Fellowship of His Suffering Part 2

Continuing Michael's message: One night that pastor read from Hebrews 12 that the Lord disciplines every child He loves. He heard that still, small voice of God revealing to him, "You know how to be an All Star in life, but you don't know how to sit on the bench. Cheer for the guy ahead of you to encourage him and to cheer for his success.  On the bench of life, God will build His character in you."  A man and woman of God is built through the trials and tribulations of life. Oswald Chambers' devotional "My Utmost for His Highest" is about deep water Christianity. He is our life preserver in the deep water. On November 1, the devotional is from 1 Corinthians 6:19 that says, "You are not your own." God will break up the private lives of His saints (those who have been sanctified in Christ) and will make them a thoroughfare for the world to tread upon. As the apostle Paul said, we are God's epistles, his love letters known and read of all men.  

The testing of our faith works patience according to Romans 5.  No human can stand being a thoroughfare for the world to tread unless his strength is in his Lord Jesus Christ. According to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, when Jesus bids us come, he bids us come and die. We must die to self in order to live for Him. A trial will be the greatest tragedy of your lives or this will be your finest hour.  Through the trials of life, He will teach us that "Joy is not the absence of pain.  Rather, joy is the presence of the Lord."

When things happen over which we have no control, we can either be a hindrance and a clog in God's redemptive plan or we can be a part of His plan to redeem His people as ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ. God gives us a choice through trials to listen to the voice of the adversary or to trust in Him.  Oswald Chambers says that during times of trial and tribulation, he will reach down to us with the grip of His Son's nailed pierced hands. He'll say, "come unto me, arise and shine. Thank God for breaking our hearts for what breaks His." The question is, "Are we more interested in our own comfort or in the furtherance of the gospel?"

Therefore, thank God for molding us and making us after His will. When we're gracefully broken, He'll pick up the treads of our broken hearts and weave them together again stronger. When we're tested and tried, we will be approved of God.  As Paul said, I press toward the mark of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus ... and when I have finished my course, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness that he has reserved for all who love his appearing.

Through the fellowship of His suffering, may we rise and shine, that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

Fellowship of His Suffering - Part 1

Romans 8:33-39 “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor

Principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 This week, Michael writes: We're all on a journey to intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ. As men and woman of God, our heart's desire is to become just like our Lord and Master. When we answered His call to salvation, we received His righteousness, for Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.   

Psalm 134:1-3 “Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion!”

Most people pray for God's blessings. As a loving Heavenly Father, He is delighted when we approach His throne of grace ... He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The greater blessing is not when we ask Him to bless us, but rather when we bless the Blessor. Only because of His love can we bless the Lord in return. Therefore bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name! The world will tell us that suffering, trial and pain are a cursing and not a blessing. However, Philippians 3:10  says, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

Paul wrote these words from a Roman prison.  According to Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for his sake”. James 1:2-4 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

According to 2 Timothy 3:16, correction is God's way of restoring us to an upright position. Therefore by His correction through trials we will know the meaning of “patience”. Through patience, we will understand God's character.  Billy Graham wrote a book called "Peace with God."  When one pastor read about the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22 as a young Christian, he began to understand the meaning of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self control.  It's one thing to read these words, it's another to understand these things through the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings.

Let's continue Michael's message on "godly suffering for Christ" in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Examination

1 Corinthians 11:28–30 “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died”.

Continuing in this interesting study on the Christian Sacraments, the next lesson states that there is one other view of the Lord’s Supper. Some have affirmed the “memorialist position”, based upon Christ’s words in Luke 22:19 “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In this view, the Lord’s Supper is simply a memorial of the death of Christ. All that happens is that we remember what Jesus did. He is not present in any special way in the sacrament.  Many Reformed theological statements, such as the Westminster Confession of Faith, affirm the real spiritual presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. Why? Remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross is part of the Lord’s Supper, but there are good reasons to believe more than remembrance takes place at the Lord’s Table.

In John 6:47-58 Jesus proclaimed, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

The language of John 6:22–59 about eating Christ’s flesh and drinking Christ’s blood seems sacramental, referring to spiritual realities. Today’s lesson’s passage also points us in the direction of affirming that glorified Jesus is really and spiritually present in the sacrament. 1 Corinthians 11:30 refers to some Corinthian Christians who took the Lord’s Supper in an “unworthy manner” and then became weak or sick or died. This is hard to explain if the Lord’s Supper is only in remembrance and Jesus is not present in the Lord’s Supper. But if He is present spiritually, it makes sense that some people get sick or die by taking the supper wrongly. After all, Jesus is the incarnation of the sovereign, holy Creator God, in whose presence creatures find blessing or curse.

But what does it mean to take the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner? 1 Corinthians 11:29

tells us problems arise when we partake “without discerning the body”, so worthy partaking of the supper means that we discern the body. In context, this must refer in some way to harmony in the body of Christ, since Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 in order to correct selfishness and other communal sins connected with the Corinthians’ partaking of the Lord's Supper together. So, it seems sinning against other Christians and not repenting is a failure to discern the body. However, it goes beyond that to include all other impenitent sins as well, including the sin of unbelief.

The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament only for believers, and those who do not trust Christ as the Blessed Redeemer and atoning Savior, or who profess faith and yet are in serious, impenitent sin should not partake lest they eat and drink judgment on themselves, so examine yourselves. The Lord’s Supper is for "saved by grace" Christians, not for perfect people. That we are sinners should not keep us from taking Communion. If we come to the Lord’s Table confessing our sin and repenting for it, we may freely partake of the bread and wine. Everyone is a sinner. Only sinners need the death and resurrection of Christ, so sinners are welcomed to His table. But not all sinners may come—only those who have trusted in Jesus alone for salvation, which trust bears fruit in submission to His lordship, may come to His table in a worthy manner. If you are a repentant sinner, you may freely partake of the Lord’s Supper.

The Best News – Part 3

John 10:7-16 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My  sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”

Dr. Nolte continued that the Pharisees were the hirelings. Jesus stated that God would provide the perfect shepherd and His sheep would hear and recognize God’s voice through the “true” shepherd. Plainly, He was the shepherd from God, who pays attention to every single sheep. Jesus said “I am the door.” He is the gate by which we enter Heaven and by which every godly teaching comes to us. Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd.” The word “good” here is qualitative and defined as: complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind; having the physical qualities best adapted to its design and use; opposed to bad, imperfect, corrupted, impaired. Having moral qualities best adapted to its design and use, or the qualities which God's law requires; virtuous; pious; religious; kind; benevolent; affectionate; faithful; benevolent; merciful; gracious, and opposed to bad, vitious, wicked, evil.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Why is this good news, the best news you could ever hear? Because, Jesus clearly identifies the way to eternal life and tells us how to get there, through the Master Shepherd - Christ. In His sheepfold is salvation and the full-blown life that God created us to have and experience. The benefit of the sheep is the focus and the priority in God plan of redemption. Yet, people do not know the way. Today, thieves and robbers are attempting to identify the gospel of Jesus Christ as “bad news”. The Christian religion doesn’t look to punish, but to reconcile and restore us to an upright position and life. The gospel is love, not hate and the gift of God in inclusive, not exclusive. God has love and compassion for us.

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

No one is excluded from hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd. Do not let the negative narrative define God, the gospel and Christians. Stand firm and do not allow the “good news” of the gospel, which the world needs to hear, be attacked by sinful darkness of God-rejecting unbelief. Jesus, Lord and Savior, is the best news ever. Grab it back. God is omniscient (all-knowing) and Jesus (the Good Shepherd) knows His sheep and their needs completely. Maslow's hierarchy of needs used the terms physiological, safety, belonging and love, social needs or esteem, and self-actualization. Christ meets our needs.

Jesus laid down His life for His sheep. The Master Shepherd is sovereign over His sheep. Freedom is operating within Almighty God’s framework; not doing whatever you want, whenever you want. Jesus Christ is the solution to sin. So, who are the sheep? - Those who hear and follow the Good Shepherd. Jesus will pursue lost sheep, but sheep need to listen and respond by following. Take a step towards Jesus. The Good Shepherd is calling.

In Christ, Brian

The Best News – Part 2

Continuing Dr. Willie Nolte’s sermon on the tenth chapter of the Gospel according to John, he explains that Jesus many times gave godly messages through the Middle-Eastern method of storytelling, using parables with the familiar subjects that symbolize truths and that the people of that time and place recognized. A parable is a fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction. Pastor Nolte asks: Why is Jesus telling this story now? The people of Jesus’ time were very familiar with shepherds and sheep as this livestock trade was vital in their society. The shepherds tended to the sheep intimately and continuously to where the shepherd knew very thing about each sheep and lamb under his care. Likewise, each sheep knew their shepherd by voice and followed them alone as leader and protector. The shepherd herded their sheep into a walled pen area in the evening for protection from predators or thieves and would literally lie across the open as a gate as doorkeeper so that nothing could enter or leave during the night. There were many different flocks kept in these pens and they would mix up nightly. But, each morning the different shepherds would call their sheep, and recognizing their voice, would congregate and follow him alone.

The Israelite understood the story of shepherding and they had the Holy Scriptures, but not the connection of its metaphoric relationship to God and His people, which was the point of the story. Psalm 23:1-4 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” The implication that we are His people and the sheep of His pasture is the best news ever. It was a critically important concept that they needed to grasp for their faith. We need to understand this and each of us knows someone who needs it too.

Psalm 100:1-5 “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

By no coincidence, Jesus’ teaching immediately follows the incident in John chapter nine, where Jesus gives sight to the man born blind on the Sabbath, the Pharisees’ rejection of Jesus and casting out of the miraculously healed man. The Pharisees, who were the leaders of the Israelites, failed miserable as shepherds of Israel. Israel did not hear God’s voice in the Pharisees. They were waiting for God’s shepherd to show up but totally did not recognize or accept Him when He appeared. They were the under-shepherds written about in Ezekiel 34:1-16 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”

Let’s continue with my notes on Pastor Willie’s gospel sermon in the next post.

The Best News – Part 1

In John 10:1-6, the Lord Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a

stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

This last Sunday, the Ministry Lead of our denomination, Dr. Willie Nolte was the guest preacher in our continuing sermon series through the gospel of John. He pointed out that the Apostle John refers to the miracles of Jesus as signs that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Creator of Heaven and Earth. A miracle is defined in theology as: an event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event. Miracles can be wrought only by Almighty power, as when Christ performed miraculous signs and wonders. The theme verse of John 20:29-31 tells us Jesus said to his Apostle, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen  and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” This is the great purpose of John’s gospel.

The gospel is the history of the birth, life, actions, death, resurrection, ascension and doctrines of Jesus Christ; or a revelation of the grace of God to fallen man through a mediator, including the character, actions, and doctrines of Christ, with the whole scheme of salvation, as revealed by Christ and his apostles in the Bible. The word gospel literally means “good news”. Because of our willful sin, we are guilty, our spirit died and our connection with God and the kingdom of Heaven was severed. We were designed and created for eternal life in glory, but the wages of sin is death and we are destined for eternity in Hell as our punishment. But, God provided a Redeemer, a Savior in His Son Jesus Christ as a free gift to whosoever repents, believes and by faith receives Him. This is the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. God the Father sent, His only Son, to reconcile and save the world; regenerating our spirit, restoring our relationship with God Almighty and giving us eternal life. The Apostle John opens his gospel this way:

John 1:1-14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Let’s continue with my notes on Pastor Willie’s gospel sermon in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Feeding on Christ

John 6:54–56 “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him”.

Today’s lesson has been at the heart of the debates between different churches over the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. In John 6:22–59, we read that we must feed on the flesh of Christ and drink the blood of Christ to have eternal life.

Luke 22:19-20 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

Considering that Jesus says the bread and wine of the supper are His body and blood, most interpreters have seen some kind of connection between today’s lesson passage and the Lord’s Supper. Both Roman Catholics and Lutherans read this text as referring to some kind of physical presence of our Savior’s body in the sacrament. According to Roman Catholicism, the essence of the bread and wine becomes the actual body and blood of Jesus without ceasing to look, smell, taste, and feel like bread and wine in transubstantiation. Lutheranism teaches “Consubstantiation”; that the physical body and blood of Jesus are present mysteriously in, with, and under the elements. Most Protestants believe in the "memorialist position", that this observance is a meal in memory of Christ's sacrificed body and blood. Other Protestant religions believe Christ’s presence is not in the elements but in the sacred action in the celebration of the Supper.

Leading Reformed Theologians of the Protestant church have affirmed Christ’s spiritual presence in the supper. Our Savior’s human body is localized outside of the dimension time in Heaven, but Christ (Second Person of the Trinity Godhead) is a divine person who also possesses the true divine nature, which is omnipresent. In His deity, Christ is present everywhere. Since His deity is united to His humanity without confusion, change, division, or separation, we commune with the whole Christ in His humanity and deity when we commune spiritually with the omnipresent Son of God. His human body remains in heaven, but in His deity He can close the gap between us and His human nature in heaven. We cannot say much more about this mystery that we cannot fully comprehend.

The context of today’s lesson passage on the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper shows us that to eat and drink Christ’s flesh and blood is not a carnal act, but rather a spiritual act of trusting in Jesus.

John 6:26-35 “Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

John 6:22–59 parallels the eating that leads to eternal life with belief, making the two things identical. The Lord’s Supper signs and seals this belief, showing that the One in whom we believe is both God and man, having a true human body. We need the humanity of Christ no less than we need His deity, and the physical elements of the supper impress this on our hearts and minds.

There is no other way in which He can become ours, than by our faith being directed to His flesh. Does your spirit hunger? The bread and wine of the supper are God’s seal that those who believe that the God-man (Jesus Christ) suffered as a man for our sins and was raised from the dead, conquering sin and death, that we will live forever. When we take the supper in faith, we are communing with Christ and marked as those who will inherit eternal life.

He Must Increase But I Must Decrease – Part 2

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Flee fornication (sexually immorality.) Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.  What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?   For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Continuing Michael message, he asks, How do you move yourself along the continuum where “Christ increases and I decrease”?  You do it by denying yourself and following Him. The Bible tells us, You are servants to whom you obey.  Galatians 2:20 says, “I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live, I live by faith in the One who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Either you're a missionary or you're part of the mission field. However, the two are not mutually exclusive. Our first mission field is our own hearts and minds, because the spiritual battlefield is for the hearts and minds of believers. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh) but spiritual to the pulling down of (spiritual) strongholds. Casting down imaginations (carnal thoughts), and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (according to His word), bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

The Christian walk is deliberate, intentional, and purposeful action according to His word.  A disciple is a disciplined follower, disciplined to walk in the footsteps of the Lord.  The Journey of life is to follow him one step at a time and one day at a time.  The transformation from the man of the flesh to the man of the spirit is in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” “And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Jesus said, if anyone wants to be my disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. We take up our cross daily by crucifying the flesh daily as we follow Him. It's easy to follow Christ when we stay so close to Him that He fills our vision as we follow our brothers in Christ who are following Jesus. This is the key to walking with Jesus. When we abide in Him, as John the Baptist said in John 3:30, "He must increase but I must decrease." And in following Him, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

He Must Increase But I Must Decrease – Part 1

Do you want to spend the rest of your life learning to become just like Jesus? The Apostle Paul's perspective for God's answer to this question is found in Galatians 4:19,  "My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you."

The idea that "Christ is formed in you" is either doctrine, reproof, or correction depending on the stage of a Christian's walk in Christ. What does it mean to have Christ formed in you? There is a book by Richard Foster called “Celebrate Discipline.” One chapter is "Celebrate Submission." This verse about Christ's formation in you has a diagram that begins with me as the priority of my own life. As we progress over time as Christians and as people of God, we decrease as Christ increases. Prior to the point of salvation, it's all of me and none of Thee. At the end of a Christian's life, it's all of Thee Lord and none of me.

When we're first “born again” of God's spirit of life in Christ, even though we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, this side of eternity we still need to contend with the flesh that we inherited from Adam's original sin. After we're saved, we are God's works in progress, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has foreordained that we should walk in them. In this journey of life, He progressively increases while we progressively decrease.  

Every man and woman has their own story. In one such story, Brent was a teacher and assistant principal. He was appointed by his church to teach a Sunday School class. As he sat down to prepare for the first lesson, he experienced the "fear of God."  How dare he teach God's word, if he didn't know a thing about it. From that day on Brent began to get up early to read the Word to prepare to teach.  He learned to treasure this special time in the Word and meditate on what God was teaching him so that he could teach others.

Shortly after he began teaching Sunday School, Brent was invited to hear Dallas Willard at a church conference. The message was about preparing to teach the Word. Willard quoted from John 15 where Jesus said, "I am the vine and ye are the branches.  Without me, you can do nothing." Willard explained that abiding in Christ is like a tree with branches. On Sunday, the branches are the people who attach themselves to the trunk of the tree, which is Jesus Christ. On Monday, many of the branches detach themselves from the tree and they flop around on their own for the rest of the week. Then on Sunday, the branches wonder why they aren't bearing any fruit. The point of the story is that the responsibility of the branches is to keep themselves attached to the vine in order to bear fruit. Jesus said, "If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit."

Like most men, Brent struggled with the "lust of the flesh." Biblically speaking, lust means over-desire. The sin of lust is anything that we desire over our relationship with God. After he taught Sunday School, the most tempting time each week was Sunday afternoon and Monday. His weekly willful sin haunted him. Brent became a part time Pastor at a small church of about a hundred people who met in the school where he was a full time teacher and assistant principal. He was later appointed Principle to a school for “at risk” children. Because of God's grace, he turned the school around and it became a model of success for dealing with “at risk” kids. When he was fifty, one of his co-workers passed out and he intervened medically to help her. This woman had a reputation for seducing men and breaking up marriages. Brent later found out that she had a deep-seated resentment for her father who had sexually abused her when she was a child. In her own twisted mind, to get back at her father for abusing her she sought out illicit affairs with any man who had befriended her father.

Once when Brent was alone with this woman, she approached him sexually, tempting him. He saw the face of a demon as she threw herself at him. Brent prayed with some of his Elders. Later this woman confessed that she had nightmares of being raped by a demon. She began attending Brent's church and she and her husband came to salvation. At church, a devout Christian woman agreed to mentor her. At one point, she resumed pursuing Brent. He said, "If we do this, it will ruin both of our lives." She continued to seduce him and Brent finally gave in to his lust for her. After Brent preached a sermon that Sunday morning, he confessed to his board of Elders and to his wife. They helped him write a letter of resignation and he agreed to enter a twelve step recovery program.

In the program Brent learned that whatever makes you most angry in another person, is the sin that you're most tempted with. Even though he regularly attended the twelve step program, Brent's personal life deteriorated as he continued to indulge in inappropriate and sinful behavior with his subordinate. To have the Word of God formed in you, you have to fight the evil in your own nature of the flesh. The secular world celebrates the sin nature of the flesh that is deviant from the Word of God. However, when Christ was crucified, our redemption from the world was completed spiritually.

In the midst of the spiritual battle, Brent could see the hook baited with his favorite food (the lust) that he craved in his heart. Even though he could see the hook, he took the bait anyway. As God said to Cain, "sin is crouching at the door and it desires to have you, but you must master it." The twelve step program calls it the "slippery slope." They say that you need to get as far away from the temptation as possible.

Let's continue Michael message on elevating the Lord in our life in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

The Lord’s Supper and It’s Proclamation

1 Corinthians 11:26 “As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes”

Continuing  with my study of the Christian Sacraments, The next lesson asks: How do we proclaim the gospel? One way is to do so exclusively with words, to tell the story of Jesus and what His death and resurrection accomplished. But the Lord has appointed another way to proclaim the gospel that involves words as well as tangible substances and actions. For, as we see in today’s lesson passage, we proclaim Christ’s death when we eat the bread and drink the cup in the Lord’s Supper.

When we consider what happens in the Lord’s Supper, we understand how the supper can proclaim Christ’s death. In the breaking of the bread, we have a visible representation of the breaking of our Savior’s body by the nails that pierced His hands and feet and the sword that pierced His side. The wine poured into the cup depicts the blood that poured from His wounds as He died on the cross. When we taste the bitterness of the wine, we are reminded of the bitterness of God’s wrath that Jesus bore on the cross. Various spiritual truths are conveyed to our physical senses. It is important to note, however, that without the words of institution for the supper and the preaching of the Word, these truths cannot be conveyed. We need at least a basic explanation of what is going on; otherwise, we will not know how eating the bread and drinking the wine in the Lord’s Supper differ from our eating bread and drinking wine at other times. Thus, we see that Paul gives us these words even as He tells us what the Lord’s Supper proclaims.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26  For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Paul explains that in the supper, we proclaim the Lord’s death “until he comes”. This confirms that the remembrance that Jesus says is to occur in the supper is a perpetual remembrance. In other words, the Lord’s Supper is something we partake of perpetually in the Christian life. Baptism, as the sacrament of initiation, is received only once. The Lord’s Supper, as the sacrament of continuation, is received continually until we are in the Lord’s presence, whether we die first or He returns in glory.

In the Lord’s Supper, we are proclaiming the Lord’s death but we are also testifying that this death has benefited us. In the supper, we declare before men and women what we feel inwardly before God. We are testifying that we have faith in Christ, that His promise to cover our sin has taken effect in our lives. If we partake of the supper without faith, we place ourselves in grave spiritual danger.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30 explains that “whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.”

Over the years, many people have felt themselves free to innovate with the Lord’s Supper, using elements Christ has not commanded or allowing anyone to take it. whether they profess faith or not. Yet to do such things is a serious sin. The Lord Supper is to proclaim the death of Christ. We take the supper seriously because we take Christ and His death seriously. We proclaim Christ’s atoning death for our sins. Jesus died for us. Remember.

Luke 22:19 And he (Jesus) took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

The Remedy

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Pastor McGee asks, what is one essential the godly man and woman need to successfully navigate this life? It’s a prescription only God can fill and you’ve probably got one within arm’s reach. It’s the Holy Bible. Every one of those words are God’s words to you and me, and they contain the prescription for living successfully for God today. There is no other place to get the remedy except the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

Like most medicines, you’re not done after just one dose. Did you get enough breakfast this morning to last you the rest of your life? The Word of God contains the medicine you and I need to live in these hard days, but we must take it all. The trouble today is that folks try to take just a part of the prescription. You’ve got to get into the book. You need to read it all. We need salvation today and tomorrow and the day after that.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

The word “continue” in the above verse can mean “to be always at home”. Pastor McGee asks, Christian, do you live in the book? How much do you really read and study it?” The man and woman of God can never complete their journey through life this side of eternity without this one thing. We need hope. We get it right here in God’s Word. Have confidence in the Bible and you will find in it all you need to face anything that comes down the turnpike of life.

John 8:31-32 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Amazing Grace - Part 2

Ephesians 2:1-5 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”

Continuing Pastor Kennedy's message, God's "Grace" is defined as: the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from Him. The full quintessence and the purest distillation of what God’s amazing grace means is the astonishing and astounding grace by which we are saved, and without shall no one be saved. Many have hopes and expectations of entering Heaven based upon the fact that they have lived reasonably decent and good sort of lives, based upon their character and morality. But, Jesus did not die for friends. Jesus did not die for strangers,  Jesus did not die for nice people. Jesus died for His enemies (dead in trespasses and sins).

While we were yet with enmity with God, Jesus Christ dies for us. That is the meaning of grace. It is totally unmerited favor to those who deserve positive disfavor. To the undeserving, to the ill-deserving, to the Hell deserving, God offers eternal life. Not because of anything we have done. If you have not received that grace, receive it, even now. Do it now! You do not need to plead your virtues or what great accomplishments you’ve made. There is only one thing that you can add to your salvation, and that is you provide the sin for which Christ died. By God’s grace, He changes our heart. By God’s grace, He brings us to repentance and faith. Not because of anything we are or have done, but in spite of everything that we have done.

Most people try to claim their virtues and minimize their sins, but if you want to be accepted by God, maximize your sin; don’t extenuate them (making them seem less serious). You do not know one-hundredth of the sin that clings to your soul. So, if you were to maximize your sin ten times over, you would still be extenuating your own sin. Grant God all of your sin. Admit them all. His grace will come and slow to cleanse your life like a sparkling river of living water, and you can say: “It is well with my soul”. You can know assuredly that you have eternal life. You can know that you are forgiven because the God of Heaven has given His only begotten Son to die for His enemies (including me), that you and I may have eternal life.

Justice is receiving what we deserve. Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve. Would you like to receive that gift? Come to the Cross of Christ and receive that amazing grace. 

In Christ, Brian

Amazing Grace - Part 1

Ephesians 2:1-9 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised

us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

This week, our Wednesday evening Small Group continued in it's video study of classic biblical concepts. Pastor Kennedy pointed out that Bible Studies and Sunday Sermons often talk about “grace”, but what exactly is God’s grace? This glorious concept is the central truth of the Christian faith. The pinnacle of biblical revelation is that “by grace you have been saved”. Therefore, if we do not know what grace is, then we cannot be saved. So, what is grace? Let’s climb that mountain of truth and examine it’s glory, as we look up into the heights of the grace of God.

One facet of this precious grace is that it involves a great sacrifice; even the sacrifice of one’s own life. Yet, this doesn’t come close to the shinning pinnacle of God’s grace. Flame of God by Amy Carmichael “

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod;
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God 

Let"s continue Pastor Kennedy's lesson on God's grace in our next post.
In Christ, Brian

Is There a God? – Part 2

Michael continues that the teleological argument says that the evidence of a design points to the existence of a designer. Kepler built a complex working model of the universe.  When an unbeliever saw the model, he said, "Who made this?" Kepler said, "No one.  It just came into existence” His atheist friend said "you don't expect me to believe that, do you?"  Kepler said, "You believe that the Creator didn't create the Solar System, and it's even more complex than this miniature model." A simple living cell is vastly more complex than the greatest machine ever created or devised by man.  Darwin marveled at the incredible complexity of the eye.  He said that to believe that the eye came about by natural selection was absurd to the highest degree.

Pastor Kennedy points out that the fine tuning of the earth to support life is another evidence of the existence of God.  If it were 10% closer to the Earth it would burn up. The thin film of life on the earth is like the skin of an apple.  Water unlike most liquids expands when it freezes allowing lakes to support life and not freeze over and kill marine life. Presumptuous mortals cannot put one star in motion or trace the infinite patterns of snowflakes or understand the miracle of birth or toss one cloud into a sunny day. Puny man who cannot create one miracle, how dare you doubt the God who can.

Atheists say "Theism" (the belief in an Almighty Creator God) is a result of ignorance. However, the first one hundred universities in this nation were founded by believers in God.  Aristotle said that the beauty, order, and harmony of the universe are a result of the will of God. Even Einstein said, "I pity the man who says there isn't a supreme being.  A vastly superior spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe in which we must in our modest powers feel humble."  George Washington said, "It is impossible to govern without God and the bible."  Franklin said, "The older I get, the more convincing proof I see that God governs in the affairs of men."  Pascal said, "The evidence of God and his gifts is even more compelling."  Eisenhower said, "It takes no brain to be an atheist.  Any stupid person can deny the existence of God." The greatest and wisest of men have come to the conclusion that there is a God.

Another proof of the existence of God is the conversion of a sinner into a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Testimonies of believers' conversions point to the existence of a living God who changes human souls and convinces them of a living God.

1 John 5:11-14 “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

Your brother in Christ, Michael

Is There a God? – Part 1

Psalm 14:1-5 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on the Lord? There they are in great fear, fFor God is with the generation of the righteous.

This week, Michael writes that Mortimer Adler, editor of The Great Books of Western Civilization says, "Almost every writer in western civilization has written on the subject of God.  More consequences of thought and action arise from the question, 'Is There a God?', than from any other question."

Pastor Kennedy explains that the scriptures say that we can know God and that in knowing Him there is eternal life. One argument for the existence of God is The cosmological argument says that there is a cause for every effect. This is the study of the universe. The universe, the cosmos itself is an argument for the existence of God. If the universe exists, either it is eternal or there was a beginning. Modern science points to a beginning point of the universe. The second law of thermodynamics is the law of entropy. It says that the universe is running down and the heat of the universe attempts to approach a uniform temperature. If the universe were eternal it would have already run down.

If the universe is not eternal then maybe it created itself. This "ex-nihilo" philosophy says that you can get something from nothing. This is scientifically impossible since it violates the law of conservation of matter and is contrary to the laws of logic. It is becoming increasingly clear that the existence of the universe is a convincing argument for the existence of God. Modern scientific discoveries make it easier and easier to believe there is a God. There are no scientific discoveries that refute Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

Life itself is an argument for the existence of God. The existence of life points to a creator. The theory that life comes from non-life was debunked when the theory of "spontaneous generation" (that life comes from non-living matter) was disproven by Louis Pasteur when he showed that only life begets life. Protein synthesis is so complex that a French Nobel prize winner said that the probability of only one protein molecule would take 10 to the 234th power billions of years.  DNA is even more complex than protein synthesis.  Each cell contains a DNA molecule.  Francis Crick one of DNA's discoverers said that DNA could not have arisen by chance.  Hoyle said that that the probability of life coming into existence would take 10 to the 40,000th power to produce one cell. In other words this was impossibility. Hoyle became a believer in God since the universe couldn't have come about by chance and implies a creator.

Let's continue Michael's message in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

The Substance of the Lord’s Supper

Exodus 12:14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast”.

Continuing in my biblical study of the Christian sacraments, the next lesson on the Lord’s Supper explains that the new covenant does not destroy the old in substance, but only in form. The outward administration of God’s new covenant differs in many ways from the outward administration of His old covenant. Today, for example, we no longer sacrifice animals for atonement, for the perfect sacrifice of Christ is our atonement. However, the substance of redemption for us was the same for the old covenant saints (those who have been sanctified), who did sacrifice animals. Per John 8:56, the old covenant saints looked to the atonement of Christ even though it had not yet occurred in their day. But as it had not yet happened, the outward manner in which the old covenant saints benefited from that sacrifice involved animal sacrifices. Their faith in the final atonement to come was demonstrated by their obedience to the sacrificial laws. Today, we benefit from Christ’s sacrifice by remembering it as a past event. Our faith in that “final atonement” is demonstrated in part by obeying the principle that Christ has ended animal sacrifice.

The lesson confirms that, outwardly, the sacraments differ under the two covenantal administrations, but their substance is the same. In a previous lesson, we saw this with circumcision and baptism—both point to regeneration, but baptism does so under the new covenant while circumcision did so under the old covenant. Since the Lord’s Supper is the new covenant version of the Passover, it points to the same reality the Passover did. Fundamentally, the Passover commemorated God’s work of redemption, specifically in redeeming the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Thus, the Lord’s Supper also remembers God’s redemption.

Yet while redemption from Egyptian bondage was a true act of salvation, something deeper was going on in that event. The Israelites applied blood to the doorposts and lintels of their homes to show the Lord that they were to be spared. But as God is omniscient, it is not as if He needed the blood to learn where the Israelites lived. The Israelites needed the blood. They were no less guilty of sin than the Egyptians, and the blood signaled that their sin had been atoned for and that God would not put them to death. The lambs sacrificed at Passover were a propitiatory (acceptable) sacrifice that stayed God’s wrath, foreshadowing the sacrifice of the Lamb of God to turn away finally the Creator’s wrath. In the Lord’s Supper, we remember that "final atonement".

Our heavenly Father is a just and holy God who cannot turn a blind eye at sin. He cannot simply forgive people without demanding a price for their sin. Romans 6:23 clarifies, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” On the cross, Christ paid that high price of separation from God for His people. God is good and sin is evil. Habakkuk 1:13 says of our Creator God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.” The bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper are God’s promise to us that Christ has turned away God’s wrath for believers. As we take the Lord’s Supper, let us remember that because Christ paid the price for us, we owe Him everything that we are. For without Jesus’ redemption, we have hell to pay.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also  took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

If My People - Part 2

1 John 2:15 "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.”

Continuing Pastor Kyle's message: Furthermore, for the Christian, humbling ourselves and praying looks like (3) Evaluating whether technology is distracting our spiritual intimacy with the Lord. The world is obsessed with technology today. We are connected to everything and everyone all the time now. So many electronics and social media opportunities have us caught in a web. An idol is defined as “anything between God’s face and yours, including modern technology. Can you leave home without your cell phone or tablet? Do not be a “distracted driver” by attractive technology that takes your eyes off God on the highway to Heaven; you may end up on the wrong road. We often worship the things of this world.

(4) Running to the Lord in hardships rather than away from Him. The Lord Jesus said in John 16:33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In this fallen world, we are either approaching troubles, in the midst of troubles or just coming out of troubles, it seems. In hardships, we all have two choices: run to God or run away from God. Romans 8:28 tells us, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”We do not see the “big picture” or comprehend God’s over-arching design, but trust that God has a divine plan and purpose for our life and time in history, which we live. 

Revelation 2:2-5 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

America needs (1) Christians in love with the Lord. What did God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) do for us? John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Love the One that loved you and changed your direction from “hell bound” to “heaven bound”. America needs (2) those who know God and know peace that speak the gospel truth to those who do not know God and do not know peace. Serve the Lord and reach the lost in order to decrease the population of Hell today. Remember grace and remember Jesus. It’s not a game or some fantasy; it’s real. America needs (3) Christians who humble themselves and pray. Prayer changes things. We pray far too little and too late. Pray. Our politics are the politics of heaven.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble

themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

In Christ, Brian

If My People - Part 1

2 Chronicles 7:12-14Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Last Sunday, Pastor Kyle pushed “pause” on our sermon series through the gospel according to John to explain the “apolitical” stance that our church takes. Our church does not take sides on endorsing local, state and national candidates or current political issues of our day, unless the Bible and/or the Gospel of Jesus Christ are under attack. We do not avoid the word of God and never abandon biblical truth. We do realize that some churches do take political stances on issues and endorse candidates for the Kingdom of God and that the Lord blesses these Christian soldiers. Our community church focuses on teaching the Word of God and telling as many about the “good news” of Jesus Christ as possible, making disciples with “saving” faith. Our desire to that any person, from any political party, may walk into our Sanctuary door and worship and praise Lord God almighty. That people in our community may hear the gospel Word peached and either find forgiveness and salvation at the foot of the Cross, or deepen their faith by the Word of Truth weekly, while becoming more biblically literate Christians; God’s people. 

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

It’s easy to criticize, but it is hardest to work what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord. What is the church’s role in public life? The Bible endorses government and some are called into politics, which can be an incredible blessing when they lead with compassion, listen to the people and their vote is biblically uncompromising. Our highest citizenship is in Heaven and our Lord reigns and rules above all. In God We Trust is our national Motto and the solid ground on which we stand. 

Romans 3:20-24 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, 

being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

For the Christian, humbling ourselves and praying looks like (1) checking our obedience in good times and not-so-good times. We are all sinners, so all change begins with our self. Change yourself by aligning your will with God’s before changing your country. We all have a God-given conscience. Get back on track with the holy Word, Will and Way of God. This side of eternity, we shall always have the sinful desires of the flesh from Adam, but God rules.  Galatians 5:16 tells us, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (2) Making sure financial prosperity never robs our sense of dependency upon God. The concept God said in Deuteronomy 8:11-14 is still true, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God.” Prosperity leads to the tendency of forgetting and not depending on God. Tithing is God’s reminder to us all that everything is Creator God’s and from God to us. 

Let's continue Pastor Kyle's message on "the politics of heaven" in the next post.

In Christ, Brian