Saturday, October 31, 2020

The Christian Citizen – Part 1

 

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

The word “kingdom” is the contraction of two words “king’s” and “domain”, meaning all the land under the king’s reign and rule. The king blesses those in his kingdom with providence, protection and peace. The “Subjects” of the kingdom honor and obey the commands of the king, their Lord. The kingdom of Christ in Heaven and on Earth has a king, the Lord Jesus, the Christ, who reigns and rules all. Obey the Lord Jesus, the King of Heaven and Earth and peace be with you. 

 

This last Sunday, my dad’s pastor Herk continued in his sermon series on the Great Commission by the Lord Jesus Christ to go make disciples to all, teaching them all that he has commanded. Being good citizens involves caring for our people and our nation, which is a part of being good disciples and praying for God’s Will to be done in our leadership and citizenries. This country was established on religious freedom as proven by our founding documents and each states preamble. God bless America and America bless God. Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” The word “citizen comes originally from the Anglo-French citesein, or citezein meaning "inhabitant of a city or town, city-dweller, town-dweller. Today, it means a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.

 

2 Chronicles 7:14 conditionally says, “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.”

 

We have to do our part as citizens. It is important as Christians to express our godly convictions through our vote on proposition and for who represents us. Founding Father John Jay, President of Congress; Author of the Federalist Papers; Original Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court wrote: “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”  Humble yourself, pray and seek God’s face for guidance as you vote. Elections and Propositions are important. Our vote in this democratic Republic has lasting repercussions. If Christians would be faithful disciples in influencing this culture and society and make faithful disciples so that righteousness and godliness would prevail, things would be so much better in this land. Our biblical values, morals and ethics that this nation has enjoyed and benefited from in freedom, liberty and justice since it’s conception are under attack, and religious freedom is being eroded in the process. Are we going to be the generation that looks back and says: “What happened to American freedoms?” 

 

What kind of nation are we and what kind of nation are we to become? What kind of virtues and values do we want to embrace, want our children to learn, embrace and pass on to their children? As citizens of Heaven and America (duel-citizenship of the Christian), we have a voice and opportunity to vote and determine the direction that our nation is going to head into. That is a precious privilege given to us by the faith and fortitude Founders of this nation. We are going to lose it, if we do not embrace it and fight the good fight. Study the issues and where each candidate stands, so as a faithful disciple of Christ and citizens, we make informed decisions based upon godly biblical principles, then vote your conscience with integrity.  


Let's continue PAstor Herk message on the Christian citizen in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Friday, October 30, 2020

The Origins of Halloween


Matthew 15:3 Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?

I posted this message a couple years ago, but I think about it every year at this time, so let's revisit the origins of Halloween again. It's that important! `Tomorrow, w
e celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes, going to parties, playing games and “trick or treating” for the little kids. But when I ask people what is the significance of the "hallow" day and what exactly are we celebrating on this “second most popular” holiday in the United States of America?, the answer always seems to be the same: “I don’t really know.” Let's take a look at what it truly means.

I've listened to a couple Pastors this week explain that there is a confluence of three streams that flow together to form this modern celebration. The first goes back to the Druids, who were the pagan inhabitants of pre-Christian Ireland and Scotland. The Druid or Celtic year began on November 1, which was called “Samhain”. This was their New Year’s day, and consequently, October 31 was “New Year’s Eve”. It was also a combination of a “Harvest Festival” and thought of as a “Festival of the Dead”, for it was said that it was this night that the Earth came to its closest contact with the unseen and spiritual world. Consequently, ghosts, goblins and witches terrified the populous, supposedly destroying crops, killing babies, stealing farm animals, upsetting garbage cans and reeking all sorts of havoc on the people. Bon fires were set upon the hills, either to keep the ghosts away, or perhaps to guide the spirits of the dead back to their homes, where it was believed that the spirits of the deceased on the eve of Samhain find warmth and good cheer in the home of their kinfolk before the onslaught of winter. Therefore, we see a lot of the folk custom of Halloween has come from this Druid celebration.

Another one of them is the custom of “Trick or Treat”. It originated when the people of Ireland went around to homes asking for various treats for the celebration which was to follow later in the evening. Then, when the belief in the reality of goblins and ghosts began to decline, and it was no longer believed that they were really doing these mischievous things, the children decided to help out. So they dressed up in various costumes and put on masks, then went house to house asking for treats, but adding a little something extra … threatening also tricks if they failed to be generous. And so, there were garbage cans upset, gate posts found in trees, and all sorts of pandemonium that took place on that night, supposedly attributed to the ghosts and goblins, but, of course, wrought by the dressed up children.

Deuteronomy 18:9-11 “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.”


The second stream that flows into the modern celebration of Halloween comes from Central Europe, when the Christian church made its attack upon the pagan bastions, destroying the temples of the various heathen gods and goddesses. But it was never able to completely eradicate the pagan worship which reappeared in the “Dark Ages” in the form of witchcraft. One of the important aspects of witchcraft are a number of celebrations each year, which are called “Witch’s Sabbaths”. One of the highest witch’s Sabbaths, the “Black Sabbath” of witches, occurred on October 31. This was a night of feasting and revelry, and imagery includes themes of death, evil, the occult, black cats, bats, mythical monsters and other related Halloween paraphernalia. The source of much of our Halloween folklore today stems from the high witch’s Black Sabbath of October 31 celebrated in Central Europe in the Middle Ages.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.

The third stream that completes the modern concept of Halloween comes from the Roman Catholic Church. The church was engaged had been engaged in appointing certain days to honor and reverence certain Saints that the church had appointed or declared. There had become so many of these days that it became impossible to have a specific day for each Saint, so they decided to have one day in which they would remember all of the Saints, called “All Saints Day”. In the 700’s A.D., Pope Gregory III changed the date if “All Saints Day” to November 1, and in the year 834 A.D., Pope Gregory IV extended this celebration to the entire Roman Catholic Church. There was a celebration associated with this, on the evening before called “All-Hallows-Mas” or “All-Hallows-Even” on October 31 and it is from these two words that we have the contraction “Halloween”.

Here you see the three-fold origin of the celebration of Halloween. Are you still excited to celebrate this holiday? Well, unrelated, on October 31, 1517 @ noon in Wittenberg,

Germany, a young professor of Theology by the name of Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the University door that sprung into existence the Protestant Reformation and churches. So October 31 is the birthday of Protestantism and the Evangelical faith. Saved by grace alone, saved by faith alone, saved by Christ alone. Now that’s no trick, but the greatest treat of all.

In Christ, Brian

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Defining Discipleship

 

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

 

The word “discipleship is defined as: the state of a disciple or follower in doctrines and precepts. It is the “being and associated actions of the continual student and follower of the Christian teaching and commandments in the Word of God to observe all things that the Lord has commanded them. Creator Father God created us to be fruitful, holy and godly in righteous thoughts, conversation and actions in a balanced and sanctified world, but sin caused the fall into darkness that called the Great Commission as restoration via the Gospel of salvation. Increasing the population of Heaven, decreases the population of Hell. In this secular world without a moral compass today, Christian discipleship seems needed now more than ever.

 

But, the discipleship framework is built on a foundation. The first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is: “What is the chief end of man (humanity)? The answer is: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. The Purpose of Mankind is about how as human beings we were designed to worship and glorify God. In reading for frameworks of discipleship ministry, I read that our primary work becomes worshipping and adoring God, and all our other tasks in successfully accomplishing the Great Commission flow from that union. Surely, this speaks of the abundant life that Jesus Christ makes possible. 

 

The author asks, “What is the equivalent means of grace that the disciples of Christ are offering our communities to corporately connect with God?” Then, states that authentic community must be sustained by the presence of God. Efforts make disciples artificially can only result in ugly, lifeless caricatures birth and sustained in the flesh. Because of whose we are in Christ, we are who we are; Christians on the commission mission of His church. Does our discipleship ministry promote Spirit-filled fruitful communion, dedicated godly community or the devoted mission of evangelism for the salvation of souls, or is it just a filler implemented for the sake of activity or attraction? Pointing others to a loving relationship with their Savior at the foot of the Cross for forgiving reconciliation with God in repentance and saving faith is the mission.  We are not just blindly going through the motions or mindlessly completing items on a ministry checkoff list. There is supernatural power of God in the Gospel to transform the sinner unto eternal life.

 

In Matthew 22:35-40, one of the Pharisees, a lawyer, asked Jesus a question, testing Him, and saying, “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.” Never get the second commandment in front of the first commandment. Relationships with people will never substitute for an authentic relationship with God through Christ. Yet, true Christian relationship and fellowship with fellow believing brothers and sisters is the nature fruit of the union. When members of the Christian community of Believers seek to find in one another what can only be found in God, there will be disappointment and dysfunction. 


The primary goals of making disciples for the kingdom community of God are (1) giving glory to Christ, (2) displaying the reality of the good news of the Gospel, and (3) being conformed into Christ’s image. Connection between people is meant to be a means of moving us towards realities beyond the relationships themselves. It is imperative that Jesus Christ and His kingdom remain the central focus and purpose of discipleship. 

 

In Christ, Brian

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

In Whom Do You Trust? – Part 2

.This is so pretty, love it.

Michael continues, saying that to trust in the Lord is to acknowledge and subjugate my will to His will. Prayer is aligning my will with His will and my heart with His heart. We can trust in the Lord because God is faithful to His Word. His Holy Word never returns void because His Word is trustworthy. According to Isaiah 55 ... “As the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven and returns not thither, but waters the earth and makes it bring forth and bud; so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where unto I have sent it.”

The Word of the Lord is trustworthy. Since God is Sovereign over all, some say that God can do “anything He wants” even if it contradicts something He says in His Word. This is what the Muslim religion says ... that Allah (God) can change his mind on a whim and because he’s not subject to any constraints. However, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One true God cannot contradict His Holy Word. The derivation of the word “Amen” is “God is faithful to his word.... God has said it, therefore it shall be done.”

According to the book, Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning, we have craved clarity and hesitate to trust in God unless we eliminate the confusion in our own minds. However, God never said to ask for clarity. He said to trust in the Lord. Our trust does not bring clarity to dissipate the chaos in our minds. The essence of trust is in obedience to His Word. We may not see or understand the end from the beginning. Our trust is in knowing that God knows and that He works all things for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. The heart of trust is summed up in Jesus’ final words on the cross: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

Some people think trusting God is believing that God will do what I want Him to do. They think that God is like the “genie in the bottle.” As if He’s here to make our wishes come true. They think that God’s purpose is to give us all things “richly to enjoy” and to lavish on us, aka “life more abundantly.” They say His purpose is that we would prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers. The problem with the “prosperity gospel” is that its focus is on the wrong purpose. The prosperity gospel subscribes to the “WIIFM” doctrine that says “what’s in it for me?” 

 

This is what the “rich young ruler” thought when he asked Jesus, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Even though he had kept six of the ten commandments that pertain to the second great commandment, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, he had forsaken the first commandment, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength. The first of the Ten Commandments is “thou shalt have no other gods before me.” In other words, you shall have no other gods between your face and God’s face. When Jesus said to the rich young ruler, “sell all your possessions, give the proceeds to the poor, and come follow me,” he went away sorrowful. He had the wrong god. His money and material wealth were his gods. He failed to realize that the true blessing is in seeking the Blessor and not the blessings.

The national motto of the United States is “In God We Trust.” This motto is printed on US paper money and coins. The irony is that money itself is the god in which most Americans trust. However, our nation was founded as a godly nation, where people came to the new world to worship God according to the truth of His Holy Word. God has blessed our Republic founded on “firm reliance on Divine Providence.”  

God reserves a remnant of His people to stand in the gap in God’s hedge of protection around His citizenry. For we are citizens of Heaven. Even though we may be natural born citizens of the United States, we are born-again citizens of His heavenly kingdom. When the whole world is shaking with strife, contention, confusion, pandemonium, panic, and a pandemic, Jesus Christ is the firm foundation. He alone is the Rock that cannot be shaken. Therefore, trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths ... that we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

 

In God We Trust.
Your brother in Christ, Michael

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

In Whom Do You Trust? – Part 1

 Eye of a Rose, Has The Detail Of It's Love

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding... in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.”

This week, Michael writes that as Christians influencing a fallen and unbelieving world for Christ, our first priority is to trust in the Lord. To influence others, we must first influence our own hearts by trusting in the Lord. A humble and grateful heart is the prerequisite for approaching God’s throne of grace. Therefore, be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. 

God reserves a remnant in every generation to be His living epistles ... His love letters known and read of all mankind. Men and women of this world are fans of sports teams or political parties they identify with and passionately cheer on to victory. However, God calls men and women of God as His fanatic disciples to fan the flame of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gift He has given us as His elect destined for Heaven. As fans of our Lord and examples of His living Word, we are “not slothful in business, fervent (white hot) in spirt, serving the Lord.”  

John Wesley (founder of the Methodist Church)  took this verse to heart. He fervently believed what Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.” Someone asked him “why do thousands of people come to hear you preach?” Wesley responded, “I set myself on fire with the Holy Spirit and people come from miles around to watch me burn!” As men and women of God, our immediate families are our primary mission field. 


Trusting in the Lord means that we trust in the object of our trust. We trust in the Lord God Jehovah and in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word of God made manifest in the flesh. Words have no significance without meaning. Jesus Christ is the meaning of “the Word”. He said, “you believe (put your trust) in God. Believe also in me.” In Matthew 11:28 he said, “come unto me all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  

In trying times, many people turn to God. When they reach the end of their own abilities, they look for a “higher power” beyond themselves. God allows people either to kneel in prayer voluntarily or he allows circumstances and situations to bring them to their knees. Even though the world is experiencing a global pandemic, many people are turning to God for deliverance.

In the NIV translation of the Bible, Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” It’s easy to pray for God’s direction to make our paths straight. However, before He can direct our paths, there are four things we are required to do to trust in the Lord. The NIV uses the word “your” four times in these two verses. God’s promise to make our paths straight depends on our obedience to His word in four things.

The first requirement is to “trust with all your heart.” To trust is to be willing and confident to believe in that which you determine to do. Trust is in the object of your trust. When you are driving your car and the “check engine” light comes on, you take your car to your mechanic. You “lean not unto your own understanding.” You “submit your way” unto your mechanic because you acknowledge that he knows more about car repair than you do. You trust that he will diagnose the problem and determine the root cause of failure. Trust is confidence that the object of your trust (your mechanic) will accomplish the desired outcome, that is, “making your path straight” by fixing your car.

The missionary to China, Hudson Taylor said, “either Jesus is Lord of all or he’s not Lord at all.” What if it were illegal to go to church? What if the government forbids you to read your bible in school? What if your body is wracked with pain? Would you still trust in the Lord? Do you put more trust in God’s Holy Word or in man’s word? Is God still Sovereign over all? Has God’s call changed? The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable and immutable ... God will not change His mind. His gifts and His calling are without repentance. Even when we stray from the truth of His Word, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness


Let's continue Michael's message on trusting god in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Monday, October 26, 2020

Christian Citizenship

Orange Rose

Our Wednesday night small group Bible Study continued in the Pastor D. James Kennedy video series, led by Michael. 

Matthew 22:15-22 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Jesus in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teach the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.

In our country we have a double responsibility:  To render unto Cesar that which is Cesar’s and unto God that which is God’s. America began with Godly men and women with one aim:  To advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. They established a godly nation.  De Tocqueville came from France in the 1800’s to study the United States. He marveled that there has never been such a nation where the people have a grasp on that which is good.  

Today we have lost our grasp on the good things that have made our nation great.  We live in a nation filled with danger. There is danger on our highways, in our cities, and in our own neighborhoods at night. In America today, there is no more dangerous place than in our mothers’ wombs.  More babies were killed in their mothers’ wombs last year than have died in all the wars we have fought since the revolution. Abortion has become America’s great holocaust…our great national disgrace. America is fraught with pornography and sexual immorality.  All types of sexual perversion condemned in the Bible have become politically correct in this country today. Our nation is wracked by STD’s. Illegal drug use has become rampant. Crime is at an all time high and people have three locks on their doors and surveillance systems with alarms on their homes. Education used to be the pride of our nation but is now a disgrace. The United States is now one of the most illiterate nations in the industrialized world. How has America fallen so far from the ideal on which our country was founded?

In the final scene of story of Frankenstein’s monster, the monster has gone berserk, ransacked the city and set the buildings and houses ablaze.  Someone entering the city said, “What’s happening?”  Dr Frankenstein answered, “It’s the monster.  He went berserk ransacking the neighborhoods, setting the city on fire, and killing people.”   “Where did the monster come from,” asked the stranger.  Frankenstein responded, “I made it myself.” Likewise, where did the monsters come from that are ransacking our once-great nation? A great deal of the blame rests upon the doorstep of the church.  We have failed to obey the Great Commission of Jesus Christ and failed to influence the spheres of politics, the media, education, the town hall, and the voting booth. We have failed to behave as godly citizens. We have failed to render unto Cesar that which is Cesar’s and unto God that which is God’s.  We did not create the monster by our own hands, but we have allowed it to grow and take power where the courts, the legislatures, the media and higher education have wreaked carnage on our nation. Christians have failed to take up their responsibilities as citizens in this nation of the people, for the people and by the people, and have allowed this great blessing of a godly nation to slip through our hands. If de Tocqueville were to visit America today, would he see a righteous nation built on the Christian virtues of its godly citizens?  

How have we allowed the usurpation of godly virtues?  “Privatization of religion” is one of the ways we have relinquished control to the worldly powers. Christians have left the public square and have retreated into their churches and prayer closets. They have walled themselves behind stained glass windows and have left public institutions to the unbelieving secular humanists. The state and national legislatures, courts, state houses, and institutions of higher education have been abandoned by Christians and left to the ungodly influence of secular humanists on th4e citizens of America.  

Many preachers refuse to speak about the great issues of our day because they don’t want to offend anyone. Likewise, laymen also fail to sound the alarm. They’re content to stay within their own houses and isolate themselves with their own families. Where would our nation be if General Washington had not taken command during the Revolutionary War? If we lived in his shoes would we have been afraid of “offending someone?” A great many American Christians today are busy concentrating on the so-called prosperity gospel. Their only concern is “what’s in it for me” and “what’s mine.”  This privatization of self-centered so-called Christianity is the same short-sighted sentiment of the leaders of Jesus’ day who failed to “render unto Cesar that which is Cesar’s and unto God that which is God’s.”  

What’s the difference between a Politian and a Patriot?  The politician says, “what’s in it for me?”  The Patriot says, “what’s in it for the good of my country?”  To allow the monsters that are ravaging our country to run amok, just say, “I can’t get involved.” The result of this kind of thinking in the church is that 18.5 million evangelical Christians are not even registered to vote. Half of those who are registered don’t vote. Of those who vote, most aren’t aware of the issues and the positions of the candidates. As a result of Christians acquiescing to secular humanists, we have a judicial system that is either hostile to or outrightly opposed to the biblical principles upon which our nation was founded.  Our legislatures pass laws that are completely antithetical to the Law of God. 

What can we do?  The changes to our laws and judicial systems have been made by people and they can be unmade by people as well. The purpose of government according to the constitution is to serve the people: to promote the general welfare, to provide for the common defense, to ensure domestic tranquility, and to secure the blessings liberty to ourselves and our posterity.  According to, 1 Timothy 2:2, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”  Government is to defend its citizens and to punish evildoers and to restrain them.  However, our government has encouraged godless evildoers instead of restraining them.  

How do we render unto Cesar the things that are Cesar’s?  First, we should pray regularly for those who are in power:  for our president, his vice president and cabinet, our legislators in the House and Senate, for the Supreme Court, our local judges and our own School Boards. Second, we should register to vote and then vote. The 18.5 million evangelical Christians who didn’t vote could have completely changed every election in the last fifty years. Their votes could have changed the results of everything that they complain about in today’s elected government, the prevailing laws of our land, and our court decisions. The least thing that we can do to render unto Cesar the things that are Cesar’s is to vote. This is a commandment that we should fulfill.

The third thing we should do is to become informed and then become involved. We should understand the issues and the positions of the candidates. We should be faithful citizens of our country and follow the path of our Founding Fathers. They pledged their lives their fortunes, and their sacred honor in firm reliance on Divine Providence to preserve the ideals of the Declaration of Independence:  that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator God with certain unalienable rights; and that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Our blessings of liberty have been given to us by Almighty God through the power of his holy spirit.  When we return our hearts to God, we can once again say, “God bless America, Land of the Free.  Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the Light from above.”

Christian American, get out and vote and maintain this One Nation Under God!

God bless America, Michael 

Sunday, October 25, 2020

The Second Church Purpose – Discipleship (Part 3)

Mandala

John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

What are the characteristics of a disciple? 1. Love for the brethren (our brothers and sisters in Christ). 2. Love for Jesus. Jesus says in Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple”, meaning there is to be no higher love than the love of our Savior and Lord. 3. Be like Jesus. Matthew 10:25 tells us, “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” 4. Be committed with Jesus. Luke 14:27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” 5. Is benevolent. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” 6. Abide in Jesus. Jesus tells us in John 15:4-6, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit [a]of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” 7. Abides in Jesus’ words, teachings and commands. John 8:31-32 tells us, then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” And in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” When you align your mind, heart and will with the Lord’s mind, heart and will, then He’ll give you the desires of your heart.

 

What is the objective of making disciples? Saving souls, changing the darkness of sin, unbelief and rebellion against God into the light of righteousness and holiness towards true love, pure joy, satisfying contentment and lasting peace in godliness through Christ.

 

What is the objective of being a disciple? To facilitate the spiritual growth of Christians. When we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are “born again”. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” There are myths about Christian growth to be aware of. First myths is the spiritual growth is automatic, once you are born again. Second myth is that spirituality is mystical and obtained only by a few. Third myth is that spiritual maturity can occur instantly, if you find the right key. Fourth myth is that spiritual maturity is measure by what you know. How you are living your Christian life is the true measure of Christian maturity. Fifth myth is that it is a private matter and nobody is supposed to know how far you’ve grown or mature you are in Christ. Sixth myth is that all you need to get spiritual maturity is the Bible. The Word of God teaches, but the church is the body of Christ, the body of Believers that are in community and need fellowship or brotherly support in brotherly love. If we fall for any of these myths, we’ll become lazy and discouraged in our spiritual life and ministry work for the Lord. 

 

Disciples make disciples, who make disciples. There are multiple Christian ministries that each of us can get involved in to share the Gospel, saw the love of God and point to the foot of the Cross to a lost and dying world in need of a Savior. Serve the Lord, get involved and create the moments and opportunities to meet and make disciples in the power of God in His mission and harvest work. Mentor where you can, but have personal prayer, Bible reading and devotion time with God for yourself. Love God and love others. The more disciplined we become in the things of the Lord, the more God can use us. The mark of a disciple of Jesus is continued growth and maturity unto the day that the Lord calls us home in Heaven.   


The true disciple of Christ has the desire to grow and mature as a Child of God, with a desire to spend time with their heavenly Father. Some people in church may not be able to think of anything that God has given to them, but what have those people given to God? Do we have the desire and putting in the effort to be disciples? 

 

The benefits of discipleship are that the kingdom of Jesus Christ advances, Christ’s church grows and grows deeper in faith, the kingdom of Heaven increases, the population of Hell decreases, stability in a world that is in chaotic turmoil, and experience more blessings than we could ever imagine. But, it doesn’t all come from God and it takes the effort of taking steps in faith on our part. When a church disobeys Christ by stopping the making and developing disciples (getting them around the bases to score), then they stop being a true church, because that is what we are here for. The holy saints (those who have been set apart and sanctify by God, for God’s purposes) have to get involved with discipleship. 

 

Everything works together in the Christian church. Our worship is an extension of how we live out our Christian life. Going to church builds the experience of community in the faith. Coming together as the body of Christ we create the desire to help others develop and grow in Christ, become disciples and strengthen the faith of each other. As a church, we have to intentionally participate and ensure that we are fulfilling the biblical model of discipleship and be committed to spiritual maturity in self and those around us to grow closer to Jesus.  It takes balance to do all the things required for authentic discipleship. You cannot just be a church about relationship, a church that is fun and entertaining, a church that is inviting and exciting, or a church that focuses on membership because that type of church is out of balance. Even though some churches are more gifted in some areas of ministry, the Lord calls for balance and the making of disciples, for it is all about His glory.


 In Christ, Brian              

Saturday, October 24, 2020

The Second Church Purpose – Discipleship (Part 2)

 Sparaxis elegans

In the baseball analogy, the batter’s goal is to get to first base, and the team will cheer when a runner gets into “scoring position”, but in the end it is about how many cross homeplate. As a baseball team’s purpose is to score runs, the church uses the baseball diamond image with bases and a pitcher’s mound illustrates the means to bring people into the church using all five purposes of membership, maturity, ministry, missions and magnification of God. Magnification is worship and praise to the Lord. It is a useful illustration for the church, but if we do not know, understand and implement the plan to get people around the bases and score, then we are not doing what God wants us to do. 

 

Ephesians 4:11-15 “ And He (Jesus) Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”

 

God plan is for us to be like His Son, Jesus. The Apostle Paul in Romans 8:29 says“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Discipleship is not a new concept to the church. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave us His Great Commission commandment and Cultural mandate to “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We are commanded by our Lord to go and make disciples of the unsaved people in this fallen world and to teach them to observe all things that He has commanded. 

 

Jesus’ disciples, the people of God, who were called to add these people to His kingdom were also called to disciple them. Getting them to first base is only the start of the game of life. Many Christians in the church win people to Christ, then rest on their laurels, by stop putting in effort, trying to innovate, or working to advance the new Believer. We may have brought a new person to Christ, but we have not finished our work. We need to help that person get around the bases and score as. Healthy and well-rounded Christian. Too many times, we leave them strand on first base. Some people in our community may have never heard of Jesus or His Gospel of Salvation, Some, who have heard of Jesus and maybe even visited a church, may have never been invited to accept the free gift of forgiveness of their sin in the atoning work of Jesus on the Cross unto Salvation, reconciliation with God, transformation of the heart, regeneration of the spirit and eternal life. When they receive Christ, then they need to receive discipleship. Yet, discipleship is the great omission of the Great Commission of the Christian church today. 

 

Acts 2:36-42 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

 

What is a disciple? It is a learner or pupil of a teacher. Churches are filled with many people who have been in the congregation for many years, who are spiritual babies because they have never advanced beyond first base when they made that initial step of receiving Jesus. In the context of the Bible, the Christian is supposed to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. The word “disciple” is use over 250 times in the New Testament, yet is only found in the Gospels and the book of Acts. Acts 11:26 says, So, it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Discipleship is the development of Christians into the likeness of Christ. 


Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on thinned for "Discipleship" in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Friday, October 23, 2020

The Second Church Purpose – Discipleship (Part 1)

believe this is a begonia********"FLOWER SHED, TRELION, CORNWALL" by Mijkra on Flickr - orange flower

This last Sunday, Pastor Herk of my father’s church started his sermon by reciting their church’s Statement of Faith. It reads: We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible and authoritative Word of God. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal future return to this earth in power and glory to rule over the nations. We believe that the only means to being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ. We believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation. We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross provides healing of the human body and answer to believing prayer. We believe in the Spirit-filled life, by whose indwelling, the Christian is given the power to live a victorious and effective life. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; one unto everlasting life and the other unto everlasting damnation.

 

We believe that marriage has been ordained by God (marriage is defined by this church as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman, in which such union is a lifetime commitment. A Civil sanctioned union shall be recognized as a legitimate marriage by the church, only to the extent that it is consistent with the definition of marriage found in the Bible. We believe that legitimate sexual relations are exercised solely with marriage, hence sexual activities outside of marriage referred to in the New Testament are “porneia” (illicit sexual intercourse or sexual activity), including but not limited to adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, pedophilia which are all inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the church.   

 

Luke 12:4-5 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will point out to you whom you should fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority and power to hurl

[you] into hell; yes, I say to you, [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him!”

 

If you know the Law of God, the Word of God, and the Will of God on the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage, and do not speak up and take action to stop the abominable depravity and destruction of them, are you sinning against a just and holy God? A secular humanist in rebellion against God, His kingdom and His sovereign, reign and rule does not ultimately judge you; the Lord does.  

 

This church uses the baseball diamond diagram to layout the ministry strategy, goals, direction and plan of action. Homeplate starts with “Mission” which is continuing the gospel work of Christ in the salvation of sinners. First base is “Membership” which goes without mention in the brotherhood and community of the body of Christ. Second base is “Maturity” which involves Discipleship. Third base is “Ministry”which is the Ecclesiastical function. Any church is not to stop once they get a person to “first base”. The church’s work just begins at the point where someone accepts the transforming free gift of eternal life in Christ as Savior and Lord. Knowing Christ, growing in Christ, serving Christ and sharing Christ is the path of the Christian. Do we think about the purposes of the church and what they mean? 

 

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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

 

We are in a season of “Discipleship” and submission is the perfect Segway into discipleship because if we cannot humble before and submit ourselves top God, then we can never be effective disciples. We need to return to discipleship and telling people about Jesus. The country is not going to heal by anything either political party can do or doesn’t do. This nation and world is going to heal because of what God can do. It is God that is going to bring us what we need are healing this land and people, but we need to turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves, pray constantly and seek God’s face. We can do that by being good disciples (student/follower) of Jesus, becoming more Christ-like.   


Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on "Discipleship" in the next post.

In Christ, Brian   

Thursday, October 22, 2020

The Light of Truth

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Amen.

 

The decline in the Judeo-Christian impact on America has been directly in proportion with the churches backing out of the Great Commission and Cultural Mandate of the Lord Jesus Christ from society and government. This has been deliberate on both sides of the equation, creating the degeneration and regression for faith in God and His Plan of Salvation of this world which is lost in Sin. Rebellion against our Almighty Creator God has been active since original Sin in the Garden of Eden and Jesus explains in John 3:18-20 that “he who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For

everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

 

As when light is removed, darkness fills the emptiness, when the light of truth in the Kingdom of God and the sovereign authority is not proclaimed and maintained but retreats from the public arena, then unrighteousness lawlessness fills the void. Darkness cannot physically co-exist with light as, by definition, darkness is the absence of light. In the same way, Sin is the absence of God, His Word, Hos Will, His reign and His rule. The depravity of sinful mankind wars against God in continuous attempts to extinguish the light of righteousness, holiness, faithfulness and obedience to their Creator, who they are accountable to. They pretend that the Lord doesn’t exist and is not 

 

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus told His disciples that “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people. “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and

moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

 

The disciple of Christ (His Student/Followers/Ambassadors) are to run into the darkness and expel the darkness of sin and unbelief. They are to engage and exorcize that which is godlessness and abominations in the eyes of the God. Sinful hearts are in rebellion to God holy and pure Word, Will and Way. The Sin nature of the human flesh desires, the God-rejecting world system and the devil with his demonic kingdom will do everything in their power to distract and deceive the masses with lies, half-truths and evil argument to silence the people of God in their plot to steal, kill and destroy all godly light. God’s people are to stand firm wearing the Full armor of God, take down the enemy’s strongholds and bring the light of the Gospel truth to the world.

 

Jesus tells us in Luke 11:34-36 “The eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive, focused on God], your whole body also is full of light

[benefiting from God’s precepts]. But when it is bad [spiritually blind], your body also is full of darkness [devoid of God’s word]. Be careful, therefore, that the light that is in you is not darkness. So if your whole body is illuminated, with no dark part, it will be entirely bright [with light], as when the lamp gives you light with its bright rays.”

 

John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth.”

 

There is tremendous chaos in this land today and holy ground has been lost, but if God (Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth) is for His people, who can be against. The split in this nation and the entire world is not liberal or conservation, but belief and unbelief in God, obedience to and rebellion against God, love for and hatred of God, light and darkness. There is no compromise of the Commandments of God, the Statutes of our Creator, the teaching of our Heavenly Father, or His Divine Word in the sacred Scriptures of the Holy Bible. 

 

1 Timothy 6:11-13 “But as for you, O man of God, flee from these things; aim at and 

pursue righteousness [true goodness, moral conformity to the character of God], godliness [the fear of God], faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and [in the presence] of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession [in His testimony].”

 

Expect resistance and fierce battles in this war for the hearts and minds of God’s created people, but disciples remember that eternal souls are at stake and know how big and powerful your God is. Do not be intimidated by secular political correctness or godless humanism’s claims of intolerance or lies of hatred in matters of that which God calls sin. The Lord Jesus told us in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and

moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

 

In Christ, Brian


Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Personal Abandonment & Absolute Trust - Part 2

 mi-a ramas padurea in cap//  dupa o tura in bucegi pana la Batrana//

Continuing Michael's message, he explains that "personal abandonment" means to allow the Holy Spirit to come help Himself to our lives. The question God asks is, “No matter what happens, will you still purpose in your heart to honor and praise Me?” Lord you know my heart. No matter what happens, I’ll still honor, love and praise you.”

The devil will use circumstances and the trials of life tempt us to doubt the love of God and the word of God. Evangelist Billy Graham says that the very first question in the Bible came from the mouth of Satan, and it had only one purpose: to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of Adam and Eve and make them disbelieve what God had told them (see Genesis 3:1-4). It’s no wonder Jesus called the devil “the father of lies”. Often doubts come from within our own hearts and minds. But in reality, it doesn’t matter where our doubts come from; the important thing is what we do with them.


Some people aren’t really interested in finding answers to their questions or having their faith grow; their doubts are simply an excuse to keep away from God. But others grow through their doubts. They take seriously Jesus’ promise to His disciples: “Seek and you will find”. Pastor Sproul states that doubt can appear as a servant of truth. Indeed, it is the champion of truth when it wields its sword against what is properly dubious. It is a citadel against credulity. Authentic doubt has the power to sort out and clarify the difference between the certain and the uncertain, the genuine and the spurious. How should you deal with your doubts? First, face them honestly—and then commit them to God. Then saturate your mind and heart with the truth of God’s Word, the Bible. Billy Graham often said that the seed of faith grows best in the soil of God’s Word. In addition, seek answers to your questions from wise and godly people.


According to Romans 5:4-5tribulation works patience and patience experience, and experience hope. And hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.  

It’s much easier to do something than to trust in the Lord. God doesn’t need our good works, they are for us to be industrious in godly endeavors and the benefits of others. He’s all powerful and is in charge of all things. Trusting allows us to abide (make our home and live) in Him by aligning our heart with God’s heart. When we place our hearts inside of God’s love then He will work in us and through us to will and to do of His good pleasure. For there is nothing in this life that really matters except believing that works in love. (see Galatians 5:6)

Therefore, trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!


Your brother in Christ, Michael

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Personal Abandonment & Absolute Trust - Part 1

This week, Michael writes those who enter into God’s presence must enter in through personal abandonment and absolute trust. Trust is required before we can abandon ourselves. Absolute means 1. Literally, in a general sense, free, independent of anything extraneous. Hence, 2. Complete in itself; positive; as an absolute declaration. 3. Unconditional, as an absolute promise. 4. Existing independent of any other cause, as God is absolute. 5. Unlimited by extraneous power or control, as an absolute government or prince. 6. Not relative, as absolute space. Absolute means pure and free from any restrictions. Absolute is unquestionable, foundational, elemental, and remarkable ... exceptional without deviation from the exacting standard. Trust in God is assured reliance on God and the truth of His word. Trust is to rely on the truth that God is faithful to His word.  

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Evidence is the assurance, the convincing empirical tangible proof. Doubting disciple Thomas said, “I won’t believe that Jesus was resurrected until I put my finger into the wound in his side and into the imprints of the nails.” Jesus answered Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said unto Him, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus said unto him, “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

A relationship with our Heavenly Father through His son, our Lord Jesus Christ is a supernatural reality. This relationship begins with trust. In God We Trust. To trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding is the prerequisite to our spiritual relationship. To trust in the Lord means that I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which He’s committed to me against that day of righteous judgement.

John McArthur said our faith must be tried in the crucible of life. In the heat of the purifying fire, we’ll come to know that God alone is our sufficiency. The crisis will reveal that we cannot overcome the trial in our own power. The Lord alone is able to deliver. Warren Wiersbe said that our Lord Jesus Christ is superior to the powers of this world. To be able to trust in the Lord, we need to be able to see according to the spiritual perspective of Christ’s eyes behind our eyes.  

Part of trusting in the Lord is to allow God to “call an audible” change. He’s in charge of His plan, we’re not. If you have a pad and pencil on the table before you. Write a letter to God and tell him what’s on your heart. Then listen for God to respond back. Write down the letter from God that He dictates back to you.” The next two hours are the most meaningful two hours of the entire exercise. Share your personal letters from God with someone you trust.


Let's continue Michael's message on personal abandonment and absolute trust in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Monday, October 19, 2020

The Christian Life – Part 3

 Wallpaper dump - Album on Imgur

Jude 1:10-16 “But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.”

 

Continuing Pastor Kyle’s message, he states that these verses (above) are further examples of those who do not listen to and heed the conviction and correction. Do any of them sound familiar? 

 

Jude 1:11-25 “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

 

The Foundation of the Christian is humility based on Christ’s character and the walls of the structure that hold up our Christian faith is the Bible. The indwelling Holy Spirit uses the Bible to usher in connection and communion with God, while growing, maturing and strengthening us using conviction and correction when we get off-track. But, another way that the Lord uses the Bible is to bring us comfort and encouragement. Along with the Word of God, Jude inspires to devote ourselves to prayer to keep us in the love of God and to wait for Jesus’s triumphal return eagerly. These are very inspirational and reassuring words to hear. 

 

Verse 22 tells us to “have mercy on those who doubt”. Mercy is defined as: that benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is overlooking were a person is at or a wrong that they have done. At the Cross, the Lord Jesus had mercy on us by not looking at where we were at, but looked at us by where we would be at after we were saved by His grace. Similarly, we are to have mercy on those who doubt. We have to deal with sin when is arises but we do not want to be the “sin police” by profession. 

 

There are non-negatable issues when it comes to the Gospel and the inerrancy of the Bible, but acceptable differing opinions on some Christian doctrines. We have church doctrinal beliefs based upon our association of like-minded churches and that is godly and good. Aren’t there times when we are the ones needing mercy for our doubt or as a sinner trying to find our way back to God and His graces? Mercy received and given brings us comfort and encouragement. 

 

Jude 1:24-25 “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.” Amen.

 

Praise is the roof covering on our Christian faith, that keeps our head up and our focus forward. I hope that you are beginning to see the complete picture. There always seems to be something in life that tries to knock our heads looking down and take our focus off of the Lord. Praise of God tells us to keep our head up and our eyes on the Lord. When we choose to praise God in faith, hope and love with honor and glory, we are in the safest place possible. Only God can bring supernatural comfort to those who are mourning, hurting and scared. Only God can trade a faint heart into pure gladness and joy. That solid structure of the Christian life is what we are trying to live for each and every day.

 

In Christ, Brian