Monday, December 31, 2018

New Year Beginnings


 Ephesians 5:15-20 “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending church with my dad at his church (The Little Church in the Pines) in Bass Lake, California and hear the preacher of Pastor Herk. He opened his sermon by listing the top 10 New Year’s resolutions which people give. (1) spend more time with family & friends, (2) get physically fit, (3) go on a diet, (4) quit smoking, (5) enjoy life more and relax, (6) quit drinking alcoholic beverages, (7) get out of debt, (8) learn something new, (9) help others, & (10) get organized. Note that there was no resolution for spiritual improvement. Why is God not in the Top 10? Because most do not include God and Christ in their lives, when in reality, the Lord God should be included in every aspect of life. What is the “highlight of our life?” 

Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Pastor Herk gave us three Christian resolutions for 2019. (1) Be careful as you walk and watch. Life is a walk, therefore walk godly and accurately. Time is a gift from God, so use time wisely, not wastefully. We are all vulnerable to distractions and worrying that lead to hurrying and stress. If we are not focused in life, then we will suffer. We tend to be materially and earthly-minded, rather than spiritually-minded, as we should be. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. We are going to mess up once in a while. The Lord knows the end from the beginning and has told us so, but sometimes we ignore God’s signs. Sometimes, we need a “recall” in our lives to get refocused on the road to righteousness.

Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

(2) Be thoughtful. Our flesh nature has us think about ourselves, talk about ourselves and using the word “I” as much as possible. We like to be appreciated for good things we do, but we can become self-focused. We should not be motivated by: “What’s in it for me?” God’s answer to that question is “Nothing.” We easily forget what God has already done for us and His purposes for us. Live is not about getting. What does the Word of God say:1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Be spirit-centered. Think more about your Heavenly Father God, His Holy Word and His heavenly purposes.

Psalm 103:1-3 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.”

(3) Be thankful. Make music in your heart in gratitude for what the Lord is has done, is doing and is going to do for you. We are so blessed and should naturally desire to give back with joy, including of our finances. Some think that they cannot be obedient in tithing to the Lord’s church. Is it worse to break God’s laws than it is to break man’s laws? Where are manners, courtesy, graciousness, politeness, and ethics today? Shame on us for being rude to God in failure to give proper honor, respect, glory and obedience deserved. Romans 1:21 says, “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” The Lord does pay attention to us. Do we complain because we have problems or do we have problems because we complain?  

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

A positive, thankful person is a great witness for the Lord in this dark world. Praise God for His many blessings. In 2019, resolve to walk in the ways of the Lord. 
Lord, guide us. Lord, provide for us.
In Christ, Brian

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Born to Die


Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Being that we just celebrated at Christmas the birth of Jesus Christ, God incarnate dwelling among us, It would be essential to see what the Lord spoke about the reason that He came from Heaven to Earth. Christ identified many reasons why He had been born. One commentary listed and invites us to consider the following sampling of verses and references. 

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

First and foremost, Christ came to redeem those who would believe (Salvation). John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. But under that umbrella of redemption come many other aspects. God is love. God is also light. God is the moral ruler of this universe. God is righteous. He is holy and He is good. You and I are going to perish one day. We’re lost sinners and God still loves us, but the love of God cannot bring us into Heaven. God had to provide salvation, and He paid the penalty for our sins through Christ. Now, a God of love can reach out His hand to a lost world and say, “If, by faith, you will believe in My Son because He died for you; if you will whole-heartedly come on the basis, I can save you.” God saves us by His grace, motivated by His love and mercy. 

Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). God’s will was paramount even in judgment, as well as resurrection. “This is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). In everything, Christ sought to bring glory to His Father. So should we.

The commentary states that many aspects of Christ’s work are to be realized in this life, for He said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. That abundant life is walking with the indwelling Holy Spirit as a sojourner through this life with our will aligned with the Lord’s will. His desire in it all was that we might have an eternal relationship with God. “That they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”.

John 15:13“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.

But the primary goal was to bring to climax His redemptive strategy. He knew that none of the other aspects of His work had any effect without atonement for sin, which was only possible if a blood sacrifice was made for that sin. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep”. This was the reason He came to Earth; Jesus Christ was born to die. 

Blessings in Christ

Saturday, December 29, 2018

The Gospel Call – Part 2


Michael continues that in Philippians 1:12, Paul mentioned his circumstances as he wrote this letter bound in a prison in Rome, saying: “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”

Despite the circumstances in which we find ourselves and the tribulations of this world, our joy and rejoicing is in the furtherance of the gospel. Joy is not the absence of pain, rather joy is the presence of the Lord, for Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  We can abide with Him and within Him despite the circumstances of this world.

Paul's joy was the same joy that Jesus had when he spread the message of the “good news” of redemption unto salvation. Jesus Christ, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. His joy was your salvation and mine. His purpose was to redeem us; for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:13-14 “So that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul taught the message of salvation to the Roman guards in prison. From this place, the gospel spread as they taught others within their own spheres of influence. From the world's perspective, Paul was chained to a palace guard. However, from God's perspective, Paul was a bond-slave of his Lord Jesus Christ. He willingly "chained" himself to his Lord by the bond of love.

Through the lens of the gospel, God works all things together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.  The purpose of our calling is summarized in verse 27: “Only let your conversation (manner of living) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

When we walk according to God's calling, our conversation or manner of living is the good news of the gospel of Christ. God has called us as His "living epistles." We're the only bible some people will ever read. We're God's love letters known and read of all men and women.  Written not with ink or on tablets of stone, but in the fleshly tables of our hearts.

Paul's theme of this first chapter of Philippians is in verse 21,"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." The greatest joy is to let your life "be as it becometh the gospel of Christ."  As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, "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."

Our calling and our vocation is this:  "Give 'em heaven!"
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael

Friday, December 28, 2018

The Gospel Call – Part 1


This week, Michael writes that the essence of the Christian message is the gospel of Christ. This is the “good news” ... a joyful message to a world downtrodden in sin This is the message that gives beauty to ashes and salvation to the perishing. This message sets the captive free and gives a new heart of hope to the disheartened. It gives grace to the undeserving and mercy to sinners. This is the message that opens the eyes of the spirit to those born blind to the spirit of the living God. Our calling is to share this message of the good news of the gospel of Christ.

The book of Philippians is a letter of joy and rejoicing. Thirty years before Paul penned this epistle from a Roman prison, he had answered the "Macedonian call" in Acts 16.  Philippi is where Paul and Silas began the first ministered in Macedonia. This is where they cast out a devil spirit from a young slave girl. Her masters were infuriated because they used the girl to tell fortunes through demonic possession for financial gain.  When they realized that the source of their income was gone, they had Paul and Silas thrown into prison. There they were beaten and chained, but during the middle of the night they sang praises to God. God received their praise and caused an earthquake so that Paul and Silas were freed from their chains and the prison doors were opened.

Thirty years later, Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He addressed his letter to the church in Philippi as an apostle and a bondservant of Jesus Christ. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “apostle” as: a person deputed to execute some important business; but appropriately, a disciple of Christ commissioned to preach the gospel.An apostle is one who starts new churches by bringing new light of the revelation, of the truth, of the Word of God. He is "one sent" to deliver the message of the gospel of salvation. Part of Salvation is winning people to Christ. For an unbeliever, the most important question is, "If you died today, where would you spend eternity?"  For those who have a sincere desire to know the answer to this question, an apostle is sent to deliver the message of the good news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

According to Philippians 1:3-5“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;”
We've been called to a holy team within the church of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:16 says, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  God has placed us in the body of Christ to build each other up:  to edify, exhort, and comfort one another in love.

According to Philippians 1:6-7, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet (appropriate) for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”
God began a good work in us when we were saved...when we confessed with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed that God raised him from the dead.  Upon salvation, we were born again of God's spirit and he "sealed us" with his Holy Spirit of promise until Christ's return.

Let's continue Michael"s message on the "Gospel Call" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Thursday, December 27, 2018

What We Celebrate at Christmas


Matthew 1:25“And [Joseph] knew her [Mary] not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.”

Here is a small devotional message on Christmas that I’d like to share. It stated that the actual birthday of Jesus was sometime in the fall (September or October) rather than in December. The date is of lesser consequence than the reason for the celebration. Heaven itself celebrated the birth. And after the shepherds got over their fear, they couldn’t stop proclaiming the good news.

Then there were the wise men from the east who came to worship the one “born king of the Jews”. They got there well after the birth, having put their lives on hold, and willingly gave of their time and treasures to honor this great King while they rejoiced with “exceeding great joy”. Surely all Christians should worship and rejoice as well as open our treasuries when we celebrate Christ’s birth.

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

But if we just focus on the birth, we may miss the greatest reason for the commemoration. After all, there was nothing uncommon about the physical process. But the conception, now that was miraculous! The eternal “Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” – Emmanuel (God with us). The great Creator and Son of God, foreordained before the foundation of the world, submitted to the will of the Father and “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” to atone for the sins of the world on the Cross, becoming the Savior of the world. That was why heaven celebrated. That is what we celebrate at Christmas. Rejoice!



Wednesday, December 26, 2018

A Meal for Sinners

 

Mark 14:23–24“[Jesus] took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many’.

In a short study of Mark 14:17– 25, I read that in many ways, the Last Supper of our Lord was a dark occasion, for Jesus predicted during that Passover meal that one of the disciples would betray Him. In reality, however, all the disciples would betray our Lord before that night was over. Upon His arrest, all of them fled; not one of them would stand with Him before the Sanhedrin. One scholar commented on the significance of the fact that the disciples present at the Last Supper all turned their back on Christ. It shows us, he says, that the sacrament Jesus instituted that night is a matter of grace. The Lord’s Supper is a meal for sinners, for only sinners need the blood of Christ to cover their sin. His table is open to all who repent of sin and trust only in Jesus for salvation.

As we look at what Mark 14:23–24 says about the night on which the sacrament of Communion was instituted, it is important for us to note that Jesus took the liberty to alter the Passover meal and its liturgy. He changed the ceremony so that it clearly pointed to Him, saying that the Passover was fulfilled as He poured out His blood for many. Changing the Passover in such a way is quite remarkable. In Exodus 12, it was God who established the Passover and gave directions for its observance, so only God could rightly change it. For Jesus to do such a thing was a claim to deity, an assertion of His divine identity, for He did something only God could do.

John 10:27-30 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

What does the Lord’s Supper tell us about Jesus? Among other things, it is a vivid reminder of our need for the person and work of Christ. Physically, our bodies need to be nourished and supported by meat and drink. Christ, in order to show that he alone is able to discharge perfectly all that is necessary for salvation, says that he supplies the place of meat and drink. Eating the bread and drinking the wine during the Lord’s Supper tangibly remind us that we can have no spiritual life without Him, just as we cannot sustain our physical lives without food. We cannot have life itself if we do not have Christ. Indeed, we need Him more than we need to eat and drink physical food for the sake of our bodies. Communion is a meal for sinners. The Lord’s Supper helps to remind us of our total dependence on the Savior, so let us be cognizant of how much we need Him this day and every day.

Blessings in Christ

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Part 2

 

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Hail the heaven born prince of peace! / Hail the Son of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings / Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by / Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth / Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing / "Glory to the newborn King!"

Continuing Pastor D. James Kennedy message from the great Christmas hymn: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, he points out that in the third stanza, Wesley says that Christ was “born that men no more may die.” Think of that little baby born in a manger, and that baby will take each one of us out of our coffin. In John 11:25, the Lord Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. In John 14:19 Jesus said to His disciples, “Because I live, you [who trust in Me] will live also.” Christ was born that men and women no more may die. He was born to raise the sons of earth. Prior to that there was no hope of resurrection. When Jesus Christ walked out of a tomb on that glorious Easter morn, He was alive again from the dead and brought hope and life and immortality to light. The risen Lord Jesus said in Revelation 1:18 “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

Furthermore, we read in the third stanza that Christ was born to give them “second birth”. Jesus Christ, the King of the kingdom of Heaven, the One to whom all judgment id committed, the great Lord of lords and King of kings solemnly declares, in John 3:7, “You must be born again.” Except a man be born again of the Spirit, he can in no wise enter the kingdom of God. The fact is that you come from a ministry family, that you have been baptized, that you have been confirmed, that you’ve been a Sunday School teacher, an Elder, a Deacon or a minister, will not help.


Christ was born to give “second birth”. Has He given you a second birth? Jesus said in John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” – it corrupts, crumbles and decays – “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit” and lives forever. Dear friend, have you experienced the second birth? If yes, then rejoice in the birth of the Savior of the world and your redemption unto salvation. If not, then I invite you to come to Him right now. Come and invite Him into your life. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.” Open the door of your heart to Jesus. Come and ask Him to forgive you, cleanse you and transform you, and you will come to know that which the Angels spoke and the shepherds rejoiced. Ah, dear friend, don’t miss Christmas.

Hail the heaven born prince of peace! / Hail the Son of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings / Risen with healing in His wings
Hark! The herald angels sing / "Glory to the newborn King!"

Merry Christmas!
In Christ, Brian

Monday, December 24, 2018

Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Part 1

 

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Hark the herald angels sing / "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild / God and sinners reconciled".
Joyful, all ye nations rise / Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing / "Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heaven adored / Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come / Offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see / Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell / Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing / "Glory to the newborn King!"


Our Wednesday evening Bible Study group watch a Christmas video sermon by the late Pastor D. James Kennedy last week, where he explained that Christ came, as Wesley tells is in the first stanza of this great hymn "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", to reconcile us unto God, to bring about the forgiveness of our sins and our reconciliation to Him: “God and sinners reconciled.”

Who is this Jesus who has come to reconcile us – this Christ who was born in Bethlehem? In the second stanza Wesley writes, “Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see /  Hail the incarnate deity.” Now “incarnate” is not a word with which many Americans are really familiar anymore. They all know what “chili con carne” means ... Chili beans with meat. Carne means meat or flesh. God incarnate is God in flesh. Jesus Christ Emmanuel is “God with us”, God in flesh – the One who has come; and He has come into this world to do incredible things for us

Let's continue Pastor Kennedy's Christmas message in tomorrow's Post.
In Christ, Brian

Sunday, December 23, 2018

The Greatest Gift - Part 2


Matthew 2:9-11 “When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Continuing Pastor Obie’s Sunday Sermon message, he points out that the Wise Men presented Jesus Christ gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The gift of gold was considered worthy of a king. Gold speaks of His birth. He is born a King. The gift of gold was a king’s gift and Christ is our King.

A quick survey reveals it was used primarily in biblical times for making incense and as an ingredient in sacrifices. Song of Solomon reveals it was also an ingredient in perfume. Since frankincense was primarily used in the Bible in worship, frankincense speaks of the worship of God. Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His life. Frankincense was a worthy gift for Christ since He was the anointed One who deserves our worship. Myrrh was used for a variety of purposes in biblical times as a perfume, an anesthetic, for burial embalming, as an ingredient in anointing oil, and to deodorize clothes. John 19:39 records that myrrh was used in Jesus’ burial. Myrrh was a prophetic gift because Jesus would die for the sins of the world. Myrrh speaks of His death. But, the Magi offered a fourth gift when they fell down and worshiped Him. The Wise Men offered their hearts in worship of Jesus and the greatest gift that you can give is your heart also. God cares about your whole heart connected to Him. The Christian lives out their heartfelt faith in prayer and worship, studying God’s Holy Word, learning together at church with fellow Believers, in giving and in ministry.

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.”

But, the greatest gift given of all time and eternity was by God. The greatest gift you can ever receive is Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Yet, with any gift given, it must be accepted, unwrapped and received. We receive the Gift of God in Jesus Christ by faith. Ephesians 2:8 explains, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” But, this gift of redemption from sin unto salvation from hell and reconciliation to eternal life in heaven has a time limit. The Gift of God must be received in this life. Seeking is free, but following the Lord will cost us greatly because we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and become disciples of Jesus.


During the Christmas season, people are open to the gospel and an encounter with the Lord, so invite others to meet God incarnate, God with us, their Savior Jesus Christ. The three gifts of the Wise Men were a King’s coronation. Hearts give honor. And there are three types reactions to the Gift of God in Jesus Christ. (1) resent and resentment due to fear of loss power and position that reject authority. (2) Indifference that sees the gift of God, but care about it or do anything about it, letting it sit. (3) Accept and receive rejoice in God’s gift by giving their whole heart. So, what are you going to do with the gift of God? Don’t leave it under the tree. Receive Jesus as Savior and Lord and rejoice.   

In Christ, Brian

Saturday, December 22, 2018

The Greatest Gift - Part One



Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

This last Sunday, Pastor Obie preached a sermon message on the famous “Wise Men” of Christmas. Pastor began by explaining and clearing up three misconceptions about these wise men. First, they did not find Jesus in a manger. They arrive much later, after His birth. Matthew 2:11 plainly states: when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. Joseph and Mary were now living in a house and Jesus was now a young child. Secondly, there were not just three wise men. The number three has been attributed to the three gifts given, but this was actually a large caravan of dignitaries, servants and supplies from the Parthian Empire (formerly Babylon). Third, They were not kings, but Magi – an elite and powerful class of government officials that were kingmakers and studied the stars. They learned of the promised Messiah (the coming king of the Jews) from Daniel. The Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had elevated God's servant Daniel to the ranks of the great in Babylon. He made Daniel a ruler, an official of great power over his kingdom. This promotion made Daniel the chief or lord over all the other wise men (magi) of Babylon. The Magi learned of the messianic prophesies, including the star as a sign of the Messiah’s arrival, from Daniel.

Luke 2:9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

Pastor Obie then gave us two lessons from the Star of Bethlehem. (1) See the star. The Wise Men were aware, looking for and saw the “His” star. They recognized the sign of the Star of Bethlehem. Romans 1:19-20 tells us, “what may be known of God is manifest in [mankind], for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.” Creator God is working all around us to lead us to Him through Jesus. It is not coincidence, but Divine Providence at work in the world and in our lives. See it.

Someone In Mind: Wise Men Still Seek Him by Gentri Lee

Philippians 2:14-15 “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

(2) Seek the star. Jesus is the star. Seeking and following the star requires mindful and organized actions and sacrifice. Worthy is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, so make it a priority to seek Jesus. Greater commitments in life cost because our life demonstrates God. To follow the Lord means to do what the Lord wants us to do. Shine your light of Christ and show God’s love. Become like the star, leading to Jesus, who changes lives.

Let’s continue Pastor Obie’s message on the Greatest gift in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Friday, December 21, 2018

Pressing on to the Goal



Philippians 3:8-14 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through  faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,  forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

In created human terms it may be hard to our heartfelt efforts as “loss” or “rubbish” or “filthy rags”, but we must consider that this is only in comparison with the works of God through our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and the point is that in the infinite gap between an all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, infinite Creator of the Cosmos and His created finite creatures is truly incomparable. In a short commentary of the above Philippians passage, the commentator states that perfection, from one perspective, is the end goal of the Christian life. After all, we have the hope that when Jesus “appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Christ never sinned, and one day, all of those who are united to Him by faith alone will likewise be completely free from the bondage and free of the desire to sin. Creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God, that point at which all the world will know that we are the Lord’s because we reflect His character fully.

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “perfection” as: The state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; as perfection in an art or science; perfection in a system of morals. 1. Physical perfection, is when a natural object has all its powers, faculties or qualities entire and in full vigor, and all its parts in due proportion. 2. Metaphysical or transcendental perfection, is the possession of all the essential attributes or all the parts necessary to the integrity of a substance. This is absolute, where all defect is precluded, such as the perfection of God; or according to its kind, as in created things. 3. Moral perfection, is the complete possession of all moral excellence, as in the Supreme Being; or the possession of such moral qualities and virtues as a thing is capable of. 4. An inherent or essential attribute of supreme or infinite excellence; or one perfect in its kind; as the perfections of God. The infinite power, holiness, justice, benevolence and wisdom of God are denominated his perfections.

That this will happen when Jesus “appears” keeps us from expecting perfection in this life. In the flesh, this side of eternity, we are in the process of perfecting in Christ. Perfection, in the sense of being unable to sin, will be ours only at the resurrection, because only then will we be free of the presence of sin. (Of course, our spirits that rest in heaven before the resurrection will already have been perfected in this regard.) Until that future day, full holiness is something that we strive for, and we need help to make true progress in our reflection of Christ.

Even the Apostle Paul needed such guidance as He pressed on toward the mark and goal of holiness. For him, we know this guidance came from God’s moral law, because the fruits of holiness that he speaks of in his epistles are actions and attitudes encouraged by the Ten Commandments. He did not seek to follow God’s law of love by the assistance of the Holy Spirit in order to be set right with our Creator. Instead, knowing that he had been reconciled to God through the perfect righteousness of Christ, Paul did what comes naturally to regenerate and sanctified people and sought to please the Lord by putting into practice the Lord’s holy statutes.


Believers glorification is certain. We will surely be perfect and unable to sin in the age to come. Today, we are called to show forth the holiness that will be ours fully in the future by living out, albeit imperfectly, the will of God. Because sin still clouds our thinking, we need the constant preaching of the Lord’s moral law to show us how to fulfill this call. The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in believers as they walk according to the Spirit, and our need for the law’s teaching has not passed away.

Christians make true progress in their fight against sin over the course of their Christian lives. Yet, we continue to discover new sins we never saw before until we die, and our sin-clouded minds need help in knowing the Lord’s will. This is one reason why we should seek and treasure the teaching and preaching of God’s law. It gives us the righteous standard to which we must strive, telling us precisely what it means to please God.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Teaching the Law



Nehemiah 8:8 “They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading”.

Although no one can obey the Ten Commandments or, indeed, any of God’s law perfectly, all of the Lord’s commandments still play a key role in the lives of sinners. God, in fact, wants the Ten Commandments “preached pointedly”, because our Creator desires for His people to understand His statutes.

First, let us consider the biblical evidence that God wants church leaders to preach and teach His commandments. Nehemiah 8:8, for example, records Ezra’s reading of the Mosaic law to the Israelites after they returned from exile. The author clearly approves of this act, as well as the Levites’ explanation of God’s rules to Israel. In reading the commandments, Ezra and the Levites fulfilled the command in Deuteronomy 31:9-13 to preach and teach regularly the Mosaic law. Moreover, lest we think that teaching the law of God was appropriate only under the old covenant, we must remember that the New Testament is filled with expositions of the Lord’s statutes. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:17-48, Jesus illustrates the proper application of God’s law. Apostolic teaching assumes the abiding validity of the Ten Commandments.

But why does God want His law preached regularly under the new covenant? Nehemiah 8:8 also helps answer this question. When Ezra read the commandments to the Israelites, “all the people wept” under conviction of their sin. This covenant community included regenerate people, so we see the ongoing function of the law of God to remind us of our sin and weakness, and to drive us to repentance. The Lord’s commandments drive us to Christ when we are converted, but they continue to do so throughout our walk with Jesus as they confront us in our sin and point us to the cross for forgiveness.

Believers who are confronted with their sin in the preaching of God’s law are never left to wallow in their misery. As the Spirit convicts us and drives us to the cross, He also assures us that we are free and forgiven in Christ Jesus. In turn, this causes us to rejoice exceedingly, in greater measure than even the Israelites did when they were assured of their pardon.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Matthew Henry comments on Nehemiah 8:8 that “those who tremble at the convictions of the word may triumph in the consolation of it.” We can rejoice in the Lord’s grace and forgiveness only if we first understand our need for the gospel and His pardon. We must realize that we are lost in sin before we can be found and saved in Christ. Many proclaim the wonders of God’s grace and their peace with the Lord without acknowledging their sin. Such individuals have a false peace and do not truly understand their need for the Lord’s work.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Our Call - Part One



This week, Michael writes that a child of God is not one who has everything together. The people of God still struggle with the sin nature of the flesh that we inherited from Adam. Men and women of God need to swap their own self esteem for Christ esteem.  He gracefully breaks us so that He can lift up our heads. We're broken by God's grace so that He can forgive us when we repent.  Grace and mercy are not because of what we've done, but because of what the Lord did on our behalf when He became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf.

In 1 Peter 2:9 it says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:” Today, we're a chosen generation to make an impact to influence our world for Christ. Our country's cultural mindset has changed over the last 50 years. The change has been gradual as the cultural erosion has progressed. 

  • We're a royal priesthood. The priest is the one who speaks to God on behalf of the people. The priest ministers the love and light of Christ in a world of darkness. This is our calling of God.  

  • We’re a holy nation because our citizenship is in heaven.  Holy men and women have been made holy at salvation ... they have been set apart for God's purpose through the supreme payment of the blood of Christ. Our priestly ministry is a blessing. Our calling is to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel.  

  • We're peculiar people.  We're not normal ... we're unusual according to the world's standards. To follow Christ, we must deny ourselves to follow Him. If any man or woman is in Christ their a new creature .... called out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our purpose is to reflect and demonstrate the nature of Jesus Christ others. The enemy (the flesh, the God-rejecting world system and the devil) will tell us that we're a failure and that we're hypocrites for professing the standard of Christ. However, the Word of God is truth. According to the truth of the Word, it is God who works in you to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Most people think that they need to seek retribution and to retaliate against those who have violated their "rights." However, Jesus said "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God." Therefore, recompense to no man evil for evil ... be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good. people are comfortable in the "shallow end of the pool."  However, Jesus says to come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.  He bids us, forsake yourself and come unto me. To follow our Lord, we must leave the comfort of the shallow end to come and join with him at the deep end of the pool called life.

Children of God are "outliers" from the world. We're different because we're sanctified ... separated according to the purpose intended by the designer. Life is too short and the stakes are too high to live mediocre lives. Our challenge is to live a life that's extraordinary, set apart for the vocation wherewith we have been called.

Let's continue Michael's message on "Our Call" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

False Signs and Wonders



Mark 13:21–23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.”

This is an interesting article on Mark 13:21-23. The article warns that false prophets and teachers present the greatest threat to the church of Jesus Christ. External enemies who brazenly attack God’s people are easy to identify, and their threat is simpler to discern and resist. Internal enemies, however, are not dealt with so easily. Wolves can go about in sheep’s clothing for a long time before they are finally found out. False teachers, because they come in Christ’s
name, elicit the trust of their students, and their corrupt doctrine weakens the faith of those who sit under their teaching.

Recognition of the threat of false teachers goes all the way back to the Exodus generation, and Moses specifically warned the Israelites against those who would claim to be prophets while leading them to worship other gods. Deuteronomy 13:1–5 notes that the test of a true prophet is not his ability to perform signs and wonders; rather, true prophets are identified by their orthodoxy (Soundness of faith; a belief in the genuine doctrines taught in the Scriptures). In other words, no matter how convincing the signs and wonders of a professed prophet or teacher may be, that person must be rejected if he teaches heresy.

Moses’ principle remains true in every generation. It is true in ours, and it was true in the years leading up to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Jesus warned that once the Romans invaded the city, many false teachers would implore them not to flee to the mountains. Instead, these preachers of error would try to deceive Christ’s disciples, calling them to follow after other people who professed to be the Messiah. Many of these false teachers, Jesus said, would “perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect”.

Note the qualifier “if possible” in Mark 13:22. Jesus’ point was that the false signs would be so convincing that they could fool even God’s people; however, in the end the child of God would not be convinced because no one can finally lead the elect astray. That is due to the preserving mercy of the Lord, not the strength of the elect. However frail and slippery the condition of the godly may be, yet here is a firm footing on which they may stand; for it is not possible for them to fall away from salvation, to whom the Son of God is a faithful guardian. The permanency of our salvation does not depend on us, but on God.

God preserves forever those He has redeemed to salvation. How do the sanctifies reveal themselves? By believing in Christ and being on guard against all who oppose Him. For the saved are those who rest in Christ alone for salvation. The truth of a teacher’s words is determined not by the feats they can perform but by the orthodoxy of what they teach. We are never to follow anyone who perverts the truth of God’s Word, no matter how gifted that person is, how large of an organization that person commands, or how pious that person’s work seems to be.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Favor with the Lord – Part 2



Luke 1:26-46 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

Continuing Pastor Kyle message on “Divine Favor” from the last post, the third example of what Divine favor looks like on the inside is “faith”. We need to trust God and have faith that the Lord Almighty could and would fulfill anything that He wills to. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we must choose to say “yes”, and that the Lord says “yes to us when asked rightly. James 4:2-3 says, “You lust and do not have … you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” But, we must also choose to have faith when God answer’s “no yet” or “no, I have something better for you”.

Luke 1:47-56 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has
rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

The fourth example of what Divine favor looks like on the inside is praise before, during, and after the storms of life. Praise means to commend; to applaud; to express approbation of personal worth or actions of almighty God. To extol in words or song or prayer; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works of the Lord. To express gratitude for personal Divine favors. There is true power in prayer to God in trouble times. Praise God when times are getting tough. I always wonder what the Lord is going to teach me in every trial that I begin, knowing that He will be with us in the storm, equip us and walk us through it, to the other side and will be better for it.

Jesus said in Luke 14:11, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The fifth example of what Divine favor looks like on the inside is “humility”. Humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will. It is an act of submission. God is able to take humble beginnings and use them for His glory. Ask yourself: What if my current “humble” status is not really holding me back, but actually positioning me to be able to impact others for the Lord? Matthew 5:5 says, “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” Be humble.

 The sixth example of what Divine favor looks like on the inside is a growing spiritual appetite. Jesus said in Matthew 5:6,“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Empty stomachs, God satisfies. You can have everything that this world can offer and not be satisfied. You can have all the money and material possessions and feel empty inside. True soul satisfaction comes through the Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry, not temporal earthly and mortal desires, pursuits, dealings or ownership. Don’t chase the wind, but increase your spiritual appetite for righteousness (that which is “right” in the eyes of the Lord).

Eternal matters are what really matter. You have found favor with God, so be truly filled.

In Christ, Brian





Saturday, December 15, 2018

Favor with the Lord



Luke 1:26-38 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Pastor Kyle continued our Advent Sunday sermon series, stating that “in Christ”, we have God’s Divine favor. When the born-again, regenerate spirit prays in righteousness, God hears His people. As an Israelite virgin, Mary (the mother of Jesus) understood God’s commandments and law on sexuality. This is why she asked the visiting angel Gabriel: “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  God wants 100% of our heart. That may sound extreme in today’s compromising secular world view, but God didn’t change and demands obedience. In this spiritual warfare, we are called to take all sinful and rebellious thoughts captive.  

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”


Pastor Kyle gave us six examples of what Divine favor looks like on the inside. (1) Obedience when  no one is looking. Desire that all your secret negative and sinful thoughts be exposed and replaced with righteousness and faithful, positive thoughts. When something is ungodly negative, then flip it to make it godly positive. When something is bad or wrong, turn it around and make it good and “right” in the eyes of the Lord. (2) Openness to God. In our relationship with the Lord and our prayer/conversation with Almighty God, the tone of our delivery is as important as the message. Just as modern day text messages and emails can not deliver our emotional tone or voice inflection, we have to ask for clarification  in order to truly understand. This involves being open to God both inwardly and outwardly.

Let’s continue Pastor Kyle’s message on “Divine Favor” in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Friday, December 14, 2018

Believing God



Acts 27:25 “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

I read a little article on the difference between "believing in" and "believing". They stated that most people believe in God—some kind of god—but it’s a different thing altogether to believe God! And this Bible verse makes it clear that believing God simply means believing what He says, “that it shall be even as it was told me.” The Apostle Paul spoke these words at the height of a terrible storm at sea, when it appeared certain that “all hope that we should be saved was then taken away”. But God had spoken otherwise, and Paul believed God rather than adopting the fears of those around him.

Abraham, “the father of all them that believe”, had set the example. “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:20-21).

God does speak far more comprehensively to us through His written Word. It is a terrible offense against our Creator to question His Word. This, indeed, was the very sin of pride that led to Satan’s fall and then to the fall of Adam and Eve. 2 Timothy says that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God [literally, ‘is God-breathed’]” and thus should be fully believed and explicitly obeyed, for “he that believeth not God hath made him a liar” (1 John 5:10).

But what about those Scriptures that modern secular-humanistic scientists claim to be wrong? Does their unbelief make the real unreal? Romans 3:3-4 asks: For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged.” Believe God.

Psalm 33:3 “For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth”. 

Blessings.


Thursday, December 13, 2018

Liberty/Slavery



Liberty/Slavery


2 Peter 2:19 “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”

There always seems to be a debate whether mankind is morally good or evil by nature. Moral evil is any deviation of a moral agent from the rules of conduct prescribed to him by God. It must be misguided thinking that our sin-nature of the flesh is not a factor in our heart’s core beliefs and behavior. I read that this chapter of 2 Peter consists of a strong denunciation of false teachers. They are, among other things, sensuous, beguiling, covetous, and accursed. They desire personal wealth, but their message is empty, and even destructive, and will be judged, appealing to the pride and lusts of their hearers.

In the Bible verse above, we see the false teachers are quick to make promises. Promises are cheap; they cost nothing. Satan first revealed himself to mankind with a promise: “Ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5), and later attempted to seduce the Son of God with “all the kingdoms of the world”. Empty promises are Satan’s golden hook, and many are the foolish ones who believe the lie and take the bait.

In this case, the false teachers promise liberty—liberty to act without the shackles of responsibility and moral law. But they themselves are “servants of corruption,” slaves of a most abhorrent mentality. And who are they to offer liberty? These are indeed “great swelling words of vanity”, for slaves cannot rightly offer liberty.

Romans 6:16 “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”

The article asks: How is this promise kept? Bondage. Bondage to that which has overcome. The liberty that sin promises is slavery, and the greater the sinner, the greater the bondage to the sin. There is perhaps no more wretched a state than to be in bondage to abject corruption in the name of liberty. It is a bondage of the spirit; a captivity of the soul. Of all states of slavery, it is the most lasting.


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.”

On the other hand, through grace we can “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,” with no need to be “entangled again with the yoke of bondage”. Liberty is in Christ.

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”