to our text for today, Jesus had a house there in that village. In the story for today, four friends dug through the roof of Jesus’ house and lowered their friend on at mat into the house. Remember the word, “dug.” The friends DUG a hole through the roof. Sometimes we must dig through barriers in order to help folks to see Jesus, to get close to Jesus. It is in his presence that healing comes!
The healing of the paralytic impressed and excited everyone present. Energetic crowds of interested people pressed in at the door to hear the Teacher proclaim the "new" truths. The Pharisees, the scribes, and the common people were unaware that they were about to
Four men arrive late, carrying a paralyzed man on his bed. When they realize that they cannot possibly get him through the door, they carry their helpless paralytic friend upstairs to the roof and lower the bed in front of Jesus as He is speaking. Their determination to place him before Jesus displays their faith that he would be healed. Instead of being deterred by the problem of the crowds, they see the possibilities for solving it. If they could only involve God, they thought, things would go well. The persevering efforts of the four friends pay off for their paralytic friend as they help make possible his spiritual healing as well as his physical healing. Their actions are an example of the apostle James' statement in James 2:18: "I will show you my faith by my works."
Christ finds faith in the friends, and He honors their faith, rather than any faith the sufferer has. Of course, no one can be saved by another's faith. Yet, another or others can help him along to Christ since only He can deliver him from the bondage of sin. Being pleased with their works, which exhibited their faith, Christ responds to their resourcefulness and perseverance in behalf of their suffering friend. Their faith in Christ, then, is the catalyst in His performing this miracle. Our Savior works where faith is present (Luke 5:20). Obviously, He can perform His work anywhere regardless of human faith, but He often chooses not to act when people lack faith in Him, as happened in Nazareth (Matthew 13:58).
Hope motivates the paralytic's friends to manifest faith. First, their faith is a wise faith in that it brought the paralytic to the only One who could heal. Second, it is a persistent faith because it is undeterred by seemingly overwhelming obstacles. Third, it is a sacrificial faith in that it gives of its time and effort to bring the paralytic before Christ. Fourth, it is an unintimidated faith because it is unashamedly displayed in public. Fifth, it is a humble faith since the friends do not ask Jesus to come to him but take him to Jesus. Sixth, it is a loving faith because the friends willingly expend great effort to get him real help. Finally, it is an active faith in that they take the man to Christ rather than sit around complaining and grumbling about their friend's woeful condition.
Christ deals first with the spiritual problem—the forgiveness of sins—and then the physical problem—the physical affliction. Most people want it the other way around, putting greater emphasis on healing the physical ailment than fixing the spiritual problem. Solomon gives us the answer to which is more important: "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?" (Proverbs 18:14). From God's perfect perspective, spiritual needs are always more critical than physical ones (Mark 8:36), so in this miracle, forgiveness precedes healing.
Jesus tells the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." Seeing his friends' faith, Jesus' first words to the paralytic offer simple encouragement: "Be of good cheer." His comforting support refers directly to the forgiveness of the sufferer's sins. The paralytic, troubled by sin that had caused or was causing his suffering, now had reason for optimism. Having our sins forgiven always brings a deep relief and joy, even if the physical affliction is not healed. David's psalm on the joy of forgiveness speaks of this satisfying comfort: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit" (Psalm 32:1-2).
Now let us look at what the friends did for their paralyzed friend -- According to our text for today, Jesus had a house there in that village. In the story for today, four friends dug through the roof of Jesus’ house and lowered their friend on at mat into the house. Remember the word, “dug.” The friends DUG a hole through the roof. Sometimes we must dig through barriers in order to help folks to see Jesus, to get close to Jesus. It is in his presence that healing comes!
Friday, August 20, 2010
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL is important, too!
A SECRET: Attending a Sunday School class is the best way to get involved in the Life of our church and grow closer to God and to other Christians!
There is no better way to become an integral part of our wonderful church family than to attend Adult Sunday School – we have marvelous teachers and a great way of studying the Bible. A weekly small-group Bible study like Sunday School is where you meet people and interact with them as you study God's Word together. This is where masks come off and accountability is shared. It's where burdens are divided and joys are multiplied. It's where we get to know each other well enough to encourage each other to develop and use our spiritual gifts. None of this can happen in a corporate worship service because we experience little or no interaction with other Christians as we sit in these chairs and sing or listen to sermons. Worship is key, for sure, but it needs to be coupled with Sunday School for Christians to grow richly in God.
Well, the sad truth is in these "less is better" days many Christians only attend worship-they never join a Sunday School Class and so they miss out! They never really taste the church because you can only do that by being involved in a small group of Christians with whom you meet to study the Bible on a weekly basis. Someone once wisely said, there are two things you can't do alone: be married and be a Christian-and they were so right because to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ we need interaction with other Christians. Proverbs 27:17 refers to this principle when it says, "As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another."
Sunday School works because each week you spend an hour together studying God's Word-you also meet for fellowship. So if you're not involved in the Sunday School class I would encourage you to join it. I know I am somewhat biased but we have WONDERFUL teachers with fine spiritual depth and instructional capability.. They will stretch you and guide you such that you grow closer to Jesus than you have ever been. Plus-attending their classes will enable you to really get to know this church family. I promise, attending Sunday School will be more than worth the hour it costs you each week. You may say, "Well, Pastor Glenn, worship is enough or me. I mean I just love the music and your sermons." And you can say that as much as you want but I would reply, "! Come to Sunday School and give God another hour of your life. He will multiply it back with many blessings.. There is no better way to do so!"
There is no better way to become an integral part of our wonderful church family than to attend Adult Sunday School – we have marvelous teachers and a great way of studying the Bible. A weekly small-group Bible study like Sunday School is where you meet people and interact with them as you study God's Word together. This is where masks come off and accountability is shared. It's where burdens are divided and joys are multiplied. It's where we get to know each other well enough to encourage each other to develop and use our spiritual gifts. None of this can happen in a corporate worship service because we experience little or no interaction with other Christians as we sit in these chairs and sing or listen to sermons. Worship is key, for sure, but it needs to be coupled with Sunday School for Christians to grow richly in God.
Well, the sad truth is in these "less is better" days many Christians only attend worship-they never join a Sunday School Class and so they miss out! They never really taste the church because you can only do that by being involved in a small group of Christians with whom you meet to study the Bible on a weekly basis. Someone once wisely said, there are two things you can't do alone: be married and be a Christian-and they were so right because to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ we need interaction with other Christians. Proverbs 27:17 refers to this principle when it says, "As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another."
Sunday School works because each week you spend an hour together studying God's Word-you also meet for fellowship. So if you're not involved in the Sunday School class I would encourage you to join it. I know I am somewhat biased but we have WONDERFUL teachers with fine spiritual depth and instructional capability.. They will stretch you and guide you such that you grow closer to Jesus than you have ever been. Plus-attending their classes will enable you to really get to know this church family. I promise, attending Sunday School will be more than worth the hour it costs you each week. You may say, "Well, Pastor Glenn, worship is enough or me. I mean I just love the music and your sermons." And you can say that as much as you want but I would reply, "! Come to Sunday School and give God another hour of your life. He will multiply it back with many blessings.. There is no better way to do so!"
THE AMAZING IMPORTANCE OF SUNDAY SCHOOL – Read What God Did!
Sunday School is important. A Sunday School teacher has a powerful influence for as Jesus said in Luke 6:40, "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." A teacher then becomes a role model for his or her students-talk about influence!
How many of you have heard of a man named Edward Kimball? Well, if you haven't don't feel to bad because he lived over a hundred years ago and his name does not appear in any history books that I know of mainly because most historians would say that Mr. Kimball never did anything that was all that newsworthy. He was just a "simple" Sunday School teacher in Chicago who taught a class full of teenage boys. Well one day he got a new student-a country boy who didn't know the ways of the city or of the church. When he first came to his class, Edward Kimball handed him a Bible and asked him to turn to the Gospel of John but the country boy didn't know how to find the Gospel of John.
Edward Kimball realized how little the boy knew so he ignored the snickering of the other boys, opened the Bible to the Gospel of John and handed it back. When he asked the boys to take turns reading the Scripture, the country boy always fumbled along. But Edward Kimball saw possibilities in the boy. He worked with him, and after a few months he went down to the store where the boy was working, into the back room where he was stacking boxes, and led the boy whose name was Dwight to embrace a personal faith in Jesus Christ. This was the beginning of a great, marvelous thing that God was doing!
That was the beginning of the ministry of Dwight L. Moody, one of this continent's greatest evangelists during the last century. But that's not the end of the story. You see, Moody, whose international speaking took him to the British Isles, once preached in a little chapel there pastored by a young man named Frederic Meyer. In his sermon Moody told an emotionally charged story about a certain Sunday school teacher he had known who personally went to every student in his class and led every one of them to Christ. That message changed Meyer's entire ministry, inspiring him to become an evangelist like Moody.
Over the years Meyer came to America several times to preach. Once in Northfield, Massachusetts, a young preacher sitting in the back row heard Meyer say, "If you are not willing to give up everything for Christ, are you willing to be made willing?" And, that remark led J. Wilbur Chapman to respond to the call of God in his life. Chapman went on to become one of the most effective evangelists of his time.
A volunteer by the name of Billy Sunday-a famous baseball player-helped set up his crusades and learned how to preach by watching Chapman. Sunday eventually took over Chapman's ministry, becoming one of the best known evangelists of the 20th century. In the great arenas of the nation, God used Billy Sunday's preaching to turn thousands of people to Christ. Inspired by a 1924 Billy Sunday crusade in Charlotte, North Carolina, a committee of Christians there dedicated themselves to reaching that city for Christ.
The committee invited the evangelist Mordecai Ham to hold a series of evangelistic meetings there in 1932. And a lanky 16-year-old sat in the huge crowd one evening, spellbound by the (message of the white-haired preacher, who seemed to be shouting and waving his lone finger at him. Night after night the teen attended and finally he went forward to give his life to Christ. His name was Billy Graham-the man who has undoubtedly communicated the gospel of Jesus Christ to more people than any other man in history. And all this started with the work of a faithful Sunday School teacher named Kimball.
So, you see Sunday School teachers have the potential to make an amazing impact on eternity. They have a unique opportunity to disciple people because they meet them one on one. They get to really know them and become a part of their lives. Might you be a teacher or helper?
How many of you have heard of a man named Edward Kimball? Well, if you haven't don't feel to bad because he lived over a hundred years ago and his name does not appear in any history books that I know of mainly because most historians would say that Mr. Kimball never did anything that was all that newsworthy. He was just a "simple" Sunday School teacher in Chicago who taught a class full of teenage boys. Well one day he got a new student-a country boy who didn't know the ways of the city or of the church. When he first came to his class, Edward Kimball handed him a Bible and asked him to turn to the Gospel of John but the country boy didn't know how to find the Gospel of John.
Edward Kimball realized how little the boy knew so he ignored the snickering of the other boys, opened the Bible to the Gospel of John and handed it back. When he asked the boys to take turns reading the Scripture, the country boy always fumbled along. But Edward Kimball saw possibilities in the boy. He worked with him, and after a few months he went down to the store where the boy was working, into the back room where he was stacking boxes, and led the boy whose name was Dwight to embrace a personal faith in Jesus Christ. This was the beginning of a great, marvelous thing that God was doing!
That was the beginning of the ministry of Dwight L. Moody, one of this continent's greatest evangelists during the last century. But that's not the end of the story. You see, Moody, whose international speaking took him to the British Isles, once preached in a little chapel there pastored by a young man named Frederic Meyer. In his sermon Moody told an emotionally charged story about a certain Sunday school teacher he had known who personally went to every student in his class and led every one of them to Christ. That message changed Meyer's entire ministry, inspiring him to become an evangelist like Moody.
Over the years Meyer came to America several times to preach. Once in Northfield, Massachusetts, a young preacher sitting in the back row heard Meyer say, "If you are not willing to give up everything for Christ, are you willing to be made willing?" And, that remark led J. Wilbur Chapman to respond to the call of God in his life. Chapman went on to become one of the most effective evangelists of his time.
A volunteer by the name of Billy Sunday-a famous baseball player-helped set up his crusades and learned how to preach by watching Chapman. Sunday eventually took over Chapman's ministry, becoming one of the best known evangelists of the 20th century. In the great arenas of the nation, God used Billy Sunday's preaching to turn thousands of people to Christ. Inspired by a 1924 Billy Sunday crusade in Charlotte, North Carolina, a committee of Christians there dedicated themselves to reaching that city for Christ.
The committee invited the evangelist Mordecai Ham to hold a series of evangelistic meetings there in 1932. And a lanky 16-year-old sat in the huge crowd one evening, spellbound by the (message of the white-haired preacher, who seemed to be shouting and waving his lone finger at him. Night after night the teen attended and finally he went forward to give his life to Christ. His name was Billy Graham-the man who has undoubtedly communicated the gospel of Jesus Christ to more people than any other man in history. And all this started with the work of a faithful Sunday School teacher named Kimball.
So, you see Sunday School teachers have the potential to make an amazing impact on eternity. They have a unique opportunity to disciple people because they meet them one on one. They get to really know them and become a part of their lives. Might you be a teacher or helper?
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Being a People of Prayer
Let us be people of prayer and houses of prayer! God's help through the power of prayer is available for all kinds of requests and issues. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
If you need an example of a prayer, read Matthew 6:9-13. These verses are known as the Lord's prayer. The Lord's prayer is not jsut a prayer to memorize and simply recite to God., but it is also an example of how to pray and the things that should go into a prayer - worship, trust in God, requests, confession, protection, etc. Pray for these kinds of things, but speak to God using your own words.
The Word of God is full of accounts describing the power of prayer in various situations. The power of prayer has overcome enemies (Psalm 6:9-10), conquered death (2 Kings 4:3-36), brought healing (James 5:14-15), and defeated demons (Mark 9:29). God, through prayer, opens eyes, changes hearts, heals wounds, and grants wisdom (James 1:5). The power of prayer should never be underestimated because it draws on the glory and might of the infinitely powerful God of the universe! Daniel 4:35 proclaims, "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'"
If you need an example of a prayer, read Matthew 6:9-13. These verses are known as the Lord's prayer. The Lord's prayer is not jsut a prayer to memorize and simply recite to God., but it is also an example of how to pray and the things that should go into a prayer - worship, trust in God, requests, confession, protection, etc. Pray for these kinds of things, but speak to God using your own words.
The Word of God is full of accounts describing the power of prayer in various situations. The power of prayer has overcome enemies (Psalm 6:9-10), conquered death (2 Kings 4:3-36), brought healing (James 5:14-15), and defeated demons (Mark 9:29). God, through prayer, opens eyes, changes hearts, heals wounds, and grants wisdom (James 1:5). The power of prayer should never be underestimated because it draws on the glory and might of the infinitely powerful God of the universe! Daniel 4:35 proclaims, "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'"
Faith Mighty Faith!
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," (Heb. 11:1).
1.Faith is an important word in the Bible. Faith is where the Promises and Work of God are made real to His redeemed.
A.Ephesians 2:8-9, We are saved by faith.
B.Rom. 1:17, We live by faith.
C.Rom. 4:13, We receive righteousness by faith.
D.Rom. 5:1, We are justified in Christ by faith
E.Rom. 5:2, We have access to God's grace by faith.
F.2 Cor. 1:24, We stand firm in our belief by faith.
G.Gal. 3:14, We receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
H.1 Tim. 1:4, We do God's work by faith.
I.Gal. 5:5, We wait for the return of Christ by faith.
2.What is Faith?
A.According to Webster's Dictionary faith is "an unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence."
B.Though Webster's Dictionary says we don'tneed evidence to have faith, as Christians we do have evidence for our faith. Examples are:
We have the Bible: 66 books, 40 authors, written in 3 languages, over 1600 years, prophecy, and moral and spiritual truth, We have the resurrection of Jesus; confidence in His words, and evidence of God's truth in our lives.
The nearest definition we have in the Bible of what faith is is found right here in Hebrews 11:1
A Christian understanding of faith is very different, and John Calvin proves especially helpful in defining faith: "Now we shall have a proper definition of faith if we say it is a steady and certain knowledge of the Divine benevolence toward us, which being founded upon the truth of the gratuitous promise in Christ is both revealed to our minds and sealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.2.vii).
The Proper Object of Faith
According to Calvin, the object of faith's knowledge is Jesus Christ. He defines faith by proceeding to the center of a series of concentric circles: God's existence, God's power, God's truthfulness, God's will "toward us" as revealed in Scripture, and finally Christ. All these circles are implied in faith, but only the last is properly understood as the object of faith.
Calvin goes so far as to say that those who say that God is the proper object of faith "rather mislead miserable souls by vain speculation, than direct them to the proper mark" (Institutes III.2.i). Christ as mediator is necessary if humans are to know God. Christ is not set over against God. Rather, Calvin asserts, Christ is the means—the only means—by which we can believe in God.
True Knowledge of Christ
To explain what this means, Calvin writes: "This, then is the true knowledge of Christ—to receive him as he is offered by the Father, that is, invested with his gospel; for he is appointed to be the object of our faith, so we cannot advance in the right way to him, without the guidance of the gospel…The gospel certainly opens to us those treasures of grace, without which Christ would profit us little" (Institutes III.2.vi). Christ, who is the object of faith, is understood in terms of the gospel, which, in turn, is explained by reference to grace.
1.Faith is an important word in the Bible. Faith is where the Promises and Work of God are made real to His redeemed.
A.Ephesians 2:8-9, We are saved by faith.
B.Rom. 1:17, We live by faith.
C.Rom. 4:13, We receive righteousness by faith.
D.Rom. 5:1, We are justified in Christ by faith
E.Rom. 5:2, We have access to God's grace by faith.
F.2 Cor. 1:24, We stand firm in our belief by faith.
G.Gal. 3:14, We receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
H.1 Tim. 1:4, We do God's work by faith.
I.Gal. 5:5, We wait for the return of Christ by faith.
2.What is Faith?
A.According to Webster's Dictionary faith is "an unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence."
B.Though Webster's Dictionary says we don'tneed evidence to have faith, as Christians we do have evidence for our faith. Examples are:
We have the Bible: 66 books, 40 authors, written in 3 languages, over 1600 years, prophecy, and moral and spiritual truth, We have the resurrection of Jesus; confidence in His words, and evidence of God's truth in our lives.
The nearest definition we have in the Bible of what faith is is found right here in Hebrews 11:1
A Christian understanding of faith is very different, and John Calvin proves especially helpful in defining faith: "Now we shall have a proper definition of faith if we say it is a steady and certain knowledge of the Divine benevolence toward us, which being founded upon the truth of the gratuitous promise in Christ is both revealed to our minds and sealed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.2.vii).
The Proper Object of Faith
According to Calvin, the object of faith's knowledge is Jesus Christ. He defines faith by proceeding to the center of a series of concentric circles: God's existence, God's power, God's truthfulness, God's will "toward us" as revealed in Scripture, and finally Christ. All these circles are implied in faith, but only the last is properly understood as the object of faith.
Calvin goes so far as to say that those who say that God is the proper object of faith "rather mislead miserable souls by vain speculation, than direct them to the proper mark" (Institutes III.2.i). Christ as mediator is necessary if humans are to know God. Christ is not set over against God. Rather, Calvin asserts, Christ is the means—the only means—by which we can believe in God.
True Knowledge of Christ
To explain what this means, Calvin writes: "This, then is the true knowledge of Christ—to receive him as he is offered by the Father, that is, invested with his gospel; for he is appointed to be the object of our faith, so we cannot advance in the right way to him, without the guidance of the gospel…The gospel certainly opens to us those treasures of grace, without which Christ would profit us little" (Institutes III.2.vi). Christ, who is the object of faith, is understood in terms of the gospel, which, in turn, is explained by reference to grace.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Faith That Pleases God, Part Two
YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO DELIGENTLY SEEK HIM (Hebres 11:6)
Most people have been raised to not believe in a positive outcome concerning anything, and actually, taught to believe in a negative outcome. It's a safety mechanism that says, "Don't get your hopes up, so if it doesn't work out, you won't be disappointed."
There's no logic in that because you will be disappointed anyway. Now, it's normal to feel disappointment. It's what you do with the feelings of disappointment that's important, but that's another subject.
Beleiving in a positive outcome is vital to our success. If we could only believe that God has our best interest in mind and simply trust that everything will work out, we would see great results. Life would change in ways we'd never thought possible. But, most people just can't believe things will work out for them. They look at past results and judge their future based on their past.
s a fact that the best predictor of future behavior, is past behavior. The good news is, that your behavior is a choice. Your past does not have to equal your future! Just change your expectations and have faith.
James 2:20 tells us that faith without works is dead, which means "faith" is an action word. The word "faith" in Webster's Dictionary is also translated as "belief." So, believing is an action. And, it really doesn't take any more effort to believe, than to not believe. It's just an attitude.
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."
The Bible is clear; what you believe is what you get. Jesus said in to the man who needed healing in Matthew 9:29, According to your faith, let it be done unto you. Faith is important. The just – the righteous – those made righteous by Jesus, shall live by faith it says in Romans 1:17, quoting Habakkuk 2:4. We need to live, we need to walk by faith.
Jesus didn't say we would see the manifestation of our prayers immediately. We must keep believing and not waver, "For a man who wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:6-7).
Expectation is the key to receiving from God when you pray! If you are not going to expect God to act, then don't pray at all. It's ineffective and displeases Him when you don't believe. Remember, Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God."
God will do His part when we pray, but our part is simply to believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him – and we must seek Him daily!/
The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.
Luther said: The true, living faith, which the Holy Spirit instills into the heart, simply cannot be idle. It must be used! A little faith in God will take your soul heaven, but great faith in God will bring the power of heaven to earth!
That is the kind of faith that pleases God. Charles Wesley put it this way:
Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities, A
nd cries it shall be done.!
Most people have been raised to not believe in a positive outcome concerning anything, and actually, taught to believe in a negative outcome. It's a safety mechanism that says, "Don't get your hopes up, so if it doesn't work out, you won't be disappointed."
There's no logic in that because you will be disappointed anyway. Now, it's normal to feel disappointment. It's what you do with the feelings of disappointment that's important, but that's another subject.
Beleiving in a positive outcome is vital to our success. If we could only believe that God has our best interest in mind and simply trust that everything will work out, we would see great results. Life would change in ways we'd never thought possible. But, most people just can't believe things will work out for them. They look at past results and judge their future based on their past.
s a fact that the best predictor of future behavior, is past behavior. The good news is, that your behavior is a choice. Your past does not have to equal your future! Just change your expectations and have faith.
James 2:20 tells us that faith without works is dead, which means "faith" is an action word. The word "faith" in Webster's Dictionary is also translated as "belief." So, believing is an action. And, it really doesn't take any more effort to believe, than to not believe. It's just an attitude.
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."
The Bible is clear; what you believe is what you get. Jesus said in to the man who needed healing in Matthew 9:29, According to your faith, let it be done unto you. Faith is important. The just – the righteous – those made righteous by Jesus, shall live by faith it says in Romans 1:17, quoting Habakkuk 2:4. We need to live, we need to walk by faith.
Jesus didn't say we would see the manifestation of our prayers immediately. We must keep believing and not waver, "For a man who wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:6-7).
Expectation is the key to receiving from God when you pray! If you are not going to expect God to act, then don't pray at all. It's ineffective and displeases Him when you don't believe. Remember, Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God."
God will do His part when we pray, but our part is simply to believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him – and we must seek Him daily!/
The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.
Luther said: The true, living faith, which the Holy Spirit instills into the heart, simply cannot be idle. It must be used! A little faith in God will take your soul heaven, but great faith in God will bring the power of heaven to earth!
That is the kind of faith that pleases God. Charles Wesley put it this way:
Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities, A
nd cries it shall be done.!
Hebrews 11:6: Faith That Pleases God, Part One
We have a great blessing – prayer. Prayer has power! It connects us with the Lord of the Universe, Jesus Christ. We are to pray, to trust and obey, and He promises to take care of us. Jesus taught us to pray daily (Matthew 6:11).
Does prayer actually change things? Well here in the Burt Presbyterian church we believe in the power and impact of prayer. How about you? Do you personally believe that?
The Bible gives many examples of God’s intervention in the lives of those who seek Him and trust in Him! Note the example of the prophet Daniel: "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Daniel 6:10). Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, but God rescued prayerful Daniel and preserved his life (vv. 11–12)!
Your Bible also reveals the power of prayer. Many recall that Jesus’ prayer raised Lazarus from the dead (cf. John 11). But His disciples also experienced such power in prayer. When the Apostle Peter was in Joppa, he saw a dead Christian woman, much beloved by the widows who mourned her death. We read that "Peter put them [the mourning widows] all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord" (Acts 9:40–42). Yes, the Apostle Peter raised a woman from death!
"But these were great men of faith," you may say. "What if I don’t have that much faith?" God’s Word gives us the good news that we can have faith. Your faith grows by hearing and reading and studying the Word of God (Romans 10:17)
We can grow in faith as we read the Bible. Hebrews 11 is called the "faith chapter." Here we read about the men and women of faith. You can have faith in God. God promises that if you seek Him sincerely, you will find Him: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Martin Luther said: God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.
But first you will have to acknowledge the existence of an all-wise, all-powerful Creator God who loves you and every human on earth! We read: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible" (Hebrews 11:1–3).
Let what the Bible says become a part of your being and the way yout live:, Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is God, and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. said the great theologiuan Augustine
Therefore, expectation is the key to receiving from God when you pray. Jesus said in Mark 11:24, Whatsoever things you desire when you pray, believe you receive them and you shall have them.
Believe you receive when you pray! What good does it do to pray without expecting to receive? You might as well not pray at all, for faith is required to receiving what you desire.
Surely, God will do His part when we pray, but we must also do our part. Our part is simply to believe. So many people are busy asking God, but never really believing what they are praying for will come to pass. You can tell by the way they talk, or act. But the Bible says you must believe that HE REWARDS YOU WHEN YOU DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!
Does prayer actually change things? Well here in the Burt Presbyterian church we believe in the power and impact of prayer. How about you? Do you personally believe that?
The Bible gives many examples of God’s intervention in the lives of those who seek Him and trust in Him! Note the example of the prophet Daniel: "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Daniel 6:10). Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, but God rescued prayerful Daniel and preserved his life (vv. 11–12)!
Your Bible also reveals the power of prayer. Many recall that Jesus’ prayer raised Lazarus from the dead (cf. John 11). But His disciples also experienced such power in prayer. When the Apostle Peter was in Joppa, he saw a dead Christian woman, much beloved by the widows who mourned her death. We read that "Peter put them [the mourning widows] all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord" (Acts 9:40–42). Yes, the Apostle Peter raised a woman from death!
"But these were great men of faith," you may say. "What if I don’t have that much faith?" God’s Word gives us the good news that we can have faith. Your faith grows by hearing and reading and studying the Word of God (Romans 10:17)
We can grow in faith as we read the Bible. Hebrews 11 is called the "faith chapter." Here we read about the men and women of faith. You can have faith in God. God promises that if you seek Him sincerely, you will find Him: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Martin Luther said: God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.
But first you will have to acknowledge the existence of an all-wise, all-powerful Creator God who loves you and every human on earth! We read: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible" (Hebrews 11:1–3).
Let what the Bible says become a part of your being and the way yout live:, Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is God, and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. said the great theologiuan Augustine
Therefore, expectation is the key to receiving from God when you pray. Jesus said in Mark 11:24, Whatsoever things you desire when you pray, believe you receive them and you shall have them.
Believe you receive when you pray! What good does it do to pray without expecting to receive? You might as well not pray at all, for faith is required to receiving what you desire.
Surely, God will do His part when we pray, but we must also do our part. Our part is simply to believe. So many people are busy asking God, but never really believing what they are praying for will come to pass. You can tell by the way they talk, or act. But the Bible says you must believe that HE REWARDS YOU WHEN YOU DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!
Monday, August 02, 2010
Expecting Miracles -- Baptism, Part One: Baptism Signifies God's Faithfulness and Our New Life in Christ!
Lawrence of Arabia participated in the Paris peace talks after World War I. Several Arab leaders came with him to Paris and stayed in the same hotel. When they went into their bathrooms they were amazed to find unlimited running water. By simply turning the handle on a faucet, they had an unlimited supply of water. When they got ready to leave Paris, they stole the faucets and hid them in their luggage. They thought the faucets magically created the running water. When they told Lawrence of Arabia what they had done, he laughed. He explained that the faucets were useless without pipes to a source of water.
In the same way, a person who’s not connected to Christ is not connected to the Father. God has no spiritual sons who are not sons by faith in Christ Jesus. No one comes to the Father except through Christ (John 14:6). Baptism is the sacrament that attests to this miracle of the Spirit – when we are sealed to Christ, His power is made available to us.
Baptism is the sacramental sign of the New Covenant -- the covenant established by Jesus. It is a sign of what the holy Spirit does an He seals God’s pledge to those who have been called by God's grace to inherit salvation.
Baptism tells us of several things God does for us. Primarily, it is a sign of the cleansing and remission of our sin as accomplished at the cross of Christ. Also, and very importantly, it signifies being regenerated by the Holy Spirit, being buried and raised together with Christ, being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, being adopted into the family of God, and being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Baptism was instituted by Christ in Matthew 28:19 where he told the disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...".
However, this outward sign is just that--an outward sign of the internal union that the believer has with God. It does not automatically confer the realities that are signified. For example, though baptism signifies regeneration or rebirth, it does not automatically confer rebirth. The power of baptism is not in the water but in the power of God.
Baptism signifies
• The faithfulness of God.
• The washing away of sin.
• Rebirth into Christ
• Putting on the fresh garment of Christ.
• Being sealed by God’s Spirit.
• Adoption into the covenant family of God and into God’s Church.
• resurrection and illumination in Jesus Christ.
Baptism is one of the two sacraments of the church universal. Presbyterians agree with most Christian denominations that baptism is a sacrament given to the church by Jesus Christ. "A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ." The sacraments are in a sense the Word of God made visible. Karl Barth calls them "eventful witnesses to the truth of the gospel."
Christ has appointed material things—water, bread, and wine—not only to represent spiritual truths, but also to seal and apply those truths to the believers. The visible sign in baptism is the washing with water, which signifies our cleansing, our regeneration, our being made new by the work of Christ. The sealing is the work of the Holy Spirit in the person, wherein he is stamped as God's child. Baptism is done in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Just as Jesus at his baptism was anointed by the Holy Spirit, so are we at ours. This the water of baptism symbolizes, immersion in God’s Spirit.
On the day I preach this sermon, we will baptize by immersion in a body of water, in our case, Smith Lake. The symbolism of immersion, based largely on Romans, chapter 6, is that of dying with Christ to sin and rising with him to a renewed life. Immersion is a biblical form of baptism that is rich in meaning, for our sins are washed away by Christ.
"All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:3-4
In the same way, a person who’s not connected to Christ is not connected to the Father. God has no spiritual sons who are not sons by faith in Christ Jesus. No one comes to the Father except through Christ (John 14:6). Baptism is the sacrament that attests to this miracle of the Spirit – when we are sealed to Christ, His power is made available to us.
Baptism is the sacramental sign of the New Covenant -- the covenant established by Jesus. It is a sign of what the holy Spirit does an He seals God’s pledge to those who have been called by God's grace to inherit salvation.
Baptism tells us of several things God does for us. Primarily, it is a sign of the cleansing and remission of our sin as accomplished at the cross of Christ. Also, and very importantly, it signifies being regenerated by the Holy Spirit, being buried and raised together with Christ, being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, being adopted into the family of God, and being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Baptism was instituted by Christ in Matthew 28:19 where he told the disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...".
However, this outward sign is just that--an outward sign of the internal union that the believer has with God. It does not automatically confer the realities that are signified. For example, though baptism signifies regeneration or rebirth, it does not automatically confer rebirth. The power of baptism is not in the water but in the power of God.
Baptism signifies
• The faithfulness of God.
• The washing away of sin.
• Rebirth into Christ
• Putting on the fresh garment of Christ.
• Being sealed by God’s Spirit.
• Adoption into the covenant family of God and into God’s Church.
• resurrection and illumination in Jesus Christ.
Baptism is one of the two sacraments of the church universal. Presbyterians agree with most Christian denominations that baptism is a sacrament given to the church by Jesus Christ. "A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ." The sacraments are in a sense the Word of God made visible. Karl Barth calls them "eventful witnesses to the truth of the gospel."
Christ has appointed material things—water, bread, and wine—not only to represent spiritual truths, but also to seal and apply those truths to the believers. The visible sign in baptism is the washing with water, which signifies our cleansing, our regeneration, our being made new by the work of Christ. The sealing is the work of the Holy Spirit in the person, wherein he is stamped as God's child. Baptism is done in the name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Just as Jesus at his baptism was anointed by the Holy Spirit, so are we at ours. This the water of baptism symbolizes, immersion in God’s Spirit.
On the day I preach this sermon, we will baptize by immersion in a body of water, in our case, Smith Lake. The symbolism of immersion, based largely on Romans, chapter 6, is that of dying with Christ to sin and rising with him to a renewed life. Immersion is a biblical form of baptism that is rich in meaning, for our sins are washed away by Christ.
"All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:3-4
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Expecting Miracles -- He Sent His Word and Healed the Boy
John 4:46-4:54:
46Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
48"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
49The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." 53Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.
54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.
The nobleman, who was a royal officer, met Jesus. And his life was changed. That happends when you meet Jesus!
He had heard of Jesus. After Jesus changed water into wine people began to spread the story all over the country. Jesus had power that belonged to God. Jesus had revealed his glory. The disciples had seen it. The word had gone out far and wide that Jesus could do the signs that identified him as God’s Son. The creative power of God is what changed ordinary water into good wine. To meet Jesus therefore is to meet God.
God reveals his love to us in Jesus. This nobleman saw God as far away and silent. But then he met Jesus.. He implored Jesus to come to where his son was and to heal him. Jesus responded with what appear to be surprising words – almost as if he were callused to the man’s pain. He said, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”
But what was Jesus actually doing here? Jesus was driving the man to trust more simply and strongly in the word that Jesus would speak. The man obviously thought he knew how Jesus would answer his prayer. He would provide some kind of dramatic display of power. He would go to the man’s home and provide the kind of sign that was expected of him. But Jesus deliberately chose not to go to the man’s home, indeed not even to approach it. Instead he spoke. “Go your way; your son lives.”
Jesus stood in the flesh face to face with the nobleman. He spoke. The words he spoke to the nobleman healed the boy who was miles away. Jesus spoke and by that speaking he brought life to a dying boy. Jesus spoke and by that speaking he brought his gracious presence to a home filled with dread. By his almighty word he brought that nobleman to faith. In fact, he brought his whole family to true faith.
Our text tells us that the nobleman believed Jesus’ word when Jesus spoke it. It also tells us that the man believed Jesus’ word when he saw that Jesus had saved his son’s life. It was the same faith. Jesus’ words bring us to faith and keep us in the faith. We have the words of Jesus right here. Believe them. Believe them!
Without his words our faith wouldn’t even exist because it would have nothing to live on. We live on the words of promise. Jesus deals with us through his word. This is why he chose to heal the man’s son as he did. He wanted to teach them and us that he chooses to be present with us through his word. In this way he teaches us not to seek him out anywhere else than in his word.
Most people are very confused about what faith is. They think that faith is a decision that we make. They think that faith is doing something. That’s not true. Faith is the very opposite of doing. Faith is believing. It is trusting. It is hearing what God says to us and relying on the truth of what he says. “Your son lives.” So says Jesus. Faith says “amen” to what Jesus says. It is very simple.
Faith trusts in the word and in this way it trusts in Jesus. You cannot trust in Jesus without trusting in his word. When you trust in his word you are trusting in him. And when you trust in him, you are trusting in God.
The only way to know the Father is through the Son. The only way to know the Son is by the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit speaks to us only and always through the word Jesus gave him to speak. This is the word written down in the New Testament, the word that amplifies and explains and fulfills the word in the Old Testament.
It is the word preached from the pulpit of this church. It is the word joined to the water in Holy Baptism. It makes baptism a washing of rebirth that creates and sustains saving faith in our hearts throughout our lives. It is the word that is joined to bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper so that ordinary food becomes the body and the blood of Jesus. It is the word that is spoken in the absolution so that Jesus Christ himself gives here and now today in this place the same forgiveness he won on the cross.
Listen to the word of God as Jesus gives it and learn to love him. You can rely on your own experiences to understand God’s love, but your experiences must align with God’s word to be truth.
Brothers and Sisters, listen to this -- the God who sent his Son into this world continues to talk to us through this same Son. It is as the Epistle to the Hebrews puts it, “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2a)
The revealed God speaks to us through Jesus.Jesus Chrsit was crucified, buried, and on the third day rise from the dead. In our baptism we are joined to that holy event. In the Supper, the same body that there bore our sins and the same blood that there was shed for us are given to us to eat and to drink and we hear Jesus’ words that this is his body and his blood given and shed for the forgiveness of sins.
Do you believe him? When he says what he says, do you think it is so? Believe His word. He says his word and when he says it that makes it so. Whether it is the little baby being baptized, the penitent being forgiven, the lost being saved, or the bread and wine being consecrated by the Words of Institution, God’s word always makes it so.
The young man’s fever left him at the very hour Jesus said, “Your son lives.” “So he and all his household believed. This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee” (John 4:53-54).
There is one final stage in this man’s faith. Three different times he believed in Jesus and each time his faith moved to a higher level.
*He believed once when he came to him in Cana—faith in his Miracles.
*He believed again when he left to go home to his son—faith in his Word.
*He believed ultimately when his son was healed—faith in Jesus himself.
And he believed so fully that he swept his whole family and all his servants with him into the kingdom of God. He came and they came with him! Here is an important word for fathers. Let the father believe and the mother will believe too. Let father and mother believe and the children will believe too. Let the family believe and soon the relatives will believe. Thus does God’s grace spread from one person to another.
I should add at this point that not every prayer for help is answered in the same way as this prayer. Not every child is healed in a miraculous way. Oswald Chambers speaks to this point: “Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.” This is a wonderful story with many applications. Let us learn from this that all the roads of human experience lead ultimately to Jesus Christ. When we find him, all will be well.
Behind everything else in this story is the sovereign hand of God. Though the father could not see it in advance, his son was brought to the point of death that the entire family might be brought to eternal life. Thus does God work through our adversity, our pain, our trials, and our sorrows. When we are in the midst of desperate circumstances, we see only our problems and we come as children begging for help: “Lord Jesus, come quickly. We need you. The world is falling apart and only you can help us.” And Jesus quietly says, “Go your way. Be in peace. I will take care of your problems.” Will we have faith to go in peace, trusting him? When we do, we discover that Jesus is as good as his word. And very often we look back much later and say, “I didn’t see it then. In my sorrow and sadness I thought the Lord had forgotten me. I thought my prayers had been ignored. But now I see clearly that the Lord was there all the time. He answered in ways I did not expect. And if it had not been for the Lord, I would not have made it at all.”
Many times we can see that a greater miracle has been wrought than the one we sought in the beginning. And so we learn again that his ways are not our ways. Know this – in time, in God’s perfect timing, all will be made right. He will be vindicated in all things and his Word will be proved true. Our part is to trust him and to obey the light we have. Once we bring our problems to him, we must trust him to do what he knows is best. This is true faith.
God’s word is true. Believe it! This means that here and now at this very hour your many sins are forgiven. God sees the sins you hide from others. He knows that you have lied, stolen, and lusted after what belonged to another. He knows that these sins of thought, word and deed bring you misery, death, and eternal punishment.
He placed all these sins on his dear Son who suffered in your place on the cross. There he removed those sins from you by bearing your punishment fully and finally. Right now he gives you his word that your sins are forgiven. You are free from them. God said it. Believe his word. That settles it. Believe him. He has never lied to you and he never will.
Amen. Amen!
46Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
48"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
49The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." 53Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.
54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.
The nobleman, who was a royal officer, met Jesus. And his life was changed. That happends when you meet Jesus!
He had heard of Jesus. After Jesus changed water into wine people began to spread the story all over the country. Jesus had power that belonged to God. Jesus had revealed his glory. The disciples had seen it. The word had gone out far and wide that Jesus could do the signs that identified him as God’s Son. The creative power of God is what changed ordinary water into good wine. To meet Jesus therefore is to meet God.
God reveals his love to us in Jesus. This nobleman saw God as far away and silent. But then he met Jesus.. He implored Jesus to come to where his son was and to heal him. Jesus responded with what appear to be surprising words – almost as if he were callused to the man’s pain. He said, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”
But what was Jesus actually doing here? Jesus was driving the man to trust more simply and strongly in the word that Jesus would speak. The man obviously thought he knew how Jesus would answer his prayer. He would provide some kind of dramatic display of power. He would go to the man’s home and provide the kind of sign that was expected of him. But Jesus deliberately chose not to go to the man’s home, indeed not even to approach it. Instead he spoke. “Go your way; your son lives.”
Jesus stood in the flesh face to face with the nobleman. He spoke. The words he spoke to the nobleman healed the boy who was miles away. Jesus spoke and by that speaking he brought life to a dying boy. Jesus spoke and by that speaking he brought his gracious presence to a home filled with dread. By his almighty word he brought that nobleman to faith. In fact, he brought his whole family to true faith.
Our text tells us that the nobleman believed Jesus’ word when Jesus spoke it. It also tells us that the man believed Jesus’ word when he saw that Jesus had saved his son’s life. It was the same faith. Jesus’ words bring us to faith and keep us in the faith. We have the words of Jesus right here. Believe them. Believe them!
Without his words our faith wouldn’t even exist because it would have nothing to live on. We live on the words of promise. Jesus deals with us through his word. This is why he chose to heal the man’s son as he did. He wanted to teach them and us that he chooses to be present with us through his word. In this way he teaches us not to seek him out anywhere else than in his word.
Most people are very confused about what faith is. They think that faith is a decision that we make. They think that faith is doing something. That’s not true. Faith is the very opposite of doing. Faith is believing. It is trusting. It is hearing what God says to us and relying on the truth of what he says. “Your son lives.” So says Jesus. Faith says “amen” to what Jesus says. It is very simple.
Faith trusts in the word and in this way it trusts in Jesus. You cannot trust in Jesus without trusting in his word. When you trust in his word you are trusting in him. And when you trust in him, you are trusting in God.
The only way to know the Father is through the Son. The only way to know the Son is by the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit speaks to us only and always through the word Jesus gave him to speak. This is the word written down in the New Testament, the word that amplifies and explains and fulfills the word in the Old Testament.
It is the word preached from the pulpit of this church. It is the word joined to the water in Holy Baptism. It makes baptism a washing of rebirth that creates and sustains saving faith in our hearts throughout our lives. It is the word that is joined to bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper so that ordinary food becomes the body and the blood of Jesus. It is the word that is spoken in the absolution so that Jesus Christ himself gives here and now today in this place the same forgiveness he won on the cross.
Listen to the word of God as Jesus gives it and learn to love him. You can rely on your own experiences to understand God’s love, but your experiences must align with God’s word to be truth.
Brothers and Sisters, listen to this -- the God who sent his Son into this world continues to talk to us through this same Son. It is as the Epistle to the Hebrews puts it, “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2a)
The revealed God speaks to us through Jesus.Jesus Chrsit was crucified, buried, and on the third day rise from the dead. In our baptism we are joined to that holy event. In the Supper, the same body that there bore our sins and the same blood that there was shed for us are given to us to eat and to drink and we hear Jesus’ words that this is his body and his blood given and shed for the forgiveness of sins.
Do you believe him? When he says what he says, do you think it is so? Believe His word. He says his word and when he says it that makes it so. Whether it is the little baby being baptized, the penitent being forgiven, the lost being saved, or the bread and wine being consecrated by the Words of Institution, God’s word always makes it so.
The young man’s fever left him at the very hour Jesus said, “Your son lives.” “So he and all his household believed. This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee” (John 4:53-54).
There is one final stage in this man’s faith. Three different times he believed in Jesus and each time his faith moved to a higher level.
*He believed once when he came to him in Cana—faith in his Miracles.
*He believed again when he left to go home to his son—faith in his Word.
*He believed ultimately when his son was healed—faith in Jesus himself.
And he believed so fully that he swept his whole family and all his servants with him into the kingdom of God. He came and they came with him! Here is an important word for fathers. Let the father believe and the mother will believe too. Let father and mother believe and the children will believe too. Let the family believe and soon the relatives will believe. Thus does God’s grace spread from one person to another.
I should add at this point that not every prayer for help is answered in the same way as this prayer. Not every child is healed in a miraculous way. Oswald Chambers speaks to this point: “Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.” This is a wonderful story with many applications. Let us learn from this that all the roads of human experience lead ultimately to Jesus Christ. When we find him, all will be well.
Behind everything else in this story is the sovereign hand of God. Though the father could not see it in advance, his son was brought to the point of death that the entire family might be brought to eternal life. Thus does God work through our adversity, our pain, our trials, and our sorrows. When we are in the midst of desperate circumstances, we see only our problems and we come as children begging for help: “Lord Jesus, come quickly. We need you. The world is falling apart and only you can help us.” And Jesus quietly says, “Go your way. Be in peace. I will take care of your problems.” Will we have faith to go in peace, trusting him? When we do, we discover that Jesus is as good as his word. And very often we look back much later and say, “I didn’t see it then. In my sorrow and sadness I thought the Lord had forgotten me. I thought my prayers had been ignored. But now I see clearly that the Lord was there all the time. He answered in ways I did not expect. And if it had not been for the Lord, I would not have made it at all.”
Many times we can see that a greater miracle has been wrought than the one we sought in the beginning. And so we learn again that his ways are not our ways. Know this – in time, in God’s perfect timing, all will be made right. He will be vindicated in all things and his Word will be proved true. Our part is to trust him and to obey the light we have. Once we bring our problems to him, we must trust him to do what he knows is best. This is true faith.
God’s word is true. Believe it! This means that here and now at this very hour your many sins are forgiven. God sees the sins you hide from others. He knows that you have lied, stolen, and lusted after what belonged to another. He knows that these sins of thought, word and deed bring you misery, death, and eternal punishment.
He placed all these sins on his dear Son who suffered in your place on the cross. There he removed those sins from you by bearing your punishment fully and finally. Right now he gives you his word that your sins are forgiven. You are free from them. God said it. Believe his word. That settles it. Believe him. He has never lied to you and he never will.
Amen. Amen!
Reflections on the 219th General Assembly, Part Three, Section B -- Hope in God
May the PCUSA presbyteries and their members remember that some things do not need reforming -- the church does need reform, yes, but "According to the Word of God." Just as in Luther and Calvin's time, the Word continually calls us to re-form back to the basics of the faith, and away from traditions and doctrines made by humans without Biblical basis. The Word of God does not need to be, and should not be, re-formed. It is the church that needs to be always reformed, according to the Word of God, not vice versa.
The old saying of the church that so many quote is usually only half-quoted -- It is ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda secundum verbum Dei : the church reformed, always reforming, according to the Word of God. We must hold fast to that key tenet: according to the Word of God.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, we must continue to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel and to the Scripture based truths found in our confessions. We cannot be ostriches, with our heads in the ground, pretending the conflict will just take care of itself. We must fight the good fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12)
But we must also continue to do the important work of the church beyond these issues -- caring for the sick, helping the poor, loving our neighbors, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ in our communities and overseas, doing acts of kindness in Jesus' Name wherever we can, whenever we can.
We must act justly and love mercy. and walk humbly with our God. We must do what we can do, whenever we can do it, in Jesus' Name, following Him in Word and deed. We must walk the walk, not just major in talk. As Christians, we have vital work to do in partnering in the mission of God in this time and in the places God has given us.
A pastor friend of mine led me to consider two great pieces of wisdom as we all continue to pray about the issues that will come before us at presbytery meetings and in session and ongregational study sessions over the next year.
he first is the great prayer by theologian Reinhold Neibuhr:
SERENITY PRAYER
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
The second is the wisdom we find in Proverbs:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3, 5-6
Yes, O Lord, please direct our paths! Amen. Amen.
And may God bless our presbytery, our churches, the PCUSA and the church universal!
The old saying of the church that so many quote is usually only half-quoted -- It is ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda secundum verbum Dei : the church reformed, always reforming, according to the Word of God. We must hold fast to that key tenet: according to the Word of God.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, we must continue to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel and to the Scripture based truths found in our confessions. We cannot be ostriches, with our heads in the ground, pretending the conflict will just take care of itself. We must fight the good fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12)
But we must also continue to do the important work of the church beyond these issues -- caring for the sick, helping the poor, loving our neighbors, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ in our communities and overseas, doing acts of kindness in Jesus' Name wherever we can, whenever we can.
We must act justly and love mercy. and walk humbly with our God. We must do what we can do, whenever we can do it, in Jesus' Name, following Him in Word and deed. We must walk the walk, not just major in talk. As Christians, we have vital work to do in partnering in the mission of God in this time and in the places God has given us.
A pastor friend of mine led me to consider two great pieces of wisdom as we all continue to pray about the issues that will come before us at presbytery meetings and in session and ongregational study sessions over the next year.
he first is the great prayer by theologian Reinhold Neibuhr:
SERENITY PRAYER
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
The second is the wisdom we find in Proverbs:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3, 5-6
Yes, O Lord, please direct our paths! Amen. Amen.
And may God bless our presbytery, our churches, the PCUSA and the church universal!
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