On Mission – Part 3

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

Pastor Herk continues by encouraging us to be Jesus’ witness and tell people about Him and the Gospel everywhere. The Lord Jesus gives an important principle of start from within and working our way out. That is how revival begins and grows. We have to be people that understand the importance of God’s desire and mission in our community and society. Unfortunately, we too often find that over time, some talk the right talk but do not walk the right walk in their personal life. Talk the talk, but walk the talk and walk the walk on mission with care and compassion to save the lost. Jesus said in Luke 19:10 “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” So, go the extra mile. It may not be easy to get to where God wants you to go, but you cannot give up. We have to remember that it is not about us.  

 

We have to step out in faith and make ourselves available and be obedient to God when He calls us to community mission ministry. In today’s electronic age, we can be missionaries on social media, posting Christian Blogs, discussions and messaging on computers and devices, spreading the Gospel. It is about Jesus, and we cannot get distracted from the true purpose, serving Him. Share Jesus Christ with everyone within your sphere of influence and relationship. 

 

Secondly, What do we do? What do we say? What do we teach? Honestly tell others who God is and what He lovingly and graciously did to save sinners this fallen world. Sincerely tell them others who Jesus is and what He did as the Savior of the fallen world, and what He has personally done in your life. Your testimony is powerful to people who do not know Jesus because they see what the Lord did through you. It Jesus’ design to work though you and I to seek and save the lost. There is an old sayings that goes, “Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words.“ By all means, use words, but remember that people watch to see if you live out your faith as a transformed Follower of Christ. Live your godly life so others can see Him in you and want what you have.

 

One of the first things that Jesus did in His teaching was let people know that He loved them. It is easier to talk to people when they know that you love them and care about them ... and they will listen. Jesus said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Showing the love of Christ to others. Are you modeling that in your daily life? How do you come across to the people that you encounter during the day? 

 

1 Corinthians 15:42 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.” The Lord tells the church to baptize people into the faith in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (God in three persons, blessed Trinity), our One and only true God. People are saved when they repent of their sin and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, yet baptism (which symbolizes our dying and burial with Christ and being raised with Christ to new life in regeneration of the spirit and reconciliation with God) is an outward

proclamation of an inward reality that God has created new life within that person. Baptism does not save you, rather it is a symbol of a restored relationship with God through faith in Jesus and walking in His way.  

 

Remember that Jesus is always with us. Refocus our attention on Him and He is always there for us. God intention has always been to be close to His children. If someone moved, it wasn’t Him. Sin separates, but when we repent and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the indwelling Holy Spirit is given and stays within us. Everything that you think, say and do is done in the face of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of the Holy Spirit be with you in chaotic times. Our heavenly Father said through the prophet in Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

 

Remember that God’s mission to change the world towards godliness, holiness and righteousness includes all of us. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” When we focus on the things that matter, it makes all the difference in the world. When we lose focus of the Lord and His Word, Will and Way, we slowly start to sink as we drift away from Christ. 

In Christ, Brian

On Mission – Part 2

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

Continuing Pastor Herk's message: In many ways in these days, it is easy for us to imagine many in our communities who do not know Christ. 65% of the 328 million Americans proclaim to be Christians. Are they all in church on Sunday worship the Lord together with praise, honor and glory? How many of the Christian churches in America claim that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God and stand by it? A recent survey by LifeWay research found only approximately 50% believed that the Holy Scriptures were 100% accurate. Many so-called Christian churches have become secular and liberal in their beliefs, affirming that which God and His sacred Bible calls sin. The people of God cannot allow themselves to get off track of God’s Word, Will and Way, or lose focus of His statues and Gospel mission; where it needs to be for us. It is the only solution to all of the evil, sin and darkness that is taking place in our nation and world right now and trying to trample us down. Revival is needed in this country and revival needs to start within the heart of the Christian church and in our homes. 

 

Once we get convicted of what God feels about His lost people, then we’ll partner with him in reaching out and pulling them out of the pit of sin, rebellion and unbelief. Have a heart for evangelism, a passion for discipleship, a desire a doctrinal biblical study, an appreciation of apologetics, a love for the Gospel of Salvation, and adoration for your Father God Almighty. What are our individual roles in playing out that mission and how do we learn to focus on it more often? That God use us to reach the lost in sin for Christ because mission is a facet of our faith. It is our job and duty to reach the world for Christ’s sake; God calls all of us to play a part and reach the lost in the world, so that Jesus can call them “found” in Him.  

 

Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

 

Our mission starts with God’s mission. That the entire world to know about God’s glory. The Westminster Confession asks: (1) What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him forever. (2) What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him. We accomplish knowing God’s glory through Jesus Christ. 

 

Matthew 28:19-20 tells us clearly and exactly how to partner with God in His mission for the world. “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.” Go and make disciples of all the nations is our mission. Jesus tells us three specific things in this statement for guiding us in our focus to reach the world. The first is “Where to go”? It seems that the only mission fields are overseas, in third-world countries, but other countries are now sending missionaries to reach the godless in America. The mission field is everywhere, just outside your door.   

Let's conclude Pastor Herk's message about "focus on mission" on the next post.

In Christ, Brian

On Mission - Part 1

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

 

Last Sunday, Pastor Herk of Little Church in the Pines concluded his sermon series on “refocusing” on what is truly important. And it is so important for us to refocus because the devil is out there trying to distract us in a thousand different directions. It is so easy for us to get carried away by the negative things going on in the world around us. But, there are some good things going on around us also, so focus there. The world is corrupted by sin, but it’s all about the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, our turning to the Savior of the world and our walking with the Lord in righteousness. He is right there beside us through good times, bad times and busyness, so focus and keep your mind’s eye upon Jesus. 

 

Our Maker knows what’s going to happen from this time until we join Him in heaven and through eternity. We can get hung up on something that happened in our past that caused us to fail, or overwhelmed by something today, that we lose sight of our goals and where God wants us to be down the road in the future. Ask Jesus: “What is the list of things that You want me to strive for, accomplish and have in my future?” That is the list that matters in our focus. But, there is also the focus on our mission for the ministry work of saving souls, discipling seekers and equipping the saints for the kingdom of Heaven, because born again Believers, Disciples (student/follower) of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and children of God are used for mission ministry by God to accomplish His plan and good works on earth in reaching a world that is focused somewhere else. 

 

Jesus said in 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.

 

Christians may truly be the only Bible that many unbelievers ever read. So many lost souls never even pick up the Word of God, but they see it through us. So, what do they read about when they look at you (how you act and what you say)? A part of the problem in the world or a part of the answer? We are called to be His disciples that make disciples by learning and speaking the truth in love, and by knowing and living godly lives. The really good news is that we do not need to do it alone. God has our backs, Jesus walks with us, the Holy Spirit guides us and we have our brothers and sisters of the body of Christ alongside us on His the Lord wants us to take … if we let Him. 

 

1 John 5:12-13 “He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Savior] has the life [that is eternal]; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God [which represents all that Jesus Christ is and does], so that you will know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have eternal life. (AMP)

 

Think about people in your own life (friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers or acquaintances) that do not know Christ, that you want to come to the Lord and be saved. They are not to be mere spectators of our walk with the Lord, but to join us in the abundant life on the divine journey. We are called to be committed disciples and each one of us has a role in serving the Lord and reaching the increasingly lost and dying world around us. There is plenty of ministry needed in this big old world out there because the mission field is ripe for the harvest of souls. Reaching out a hand to seek and save the lost is our mission, our calling, our duty and to be our passion for the advancement of the kingdom and the decreasing of the population of Hell. We are all called to this mission.     

 

What is it going to take to reshape our perspective about serving God in the Mission field? 

Let's Continue Pastor Herk's message about being on mission in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Take Up Thy Cross – Part 2

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the there are four prerequisites to hear from heaven: to humble yourself, to forsake your wicked ways, to pray, and to seek his face. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, they taunted Him saying, if you’re the Son of God, walk off of the cross and save yourself. He could have called 72,000 angels from heaven, but He didn’t. It wasn’t the nails that kept Him hanging on the cross. Rather, it was the love that He had for us … for He who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.

 

In Matthew 25, Jesus needed to separate the sheep from the goats. A true follower is not one who is looking for self-aggrandizement or self-actualization. The true followers are those who take up their cross daily and follow Him. One man approached Jesus and said, “Lord, I’ll follow you wherever you go.” Jesus responded, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus said to another man, “Follow me.” The man replied, “First I have to go bury my father.” In Luke 14, Jesus said, “If you do not hate your father and your mother, your wife and children, your sister and brother, and even your own life, you cannot be my disciple.” Jesus said that compared to loving me and putting me first in your life, whatever competes with your devotion to me, then you need to “hate” that thing in comparison to your love for me. You can’t look back while plowing or you cannot plow a straight furrow. If you look back, you’ll fall into the ditch. As we carry out our Great Commission as salt of the earth and as the children of light, our Lord’s command is “focus steadfastly upon me.” Our faith will be tested to discover what’s really important. What is it that you put above your love for the Lord? God will put His hand on our family for a reason. God teaches us that He is merciful even when He doesn’t give us what we think we want.

 

It is one true thing is to dedicate your life to your Lord. The first and great Commandment is “thou shalt have no other gods between your face and my face.” This is another thing entirely. How about keeping the Ten Commandments? Not my will, but thine be done. When the Apostle Peter preached the first sermon to the Church on the day of Pentecost, the crowd noticed that Peter was not an educated man, but that he had been with Jesus. The power we have is in proximity with Him.

 

Trials are an opportunity to test what is really important. In this world, all relationships end in pain and disappointment. However, with Jesus Christ, all relationships end in the hope of eternal life with our Lord. Whatever happens in this life, despite the doctor’s reports, God is merciful for all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

Jesus said in Luke 9:22-24, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” In this passage, Jesus prepared his true disciples how to be more than conquerors. We need to kill the casual Christian inside of us. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live I life by the faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

 

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ, Michael

Take Up Thy Cross – Part 1

In Luke 9:22-24, Jesus said to them all, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

 

This week, Michael writes that in Luke Chapter 9 Jesus continued his training of the twelve disciples. He reminded them twice in this passage that he would go to Jerusalem to be beaten and tortured and then he would have to die. Jesus was dedicated to His mission to draw men and women unto Him to have fellowship with Him. Ever since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, fellowship was broken between God and Man. His mission was to redeem mankind by paying the price for all sins, including the sin nature that we inherited from Adam. Born again Believers been redeemed by Jesus’ payment for our debt of sin through the sacrifice of His innocent blood. We have been bought with a price. Because of our righteousness in Him, those born again of the Spirit have been reconciled to God in fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

After Adam’s fall, God asked Adam, “why were you hiding from me?” Adam said, “because I was naked and ashamed.” God said to Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?” The devil has been reminding us of our guilt, shame and shortcomings ever since. However, the wisdom from above is learning to see life from God’s point of view, not Satan’s. Jesus came to reconcile mankind back to God … to restore the broken fellowship between God and man. In a fallen world, if we look around us, if we look at others or at the man in the mirror, we’ll be depressed. However, when we look to Jesus, we’ll be blessed. The devil will try to get you to “eat your words.” He’ll accuse us of being hypocrites when we speak the Word of God because the Word is perfect, but in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. When the crisis comes, God expects his people to be the reliable ones … ones in whom His testimony is true and faithful. When you become a Christian, the call to worship is “the Lord, your God is one God.” We shall worship Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength … we shall worship hHm with our very essence. Christ in us the hope of glory. Our strength and our perfection is not in our flesh, but only in His gift of Holy Spirit in us. In verse 23 of Luke 9 Jesus said, “if any man desires to be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me.”

 

Jesus told his twelve disciples, if you want to be my disciplined followers, you need to forsake yourselves, take up your cross, and follow me. Jesus said two things are required to follow him. The first is to give up the rights to yourself … to deny yourself. The second is to take up your cross daily. The cross is the symbol of death, shame, ridicule, and mocking … for cursed is anyone who hangs on a cross. The people understood that the cross was a symbol of a shameful death for sin, guilt and iniquity. Before we can follow Him, we must crucify our sinful flesh desires. Jesus said, “For whosoever shall save his life shall loose it. But whosoever shall loose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

Let's continue Michael's message on "taking up your cross" in the next post.                               In Christ, Brian

Lessons Learned

Deuteronomy 31:12-13a “Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live.”

 Did you know that the word Bible itself is simply a transliteration of the Greek word “bíblos” (βίβλος), meaning "book"? So, the Bible is, quite simply, a holy book, but “The Book”, the sacred Scriptures of the Word of God; the statutes and standards to live a righteous life before the eyes of the Lord, your Creator and heavenly Father God. Th Apostle Paul writes is 2 Timothy 3:14-17, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 119:5-7 “Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.”

Before coming to Christ by faith, I was flying by the seat of my pants, winging it, and making it up as I went, as far as defining “good” and “bad or evil”, “right” and “wrong”, “holy” and “unholy”, “virtue” of “sin”, because I had a limited point of reference and no real teaching resource besides parent teachings, life experience, school rules, ten Commandments, a Lord’s Prayer and a conscience. I believed in God, my sovereign Maker. It was easy to walk with God by faith, but it is difficult to walk rightly with the Lord that I did not fully know His statutes. Statutes by definition are laws commanding or prohibiting that owe their binding force to a positive command or declaration of the supreme power. The wise words of Romans 10:14 ring true, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Unchurched, I had never been taught or learned the teaching of the Lord, let alone understood the righteous statutes of God for life application.

 Isaiah 1:16-18 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

I finally made the connection when I started going to church, herd the Gospel preached and the Word of God taught. What 2 Timothy 3:16-17 said was true, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” By reading and studying the Bible, listening to and reading godly instruction, and having a digital seminary worth of resources at my finger-tips. dots were connected and missing pieces were filled in; and continue to be still today. You never stop learning more and you never graduate as long as you live, but the truth shall set you free.

Romans 15:4-6 “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Lesson learned. In Christ, Brian

George Washington's Prayers

George Washington, the Father of our country, was a man of noble character. He is remembered by many as a warrior, patriot and the first president of the United States of America. His relationship with his God undoubtedly played a big part in making him the man he was. In 1891 a manuscript of some of his favorite prayers, written in his own hand, was sold at auction. Here are two of the prayers.

 

Monday Morning Prayer:

O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul.

 

Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee, the everlasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life.

 

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, & direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments. Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends & kindred unite us all in praising & glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Savior, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father.

 

Monday Evening Prayer:

Most Gracious Lord God, from whom proceedeth every good and perfect gift, I offer to thy divine majesty my unfeigned praise & thanksgiving for all thy mercies towards me. Thou mad'st me at first and hast ever since sustained the work of thy own hand; thou gav'st thy Son to die for me; and hast given me assurance of salvation, upon my repentance and sincerely endeavoring to conform my life to his holy precepts and example. Thou art pleased to lengthen out to me the time of repentance and to move me to it by thy spirit and by the word, by thy mercies, and by thy judgments; out of a deepness of thy mercies, and by my own unworthiness, I do appear before thee at this time; I have sinned and done very wickedly, be merciful to me, O God, and pardon me for Jesus Christ sake; instruct me in the particulars of my duty, and suffer me not to be tempted above what thou givest me strength to bear. Take care, I pray thee of my affairs and more and more direct me in thy truth, defend me from my enemies, especially my spiritual ones. Suffer me not to be drawn from thee, by the blandishments of the world, carnal desires, the cunning of the devil, or deceitfulness of sin. Work in me thy good will and pleasure, and discharge my mind from all things that are displeasing to thee, of all ill will and discontent, wrath and bitterness, pride & vain conceit of myself, and render me charitable, pure, holy, patient and heavenly minded. be with me at the hour of death; dispose me for it, and deliver me from the slavish fear of it, and make me willing and fit to die whenever thou shalt call me hence. Bless our rulers in church and state. Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and thy son Jesus Christ. Pity the sick, the poor, the weak, the needy, the widows and fatherless, and all that morn or are borken in heart, and be merciful to them according to their several necessities. Bless my friends and grant me grace to forgive my enemies as heartily as I desire forgiveness of Thee my heavenly Father. I beseech thee to defend me this night from all evil, and do more for me than I can think or ask, for Jesus Christ sake, in whose most holy name & words, I continue to pray, Our Father.

 

Amen

Happy Washington's Birthday

Judgment Day

Acts 17:31 “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

In a sermon delivered by pastor D. James Kennedy on Judgment Day. He stated that, unfortunately, it is a day which many people try not to think about, and certainly most of them don’t think about it with the happy anticipation The fear of judgment and the possibility of hell, we are told in an article in the Sun Sentinel a few years ago by David Briggs, has lost much of its fury in the modern age, some sociologists say. Surprising to no one is the fact that not as many people believe in the possibility of judgment and hell as did a few hundred years ago. There are not many people who tremble about it today. 

 

The Bible makes it very clear that God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world by that Man whom He hath appointed, Jesus Christ, and He has given assurance of that in that He has raised Him from the dead. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most thoroughly proved event of antiquity, sustains the truth that God is going to judge the world, and that, by Christ. 

 

I remember talking to a man who said that when he goes to the Judgment, he is going to tell God he was a good man and he tried to keep the Commandments. Now he wasn’t a Christian and he didn’t believe in this Jesus “fellow,” but he was nevertheless good and quite sure God would let him into heaven. I said, “My friend, you know you have quite a surprise coming. Just about the time you find yourself telling God why you don’t believe in this Jesus fellow, you are going to realize that the Judge you are talking to is this Jesus fellow.” 

 

Revelation 20:11 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.”

 

All judgment has been committed to the Son that He may be equal with the Father. So, it is before Christ that people will stand. For the sake of believers, that is only appropriate. Since Christ was appointed to be the Savior and since He humbled Himself and came into this world and became obedient unto death and suffered and died upon the cross and descended into hell, and finally was raised again, He must be our full Redeemer to consummate the salvation He purchased on the Cross. So finally, at that great day, Christians are vindicated and proclaimed as His own and are given their rewards for faithful service and are taken into heaven. If Christ were not the Judge, He would be an incomplete Savior, for He would not have finished the work. 

 

1 Corinthians 15:25-27 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.

 

Also, we are told that Christ must reign until He hath placed all of His enemies beneath His feet. Therefore, for the unbeliever it is altogether appropriate that the Judge be Christ—Christ, the one whom they have mocked, whose name they have taken in vain as blasphemy ten million billion times over; Christ, the One that they have laughed at; Christ, the One that they have scorned, is the One who will be their Judge, until at length all of His enemies are placed beneath His feet, and every tongue shall confess that Christ is Lord of all. 

 

John 3:35-36 “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

 

Every human being, at last, will realize that he is being judged not by the Father or the Holy Spirit, but by the God-man—the One who understands our frailties and our temptations. Christ is the One who not only has a divine nature that gives Him perfect knowledge of all things, but also has a human nature. He is the one that has endured all of the temptations we have endured, yet without sin. And so, no one can say that God does not understand. 

 

It is a great fact. If there were no judgment, all of the inequities and inequalities of life would be left unresolved. The wicked prosper. The righteous often are maimed or poverty stricken or imprisoned or tortured or killed. Somewhere there must be a balancing of the scales. Someday there will be perfect justice with no legal technicalities, and everything will be brought to light and perfect justice will reign. What a day that will be, my friend, when all things are brought to light. 

For the Time is Near

Revelation 22:1-5 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

 

The January issue of Thru the Bible magazine featured an article by the late Dr. J. Vernon McGee in the book of Revelation that seemed to be written for today. He writes that we look around at the dark world today and wonder how it’s going to end. Dr. McGee states that look we need to do is turn to the last book of the Bible, "The Revelation". What we read there tells us it’s going to work out all right. 

 

It doesn’t look that way. In fact, it looks like the devil is having a high holiday in the world. But, God is going to work it out. God Himself will gain control. In fact, God has never lost control and He is moving to the time when He is going to place His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, upon the throne of His universe down here. 

 

Anyone who takes an optimistic view of the world situation isn’t thinking clearly. The world is in a desperate condition. However, Dr. McGee was no pessimist, because we have the book of Revelation, and he could say to every person who has trusted in Christ, “Don’t you worry. It’s going to work out alright.” God is coming out on top and you want to be with Him. You’re on the side that looks to the losing now, but we’re not on the last page yet. 

 

Revelation 21:21-27 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything [f]that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

 

It doesn’t take much to see a great crisis is coming. People talk about it all the time. As a result of this foreboding, there has been a growing interest in the book of Revelation.  

 

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

 

Focus on our Future – Part 2

1 Chronicles 4:10 “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”

 

Continuing Pastor Herk's message: Enlarge my known territory, my established border, my horizon beyond my sight means to lead us beyond our comfort zone in expanding ministry, trust and faith in areas where I has never gone before. Jeremiah 29:11 “says, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Do we move God out of the picture of our future in the present? We have to be careful about our present. The future that God wants to bring us to has a role to play in our life right now in the present time. What are we doing in the present to prepare for the future? 

 

God doesn’t want to just be the God of our future, but also our present. He knows the end from the beginning, so why can’t we trust God? He wants our full attention and obedience in the present. Some of us seek to control our “right now” existence in the present. We find a comfortable place and settle there, believing that God has our future. We worry only about today and not tomorrow, so we don’t move any further along; having a “What happens happens” attitude. 

 

Each and every one of us are called to be representatives of God and the kingdom of Heaven to a lost and dying in sin world, and as disciples and Ambassadors of Jesus Christ representing Him and teaching others everything that He taught. When sin gets in the way, it has the potential to distort those around us as to how they view God. It’s been said: We are the only Bible a careless world will read; we are the sinner’s gospel, we are the scoffer’s creed. We may mess up and fall, but we must get back up, trust God and move into the future. 

 

Another prominent factor that we need to be concerned with is our pride that inhibits our future. Our pride and overconfidence really gets in the way of what God wants us to do and what He intends to do through us. Focusing on our future comes back to humility. God wants us to play the background rather than the forefront in our lives. God wants to be in charge. God never intends for any of us to retire from the ministry of the Gospel. We always hav3e a future in Christ. We can be trying to put God at the top of our priority list but God wants to design and make our priority list. Get out of His way and let God design and write that list for you. His wants and way is above ours. 

 

When it comes to our hopes, dreams and aspirations, we have to make God the number one priority on the list, then turn it over to the Lord and allow Him to build the list from there. If we are going to learn to focus on our future, then we have to give it to Him. Our Creator has to be the One who is creating our list of priorities in life. And guide us to the future that He has in store for us. Focus on God.

 

In Christ, Brian  

Focus on our Future – Part 1

This last Sunday, Pastor Herk of Little Church in the Pines continued in the sermon series about refocusing ourselves. He pointed out that we have temptations about making our own plans for the future and go to great lengths to put together a path to our goals that are perfect to us. We are so focused on having it all figured out, that we missed the best that God can give us in our planning, because we are in His way. The Bible is full of examples of people who trusted God every step of the way. If you are thinking the right thoughts and your eyes are fixed in the right place, then your future can be bright. The real question for all of us is “Will we learn to get out of His way and let Him lead us to our future?   

 

We need to and want to focus on God’s future for our lives, but we have to leave our past behind in order to do it. We work so hard to vision and plan a map and blueprint of what, where and how we want to go, then we present it to God saying, “Here you go! Please bless it”, instead of asking God, to help us develop the plan for our future. One of the biggest ways to mess things up is to plan our future based on our past. That’s not to say that we should be learning for experiences in our past or that we shouldn’t try to repeat successful things from the past as we move into the future, but we do not want some of the fears that we developed from our past steer us away from things that God wants and is leading us to for our future.   

 

We can focus on the wrong things and the negative things going on around us in this fallen world. We can focus on the evil, the temptations, the distractions and the wrongs in the world that we forget about the important and good godly things going on around us that we need to focus on. Because of recent events, some people have a total hopeless feeling about the future of this country and the world, thinking that God is really not in control of what is going on around us. He may allow us to suffer a bit, but He is in control of all things. We need God’s presence and guidance as this country and world desperately needs revival. The solution to this nation’s problems is not politics, social or economic issues, but Jesus Christ and that is where our focus needs to be in the chaos and confusion.      

 

Sometimes, we need to let go of our past failures in order to go into the future. Because of the scars of the past, we get weighed down in our walk. We cannot be pulling a little red wagon full of our problems behind us in order to get from here to there. We cannot change the past, but every step forward should be with God helping and leading us. When we see what God wants us to learn from our past problem situations, when He could lead us through and out of those situations and move forward. Be willing and let go of you fear and put your focus on God and walk with Him into our future. Get out of His way and trust Him. God is love and can be trusted with our future. He is always there for us. 

 

We must be above doubt. It may be scary to trust God for our future, because we do not know what the future holds in store for us. But, we need to trust and walk through wherever the Lord is taking us and be obedient to His leading. There are a lot of unknowns out in the world, and that is why we tend to move back to a position of comfort. But, our past comforts may have the potential to hold us back from the very best future tht we can walk into. Life is a risky business this side of eternity. Even without holding onto our past, we have the temptation to push the pause button when God is leading us into our future.  

Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on focusing on our future in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

Humility - Part 2

Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.”

Michael continues, Humility is the prerequisite to entering into the presence of God. The Israelite Pharisee thought that God would hear him for his boasting and his eloquence of speech. However, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. The Pharisee prayed, “God I’m thankful that I’m better than those sinners over there.” However, the tax collector, hated by the world, prayed “Lord have mercy on me a sinner.” Whose prayer did God hear? Humility is the requirement before God can hear our prayer. Therefore, Lord, humble my heart under the mighty hand of God … Not my will, but thine be done.

Titus 2:9-3:3 tells us to, “Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”

Humility is required before repentance. I must first turn from myself in order to turn unto God. The wisdom of God’s Word in the Bible is the opposite of the wisdom of this world. The goal of life is not self-aggrandizement. It is not the profit motive to enrich myself at the expense of living for Him in whom I live and move and have my being. Selfish competition and winning in the eyes of the world is the exact opposite of victory in the eyes of God. Victory is only in Christ … to be not overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good. Victory is to glory in God and not in my own vain glory. The essence of love is to think no evil … to rejoice not in iniquity, but to rejoice in the truth.

Colossians 3:11b-12 “Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.”

To change a culture, we as men and women of God must humble our hearts and submit ourselves under the mighty hand of God. As a band of brothers and sisters, we must walk hand in hand with our Lord Jesus Christ, whose hand was pierced by the nails of our sin and iniquity. Wherefore God has exalted Him, He having paid the price for your sin and mine. He who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice for us, that we who were dead in trespasses and sins may be made the righteousness of God in Him.

1 Peter 5:5b-7 “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Humility is to humble yourself. The sacrifice unto the Lord is a broken and a contrite spirit. O Lord, You are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after your will, while I am broken, yielded and still.

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ, Michael

Humility – Part 1

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].”

This week,Michael writes that humility is not to think of myself above God or others. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “humility as: an act of submission. In ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth. In theology, 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.

 Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.

It is having a spirit of submission and deference and to honor others above myself. Humility is to think of myself as a servant of the Lord others, to know and understand Jesus’ message that “in that you have done it unto the least of these, your brethren, you have done it unto me.” This is the attitude of Jesus Christ himself, who made himself of no reputation and was made in the likeness of men. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even unto the death of the cross.

 Paul, like Jesus, saw himself not as a leader of men, but as a slave, and a servant of those whom God had called him to minister. As a bond-slave of Jesus Christ our greatest blessing is serving our master from the bond of love. Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-28, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” A slave does nothing except that which his master commands. His heart’s desire is to do his master’s will… Not my will but thine be done… thy wish is my command.

After Jesus had been in the desert fasting for forty days, he was tempted by the devil. The adversary confronts men and women of God at their weakest point. Humility to God is the key to resisting the devil. According to Edward McKendree [E.M.] Bounds, humility retreats from public gaze and never exalts itself in the eyes of others… there is no self-praise in humility, but humility prefers to praise others… humility is characterized by a modest heart, a heart that lives to serve others and in so doing, to serve his master… Blessed are they who humble themselves. According to Matthew 5:3, the Lord Jesus says, Blessed are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Why is God opposed to pride and those who are boastful in themselves? A proud heart is the motivation that caused Satan himself to fall, having been lifted up with pride. This was how the adversary deceived Eve in the garden of Eden… His lie to her appealed to her pride: “You shall be as God, knowing good from evil.” In God’s presence, Isaiah saw his own shortcomings and was humbled when confronted with the holiness of God. He said I am a man of unclean lips… Isaiah 6:3.

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

In Christ, Brian

Hell is Real

 

Ligonier Ministries has partnered with LifeWay Research to survey the beliefs of Americans on a number of theological and ethical issues. Like past surveys, the 2020 State of Theology survey reveals some encouraging results, but it also reveals confusion and a lack of theological knowledge among evangelicals. 

 

The eighteenth survey question inquires of people’s belief that “Hell is a real place where certain people will be punished forever.” The survey commentary states that there are few doctrines that are more commonly denied by professing Christians today than the doctrine of hell, yet Christ Himself said more about the subject than anyone else in Scripture. If Christians, by definition, are those who follow Christ, we cannot simply ignore what He said on this subject. Jesus Himself spoke of hell as a fearful reality, a place of eternal punishment for sinners who die without faith and remain unrepentant. This hell is what Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, saves us from.

 

Jesus speaks of hell as a reality in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:22, 29–30). A little later He says: “Do not fear those who kill the body but can- not kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (10:28). Jesus describes hell as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (13:42). He says physical mutilation would be preferable to hell (18:8–9; Mark 9:43). Regarding how long the punishment of hell will last, Jesus says that it is as eternal as the bliss of heaven will be for the redeemed (Matt. 25:46; John 3:36). The same word describes the duration of both. Read your Bible and check it out. John 3:16-20 explains that because of our sin, we are condemned already; the default is hell. Denying this reality doesn't change reality.

 

Jesus, who would know better than anyone else, told us in no uncertain terms that hell is real, that hell is eternal, and that hell awaits all who reject Him. We may find this teaching disconcerting. We may find it disturbing. But if we reject it, we are calling Jesus untruthful. 

 

There are many verses that discuss the subject of hell, for it is not a place where anyone wants to spend eternity, so it is important for Christians to know the Scriptures describing this horrible place. It is even more important not go there. Is any sin worth spending one second, let alone eternity, in hell? Hell no, Heaven yes. Go to Heaven!

 

Revelation 21:8 "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 

 

Matthew 25:46 "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

Psalm 9:17 “The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.”

 

2 Thessalonians 1:9 “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”

 

Matthew 13:50 “this is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 

Mark 9:43 “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”

 

Jude 1:7 “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”