February 18, 2010

God looks on the heart, join Him

Mark 12

 35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

 36 "For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

 37 "Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?" And the common people heard Him gladly.

 38 Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,

 39 "the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,

 40 "who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

While Jesus was meek in His attitudes He was not a man to fear saying that which needed to be said.  He has been asked a series of questions by the Scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees each coming with their best argument to trip Him up.  They all failed so Jesus posts a question to them which they refuse to answer lest they incriminate themselves. 

Jesus knew who He was.  There was no questioning in His mind that He was both Lord and God and that physically, His human body and blood came through the line of David.  David knew that one from His line would be both Lord and Christ and could prophetically call his son, “Lord.”  The religious leaders refused to accept these teachings but the common people heard Him gladly.  I am thankful to be among the common people.

Christ then took one step further in this teaching and warned the common people of the scribes who live in spiritual arrogance and twist the law for their benefit.  He tells them that the scribes will receive greater, not lesser nor equal condemnation. What a difference from the cultural belief.  The religious leaders were thought to have a direct path to God and would be easily accepted by Him.  Jesus teaches the opposite. 

My friends, there are many in every denomination and religion who in their spiritual pride think they are good with God.  They do many things to make themselves look good when the reality is that they are lost and separated far from God.  God taught Samuel that man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart.  Take some time to look at people through God’s glasses, that is, examine all men through the Word of God.  Are they humble, are they God seeking and Word centered?  Are they loving and caring and meek?  Are they seeking God’s kingdom or their own?  Do they love and receive the praise of men or do they reflect all praise to God?  Do they show how much they give or do they give quietly and prayerfully? 

While the scribes held themselves up as leaders of the people in religious matters and protectors of the Law of God, they were all lost in their sin and separated from God.  It does not matter what men think of other men, what matters most is what God thinks of us.  Who are you before Him?

Rejoice with us over the salvation of two men in the last two days.  We thank God for Joe Pec coming to Christ and for Doug Kirk coming to Christ.  Both of these men need our prayers as they are battling life-long sins and need to overcome them to the glory of God.  Pray that God would raise these men up as trophies of His grace.  Pray they will come to church Sunday for a public profession of what God has done in their lives.  

Pray for a friend of mine named Shawn. 

Pray for our preparations for Sunday.  I will be speaking on the power of God that changed Saul of Tarsus and enabled him to go on and live for God.  I believe that the same power that shaped and led Saul who became Paul the Apostle, is available for us to live today.  I also suggest that most of us have no idea that so much power is available to us and live anemic Christian lives looking up to those who do amazing things but never thinking we could ever do more than we are doing.

Have a great day in the Lord

PS

February 5, 2010

Kill the Son – God’s marvelous plan

Mark 12

 1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.

 2 "Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.

 3 "And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

 4 "Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

 5 "And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.

 6 "Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

 7 "But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

 8 "So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

 9 "Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.

 10 "Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

 11 This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

 12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

 Imagine hearing this story for the first time.  Imagine the emotion of justice you would feel against those who leased the vineyard and mistreated the servants beating some, killing some and refusing to pay the lease back to the owner.

Then imagine hearing that the owner sent his son to collect assuming him they would respect and that he would have some leverage against these rogue vinedressers.   But these wicked men plot against the son and determine that if the heir was dead they could then take permanent possession and never hear from the rightful owner again.  So they kill the heir. 

Jesus then asks the question, “What will the owner of the vineyard do?  Absolute justice would dictate that the owner come with an army of men, kill all of the wicked vinedressers and give it to someone else more responsible to care for it and to give the profits to the owner in due seasons. 

I can see everyone listening and nodding their heads in full agreement here.  This would be the only just thing to do.  No one would complain about this action for all men would agree that this was necessary for a great crime and injustice had been continually perpetrated by these wicked men.  They were not going to be easily put out so attack and destroy would probably be the only just solution. 

But Jesus was not talking about real vineyards and real vinedressers and real servants and a real son.  This parable was a direct attack upon the Scribes and Pharisees and their forefathers who rejected the messengers of God.  God established Israel as a nation.  God put men in charge.  God sent His messengers for centuries and some were beaten, some were killed, all were rejected.  Finally, God sent His Son (John 3:16) out of love for His people in hopes that they might respect and hear Him.  What did they do?  They rejected the Lord of glory and crucified an innocent man because they hated Him for telling them the truth and thus exposing the sinfulness of their hearts to the common people. 

Unlike the son in the parable, when the Son of God came, though he was rejected, Jesus Christ became the chief cornerstone of the Christian faith!  This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.  God knew that Jesus would be rejected and in His eternal plan our redemption needed the rejection and crucifixion of the Son.  Hallelujah to the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world and especially the sin of me.  They hated Jesus for what He said; we love Him for what He did. 

Pray for Pastor Bill as he holds services today at Spring Meadow and Sunrise north.  Pray for our RU program tonight that God would bring those who need the hope and the messages given. 

Pray for me tomorrow as I will be preaching and presiding over a funeral service at 3:00. 

Pray for Bobbi tomorrow as she has to go to a funeral of a cousin who as far as we can tell died without Christ.

Remember that tomorrow morning is at 7:30 is our men’s prayer breakfast at IHOP>

Remember that there is a baby shower for Ophelia at my house at 11:00.

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS 

February 4, 2010

The truth is obvious and so are its carriers

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

 25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

 26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

 27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.

 28 And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?"

 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

 30 "The baptism of John--was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me."

 31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

 32 "But if we say, 'From men' --they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

 Jesus Christ, with all of the wisdom of God, knew how to deal with scoffers.  He knew where and when to draw the battle lines and when to leave people to squirm in their unbelief.  He knew how to expose the hypocrite so the true seeker would know that Jesus was the way, the truth and the life. 

What a mess these religious leaders were.  They wanted control and truth did not matter.  Jesus knew this and He wanted this to be clear to the true seekers.  So when the religious leaders tried to entrap Him, Jesus turned it around to expose their great hypocrisy.

We have people around today just like this.  They live to control others and how they do it does not matter.   There is no truth in them for the Lord Jesus is not in them.  The situation determines the ethics and the truth is irrelevant.  Several places are caves where this type of person live.  One such place is the church where who runs it is more important than who is ministered to.  Another such place is where politicians gather for the good of their own future or party but not for the good of the people.  Evolutionists who reject God but embrace theory and mock the Word of God also dwell in these caves.  You probably have more types of people like this, maybe you have a boss or co-worker to whom all that matters is their good and they will say or do whatever it takes to get there.   

Hold these people to God’s standard of truth.  Compare them with the absolutes of God’s word.  Seek to live those absolutes yourself.  Be a purveyor of truth in a truthless world and others will notice.  Those who are seeking truth will be drawn to you.  Those who use truth to get their way and set it down when convenient will not want to be around you and will seek to make you miserable.  That is OK; Jesus was treated the same way. 

This Sunday is our one year anniversary of the merged and unified Grace for Life Bible Church.  Pastor Ken and Nancy are going to be able to be with us.  Pray with us that God will use this day to bring great glory to Himself.  A man named Marquette, who is wheel-chair bound, is coming for baptism.  He is bringing his family with him.  Pray for God to do His work in their lives and in ours.

Pray for the daycare that the enrollment will continue to rise and that the “late approvals” will get approved and paid.

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

February 3, 2010

Two ‘simple’ prerequisites for answered prayer

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

 25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

 26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

 Jesus teaches two prerequisites to answered prayer, faith and forgiveness.  If we stop for a moment to consider this we will realize that God created us to believe, that is to act in faith, in Him.  We have no visuals, we have no vocals, we have no hands on experiences with God but He wants us to believe in Him with all of our hearts and souls and minds and strength.  He wants our full faith in that which we cannot see, hear or touch.  When we act in faith toward God He is pleased and as modeled for us throughout the Bible, to do for us those things which we could never do by ourselves. 

Thus when we pray we need to pray in faith believing that God who is can and is both hearing and answering  our prayers.

The second prerequisite is one of forgiveness.  Again, when we realize the desire on God’s part to forgive us we are going to have a hard time not forgiving others.  But we are such short-sighted people.  Here we have been forgiven every debt of every sin that we have ever committed and God wants us to come to Him with a clear conscience toward Him and toward all men and women.  So great is God’s desire that we practice what He started in us that He tells us to stop our prayers and go make right with someone we have not forgiven.

Well now, how often have we gone to prayer without much faith in God doing anything for us or we have gone to prayer knowingly not forgiving someone who wronged us?  Maybe that is why we have so few prayers answered!  It is amazing how three short verses can impact our lives so much.

Caleb left this morning for Justin’s house.  He will stay there a week and go on from SanFranciso to Beijing next Wednesday.  We had a great time together yesterday and last night getting final preparations in place.   Stefani and I took Caleb to Midway this morning.  Thanks for your prayers and support of this trip.  It is a life-changing opportunity in many ways and we are praying that God will use this time to shape Caleb and that Caleb will be used to point someone there to the Lord Jesus.

Remember that tonight is our prayer time at 7:00.  I sure hope to see you join us for prayer. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

February 2, 2010

How is your faith in prayer?

Mark 11:12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.

 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it.

 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.

 20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away."

 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.

 23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

 24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

 We face here an interesting event in the life of Christ.  On the surface it looks like Jesus got mad at the fig tree and cursing it killed it for not giving Him figs.  However, this interpretation makes Jesus a sinner who lost His temper so we know that this is not what happened. 

The God of creation created all things for our good.  He created fruit trees to bear fruit.  This is their intended purpose.  So when the Lord Jesus came upon a non-bearing fruit tree, He, the creator of fruit trees, told the fruitless one that it was of no value and no one would again come to this tree with anticipation and disappointment. 

When they passed this tree the next day it was withered up and dead and the disciples were naturally amazed.  Once again they saw another aspect of Jesus and that was Jesus as creator.  He simply spoke the words and His creation responded to His words.  The water supply to the roots stopped supplying, the photosynthesis in the leaves stopped processing, nature stopped its natural process of life-giving and the tree died.

They had seen Jesus heal the sick and raise the dead, they had seen Him calm the storm, now they saw Him as the Master gardener of the earth pruning from the earth a worthless tree.  And then, Jesus made what I think was an unusual statement about faith in God and prayer.  Instead of giving a discourse on creation and creator He goes into a discourse on prayer. 

Jesus was the epitome of faith in God for He knew the Father and was One with the Father.  So His faith was perfect.  He here challenges the disciples to a greater faith in God so that if necessary they could move mountains.  Then He became more practical and told them that whatever they asked for, in faith believing, they would receive.  

We know from other teachings that we need to ask within the will of God but that emphasis is not made here.  I believe God delights in hearing His children pray and that He delights in our faith (Hebrews 11:6) and that He delights in answering our prayers. 

Let’s put God to the test of the words of Jesus.  What have you prayed for in the past that just did not come to pass?  Ask God to increase your faith and ask again.  Prayer takes many attitudes including worship, confession, adoration, thanksgiving and so on, but prayer is also asking.  Take time to love the Lord in your prayer and then in faith believing, ask Him for your request.  I want to hear some testimonies to faith-filled asking.

I am taking time today to help Caleb get ready to leave for China.  He leaves for Sacramento tomorrow morning where he will spend a week with Justin and Katelyn and Joel then he leaves from San Fransico next Wednesday.  Consequently, Pastor Bill is taking the service at Sunrise today so pray for him during that time. 

Remember to vote today.  If you have questions about the primary for governor, ask me, I have some insight there. 

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

February 1, 2010

What happens when we give?

2Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

 7 But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.

 This was the text for yesterday’s message.  In this text Paul is encouraging the Corinthian believers to grow in the grace of giving and he uses the Macedonian church as an example.  The Macedonian church gave out of their extreme poverty and gave beyond their natural ability to give.  They gave with great joy in that they were giving to help the Jerusalem church which had sent Paul and his team out with the gospel to reach them. 

The reason they were able to give was that they had already given themselves to the Lord first.  Once God has your heart He also has your wallet. This Macedonian church was excited to give and their giving accomplished many purposes.  I listed these purposes in yesterday’s message and want to give them to do you today.

When we give of our money, what happens?

1.       The rich and the poor give the same substance, dollars, therefore uniting them in the cause – illustration of two people both giving sacrificially though drastically different amounts.

2.       The rich and the poor, both having given sacrificially, both need to rely upon the Lord thus building in both a greater reliance upon God

3.       When the goal is met, both the rich and poor rejoice for both had a part in meeting the goal.

4.       All who give develop a camaraderie having given and prayed and waited upon the Lord together.

5.       Class issues are removed as those who needed the money are thankful to all who gave

6.       Relationships are established between the giver and the receiver.  I am closer to missionaries that my church supported and I am close to churches and individuals who supported the boys home.  Through having given or having received a gift godly love has been communicated and enjoyed. When our boys were little a missionary from Papua New Guinea came to our church.  He mentioned that he needed a new back pack for his ministry… We had a bond with Jerry Williams for years.

7.       Relationships are established amongst those who sacrificed together.  When the members of Grace for Life Bible Church sacrifice together and pray together and serve Christ together life-long bonds of friendship are created.

a.       As we give to missions we collectively rejoice when a missionary report is read for we gave to that effort.

b.      As we give to the general fund and hear reports of VBS and Sunday school and youth group we rejoice for we gave to make this possible.

c.       As we give to the Lord through the local church and then pray for God to use these gifts to accomplish His purposes, when He does use our gifts to do a great work, like the salvation of a soul or the growth of believers, we all rejoice.  

8.       God intervenes as He did when He fed the 5,000 and made what was available meet all the needs and then some.  It is not our goal to meet all of the financial needs but to give all that we can to meet the needs.  When we have given what we can God multiplies our gift.

a.       Ex 16:18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need.

b.        2Co 8:12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

God, to whom we have given our lives, takes our lives and gives us a purpose to make money and a purpose to live which purpose has eternal benefits. 

I thank God for yesterday.  In every way we sought to honor the Lord and Chris gave testimony that God was honored in all that was done.  We approved a difficult budget and agreed that we all need to take steps of faith this year in regards to our finances so that the work of the Lord here can continue. 

As we left church last night our van died.  Ed Colone is going to look at it this morning.  Oh what fun.

Continue to pray for the people of Haiti.  The food supply seems to be moving but there is so much great need.  Pray for this Baptist group who was trying to take children to the Dominican Republic.  They go to court today for child trafficking.  It appears that they were well-intentioned but mis-guided people.  Pray for their protection. Then pray for the people of Iraq who faced another suicide bomber today.  The loss is terrible.  Pray for God to be sought by these people around the world who are so lost and need the Savior.

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

January 29, 2010

A house of what?

Mark 11:15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.

 17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.

 19 When evening had come, He went out of the city.

 Twice in His earthly ministry, Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem.  In this act we see the Lord Jesus taking ownership of this temple.  He calls it “my house”  and sets in order the things that were out of place in it.  You walk into your house and take responsibility for cleaning it up; Jesus walked into His house and took responsibility for cleaning it up. 

I clearly see here the deity of Jesus Christ.  Though in human form He knew that the temple was His.  It was called Herod’s Temple for Herod had built it but Jesus called it His.  At that time, the temple was the place where sacrifices were made and where God met with man.  Before the cross you had to come to the temple to have your sins atoned for.  It was a sacred place.  The temple was built after God showed Moses the temple in heaven and instructed Moses to make an earthly temple following this heavenly pattern.  It was a sacred place.

Jesus, coming into the temple, could not tolerate the thieves who extorted people with their “temple money” and then overcharged sincere comers for “acceptable sacrifices.”  He drove out the thieves.

Today our bodies are God’s temple, Christ lives within us.  If He could physically drive out the sin from our lives, what would He drive out of you?  Interesting thought isn’t it. What thieves are at work in you taking away from the holy temple that God has created in you?

But I really want you to focus on the reason Jesus drove out the thieves.  He said that His house was to be a house of prayer for all nations.  In the building of the temple the Lord’s plan was that people of all nations would come there and be able to pray to God.  This was His desire for His temple.   I know that the church today is not a parallel to the temple but do you not think that the Lord Jesus still wants us to gather in a place that would be a place of prayer for all nations?  I believe He would want this. 

Church today is often anything but a house of prayer.  It is a place of teaching, a place of worship, a place of program, a place of discipleship, a place of outreach, a place of entertainment for some.  It is a place where offerings are collected and where children grow up.  Let us not forget that Jesus wants it to be a house of prayer for all nations.  God in heaven has commanded us to pray.  He has promised to  do many things for those who depend upon Him in prayer.  He blessed the early church when they prayed together.

When we gather at church, never let us gather without prayer.  Every event should be led in prayer asking God to direct the event.  Every service should be filled with prayer inviting all to pray along.  Special and regular prayer meetings should be a part of what all of us do.  I do not think we will regret having fewer programs than the church down the street but I do think we will wish we had prayed more and sought the God of heaven for all that He would do for us and wish that He had empowered us to more.  

Read biographies of people who prayed and trusted God through prayer.  There are amazing stories out there.  Why not write our own story so those to come would look to us as an example of a praying church?  Join with me in prayer at church for our church that our church would be a house of prayer for all nations.

We have 83 people signed up for lunch with us on Sunday.  We have food planned for over a hundred.  If you would like to stay for the meal but have not signed up you are welcome to stay. 

Because of the business meeting in the morning and the lunch and clean up, there will not be a service Sunday night.  Choir practice will be right after the meal around 1:30. 

Are you praying for our government?  We are commanded to pray for those in authority over us that we may live quiet and peaceable lives.   Take time today to pray for our president to seek the wisdom of God almighty and not just the wisdom of politicians and people.  Pray for our elections next week that God would lead our county and our country to elect those who lead us in peace. 

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

January 28, 2010

Jesus is worthy of “Hosanna!”

Mark 11:7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'

10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

Jesus did come to establish His kingdom on earth.  Though He was not received there were times when the people did recognize Him as Messiah and King.  Isaiah 53:2 tells us this about the Messiah: “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.”  One reason Jesus was not received was that He did not look nor appear kingly.  Remember, He was born in a cave not a palace to paupers not to royalty, to the welcome of angels not an orchestra.  The people did not see Him as a king. 

Yet here, on one occasion, Jesus did enter Jerusalem and was welcomed as Messiah and praised as He rightfully should have been by all.  This Jesus who was praised as the Messiah and King was indeed.  Jesus received the praise given to Him because He was worthy of it.  The Pharisees wanted Jesus to stop the praise but Jesus told them that if He stopped them the rocks and trees would cry out in praise.  Jesus, the Messiah, the coming King of the coming kingdom was worthy of the praise that was given that day and is worthy of our praise today.

I believe that the church of Christ today is by and large missing one element; the primary purpose of exalting the Lord Jesus.  Service is important, ministry is important, feeling good is important, the experience is important, giving money is important, supporting missions is important, even preaching is important but are these actions designed to primarily exalt the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and King?  He is the only who when lifted up will draw all to Himself.  None of us are that powerful.  We must exalt the Lord primarily and purposefully for He is worthy of such exaltation and when we do the right One receives the glory and does the work that needs to be done.

Sing with the crowd that day, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who come in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 

When we purposefully seek to exalt the Lord Jesus, we will keep our proper place as His servants and pride will have to run away.  Others will see the Lord and will be drawn to Him and we will know that He is the one building His kingdom not us.  We are free to continually lift up Christ knowing that whatever happens is His work in the human heart. 

Sadly, this crowd turned against Christ and cried out “Crucify Him” a short time later.  On this side of the cross we must remain faithful to our praise of the Savior.  He is the faithful One.  Be drawn to Him for now and forever.

I want to invite you to pray with us Saturday night at 7:00.  The purpose of this prayer meeting is that God would lead us uniquely and in harmony in regards to our budget meeting on Sunday.  We do not dare approach this important meeting in the flesh.  This is God’s church and His work and even His money.  Join with us in prayer even if you cannot come please stop and pray with us for unity and growth at our meeting on Sunday.

Have a great day in the Lord
PS

January 26, 2010

Notice the omniscience of Jesus

Mark 11:1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;

 2 and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it.

 3 "And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here."

 4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.

 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"

 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.

 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'

 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

 I want to focus for a moment on the deity of our Lord Jesus.  The event of the colt is often overlooked as we look at what happened next which is Palm Sunday.  The entrance into Jerusalem with the people shouting “Hosanna” surely is the greater event but we will talk about that tomorrow. 

In verses 2 and 3 Jesus tells his disciples that there is a colt in the next village and it is tied to a tree.  How did Jesus know that?  Maybe He saw it there.  But then he told them that if asked about taking the colt they were to tell them that the Lord had need of it and they would let it go.  All of this happened just as Jesus predicted. 

I see here the omniscience of God in the Lord Jesus.  He knew exactly where the colt was and He knew exactly what the owner would say and He knew exactly what the owners attitude would be toward Himself.  The disciples must have been in awe one more time.  Are we amazed that God knows everything about both the physical world and the mental world?  He does know all things.  There is nothing hidden from Him.  David knew this and recorded it in Psalm 139.  Since Jesus is God we should not be surprised at this.  But if Jesus was only a prophet then this act was a complete anomaly.   

Jesus did so many big things to prove that He was God, He walked on water, He calmed the storms, He fed the 5000, He raised the dead and healed the sick and made the blind to see.  The event of getting the colt shows us that not only was Jesus all powerful but He was also all knowing.  You cannot hide from God not even in the recesses of your mind.  Wherever you go, He is there.  He knows your thoughts and your words even before you say them.  This is our Lord Jesus. 

Finally, Mark brings out that this was a colt upon which no one had ever sat.  I have done some horse training and have trained two horses from the first ride.  The first time you sit on a horse you will not get a calm ride and you certainly do not want to be riding that new colt through a crowd of people who are crowding you.  Once again Jesus shows us His power over nature.  He rides a new colt into town and this new colt responds to his creator with complete submission. 

Give yourself to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ today.  “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.”  I trust that Jesus Christ is your Lord Jesus.

Our ministry week begins today.  Pray for the entire ministry that today encompasses which is quite a bit.  Besides Sunrise and some counseling, I am going with Kim to see her seizure doctor today.  I witnessed one of her seizures recently and so what I saw should be a help to her diagnosis and treatment. 

Nancy Hall says that Pastor Ken is improving.  He is gaining in strength but is far from strong.  Pray for their provision as Pastor Ken has been away from his counseling now for several weeks. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

January 25, 2010

What would you ask the Lord for?

Mark 10:46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.

 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you."

 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."

 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

 How far would you go to get healed from a life-long illness?  If you knew that someone somewhere had a cure for you you would spare no expense to get there for the cure.   Here we have a man who was blind and a beggar and had no hope of ever seeing the light of day.  But then he heard about a man named Jesus who was healing the sick and opening the eyes of the blind, for the first time hope began to flood into his life.  Then one day, Jesus came to his city and as Jesus passed by the man began to cry out to Him.  Can you believe it, there were people who told the man to be quiet and leave the Lord alone.  He was so close to being cured and people got in his way.  Undeterred, the man cried out louder until Jesus noticed him.

I find it interesting that Jesus asked the man what he wanted from Him.  Of course, Jesus knew what the man wanted and what he needed but Jesus wanted the man to articulate his need.  In James 4:2 we are told that we have not because we ask not.  Oftentimes our lack is not because God is not able but because we have not asked the One who can make the difference.  Never feel that your request is too simplistic or too complex for the Lord.  Whatever your need is, He can meet it if it is in His will to do so. 

It was Jesus will to heal blind Bartimaeus, and He did.  The man left with his eyes open for the first time and he left rejoicing.  Whenever the Lord intervenes into our lives we have cause to rejoice.  The greatest intervention of God into our lives is our eternal salvation. We were born blind spiritually only seeing the sin of this life.  Jesus came along and at our request opened our eyes.  “For whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  As Bartimaeus called upon the Lord so must we.  We too are blinded by sin and need the light of the glorious gospel to shine in our hearts. 

Have you spent your life with your eyes blinded by sin?  Have you hoped that somewhere there would be an answer to the cries of your soul for spiritual light?  Jesus has come to your town today and is walking down your street.  Cry out to Him for He said that those who come unto Him He would in no way cast out.  As Jesus received blind Bartimaeus in Jericho and gave him sight He will open your eyes and give you the spiritual sight to guide you through this life and into eternity with Him.

I thank God for meeting with us yesterday.  Each week is a blessed time together for us at church.  We learned much together yesterday.  From the Sunday school times through the morning message and on into the evening  God opened our minds to a greater understanding of His word.  Last night we delved deeper into the doctrine of eternal security.  Thank God that He gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ and no one can ever snatch us away from Him.  In Him we are eternally secure.

I forgot to mention in the announcements, although it is in the bulletin, that Saturday night at 7:00 the church will be open for a budget prayer meeting.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

January 22, 2010

Oh how grievously human we are

Mark 10

 32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:

 33 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;

 34 "and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."

 36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

 37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory."

 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"

 39 They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;

 40 "but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."

 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.

 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

 43 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

 44 "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

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

 Oh how human we are!  Mourn and grieve for the depth of your humanness and ask the Lord to give you a glimpse and a taste of His world so we might for a while forget this one. 

Jesus took time to instruct His disciples in the eternal plan of God.  He told them that He was going to be delivered up to death.  He told them that He was going to be beaten and mocked and die.  He told them that He was going to rise again after three days.  This was an important moment in their training and instruction. 

This was the moment when they could ask why this was necessary for Jesus to explain the eternal plan of the Father for the redemption of the world.  This was the time for them to ask what they should do when their Lord was taken and dragged away.  This was the time for them to ask where they should wait for Him after His resurrection.  Jesus was inviting them into His world. 

Oh how human they were.  Two brothers, James and John, who were awaiting the right moment to ask the Lord about their position in His coming kingdom, took this moment to ask for a human promotion. Not wanting the Lord to leave without making sure they got their hoped for glory, they jumped right in with the wrong topic at the wrong time.  Furthermore, they ruined the moment; for when the others heard their question they were upset because each of them was also awaiting the right moment to ask a similar self-exalting question. 

Hadn’t Jesus just told them that in the eternal kingdom those who gave up family in this life would receive 100 fold rewards?  So the next logical question is, “what do I get?”  But oh how human we are!  They could have learned so much and been so much more prepared for the next week of their lives had they only taken the moment to ask the questions rather than to seek their own positions and glory. 

Jesus patiently instructs them all and tells them that the gentile lords lord it over their subjects but in His kingdom the rulers will be the servants of all.  Jesus placed us here to serve and we had better learn to serve for we will be serving for eternity.  Heaven is a glorious place beyond our human descriptions and dreams.  Heaven is also a place of service where we will serve our Lord and will serve each other and will do so with joy. 

As Jesus did not come to be served but to serve so we are to follow His example.  Do you enjoy being a servant?  How do you act when someone treats you like a servant?  There is great joy in serving as Jesus served.  But then, until you have, for the right reason, you would not know.  James and John and the others with them wanted to rule not to serve.  Jesus set them straight on this but they missed a great opportunity to learn. 

The next time the Word of God is opened, listen to it.  Learn from it.  Determine to serve whenever the Lord gives you an opportunity to do so.  Be content to follow His example throughout your life and do not worry about the rewards of heaven.  They are coming to those who serve their Lord here.  We are servants of a foot washer who having washed our feet sends us out to wash the feet of others.   

Remember to pray today for Pastor Bill as he leads church services at Spring Meadow and at Sunrise north.  One of his long time attendees died and went to be with the Lord recently.  As we minister the grace of God in these communities we know we are ministering dying grace to some and eventually to all.  It really is an important part of what we do for Christ in Naperville.

I sent out budget reports to all members yesterday.   Pray for our church as we face the reality of functioning with a legitimate budget.  Pray that each church member would carefully review the needs and commit to supporting the work of the Lord through this, their church.  If all members would regularly and proportionately give, which is the NT pattern, we would have plenty of funds to do what we are doing and even what we would like to do. 

As you pray, remember to pray for the daycare.  We have over $9,000 on hold because of the State of Illinois office that approves people on subsidy for daycare.  Since the state cut back their employees, this process which used to take 30 days or less has now taken over three months.  This shortfall is critical. 

Pray that all of us will be ready for Sunday.  May we never come together without having asked the Lord to uniquely meet with us.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

January 21, 2010

The promised benefits of following Jesus

Mark 10:28 Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."

 29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,

 30 "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.

 31 "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

 The first disciples were men of great obedience and great faith.  They had no predecessors to follow only the voice of Jesus whom many claimed was a liar and deceiver.  Yet these twelve men did follow Christ of their own accord and saw many miracles and heard wonderful teachings every day.  Since they were the first, there were many unanswered questions in their minds. After Jesus spoke to the difficulty of the conversion of the rich, Peter puts up a statement in defense of their actions.  As if to say, “what about us?”

I cannot help but think we too have the same question.  For though Jesus answered very positively about the results of their choice, and even though Peter is enjoying his eternal rewards today, we cannot see him or anyone else once they leave this life.  Thus the question is still on our lips. 

Jesus answer was clear and concise and quite encouraging.  There is present and eternal reward up to a hundredfold for those who leave all to follow Him. Suppose to come to Christ would cost you the love of your family.  Suppose to follow Christ would cost you your house.  Suppose to give your life to Christ would cost you your wife and children because they did not believe.  Suppose your witness for Christ cost you persecution, beatings and deprivation, and prison.  In America  we understand little of this.  But if there was this kind of cost, I hope you would still follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus promises here are most encouraging.  He promises that those who follow Him will receive rewards in this life.  When you come into the family of God you find in the church brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers who care for you and draw you in like family.  Oftentimes the church family is closer than the blood family because the love is deeper and more genuinely demonstrated. 

But then Jesus’ promise goes one step further.  We also, for following Him, gain eternal life.  In a world that promises everything for the moment, Jesus looks into eternity and invites us to do the same. The first in this world will be the last in God’s world and the last in this world will be the first in His world.  Jesus invites us into His world-view.  The rich young ruler was at the front of the line in his society.  Peter was at the back of the line in his.  That disparity was short lived.  Peter is now at the front of God’s line and the rich young ruler at the back. We do not even know his name. 

Take heart.  When you came to Jesus and gave Him the lordship of your life, you did the right thing.  When you told Him you would do His will whatever it was and whenever it was you did the right thing.  When you stood up against your family and friends and told them of Jesus work in you, you did the right thing.  Keep following the Lord Jesus, it makes sense both in this life and in eternity.

Bob Johanson requests prayer today.  His healing from surgery is slow and difficult.

Please pray for Sunday that God would lead in the preparation of Sunday school lessons and of messages to be given. 

I have been asked to speak at a Valentine dinner and party for Parkview Baptist Church in Chicago on February 13^th.  Would any of you like to join me and go to this event? 

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS 

January 18, 2010

Do you love those who reject you?

Mark 10:17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

 18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

 19 "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"

 20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth."

 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"

 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

 25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"

 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."

 Many teachings have come from this event.  I would like to focus today on verse 21 which shows us the heart of Jesus Christ.

A man concerned about his eternal life makes the journey to come to Jesus and boldly approaches Him.  The young man kneels before Christ demonstrating a surface interest in worship.  He even asks the right question in that his concern is his eternal state that is what is going to happen when he dies.  He apparently knows that Jesus was the right one to come to. 

Jesus, knowing the young man’s heart asks him questions about himself which the man answers in the affirmative.  He has lived a devout life.  He has cared about the Law as a good Jew should.  But Jesus, God in the flesh, knew this man’s true weakness and put His divine finger upon the man’s weak point.  He tells the man that his riches are more important than they should be.  If the young man really wants to be a follower of Jesus who would know that he had eternal life, he had to be willing to give away his life’s fortune.  The cost was too high.  And the young man loved his wealth more than he loved his would be Savior. He heard the answer to his question and left lost and sorrowful but with his true love exposed.

Verse 21 means much to me.  Before we hear the discourse about the difficulty of the wealthy to enter the Kingdom we see Jesus’ love for this rich young man.  Jesus did not gloat in knowing the man’s heart, He sorrowed over his lost soul.  We tend to take some pride in knowing what a person would say or do.  “I knew he would not listen.”  I knew she was hard-hearted.”   We find none of that attitude in Jesus.  On the contrary we find sorrow and we are told that the reason for the sorrow as Jesus love for the individual person. 

Do the lost know that Jesus loves them?  When we communicate the truth is it love filled?  When the witness is over does the one witnessed to know they have been loved and are still loved or do they feel rejection from us because they have rejected our invitation?  We knew a lady who was turned off to Christ because in college she was invited by a group to church and did not want to go.  When she did not go to church the group rejected her.  She felt the rejection and said that if this what Christianity was she wanted no part of it. 

There is a verse that says “Knowledge puffs up (with pride) but love edifies.”   Because we have the Truth we sometimes become arrogant with that truth.  We let others know that we have the truth but we do so with pride and they rejecting the Truth feel cut by our pride.  Jesus was the Truth incarnate and when rejected showed love first. 

Who needs your love today?  Who have you told of Christ that may feel rejected by for rejecting your message?  Can you go back to that one and be certain they know that you love them for Jesus sake?  That is what Jesus did.

I have asked prayer in the past for Ruth Robertson, a lady at Sunrise.  Ruth went to be with the Lord.  Pray for her family to know the Lord’s peace through this time of grief. 

Continue to pray for the people of Haiti.  Regardless of their belief systems, the Lord Jesus loves them.  Pray for their immediate needs to be met.  Pray for them to hear the gospel and know that there is a God in heaven who can save them from their sin.  Pray for a genuine revival which I believe is the only hope for them.

Pray for Bob Johanssen and he recovers from hernia surgery.  His surgery was yesterday and he is doing quite well.  Pray for his complete and quick recovery.

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

January 13, 2010

How do you end a letter?

Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

 16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

 17 And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."

 18 This salutation by my own hand--Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

 Knowing the whole story, we know that this man Demas, who was at this time a travelling companion of Paul, eventually left Paul with a love for the world.  This is a reminder to me that we need to pray one for another.  The strongest amongst us are susceptible to the attacks of the world, the flesh and the devil.  Demas was a good man, a minister of the gospel with Paul and yet he turned back to the world.  This is a reminder to me of my weakness.  I must never think that I have arrived or that I am above any temptation.   Satan wants the ministers of God’s gospel to walk away from their Lord and come back to him.  Pray for one another to remains true to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul knew the words of his letters were from God.  He wanted these words from God read and re-read.  When we understand where the Bible comes from  we too should have a love for it and a love to read it and to hear it.  We will never leave our first love as long as we stay close to the Word of God.

In verse 17 Paul encourages a man who has a ministry from the Lord.  Whatever God has led you to do, fulfill that calling.  We are sometimes good starters but bad finishers.  God would have us to both start and finish His work here. 

Paul closes asking those who read his letter to remember his chains.  Perhaps he was asking for continued prayer or perhaps he was letting them know that whatever condition they were in, he was in worse.  We can very easily slip into a pity-party.  I never have to look far to see someone worse off than me.  When I can see others in their problems I can thank God for my problems.   Remember that countless Christians have suffered for the name of Jesus Christ and faith in Him.  You do not have it too hard yet. 

Finally, Paul wants them to know that God’s grace is with them.  If God were to take anything from me, I would request that it not be His grace.  God’s grace is a part of my life every day and throughout the day.  It is with me, keeping me, guiding me, encouraging me, strengthening me and sustaining me.   Thank God for His ever present grace.

Oh how we need to pray for the people of Haiti.  This little country rejected God for devil worship years ago and now they need the Lord like never before.  Pray for their protection but pray that they will turn to the Lord Jesus. 

I hope to see you tonight for our prayer and Bible study.  We must pray together.  Our church is facing some real budget needs, we need to pray to God to guide us and to provide for us. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

January 12, 2010

A hero of prayer

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

Epaphras has been a life-long prayer hero of mine.  We do not know anything about him except that he prayed for the church at Colosse.  However, it is worth looking at who this man was and how he prayed.

1.       He was known as a slave of Jesus Christ.  To most people this would not be a flattering title.  We do not want to be told what to do by anyone.  Yet, we are born slaves to sin and self until we are born-again in Jesus so that we become slaves of His.  Sin is a harsh master, Jesus is a loving Master.  Sin leads to destruction while Jesus leads to life.  Epaphras was a slave of the right Master.

2.       He labored in prayer.  To Epaphras, prayer was work but he did not back down because it was work.  My mind wants to wander most during prayer.  It is work to hold it to its course.  Distraction fly into the one in prayer.  Labor at prayer, stay at it, it is worth the efforts. 

3.       He labored always in prayer.  Prayer was not something Epaphras picked up at church but was that which was important to him all the time.  The more you pray the more you realize you need to pray.  God brings people to mind who need to be prayed for and you will stop and pray.  Before long, your prayer will be constant. 

4.       He labored fervently in prayer.  Epaphras’ prayers were not repetitive but passionate.  I suppose that if we heard him pray we would the love of his heart for those he prayed for.  We would hear his deep concern for those in sin.  We would hear his compassion for those in need.  We are passionate about many things, why not be passionate, fervent about prayer.  When we love someone we pray differently than we do for someone we do not know.  Try a dose of passion in your prayers. 

5.       He prayed purposefully.  Too often our prayers consist of asking God to bless so-and-so.  What does that mean?  Epaphras prayed very specifically and purposeful in regards to those he prayed for.  He prayed that they would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  I have no doubt that Paul prayed often with Epaphras and having heard him pray knew how he prayed.  He prayed with a purpose because he loved those he prayed for. 

As you pray, take this prayer hero’s example and model your prayer life after him.  One day someone may compliment you for being a person of great prayer.   I believe there are people in heaven today because of Epaphras prayers.  Whom are you praying for?  Lift them up with unceasing laboring prayer.  Lift them up passionately and purposefully before the God of heaven, the One who can make a difference.   Perhaps if we talked to God about people more than we talked to people about people lives would be really changed. 

Pray for a lady named Ruth Robertson.  Ruth is a dear lady in her late 80’s who was put on hospice last week.  I will be spending time with Ruth this morning.

Pastor Ken seems to be improving but it is slow and tedious.  Do keep him in your prayers.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

January 11, 2010

Care and Hope

Colossians 4:7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.

 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,

 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

 In the midst of all of Paul’s witnessing, teaching, and theological training, he was a relational being who lived for the company of others.  It was important to Paul that the people knew he was well and that he knew that they were well.   Trips back then were no small undertaking as transportation was by horseback, foot, caravan or boat.  However,  knowing about their spiritual condition was Paul’s great concern.   He spent much time and energy reaching these people for Christ and could not live without knowing how they were.

At the same time, they were concerned about Paul’s well being also.  They had heard of the attacks on him, on his character and of his beatings and imprisonments.  This man who had led them to Christ was very loved by them and they worried about him. Paul was determined to let them know that he was OK. 

Are we this concerned with the well being of other believers?  Are willing to take such expense to sow our care for them?  Paul was.  In one grad class the teacher emphasized on little saying over and over again.  He said, that “people were people and things were things”  We tend to spend more emphasis on things and give things more value than people.  Here we see Paul’s heart for people and really should seek to share that heart.

In verse 9 we see something else that is interesting and I hope encouraging.  Paul sent Onesimus along on this encouraging journey.  Onesimus was rebel to society.  He was a run-a-way slave whom Paul met in jail.  Having been caught as a run-a-way Onesimus was convicted and sentenced for his crime.  In jail, Paul led this man to the Savior and the rebel slave became a brother in Christ.  But, more than a brother, Onesimus was now a friend and a fellow servant of the great apostle. 

Take heart and hope.  It does not matter what God saved you from but what you have become in Christ.  Because you are in Christ, God can and will use you and that is what matters.  Thank God for including Onesimus in this chapter. 

Yesterday was a glorious day in church.  God did far more than we could ask or think .  As we studied seeking His kingdom first and foremost, with the help of Pastor Bill and the Estoll family, we came to understand that God wants to be first in every arena of our lives not just first in our list of things to do.  As such, our daily lives are fully invested in God’s kingdom where He reigns and guidesl 

Last night Ben led us through a study of verses on salvation and sanctification showing us that God is the one doing all of the action and we are to place our trust in Him.   It was a very interesting study as we had to conclude that every aspect of our salvation and of our sanctification is God’s action in us not our action for Him.  He then pointed out that when we ask God for help what are assuming is that we have done something good and need God to finish it when in reality we need more than God’s help we need God to rescue us from ourselves and from all of our efforts apart from Him.  He is the able One. 

Please pray for Pastor Ken Hall.  We have no updates on him yet but he is in critical condition.  Cathleen came home from the hospital pray that her kidney stones will pass.  Rodney Collins is still in the hospital with a post-surgery infection.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

January 6, 2010

Are you speaking in and with wisdom? 

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Men without God can have financial wisdom and common sense but only those in Christ understand and pursue godly wisdom.  Those outside think of themselves first and their primary goal in life is the protection and furtherance of self.  God would have us who know and love Him to walk in, that is to demonstrate through our daily lives, His wisdom especially toward those apart from Him.  They need to see the difference between godly wisdom and earthly wisdom.  As they see the difference they will ask why and you will then be able to redeem the time of their lives. 

The word ‘redeem’ means to ‘buy back’ as buying a slave from a slave market.  When God redeems us He buys from the slave market of sin and then adopts us into His family freeing us from the old master of sin and death.  We are told here that we can redeem the time.  So the hours and days and years that we wasted in sin we can buy back when we walk in godly wisdom and demonstrate God’s wisdom toward the lost. What a great hope this is to us who have wasted time in our pursuit of self. 

Verse 6 then teaches us that we do this by using speech seasoned with grace and spiritual salt.  As we choose words that demonstrate the wisdom and grace of God we will answer each person in a redemptive manner.  O what a difference a true child of God can make in a room full of unbelievers.  The Christ follower’s words and comments should reflect real wisdom and real care.  Those words may not be well received but their wisdom cannot be denied.  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”  As God’s word dwells in us it will come out with redemptive wisdom. 

I also see in this that there is little place in the Christian’s vocabulary for godless words and self-centered talk.  The word ‘always’ means at all times and in all places.  I never have the right to “let my hair down” and have a few godless words.  O be careful little mouth what you say, for the Father up above is looking down in love so be careful little mouth what you say.

Please pray for John Puga Sr.  He fell off a ladder yesterday and ended up with stitches in his face and knee.  He will have discomfort since he cannot take some of the pain killers due to a medical condition.  Pray for Connie who has stood with and supported her husband during it all. 

Please pray for Phyllis who has open heart surgery yesterday and for Sandy and Reggie, a husband and wife who are both in the hospital and need Christ.  Pray for Ray who broke his ankle falling through some ice. 

I hope to see you back on schedule for Wednesday night prayer and Bible study tonight.  We must emphasize prayer even more in 2010.  God needs to know that as a church we are fully depending upon Him.

Have a great day in the Lord

January 4, 2010

Living heartily to the glory of God

Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Our God’s desire is that we live to glorify Him.  If we begin with this premise then all of life’s situations and activities have a reason to do or not to do.  What can I do to glorify God?  What might I do that does not glorify God?  God is worthy of receiving all glory.  When we glorify Him our lives fulfill the purpose for which they were created? 

In the Garden Adam and Eve lived to glorify God and to do His will and purposes.  In that sinless life they could walk with God every day.  They could enjoy God and they had unique unity amongst themselves.  Sin corrupted this.  Now, through forgiveness of sin, we can once again enjoy a daily walk with God.  We can now live to glorify Him. 

Do we?  Do we live to glorify God or are we living to glorify self?  In sin I live to glorify myself, in Christ I live to glorify God.  I give Him the controls, I trust Him in every problem and in every situation.  God in His glory is worthy of my doing all that I do heartily for Him.  Why get up, why go to work, why come home, why get paid, why support the work of the Lord?  For one reason, God is worthy of it all.  I get up and go to work for God. 

When all is said and done we will receive rewards of inheritance from the Lord Jesus.  There is an end goal for this emphasis and that is Jesus will know and will reward us without partiality for who we are.   In this life, it is not what you know but who you know.  In God’s kingdom it is not who you know but who you lived to glorify. Heartily live every day to glorify God.

We had Nevin and Christina Hersch stop by last night and today.  Nevin and Christina have eight children and all of them were with them.  It was a blessing to see a Christian family in action and working together.  Nevin worked with us at Victory Homes before he married Christina.  He is a close friend and we were happy to provide them a place to stay in their travels. 

Yesterday was a wonderful day together in church.  God Is teaching us things every time we gather together.  Focus on Matthew 6 this week asking God what He has for you to learn from these teachings of the Lord Jesus.

Wednesday night will be our regular schedule again.  I am looking forward to routine again and hope to see many of you join us a renewed commitment to prayer together.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 29, 2009

Do you show the Lord Jesus in your work?

Colossians 3:22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

After the American civil war, slavery was abolished here and rightfully so. While the Bible never condoned slavery, it did tell Christian slaves how to act toward their masters. Today I cannot be owned by someone else and have no say over my life. Yet, slavery has been around for thousands of years and unbelieving masters could treat their slaves with kindness or with harshness. God was concerned with how His children acted toward their masters for the attitude of a believer in Jesus affects those around him. If God was concerned about how a slave responded toward his master, I believe He is concerned how an employee responds to his or her employer.

As believers, we should have a work ethic equal to anyone else and an attitude better than anyone else. In our verse today we are told to obey. This attitude is one of submission. I have worked in many employer-employee situations and have been on both sides of the equation. I can tell you first hand that biblical submission is missing from the workplace. The average employee does as little as possible to get his or her job done so they can keep from getting fired. Break times are stretched and quitting time is early. Submission to the real needs of the employer for the success of the employer is an attitude carried by a precious few. Yet, we are taught here that God would have us submit to our employers not with eyeservice, that is, not just when they are looking and we want to look good then, but at all times. God would have us to work not as men pleasers, that is not just to make the boss happy, but to work with a sincerity so that God will be pleased with our work.

Let me ask you a question: At the end of your work day, if God were to ask you if you did your best that day for Him, what would you have to tell Him? I have worked in factories where the only reason the people worked was to have weekends with money. There was no real concern for the success of the company only for the benefits of the employees.

I watched a company come to a halt because the union cared nothing for the company?s ability to make a profit only that the union employees got what they wanted. I watched the company shut down unable to meet the union demands. The irony is that the hundred or so employees that the union was trying to ?protect? were then unemployed. Was God honored there?

As a believing employee, you should want a job and want to work to the glory of God. The last two words of our text are ?fearing God.? We do not work fearing our employer but fearing God. At the end of the day, God should be pleased with our days work. If God is pleased, the boss will be pleased for God is a higher authority. Work today heartily as to the Lord and not unto men for we serve the Lord Christ. ?When a man?s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.?

I get to take the family with me to Sunrise today. The residents there love the children and especially the babies. It will be a real treat to them. Pray that the Lord would use this to open the hearts of the dear people there.

Remember that the regular Wednesday evening program is cancelled again this week as we have a Thursday evening program for New Years Eve. If you do not have any family plans, plan to come with us for an enjoyable evening of games and food and fellowship and ministry of the Word.

Pray for a friend of mine named Marv who is in the hospital with some real health needs.

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

December 24, 2009

What would you do?

Luke 2

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

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

 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

 11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

 12 "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."

 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Can you, for a moment, put yourself in the place of these shepherds?  Imagine with me that as we were doing our daily mundane job, the same job that our father and grandfather did, wishing we were home in bed but doing our duty of watching the sheep sleep, that all of a sudden the sky becomes bright, and an angel is suspended above us and begins to talk with us. What would our controlling emotion be at that moment?  Probably the same as theirs was, fear.  While God wants us to fear Him He does not want us to be terrified of Him. 

Many religions of the world are terrified of their god.  They are taught that if their god is not appeased he will get them with something horrible.  Notice however that the angel of our God tells us not to be afraid.  God has some amazing news for us: He has sent the Savior, His Savior, the Christ, the Anointed One from God and we are to witness and worship Him!  And then the heavens fill with angels praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill toward all men.

I have seen some amazing things.  I have seen the northern lights dancing in the skies for 45 minutes.  I have seen the Grand Canyon.  I have looked out from 11,000 foot mountains that we climbed to the summit.  But nothing compares to seeing the sky filled with angels speaking praise to God! 

Do you think the shepherds lives were changed?  Do you think their job was ever mundane again?  Do you think their going to the Temple was ever the same after this historic night?  If we had seen the angels proclaiming that the Savior had come, we would never be the same. 

But the sky filled with angels was only the announcement, the real life-changing event was seeing the Lord Jesus, the Christ in the manger.  I cannot tell you what the difference was between this baby and every other baby born. I do know that there was no halo over his nor Mary’s head.  But there was something unique about Him for when the shepherds saw Him they worshipped and left glorifying and praising God. 

Today and tomorrow take time to focus your attention on the Savior, the Lord God sent from heaven to redeem us.  Take time to focus on His life and work, His love and compassion, His wisdom and purpose.  Take time to imagine the welcoming angels and the worshipping shepherds and the wondering Mary.  God intersected with men and nothing was ever the same again.

Merry Christmas

For those who can make it, we will be rejoicing in our Lord and praising and glorifying Him at church tonight at 6:00.  This hour long service will be a time of intentional focus on the Lord of the season and our response to His coming. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 23, 2009

Put on these shirts today

Colossians 3

 18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

I told you on Monday that I wanted to help you put on these “shirts” that the believer is supposed to wear.  Remember that the reason for doing so is our deep love for the Lord Jesus who loves us so much that He went to the cross to bear our sins.  Therefore, we can put these qualities on, and yes, they are qualities.

Wives, you are to put on the attitude and action of submission, especially toward your own husband.  When God created Adam and Eve, before they sinned there was a natural understanding of places and capacities and they lived as blessed equals.  God created Adam first giving him natural leadership but Adam was incomplete without Eve whom God created next.  He needed her, she submitted to him and there was no shame between them.  Then sin came and God told Eve that her desire would be to rule over her husband but he was to be the ruler of the house, not her.   (Genesis 3:16 The word translated ‘desire’ is the same word used in the next chapter for Cain’s desire to kill his brother.  It is a word that means to take control over something.) 

One effect of the Fall is that women no longer naturally fit into their God-ordained roles.  Now, ladies, you have to work at it.  Your position as second in command is not a bad position.  I often wish someone else was the boss but God has placed each of us as was fitting to Him.  To submit is not to lay down and get walked on but to state your position and not get upset when it is not followed.  Men who carry the stick of submission and wave it over their wives’ head like a slave owner do not understand their position either. 

Verse 19 tells husbands to love their wives and to do so ever abstaining from bitterness towards them.  Men, there are things women do that we don’t understand and that is OK.  God tells us here that we are not to ever let ourselves get bitter at our wives for something they do or say.  If you have been married any length of time you understand this.  Guys, get over things and get over them quickly.  Let your love for your wife enable you to put off things that you would get angry and bitter over.  Put them off and put on the shirt of love.  You will keep your wife’s heart by loving her as Christ loved the church and not ever showing her your bitterness of soul.  Thank God for the differences and let every bitter thought slide off. 

Children then are supposed to put on the shirt of obedience.  Do you know that when you obey you are pleasing the ever watching Lord Jesus?  If you are pleasing Him He is pleased to take care of you.  Notice that this verse and others like it have no exception clauses.  I have heard it all.  Kids think that because of their parent’s problems they do not have to obey them.  Sorry, that is not what the Bible teaches.  Quit making excuses, obey your parents.  You will be better for it. 

I do apologize for not getting out a devotional yesterday.  Whenever it snows the devotional will be late or missed.  I work for a snow-plowing company and plow from 2:30AM to 10:00AM. 

Remember that there is neither regular Wednesday night service nor children’s program tonight.  We do have a Christmas Eve service tomorrow night.  Come for that if you are able. 

Please pray for Kim Lavryk today.  She went to the doctor to see if there is a reason for her constant state of being tired. 

Yesterday was Jared’s 12^th birthday.  He had a great time blowing out his candles twice. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 21, 2009

The motive behind the actions

Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

I would like to take several days to open this passage with you but I want to begin with the conclusion.   Often in life we are not given the reason for what we are asked to do and do not understand why we are doing it until later.  When the reason is exposed we wish we would have known that first for then the task could have been done better or with a better attitude.  For some reasons, preachers like to lift verses out of the Bible and emphasize them apart from their context.  While their interpretation of the verse may be correct it can be difficult to digest and accept that way.

In this passage there are five clear instructions.  Each one deserves specific attention.  But why do we need to do any of them?  Is “just because God said so” reason enough?  Well yes and no.  God created us with minds and wills and emotions and would like us to surrender all three to Him.  Here is how He makes that desire clear.

In verse 23 we are asked to do whatever we do heartily as the Lord.  In the book of Philemon Paul is writing a friend whom he had led to Christ.  The purpose of his letter is to ask Philemon to release the legitimate charges against a run-a-way slave named Onesimus.  Paul met Onesimus in jail and led Onesimus to Christ.  Paul asks Philemon to remember the debt that he has to Paul as the one who brought him to Christ and then asks Philemon to place Onesimus debt on himself (Paul).  Can you imagine receiving this letter from Paul?  How could you not release your slave from his charges when the one you love, the one who brought you to Jesus, asks you to put the charges of the slave upon himself and then to remember that he, Philemon, owes Paul his very life? 

Here in verse 23 we are to remember all that Jesus has done for us.  It would take days to cover all of that.  The results of Christ’s love-gift to us are eternal.  He then asks us to do whatever we do heartily as unto Him.  So, no matter where, no matter what, no matter when my loving Savior asks (not demands) that I see Him and act heartily toward Him.  Quite a perspective, isn’t it. 

Verse 24 tells us that from our Lord we are going to receive a part of His inheritance.  Those who serve Him and trust Him are accepted in the beloved by the Father and given adoption papers by the Father.  Those papers, once received by faith grant us an eternal inheritance.  Is it hard to live for such a loving Father?  Sin had us in its chains and our Father removed the chains and made us sons in His family.  Yes, we are to serve Him but as slaves of God we become sons forever. 

My friends, this love-filled and debt-paid God asks us to live heartily for Him.  As Philemon joyfully received back his slave who was now also his brother in Christ, we must joyfully receive the commands of Christ to live heartily for Him.  He who gave us all that we need for life and eternity asks us little in return.  He wants our all.  We gave our all to sin and it would have destroyed us both in this life and forever.  A life lived for Christ is filled both in this life and forever. 

Perhaps now the five requests won’t seem so harsh.

What a great day we had yesterday.  From our Sunday school classes to our cantata, to the many visitors in church, to caroling in the afternoon to the evening Bible study about the blind man healed God met with us and filled us with His joy and His truth.  I would not have traded places with anyone to have been anywhere else in the world!  Our God is truly amazing and places us in His incredible will which for us here is Grace for Life Bible Church and all that it is and does.  Thank you God!

We failed to announce yesterday that in lieu of the Thursday Christmas Eve service there will be no regular Wednesday night services.  Please pass this on to those who need to know. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 18, 2009

The indwelling word of Christ… let it abound in you

Colossians 3
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The human mind has amazing abilities and most of us just float through life using our minds for average purposes.  That is, we use it for work, we use it for recreation and for entertainment.  We use our minds to raise our children and to think about what to get a spouse for Christmas.   In this passage today we find that the mind has a capacity to absorb the Word of Christ.  Some of you have never worked at memorizing the Bible.  I challenge you to pick out a paragraph or a chapter and start memorizing it.  Psalm 1 would be a good place to start. 

The Bible has much to say about meditation.  Memorizing is a form of meditation.  Memorizing is also a way that the word of Christ can literally dwell in you.   Then the text goes on to say that it needs to dwell in us richly which means in abundance.  Most Christians are content to get the Bible on Sunday morning and leave it alone most of the week.  That is getting the Bible but it is not getting it in abundance.  We need the Word of God as a part of our lives daily and hourly and every minute in some situations. 

As we bring that Word richly into our lives we will gain from its wisdom and will be able to teach and instruct others.  You see, when you learn a Psalm you will want to give a Psalm.  When you learn a song, you will want to show it to someone else.  (Youtube has made a fortune on people wanting to share their experiences.)  As God’s word dwells richly in you you will find that you will not be able to keep it in but like warm root beer on ice you will fizz all over with what God teaches you. 

The text then adds that as we sing we do so with grace in our hearts to the Lord.  I struggle with Christian performers.  Who are they performing for?  My music is to be to the Lord Jesus first and foremost.  As I sing or play music to Him others should sing along in their voices or in their hearts with me so that all of us are singing praises to the Lord for He is worthy.

Verse 17 mirrors 1 Corinthians 10:31.  God would have us do all that we do for His glory and praise.  This is more than a surface thing, it is a heart thing.  From the very motive of my heart I need to do all that I do for the Lord .  If I am working for Him and someone calls and needs help I conclude that He is directing my day.  God wants to direct me and He deserves the praise for anything and everything that gets done.  This thought truly is life changing. Let it dwell richly in you.

Tomorrow morning is our cantata practice at 10:00.  Be sure to be here and be on time so we can get a good rehearsal. 

Pray for the RU program tonight that those coming will receive the wisdom they need for whatever issue they are carrying.

Pray for Sunday that God will bring those who are invited and that the message will come forth loud and clear.  Pray for those who need to be saved will hear the Spirit’s call and place their faith in Christ.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 17, 2009

Put on the “shirts” that God has for you and give shape and life to them.

Colossians 3

 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

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

Having said all that he has, Paul puts In another ‘therefore,’  At this point he has concluded that those he is writing to are in Christ, made alive by Christ and living in Christ.  They have put off several sins and attitudes of the flesh and desire to live a new life in their Savior.  Therefore, since you are the elect of God both holy and beloved consider putting on the following actions and attitudes.  Note here that those in Christ are God’s elect, God is sovereign over salvation and those who are in Christ are the holy ones and are loved by God. Remember here that our holiness is imputed not earned and God’s love is by His grace.  He then both makes us holy and puts His love upon us.  We don’t earn this, It is all by His amazing grace.

The attitudes we are to put on in place of the negatives listed above are mercy, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering, or patience beyond understanding.  When we meet people who have these qualities we thoroughly enjoy them and look forward to seeing them again.  In Christ, each of us is to have these qualities.  Again, they are not ours they are Christ in us.  These qualities may be like a shirt in your closet, it is there but has no form until you put it on.  God has these “shirts” available but you have to put them on and put shape into them.  Once you get started it is easier than you think and those around you will notice your new “shirt” of these godly qualities.

The actions we are to put on include the willingness to bear with one another.  This is difficult especially when someone else does or sees something different than me.  I just want them to realize that they are wrong and that my way is better.  When they don’t see this I am to bear with them and to do so in love.   We are to quickly forgive one another as those who have been forgiven (Matthew 18).  We never have a right to hold a grudge or a bitterness when we have been fully forgiven of our life’s sin by our Lord and Savior. 

And finally we are to put on the “shirt” of love which is the bond of perfection.  What holds the church together?  No, the its constitution nor its music, nor its preaching nor its fellowships but the love of Christ purposefully exercised by its members one toward another.  I cannot stress this enough.  If we are full of gifts but have not love our gifts are of no, not any value.  Forget how good you are at what you do, if you cannot show the love of God toward others in the process your gift is useless.  I heard a radio preacher last week say, “We are most like God when we chose to love someone whom we would not normally love.”  Dwell on this.  

Finally we are to act in peace, God’s peace toward life and toward people.  Our God is the wonderful Prince of Peace.  Peace is the name of His kingdom.  When we are with Him we are in Peace.  No matter what comes the Prince of Peace wants us to stay with Him and let His peace rule and reign in our hearts and to demonstrate that peace to all who know us. 

May those who see you today see you putting on the “shirts” God wants you to wear and giving shape and life to these godly attitudes and actions.

We have several people we know who need jobs or who need better jobs.  Please pray today for Jimmy, Dennis, Tim, Bob, Gerald, Cathy, and Stewart.  Pray also for Patty and Rachel that God would show them how He is going to meet their needs.

Yesterday, once again, God protected our little Jared.  He lost his balance on the stairs and fell over the railing.  He was not hurt in the fall and once again we were thankful. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 16, 2009

Why should we live differently in Christ?

Colossians 3

 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

There is a movement that tries to eliminate rules for the Christian life and teaches people to live by grace and Christian liberty.  While I understand what that movement is reacting against, I cannot do away with this passage of lists and others like it.  However, we do have to notice that when Paul wrote this list he began with our secure position in Christ.  Religion should not put a list of do’s and don’ts out for people to uphold in order to be a member in good standing.  We are complete and fulfilled before God in Christ and in Him alone. 

Remember that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.  Therefore our hearts need to know what we can and cannot do.  Because we are secure in Christ and because we have been loved from eternity back, we should revel in God’s love and His plan for our redemption.  Then, once we have enjoyed our position in Christ we are to understand that in Him there are sins to avoid and righteousness to embrace.

To live as God’s holy ones, His saints, He would have us to put off the sins listed in verses 5, 8, and 9. He even gives us a reason to do so in verse 6.  God’s wrath is on those who live in disobedience.  And then in verse 9 we are told that we put these off because we have put off the old man with his deeds and have (verse10) put on the new man according to the image of our Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

So let me recap this.  First off we are complete in Christ then we do not have to practice holy days and diet restrictions for all of that was nailed to the cross.  Religion is not about what we do to make us feel religious or feel godly.  Jesus established a new way and wants us to focus our heart’s affections upon Him.  Therefore it pleases our new Lord and Savior to put off the corrupting sins of the flesh and the rudiments of this world.  See, this not about keeping the Law but about living a new life with our new Lord abiding within.  There is no better way to live! 

Tonight will be our last Wednesday night service of this year.  Next Thursday is our Christmas Eve service and the following Thursday is our New Years Eve family night.  Please do come tonight for our time of prayer and study together. 

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

December 15, 2009

Set your worshipping mind on Christ alone

Colossians 3

 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

In light of chapter two ending with the instruction not to follow religious dates and rituals, chapter 3 and verse 1 takes on a bit of a different interpretation.  (Remember that the Bible was not written with chapter and verse distinctions.)  For here we see that since we are in Christ and are risen with Him (no other religious thought claims this)  we should seek those things which are above.  How different from seeking  rites and religious rituals of this earth which are all made by men.

Whenever you go into a denominational church which has rituals and icons, while these items were designed to aid in worship, over time they often become the objects of worship or they become necessary aids in worship.  The Lord would have us to focus upon Him and Him alone in our worship.  To “set your mind on” means to set your heart upon.  When we worship God wants our heart set upon Him and upon Him alone.  This truly does away with religious days, icons, diet restrictions, traditions and so on. 

The first and second commandments command us to worship God only and not to make statues to aid in worship for God is a Spirit and does not want us to come up with objects that would get in the way of our pure worship of Him. When the day finally comes when we see Christ (whether in death or in rapture) we will forget every trapping of religion and fall down before Him and Him alone.  This is how God would have us to worship Him here and now.  Do not worship, He says, with items of this earth because you have died to this world and your life is now alive and hidden in Christ.  Enjoy this glorious relationship, this new birth in Him. 

Some people go to church to worship God.  For those of us who know Christ as Savior and Lord, He is within us and we are able to worship Him everywhere and at all times. Corporate church worship with fellow believers is wonderful and can be done anywhere we gather.

Rejoice in this.  We are able to worship our God who dwells with us and had made us alive in Him.  We can worship Him without the regulations of religion and tradition.  God wants us to set our heart, our affections, and our desires upon Him each and every day for in Him we are truly alive.

Pray for Ben and Nate, and Kristi, and Ed who are facing final exams this week.  Pray for all of our church high school students who also have finals this week. There is much to do and much depends upon their focused study and application.

Continue to pray for Dennis and Jimmy and Gerald as they need jobs sufficient to meet the needs of their families.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 14, 2009

Is there any value or point in religious ritual?

Colossians 2

 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--

 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"

 22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

After Friday’s devotional about how our sins are taken away and the Law is nailed to the cross and the powers of darkness were triumphed over, the very next verse begins to teach us that the holy days and religious actions that people hold are unnecessary. Religions add foods, and Sabbaths and festivals and regulations to their followers lives adding physical requirements to faith.  Here Paul says that all of that is totally unnecessary because we are completely forgiven in Christ.

Since we have died with Christ from the basic rudiments of the world, we do not need to be held to any ceremonial functions.  Ceremonial functions appear to have wisdom attached to them.  Some of them make human sense and so people are drawn to them.  When religious leaders come out in their robes and hats they look very spiritual to some people.  When they speak and do their ritual many people feel very religious and close to God. 

Then, after participating in these “spiritual services” people are so glad that they are that religion and happily give money for the continuance of their religious services.   Paul says a great big, NO!  Since we are fully forgiven in Christ that there is no need any more for any more religious do this or do that or observe this festival or respect this holy day or don’t do this or don’t eat that.  If you will take time to apply this to the world’s “great religions” you will find that the true God wants us to have faith in Him and in Him alone and those religions that are thousands of years old have it all wrong. 

When anyone asks you what religion you are, tell them that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.  He alone can save me from my sins through the sacrifice of His sinless blood on the cross. He alone can give me hope of eternal life for He alone rose from the dead conquering both sin and death.  He alone showed heaven’s hope when He ascended bodily to heaven and told us that He was coming again to receive us with Him.  As you can tell, this answer has nothing to do with our works and efforts and traditions and holy days and diet restrictions or any other man-imposed righteousness. 

Because we are complete in Christ, we do not need religion.  Jesus did not come to start a religion but to bring salvation to those who would follow Him. 

During the Christmas season, speak openly of Jesus Christ.  Remind people that though we are celebrating His birth that He did not stay in a manger but lived and went to the cross to die for our sins.  Do not get caught up in the romanticized Christmas feelings of the empty Christmas songs but ever look to the Lord Jesus without whom there would be no Christmas. 

I thank God for church yesterday for our evangelism opportunity yesterday afternoon where over 350 Christmas tracts were passed out and for our evening Bible study from John 8.  What a great day in the Lord and with God’s people. 

Pray for the daycare to get more children and for Tim to get more work.  Pray for Dennis who lost his job last week to find another one.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 8, 2009

Beware, follow the truth of God first and only

Colossians 2

 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

In this section Paul continues on to challenge these young believers to beware of those who are lying to them regarding religious works.  These religious liars will come with philosophy, that is they will sound good to the human mind.  Philosophy tickles our ears and causes us to stop and listen.  Beware, much of it is deceptive speech which leads people away from the absolute truths of God’s Word.  

Beware also of empty deceit.  Pride leads people away from God.  James and Peter both wrote that God resists the proud.  There is no place for human pride in the midst of God’s church.  We did not do anything to save ourselves so we cannot take any pride in God’s grace.  It is all of God thus we cannot take pride in God’s grace.  However, religion wants us to do something that we can take pride in and Paul calls that empty deceit. 

You see, the work of religion is according to traditions of men and according to the basic principles of this world.  Churches will say, “We have a long and proud tradition…”   Those traditions then will take greater value than the Word of God.  I do not care if you have trusted your church for 4000 years.  If your church is not in line with the Word of God it is in error and has led people away from God not toward Him.  The basic principles of this world are that men need a higher power in their lives and men feel badly when they do bad things.  These bad feelings need to be alleviated so churches have created ways to dull the pain of sins ache.  However, regardless of how much penance or confessing one does, the pain of human sin is still there. 

Christ lived and died and rose from the dead to take away our sin.  Neither philosophy nor tradition can offer this.  Only Jesus can save.  The reason that only Jesus can save is that only in Jesus does the fullness of God dwell!  Since the fullness of God is in Christ, we in Him find completeness.  In Him we find full identity with Christ. (To the Jew circumcision was the sign of identity.   In Christ our hearts are circumcised without hands through the blood of Christ thereby giving us eternal identity with Christ.)   We are buried with Christ, baptized into Him and symbolically raised with Him to walk in newness of life with Him.  This act of faith is God working in us as He is the One who raised Jesus from the dead. 

The truths of God are far more powerful and far more logical than the philosophies and traditions of men.  It would take an entire man written book to say all that has been said in a few verses.  If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior and Lord this makes great sense to you. 

Pray for our services at Sunrise and Wayside as we go and preach the gospel of Christ. 

Men, we will be looking at the chapter entitled, “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord”   in More than a Carpenter. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 7, 2009

Be tied to godly people, they may keep you in Christ

Colossians 2

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

There are some great ties that we have in this life.  Family is supposed to be the greatest tie but to some family is a painful subject.  Church is supposed to be a great tie to people but again, to some church is a painful subject also.  Consequently, some people have become quite independent fearing ties to anyone lest  a greater pain come upon them.

Please notice the value of human ties presented in these verses.  The Apostle Paul, the spiritual father of the Colossian church, was concerned lest deceptive people would come in and lead his spiritual children astray.  He knew the power of deceptive words and sent a warning relying on his relationship to pull them through.   He was physically away from them but sent a warning to them letting them know that in spirit he was with them.   They were important to him.  He loved them and hoped that his love for them demonstrated by the life he gave to them, would pull them from lies to the truth.

The truth was that they had received the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is no greater action in life than to receive the Lord Jesus Christ.  Nothing else is transformational like this action is.  When you recognize that you are lost and in need of a Savior and that Jesus Christ is both God and Lord and Savior and you cry out to Him to be your Savior and Lord transformation takes place.  They had received Christ Jesus the Lord and Paul wanted them to continue to walk in Him.  Notice that Paul did not encourage them to follow Paul but to follow Christ.

This new walk in Christ is a walk in which they were rooted and built up in Him.  If there is no foundation of faith there is no strength upon which to build a life.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the only foundation that provides roots for your life to be built upon.  Psalm 1 speaks to the righteous man whose roots like a tree are planted by the river of water providing both strength and sustenance.  So we must be rooted and built up in Christ. 

As such, our faith is established and we will not be led astray by deceptive teachers.  That is Paul’s point here.  When we are established in the faith we will abound in it and will be so thankful that we have been delivered from the deception of sin and false religion.  False teachers are themselves deceived and think they need to convince all others of their false teaching.  Bring all teachers back to the Word of God and see if they will submit to it.  If not, do not follow them. 

My friends, follow those who are following Christ.  Maybe you have trouble attaching to people.  Attach to those who love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  Following them and submitting to them when necessary is both protective and building. 

We had a great trip and thoroughly enjoyed Ben’s concert Friday night.  The concert followed the campus lighting celebration which included much singing of Christmas carols and the lighting of over 200,000 Christmas lights.  From there we went in to the auditorium for the concert.  It was a wonderful evening.  Bobbi and I are very thankful for Ben who has continued to use his music and has worked so hard to attain the level of proficiency that he enjoys.  Ben is very busy as the semester comes to an end but was glad to see us and to enjoy some off campus meals with us. 

Yesterday was Pastor Bill’s 56^th anniversary of preaching the gospel.  He preached at church and God used him to speak to hearts about continuing in the ministry.  May Pastor Bill’s legacy carry on in all of us for years to come.

Please continue to pray for my friend Richard.  His surgery went well but a tumor was not able to be removed.  He will soon begin radiation treatment.  Pray for his wife Liz that she would have the strength needed in the days to come. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 4, 2009

Where do we go for riches of wisdom and knowledge?

Colossians 2

   ¹For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

   ²That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

   ³In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

As a mature believer, Paul had a greater grasp of the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge than the young believers in Colosse had.  Since Paul had left this new church, new converts had come into the church who did not know Paul and Paul longed to go back and teach them again of God’s riches. 

I have been preaching and teaching quite a bit recently on the church, the Body of Christ and the need of the body to exercise its gifts with love.  Here Paul speaks to a church knit together by love.  What a great picture this is.  When you have a knitted scarf or a knitted sweater you do not see the individual pieces of yarn but you see the item as a whole.  You do not see one color but you see all of the colors knit together into a beautiful piece of clothing.  So it must be in the church.  We are not to shine as individuals but as one church wherein are knitted together in love to serve Christ and to proclaim His riches.

Then I see here that the riches of wisdom and knowledge that we need are found only in Jesus Christ.  Be careful what you read or who your sit under.  There is much knowledge that is not Christ based.  It may sound good but without Christ it is not.  Creation without Christ is foolishness.  Marriage counseling without Christ is foolishness.  Parenting advice without Christ is behavior modification at best.  Leadership training apart from Christ is humanistic and man-centered and will not really succeed. 

Libraries of books have been written about how to live and work and succeed.  They will all find their ways to dust filled stacks with a reference made from them once in a while.  However, the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge had outsold and outlasted every book of man ever written.  While the Bible has gone through various translations, it has never needed a re-write nor an update.  It is read, studied, quoted and lived 2000 years after its’ completion.   It is filled with the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge! 

Please pray today for a man named Richard who is having stomach surgery.  He is a friend of mine whom you do not know but he needs our prayers. 

We made it safely to Greenville last night and are looking forward to Ben’s concert tonight.  The campus does a lighting ceremony of all their Christmas lights which is followed by a Christmas band concert.  That us where we will hear Ben. 

Remember that Sunday is Pastor Bill’s 57^th anniversary of preaching.  He will be bringing the morning message as he does every year on this anniversary.  Pastor Bill has been a faithful preacher of God’s word longer than most of us have been alive.  Come looking forward to the riches of wisdom that he will bring from God’s word.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

December 1, 2009

The mystery solved in Christ – labor to proclaim it

Colossians 1

 24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,

 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Paul took his work for God very seriously.  He labored until he was suffering so that the church, the body of Christ, might be perfected.  He was a minister of the gospel and knew that God had given him a stewardship, a responsibility that the Apostle took quite seriously.   I hope after the last few Sundays together each of us understands a bit more our individual responsibility in the  church the body of Christ.

Then Paul spoke of the mystery of God hidden from the ages past but revealed in Christ.  The OT saints could not comprehend the riches of God’s glory revealed in Christ.  They could not have understood that Christ would dwell in us by faith much the same way God dwelt in the tabernacle in the wilderness and later in the temple at Jerusalem.  They labored to keep the Law and came up short.  Jesus fulfilled the Law so that we can approach the Father through Him. 

Therefore, we must also preach Christ.  He is the answer to every mystery and every misunderstood religion.   Jesus conquered death and sin.  Jesus rose from the dead.  Jesus ascended into heaven and promised to return.  Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to indwell His church.  Jesus, the way, the truth and the life, indwells every true believer.  In Him is life and the life is the light of men.  He that has the Son has life. 

As Paul understood this truth, he labored to tell others about it.  In Christ is life eternal and life abundant.   This message is worth giving our lives to spread. 

This head cold has been tough on me.  I apologize for not getting a devotional out Friday or Monday.  Hopefully tomorrow morning will not be quite so difficult.  I am at church now as Bobbi and some ladies are putting up Christmas decorations.  I hope the decorations will always point your mind to the Savior, the incarnation of God in flesh so that He could become our our Lamb of God to take away our sin. 

 Ben and the others made it safely back to Greenville.  The trip was long due to heavy rain but they got there.  Thanks for your prayers for them. 

Remember our country in your prayers.  There are problems on every front.  When men forget God in their knowledge, professing to be wise, they become fools.  I fear we are seeing the fruits of years of godless foolishness.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 26, 2009

Give Thanks to God

 Psalm 150:1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!

 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

As believers in Christ, as those who know the God of heaven, and as those who have come to love the Word of God, Thanksgiving has a much deeper meaning.   We are more than thankful for the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and the Indians.  We are more than thankful for America and our freedoms.  We are more than thankful for a turkey dinner with all of the trimmings.  We are thankful for all of these but our Thanksgiving goes a step deeper. 

We are thankful to God who is behind all of these events.  We see the hand of God behind all that we have and do.  We rejoice that God loves us, that He sent His Son for us, and that His plans are never thwarted. 

We thank God for our very live and breath.  We thank God for laughter and joy.  We thank God for energy and strength.  We thank God for everything that we possess and for the ability to possess them.  We thank God for the ability to love at His level.  Without Christ in us our love would be limited by our feelings of acceptance and fulfillment.  We thank God for His love which changed everything in us.

We thank God for the church.  We thank God for the other believers in Christ who as our sisters and brothers in God’s family accept us and help us understand the acceptance in the beloved.  We thank God for those who serve the Lord Jesus with us.  We thank God for letting us partake with Him in His work on this earth through the church, the Body of Christ.

We thank God for the money He lets us earn so that we can provide for ourselves and for our families.  We thank God for the money He entrusts to us to meet our needs and to give to help meet the needs of others.  We thank God that with our money we can keep the church doors open and we can support missions works both here and around the world.  We thank God that He can use our energy to further His kingdom.

We thank God that as we live by His precepts and follow His wisdom life makes sense.  We thank God that as we live for Him and raise our children they, seeing the reality of God through us, follow God’s wisdom and accept His love.   We thank God that our children do not need to go through the pains of sins paths but can receive Christ and bypass the lifelong chains of sin.  We thank God that as our children grow up they can rejoice in their sins forgiven and they can live their lives to glorify Him.

We thank God for our country where we can still gather and worship in freedom.  We thank God for those who have fought and lived and fought and died to protect our freedom of worship.  We thank God for the laws that keep our country from anarchy.  We thank God for our Constitution and the protection we have received from it.

We thank God for Thanksgiving Day, a day to enjoy family, friends, food, and football.  We thank God for cooks who know how to put the food all together.  We thank God for homes to keep us out of the weather and for cars to get us to the homes of those we love. 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, Praise ye the Lord.

PS

November 25, 2009

The only Bridge of reconciliation to an alienated people

Colossians 1

 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--

 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

1.       Why do we need the gospel?

2.       Jesus is the gospel?

3.       We need to be ministers of the gospel.

We need the gospel because we are alienated from God we are enemies of His in our minds by our wicked works.   No, this was not written to men in prison on death row for their crimes against society but against good, hard working people who are far, far from God in their hearts.   Mankind, every one born since Adam, is alienated, separated from God.  Our sin separates us from a holy God.  So separated are we that we cannot do anything to get closer to God much less to bridge the gap. 

Since we could not un-alienate our selves we needed a reconciler.  Enter Jesus Christ who personifies the gospel.  Through the sacrifice that He paid on the cross for our sins, He can present us to God holy, harmless, and above reproach.  What is the cost to us for this great offer or reconciliation?  Surely it must cost something, after all, religions have profiteered off of serious devotees for millenniums!  But no, the only cost was paid, the cost to us is to believe and to keep believing.   Never move away from the gospel, the power of God to salvation to every one who believes. 

Notice too that the gospel is available to everyone under heaven.  There is not a person alive who cannot benefit from the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Nor is there a person alive who should not hear the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.   Therefore, Paul was a minister of this gospel.  I am no where close to the Apostle Paul neither in intellect nor in influence.  Yet, I can be a fellow minister of the gospel with him.  Tomorrow, be thankful for the gospel.  Be a minister of this gospel reconciling people to God through work of Jesus on the cross for their sins.   Everyone is called to this and everyone can do this. 

Tonight is our Thanksgiving Praise service.  This is always a blest time for us.  Come and bring a testimony of praise to our God.

Ben and Emily and Hannah got in this morning around 5:00.   Ben and Nate spoke at Wayside.  It is always a blessing to hear others preach the Word of God. 

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

November 24, 2009

Jesus, His person and His work is the truth we need to know

Colossians 1

 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

In these three verses we have the answer to every false belief.  You do not need to study their beliefs, you just need to understand and be able to explain two truths fully contained here. 

The first truth is that Jesus is fully God.  Verse 19 says that the fullness of God the Father dwells in Christ.  The word used for fullness means to fill something up completely.  It was used when Jesus fed the 5000 and twelve baskets were filled with the leftovers.  Jesus was not sent from God as a part of God but God came in Jesus.  Jesus was the only begotten, the one-of-a-kind, God in flesh.  The Babe in the manger was fully God. 

Philosophers and theologians have done all types of mental gymnastics to explain this truth away.  Man does not want Jesus to be fully God and so has tried to make Him part God and part man or more man than God, or man for awhile then part God then man again.  These theological deceptions lead people away from the security they can have with a fully Divine Jesus Christ.  Jesus is God, God is Jesus. 

The second truth you need from this passage is that Jesus came to reconcile man to God and did so through the shedding of His blood on the cross for our sins.  Jesus did not come to be a prophet nor to be a good teacher nor to do a partial job expecting us through works and prayers to add to what He left undone.  Nor was His job unfinished but completed by His earthly mother who though a great woman had nothing to do with our redemption.   Jesus came to reconcile us to God and He completed this job on the cross thus He could cry out, “It is finished.” 

We now can have eternal peace with God through the acceptance of the work of Jesus on the cross for us.  When we accept His sacrifice as the only payment for the sin of our lives, Jesus Himself, who is eternal life, dwells in us so that John could write, “he that has the Son has life and He who does not have the Son does not have life.”  Eternal life then is in Jesus Christ and in Him alone.  Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No man comes to the Father except through me.” 

The person and the work of Christ are the two truths, found in these verses, that can and will answer every religious argument that you will face. 

Please continue to pray for the completion of the closing of the house for Bobbi’s family. 

Pray for Pastor Bill as he takes the service today at Sunrise Assisted Living. 

Tomorrow night is our Thanksgiving Praise service.  This is a favorite service of ours.  Come, bring a testimony of God’s goodness to you and enjoy the testimonies of the others who come.  God’s name will be exalted. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 23, 2009

Jesus, Savior, Forgiver, Creator, Sustainer

Colossians 1

 14 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

There is only One in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Think about forgiveness of sins for just a moment.  God is holy.  We are not.  The only way we could ever stand in His presence is if our sins were forgiven.  How many religions offer forgiveness of all sins?  Some religions deny sin.  Man is good so forgiveness in not needed.  (How absurd that is.)  Some religions quantify sins.  Some are mortal and some are not.  A white lie is not a real lie and living in the grey areas are not really all that bad.  (Mixing black with white produces grey.) 

James wrote that if one were to keep the Law in every way but only break one law that person is guilty of breaking all the Laws.  In other words, we are all sinners and as sinners we are separated from God!  That is the fact of sin. Jesus came to provide eternal forgiveness for all of our sin.  We are sinners.  He is the Savior! 

As Savior, Jesus is also the image, the exact image of the invisible God.  Jesus is God in the flesh.  Jesus said the He and the Father are one.  He said that if they knew Him they knew the Father also.  We cannot deny the deity of Jesus Christ at any level.  The difference between Bible Christianity and other world religions is this point:  Jesus is God who came in the flesh.  Furthermore, Jesus created all that we see and know.  All things were created by Him and for Him.  He is over all things and by Him all things are held together.  Charles Darwin did not believe this and taught a far different basis of origins.  Jesus created it all.  The Apostle Paul, under the pen of inspiration, wrote this statement. 

Whenever you read a statement of evolution of man or earth, filter it through Colossians 1: 16-17.   Not only do we have the Genesis account but we have this statement of Christ the Creator and the Sustainer.  What a Savior we have!  He is the Savior who looked over His creation knowing that His fallen people, whom He loved with an everlasting love, needed forgiveness of sin to join Him in His eternal home.  So Jesus came with a specific purpose and fulfilled all that He came to do.  Thus, all who come to Him find grace and in them Jesus, the author of life, lives within forever.  Hallelujah!

God met with us around His word yesterday.  Thank God for our services at Grace for Life Bible Church.  Josh and Barb Hedges who are missionaries of Bible translation to the Chadian people in Chad, Africa, were with us all day.  These choice servants of God were a great challenge and blessing to us all. 

Please pray with us for the closing of Bobbi’s dad and sister’s house in Beecher.  Their stuff has been on a truck for nearly three weeks now.  The truck is rented and the one problem after another has seemed to hinder the closing.  Pray with us for an end to this trial. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 20, 2009

Lift up Christ again and again

Colossians 1:12  Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

When can we say enough about our Lord Jesus Christ?  These four verses are filled with Christ.   First we see that we are qualified to be partakers of the inheritance with all of the saints in the light.  This is an amazing statement of salvation.  There is no way we can ever appoint ourselves or in any way qualify ourselves for this position.  But if God qualifies us to be the inheritor of His wealth, then we are indeed qualified.   Once written into the will of God, the inheritance is secure for God will not cast you out nor can anyone snatch you away. 

Beyond the inheritance, we have been delivered.  What were we delivered from?   Did we need deliverance?  Yes, we were born slaves to sin and to all unrighteousness.  As slaves to sin we were doomed and damned away from God forever.  But God, who is rich in mercy, loved us with an everlasting love and send a Deliverer, Jesus Christ, to provide all of the redemption that we would ever need. Through God’s gift of grace, the Lord Jesus, we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sin.  Need this?  Absolutely!  Provided?  In completeness! 

Who could provide so richly to us?  None other than the Son of God, the firstborn over all creation.  This verse is not describing Jesus as having a beginning as my first born son did.  In the language context the firstborn is the most important, the pre-eminent one. God is a Spirit, Jesus took on flesh.  Invisible God became visible, He did not begin.  Jesus Christ is the image of the eternal God.   Everything Jesus did was godly.  Every thought Jesus had was godly.  Jesus was the person of God in the flesh and then provided for our redemption and now pleads our cases before Him.

Ever lift up the message of the Savior.  Never let it grow old.

Today Pastor Bill ministers the Word of God at Spring Meadow and at Sunrise north.  I lead a service at Devonshire in Lisle.  These are all great opportunities to present Christ.  

We are ever in prayer for Sunday that God will uniquely meet with us.  Pray for all of the teachers and musicians and ministers of God’s grace and love. 

Tonight is our RU meeting.  Pray for those who come each week to be encouraged by the Word of God and love of God spread abroad in our hearts.

If anyone has time to help work at church today or tomorrow, Rob and Ed are here and could use the help.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 19, 2009

How to walk worthy of the name of the Lord

Colossians 1

 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

The way to walk worthy of the Lord is spelled out in the interrelated phrases of this passage.

1.       Be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

2.       Live fully pleasing Him by being fruitful in every good work and by increasing in your knowledge of God.

3.       Be strengthened with all might according to God’s power enabling you to greater patience and longsuffering with joy.

4.       Give thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

If I were a teacher and you were my students and I gave you this assignment today, you would have some work to do.  Let me do this:  I ask you to take these four points, print them, cut them to pocket size, paste them on a card and carrying them with you review them at every stop light, at every break, when you sit at the dinner table tonight and when you are in the bathroom getting ready for tomorrow. As you meditate on these four instructions for living to fully please your Lord and Savior God will apply His word to your heart and will lead you to a closer and more joyful walk with Him. 

Remember that this is all possible not because you are so strong willed but because God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  Hallelujah!  God has done the work, Jesus has done the saving, God now asks us to live worthy of His glorious saving name. 

Remember to pray for the family of Carol Hymers as they bury her mom today.  The funeral is this morning in Quincy Illinois. 

Please begin to pray for Sunday.  I will be speaking on the definition of love in the church from 1 Corinthians 13.  This great chapter, read mostly at weddings, is actually a chapter written to tell church members how to exercise their spiritual gifts.  Pray for this message to be both instructive and loving.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 18, 2009

Walking Worthy

Colossians 1:9  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

God has given us words and language to be able to convey thoughts and beliefs.  God used words and language to convey His thoughts and desires to us.  As you read the above passage, you have to stop and look at the way the language is used to convey the thoughts or else you will skim past the main thoughts and miss a great deal. 

Verse 9 begins with “For this reason we also”  and then goes into a phrase “since the day we heard it.”  In fact, the rest of verse 9 is another phrase.  The phrases have value but it helps me to remove the phrases to get to the main point first.  Follow this: “For this reason we also… do not cease to pray for you…that you may walk worthy of the Lord.”  Every other phrase supports this main thought.  Paul’s goal for the Colossian believers was that they would walk worthy of the Lord.  He prayed ceaselessly toward this end. 

While salvation is the greatest gift of God to man, the Christian life, that is, living to walk worthy of the Lord, is the greatest way to live.  Many people have “become Christians” in word but have never enjoyed the Christian life.  Some try to make the Christian life so complex and rule oriented that no one can live.  Others strip away any boundaries determined to live fully in Christian liberty and live so much like the lost that there is little difference in the life lived.  The Lord would have us to live a life worthy of His name which He gave us when we were saved. 

My dad used to remind me that I bore the family name when I went out.  That was a good reminder to me that whatever I did I dragged the whole family with me.  So with Christ.  When He saved us He gave us the name Christian.  (John 1:12)  We became joint-heirs with Jesus and sons and daughters of God Almighty.  When we go out now, we bear His name and He wants us to walk worthy of His great name. 

I will look at the specific ways of walking tomorrow but today I would ask you to look at the call of God to you to walk worthy of His name.  Remember that God never asks us to do something we cannot do.  He is not asking us to live perfectly but to live honoring the name that we bear as sons and daughters of God.

Thank you for your prayers for our ministries.  We had twenty men and women (mostly women) at our Sunrise service yesterday with several coming for the first time.  Do pray that the message of salvation through Jesus alone will sink into the hearts and minds of these dear people. 

Today a man came and asked me why I chose to speak from Matthew 6:33.  As we talked I realized that God had this man in mind Monday night when I read a chapter in a book that led me to dwell upon Matthew 6:33 again.  Pray for Charles as he considers giving his life wholly to follow Christ and His kingdom. 

Hope to see you tonight for prayer and Bible study.

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

November 17, 2009

Epaphras, who is he?  Someone we can emulate

Colossians

 1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

In the epistles there are several specific people mentioned.   However, this one, Epaphras, has always stood out to me.  Apparently, Epaphras was a minister of the word and a minister in prayer.  He loved the church in Colossi as it was at this church he preached and for this church he prayed.  He was probably a convert from this church who left the church to travel and minister with the Apostle Paul. 

Epaphras then is someone that we can relate to.  He was a regular Gentile guy who hearing the gospel was saved and then went on to live a new life in Christ.

I have been talking about spiritual gifts the last two Sundays.  Epaphras had the gift of teaching and so he taught.  As Paul is writing about salvation and heaven to come he reminds the Colossian Christians that Epaphras has already taught them these things.  Are you aware that every church needs teachers?  Are you aware that spiritually gifted teachers are gifted by God to teach?  If God has gifted you to teach, don’t be content to do anything else.  Come ask your pastor where you can teach and exercise your spiritual gift.

Epaphras also had the gift of service.  As a servant of Christ he served the church first and then he gave his life to serve the Apostle and his ministry.  A servant with no ministry is not serving.   A servant is not the leader, he is the servant.  A servant is content to serve.  Are you aware that the church needs people gifted to serve?  I can only assume that as Paul watched Epaphras serve he asked him to come and serve with him.  One service opportunity leads to another and a servant is content to serve. 

Finally, Epaphras understood the necessity of prayer and practiced a full dependence upon God praying both for himself and for the needs of his church and his home town.  Not only did this man pray but this man labored in prayer.  That is, he worked at prayer.  (We tend to fall asleep in prayer not labor in it.)

Secondly, Epaphras had a specific purpose in his prayers.  He knew what his friends needed and prayed for those needs.  He did not stop at physical needs but went on to pray for very specific spiritual needs, “…that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”  I have asked our church to pray this way for me, the pastor.  I pray this way for those in the church.  Whom do you pray so specifically for?  If we want specific answers we need to pray in a specific manner.

Maybe you cannot really relate to the Apostles Paul or Peter or John or James.  Here is a man you can relate to.  Strive today to be an Epaphras.

Carol Hymers’ mother passed away yesterday.  She and Tom left yesterday for Quincy.  Carol’s mom was 93 and has suffered from Altzimers for several years now.  Pray for peace for Carol’s dad, Carol and her two sisters during this time.

Pray for our service this morning at Sunrise Assisted Living.

Pray for our day care.  Our enrollment is up some and we are beginning a marketing campaign this week.  Pray for the staff there that those who need to would come to Christ.  Pray for wisdom for Connie as she works with parents, staff, hiring, and children. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 13, 2009

The gospel lays up treasure in heaven

Colossians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;

 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

Paul’s goal was to exalt Christ but it is hard for us not to lift this man up.  He was an apostle, he loved the people he ministered to, he was thankful to God for those who came to Christ through his ministry, and he loved the gospel.  We are not apostles nor can we be, but we can emulate much of what this apostle lived. 

Paul understood and followed the will of God for his life.  Many of us are willing to be saved and are willing to come to church but we are content with the path our life has taken before Christ and really do not want to seek any change after coming to Christ.  Do you know that God has a spiritual will for your life?  Are you concerned about following God’s spiritual and physical will?  He is.  You ought to be.  Paul was.

In verses 5 and 6 Paul speaks to us about the gospel and what it does for us.  When we believe the gospel there is a hope laid up in heaven for us.  Laid up where?  Yes, laid up in heaven.  This heavenly treasure is our goal.  Man has laid up treasure on earth for millenniums of time.  Every man who has laid up treasure on earth has died or will died and everything laid up here will remain and fall into someone else’s hands.  The treasure laid up in heaven will be there when we get there.  The gospel, once believed, lays up treasure for those who hold on to it in this life. 

Furthermore, this blessed gospel has a world-wide benefit and brings forth spiritual fruit wherever it is given.  The day you received the gospel it brought forth fruit in you and placed within you a desire to share it with someone else.  Truly this is a glorious gospel.  Paul knew this, do you?

Sunday’s message will come from 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 looking at the motive behind all spiritual work.  We will study love from God’s perspective and overlay His definition over our work.  Pray that God would this message to strengthen this church.

Pray today for services at Spring Meadow, Sunrise and Reformers Unanimous tonight. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 12, 2009

November 10, 2009

We can have it all and have nothing

Revelation 3

14  "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

 16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

 17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' --and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked--

 18 "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

 19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

 20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

 21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

 22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"

The Laodicean church, located in an affluent region, had lost much; however, they were not aware of the loss.  In their minds they were rich and had need of nothing.  They had a natural dye in the area that made cloth brilliant white but the Lord told them they needed His white garments for the covering of their spiritual nakedness.  They had gold but they needed the riches of Christ for real wealth.  There was a natural resource near Laodicea that people came from all over to get.  That resource was an eye salve that helped with one’s failing vision.  Yet the Lord told them they were blind and needed their eyes anointed with His salve so they could see spiritually. 

We find here a reminder that though we may have everything we need, without the Lord we are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”  I have met many Napervillians who fall into this category.   Having everything and needing nothing, they have nothing and need everything.  Five minutes after they die they will realize just how bankrupt they are having left the Lord Jesus out of their lives. 

Furthermore, since this was written to church members we must acknowledge that each of us have this same propensity.  We can become spiritually apathetic while content with our success.  The Lord’s preference is either hot on fire for Him or cold with no interest in Him.  The lukewarm position of the apathetic Christian is repulsive and causes the Lord to want to vomit them out!  Pretty graphic illustration.  

Notice again the Lord‘s patience and longsuffering.  His desire is our repentance and restored fellowship with Him.  Verse 20 invites all the Laodiceans of all time to let the knocking Savior back in to their lives where He, being invited back in, will sit and supper with them and they with Him.  O what a loving and forgiving God we serve.  On one hand He tells us that He would vomit out the lukewarm ones and on the other He is inviting those lukewarm ones back to a banquet of vibrant fellowship sitting and eating with Him. 

I do love the Lord and the way He continually calls us to Himself.  How different this walk with Christ is than religion which ever calls people to do more in hopes of one day being with God.  Our Lord invites us to walk with and enjoy Him today.  He is knocking, we need just to open the door and let Him in. 

Yesterday I was at Victory Academy for Boys for a board meeting.  God is doing His good work there.  Pray for the development of a board who will help to guide the ministry into the next level.  We have always envisioned more than one home for boys and there is a second house constructed but not finished.  Staff will need to be hired and funding will need to found.  Pray for wisdom and direction to accomplish these vital goals.  Continue to pray for the boys to seek the Lord.  My heart so goes out to them.   They have believed the lies of sin, some of them have gone through divorce and desertion resulting in adoption and then divorce.  It is no wonder they are struggling.  Pray that the peace of God will become their guide. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 6, 2009

Three promises to God’s faithful

Revelation 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":

 8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

 9 "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

 10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

 11 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

 12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

 13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

To this faithful church God makes some very interesting and desirable comments.

First of all, God, who opens and closes doors of opportunity, has placed before them an open door which no man can shut.  Open doors are important.  Any salesman knows the value of an open door.  When people’s hearts are shut up tight, God can open them.  This has been my prayer for our church that God would give us open doors into people’s hearts and lives.  Those hearts may open because of trials or because of religion’s failure but we are praying for God to open people up to His gospel.  

When God opens a door, the messenger to the Philadelphia church told them that they had a little strength, they had kept God’s word and had not denied Christ’s name.  This is the reason that I have emphasized the Word of God.  For as we know and keep the Word God will open up opportunities for us to give that Word to an open heart.  We do not have to be scholars, we just need to know the gospel and have a little strength to open our mouths and talk it. 

A second promised given is deliverance from the hour of trial coming upon the whole world.  This is one passage which teaches us of a pre-tribulation rapture of the church.  The “hour of trial” is the Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus, Daniel, and John.  God has always delivered His people from His wrath upon the world.  This is consistent.  Here we see a promise to a church that God will deliver them from the Great Tribulation.  There are many reasons to belong to the church, the Bride of Christ; this is a major reason to belong.  If you have never read about the Great Tribulation you should read the rest of the book of Revelation to find out what we are to miss because of God’s mercy.

The third promise given is a place of importance with a new name.  As a pillar in the temple of God we will have eternal value given to us by God.  It will no longer matter what anyone else says or thinks about us, God has given us value.   Furthermore, God will give us a new name that is special between Him and us.  When you were born your parents gave you a name.  When you get to heaven, God will give you His name.  What a great promise emphasizing the reality of our position in Him and in His eternal family.  We will bear the literal name of God with Him as our eternal Father.  Hallelujah!

Yes, it is a good thing to remain faithful to God in this life.

When we prayed for God to send revival to our church we really did not know what we were specifically praying for.  We were asking God to do His work in us as we submitted to His word.  God did send revival to many hearts this week.  Of those who came to the meetings, many surrendered their hearts and understanding to the Word presented.  We developed a new love for the Gospel.  Brent Sivnksty opened our understanding to the Gospel and then challenged us to live it and speak it.  He taught us that the Gospel is not a plan but a person and that giving the gospel is not a method but a life lived to give authority to a message of Jesus proclaimed.  I am looking forward to the immediate future of this church as this army goes forth revived with the Gospel.

Pray for Sunday as we prepare to meet together again around the Word of God.  I will be bringing a message on the intersection of Jesus with this world and our response to that intersection.  I had this message going before the revival meetings and it really does fit as a follow up to this week’s messages. 

Pray for a man named Don that God will bring him and his fiancé to church Sunday.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 5, 2009

When a good church dies

Revelation 3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

 2 "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

 3 "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

 4 "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

 5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

 6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

As we read about this church in Sardis, we see God fed up with the sin of the church but still justly judging each individual.

Imagine the messenger of God coming to our church and proclaiming that we have a good name but we are spiritually dead.  Imagine doing the church thing week after week, year after year, with no spiritual life.  Within a mile of our church there are at least two “churches” meeting who have no spiritual life.  What a shame that many of those attenders think they have the right church but are spiritually dead before God.  May our church never hear this condemnation. 

In this dead Sardis church, there were some works being done that were almost dead and the messenger challenges them to bring those works back to full life.  One of my fears of church work is keeping any program going too long.  God may well lead us into some ministry but we need to ever be aware of God’s timing and God’s will for that ministry’s continuance.   The ministry is about people not programs. 

God’s warning to this Sardis church is that He is coming and that they will need to repent before He comes.  This month at Grace for Life our emphasis has been upon repentance at God’s level.  This emphasis has been transformational for all of us who have sought to live it.  God wants us to repent of any and all sin as well as any and all works that are not of Him at this time. 

Then in verse 6 I see once again the fairness of God.  Even in a dead church there were those who were faithful to Him and God who holds the records encourages the faithful of heart.  I have met those who in a dead church were trying to “keep the ship afloat.”  God knows their hearts and commends them. 

Realize that the life of a church is a fragile thing that needs ever to be under the scrutiny of prayer and faithfulness to God and His word.  Good churches have died because of a lack of this constant scrutiny.  May this church ever live under the watchcare of the Spirit and the Word. 

Tonight is the final night of this year’s revival meetings.   What an awesome week we have had!  The Word of God has been examined regarding our responsibility for personal evangelism.  The gospel has been defined.  Erroneous views of evangelism have been biblically exposed. It has been a great week of coming in line with God’s revealed word and will.  Please make a point to come tonight.  God is doing His work and it is a wonderful work.

Tim has asked prayer for the little boy named Dillon.  Dillon has had serious surgeries in his short life and yesterday he had a fever of 105.  Pray for this little guy’s health. 

Kim had a meeting with her staff workers yesterday.  It did not go well for Kim.  Pray for her as she has to work through this.  Pray for homemakers who would love Kim and care for her.  

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 3, 2009

God is still calling us to repent and promising much to those who do.

Revelation 2

 18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

 19 "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

 20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

 21 "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

 22 "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

 23 "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

 24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

 25 "But hold fast what you have till I come.

 26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations--

 27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' --as I also have received from My Father;

 28 "and I will give him the morning star.

 29 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

The church in Thyatira needed revival in a big way!  They had listened to a false teacher whom God had patiently reached out to.   However, this false teacher rejected the Lord’s efforts to get to her heart.  She taught the people that immorality was acceptable.  She refused to repent of her sin.  She controlled the church with her deceptions and some of the people followed her. 

Are you aware that today there are churches who accept people from any deviate lifestyle into their churches without any efforts to bring the deviate ones into line with the holy Word of God?   In the name of tolerance people living in all types of sexual sins are accepted into many mainline churches.  “Jesus accepted them,” they say, “and so should we.”  Yes, Jesus accepted sinners but He then told them to go and to sin no more.  When they came to Jesus they repented of their sin and followed Him.  The pure church of Jesus Christ which is to be presented to Him as a holy bride without spot or blemish, Ephesians 5, cannot be living in any form of sexual immorality! 

The righteous ones in the church will be the ones who will both enjoy eternity with their Lord and will also enjoy ruling with their Lord.  While there is a curse given to those who refuse to repent there is a promise of hope and life given to those who remain faithful to the Lord Jesus. 

Beware of those who have the loudest voice and the highest place of prominence.  What really matters is their position in the end of time when King Jesus rules and reigns.    He is the bright and morning star and He is given to those who seek Him. 

The message last night was the best message I have ever heard on our responsibility to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our evangelist clearly made the point that we cannot win souls, we can only bear witness with our live and lips to who Jesus Christ is and to what He has done for us.  We are to be seed planters and seed waterers according to 1 Corinthians 3.   God gives the increase when His seed is planted in the lives of men and women.   He will be continuing tonight on our responsibility for evangelism.    If you have not been able to come, I pray you will make it out tonight.

Pray for our daycare today.  We are hosting some governmental representatives in hopes of finding some funding to help in this economic crises.  I know that our help comes from the Lord.  I also know that God has established human government as His ministers.   Pray for His will to be done today.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

November 2, 2009

 God is faithful to a faithful church

 Revelation 2:8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

 9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

 10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

 11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

When it comes to the true church of Jesus Christ, nothing happens that is out of the knowledge of the Lord of the church.  He who knows all things knows what is happening in our church.  Not only does the Lord Jesus know what is happening in our church but He is passionately interested in our church.  Are we a rich people?  Maybe not too rich in finances but very rich in grace and in faith and in love.  When all is said and done, which is more important?  I can take you to some very wealthy churches where you will feel cold and lifeless.  We should thank God for the riches He has given to us and thank Him for at least meeting all of our needs.

God knows our works.  If no one else knows what we are doing to build up the saints and to raise our children for His glory, does it matter?  We are striving to do the will of God and the work of God in Grace for Life Bible Church.  We are accountable to One and He knows our works. 

God knows that we have faced serious trials.  Through the trials God is and always will be faithful to those who are faithful to Him.  It would be nice to be trial-less but even “good” churches have trials and God knows about every one of them. 

In this passage, the Lord Jesus tells the local church in Smyrna to not be filled with fear.  Yes, they were going to suffer and be tested but God was faithful to them.  Some of them even died in the tribulation but God was faithful even in death. 

Are you aware that this is the same Lord Jesus Christ whom we are serving today?   As He was faithful to this faithful church so He will be faithful to us.  Do not become weary in well-doing.  God is faithful to His own, whom we are. 

I am so thankful to God for bringing evangelist Brent Sivnksty to us this week.  He challenged us yesterday with the need to turn from sin, to listen to God and to share our faith through our dedicated lives.  Last night he started piecing together a puzzle on living a life of evangelism.  Each night he is going to give us another piece to this puzzle thus giving us a full biblical understanding of our life’s responsibility to tell others of Jesus Christ and His saving grace. 

The revival restaurant opens at 5:30 and serves until 6:45.  The service begins at 7:00.  Neighborhood Bible Time evangelist Larry Koonts is back running our children’s crusade each night during the service.  It is a full week.  Take a deep breath and jump in.  When the week is over, you will not be able to come back and retake it.  There is no Tee-Voo on this one.  Don’t miss it and regret it.  Jump in with us asking God to bring you to the place where He wants you to be.

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS 

October 29, 2009

 Are you ready for God to send Revival

 2Chronicles 7:12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.

 13 "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,

 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.

When Solomon’s temple was finished, God met with the people in this incredibly beautiful and awesome edifice.  There has never been a building like this one before or since.  It was designed and built as a house for God.  When the glory of God filled the temple, His Spirit came and dwelt amongst men in this place. Worship of God was centered here for hundreds of years until the building was destroyed because of the idolatry of the nation. 

In that first meeting of God and man in this temple God gave Solomon the message found in verses 13 and 14. God knew that they would stray from Him.  It is the nature of man’s deceptively sinful heart.  So God provided a formula for coming back.  I have spoken on this formula for the past three Sundays.  “But,” you may ask, “we do not have this temple of Solomon to go back to nor to pray toward?  What are we to do?”  In 1 Corinthians 6:19 we are told that the also amazing and incredibly designed and created body of man is now God’s temple.  God dwells in the hearts of His people today.  Ever since Jesus died and provided a way for our sins to be washed away, the Spirit of God can dwell in the sanctified hearts of those who seek Him by faith.

So today, God is still hearing the prayers of those who seek Him.  I want to emphasize that the formula has not changed.  Here it is:

1.      Revival Prayer – If my people … humble themselves and pray and seek my face.  God wants us to realize that He is God and that we are not.  He wants us to humble ourselves before Him in every arena of our lives.  God wants us to seek Him with every bit of hope that we have.  Revival has never come without the renewed prayers of God’s people. 

As we approach our revival meetings this week, take extra time in prayer.  Pray for the openness of your heart to the voice of God through His word.  Pray for the willingness of your heart to be the man or woman that God wants you to be.  Pray for those invited to come.  Pray for the rest of the church members to be willing to seek the Lord as you are.

2.      Revival Confession - … and turn from their wicked ways.   God cannot and will not send His reviving spirit to a people still committed to their sin.  We cannot confess our sins that we don’t want but we must confess all of our sin.  Whatever God brings to your mind, confess it to Him.  Confess those sins you hate as well as those sins you love.  Ask God to show you what He wants you to give up to Him.  Ask Him through the candle of His word to show you what you have been deceived into thinking is alright when He say is it is sin.   

3.      Revival Submission … seek my face.  To seek the face of God is to submit every part of your life to Him so that He, realizing the honesty of your submission, will fully reveal His will, His power, and His deliverance to your life.  Do not kid yourself, we need to submit more to God than we ever have before.  When we think we are doing alright, the deceptive heart is still wanting control from God and man.  The “I want to do what I want to do” attitude is at the base of every sin and every failed attempt to live for God.  We must let God know that we are willing to submit to whatever He has for us so that He can entrust us with revival. 

Revival is no small thing.  God has not entrusted it to all people of all generations.  God entrusts His reviving Spirit to those who through prayer, confession and submission have shown Him that they are wanting revival more than anything else in their lives. 

Our meetings start Sunday.  Revival can start today.  Pray with me to this end. 

Repentance

“For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” —  1^st  Thessalonians 1:9

Sam Jones, one of the great revival preachers of years gone by used to conduct what he called, “Quittin' Meeting” during his revivals.  They were so called because he gave people the opportunity to confess their sins and repent.  Many quit swearing, drinking, smoking, gossiping... etc.

He asked one woman what she planned to quit and she replied, “I ain't been doing nothing and I am goin' to quit that too.”

Repentance is turning to God and away from self and sin.  But it is first a turning to God.  It is turning our affections to God.  It is turning over our time to God.  It is rearranging our priorities around God.  Repentance may involve, not the overt sin we committed, but the godly things we omitted.  Repentance is starting to do again the things we have been leaving undone.  Where we have neglected our devotional life, we start it again.  Where we have neglected Christian service, we get to work. Where we have failed to love others, we love anew.  Sometimes we fall, not into scandal, but into doing nothing.  That is sin and we must repent of it.

Repentance is turning from self.  And self is the problem… self-will, self-seeking, self-righteousness, self-centeredness, self-sufficiency, selfishness… these are sins as great as adultery or stealing.  Repentance means turning to God and away from self.

Repentance is turning from sin.  It is admitting that it is wrong, an offense against God—it’s not a fault or a little imperfection—it is sin.  Repentance is stopping the sin and replacing it with something good.  It is renouncing the sin in our own lives and taking our stand against it.

Repentance is turning to God from self and sin.  Are you doing something you need to quit and replace?  Are you doing nothing and need to repent of that?

Today’s Scripture Reading: First Thessalonians 1

Today’s Prayer Guidance: Heavenly Father, thank You that our congregation has been given a unique place in your Kingdom.  Help us to see our niche.  Deliver us from trying to copy Your plan for someone else.

October 16, 2009

 Do we talk about important stuff?

Mark 9

 30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.

 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."

 32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

 33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"

 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.

 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,

 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

Do you find it interesting that the disciples were afraid to ask what Jesus meant when He took them aside to teach them about His death and resurrection but they were not afraid to talk about their own greatness?   Jesus took time apart from His ministry to the crowd to uniquely teach the twelve.  He wanted them to know about His coming death and resurrection.  This was the reason Jesus came to earth.  This was the pivotal point of His earthly ministry.  But the disciples did not get it. 

As a student, I am the guy willing to ask questions of the teacher if I do not understand something.  As a teacher, I want people to ask for more information when something is unclear to them.  These men had the perfect opportunity but did not ask.  Since they did not understand the teaching it was easy for them to drift away to their own favorite topic, themselves. 

Before we get too hard on these deluded men, just how deluded can we get?   How quickly can we go from the Sunday message to the Sunday football game or something else mundane?  Do we fill our hearts and minds with information about exalting the risen Lord Jesus?  Do we look forward to talking to others about the spiritual things because we are overflowing with God’s word and His will?  Or, do we gather with other Christians to discuss the mundane topics of our own success or dreams thereof? 

We have to notice Jesus’ response to their prideful discussion.   He brings a child and sets that child on His lap and tells them the value of caring for children for His sake.  What a rebuke.  Life is not about position but about caring for those smaller than you think you are.  Then, when we care at that level of care, we know that the Lord Jesus is in us and that the Father is receiving us.  By the way, reception by a holy God is more important than position in His kingdom. 

Who can we receive in Jesus name today? 

Thank you for your prayers for Sunday.  I will be bringing a message on the need for confession in revival.  I trust you want a heart that is revived by the Lord.  I trust you are praying this week for God to do whatever He wants to do for us to bring us to a place of personal and collective revival.

Please pray for Pastor Bill today as he speaks at Spring Meadow and at Sunrise north.  Pray for our Reformers program tonight.  Pray that God will continue to bring people who are struggling with sinful addictions into this Friday night ministry of the Word.  Pray for Dave Dapkus as he leads this ministry.

Have a great day in the Lord.
PS

October 15, 2009

October 14, 2009

Always remember that Jesus is God, God is Jesus

Mark 9

 1 And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."

 2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" --

 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"

 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

What must it be like to see God?  While Jesus was in the flesh, He laid aside His heavenly glory to identify with mankind.  When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up he fell down on his face before Him.  When John saw the risen Lord of lords he too fell on his face before Him.  When Moses came down from the mountain, he shone so brightly that the people could not look at him.   Jesus had to lay aside His glory to dwell among men or He never would have been crucified and we know that God’s eternal plan was the death, burial and resurrection of Christ for our sin, justification and glorification. 

Jesus knew that He was God, He made the statement often.  He also knew that the crowd really did not get it nor did the disciples.  At this event, Jesus decided to display His true glory to three of them.  The magnificence of the sight of Jesus in His glory cannot be described.  Mark tried to explain it by saying that Jesus’ glory was brighter than the whitest white man had ever seen in white cloth.  He was whiter than the blinding white of snow.  He was exceedingly white. 

I want to encourage you today to get past the images of Jesus in the manger and Jesus in the boat and Jesus on the hillside and Jesus on the cross.  These earthly images are who Jesus was for a brief period of time.  Jesus real and true identity was revealed in the transfiguration.  He is the One John saw recorded for us in Revelation 1.  Jesus is God, God is Jesus.  He said that He and the Father are one.  He said that if they saw Him the saw the Father.  All that was missing was the manifestation of glory which Jesus laid aside to walk as a man. 

In this event we also learn that Jesus is the God of the living.  Moses and Elijah appeared in recognizable form and talked with the Lord.  These men, Old Testament prophets and leaders, were alive and speaking with Christ.  Those who die in the Lord live with Him forever.  Moses, was in the promised land with the Lord Jesus. 

This is the Lord who saved you and asks you to deny yourself and to follow Him.  This is the Lord who hears our prayers.  This is the Lord who redeems us from all of our sin and justifies us before the Father.  This is the Lord who  is our loving Shepherd and guide. Yes, Jesus became a man so that His blood could be shed.  Yes, He laid aside His glory to come to this earth to complete the plan of redemption.  Yes, He wants to dwell in you and in me and He wants us to proclaim Him as King of kings and Lord of lords.

As we think about our upcoming revival meetings, I am asking all of you to come to church tonight for prayer time.  If you cannot stay for the Bible study, at least come for the prayer time.  We need to let God know how serious we are about wanting Him to bring revival to us.

Connie’s brother Richard came through his surgery yesterday.  Thank God for sparing this man’s life.  He has to go back in three weeks for the same surgery on the other side of his head and neck.  Pray for Ricky’s healing both physically and spiritually.

Pray for a little boy named Jack who has been afflicted with a virus that is changing his life.  Pray for Jack, he is four years old, and pray for Jack’s parents who need the Lord.

Have a great day in the Lord.

PS

October 13, 2009

Can we really deny ourselves?

Mark 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

 35 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

 36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

 37 "Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

 38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

Entire books have been written about this passage.  This verse comes to mind: “There is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is the way of death.”   Man, apart from God, denies himself nothing.  Whatever seems right to him he pursues.  Jesus teaches here that just the opposite is the best way to live.  Whose truth are you going to believe, your own or Jesus Christ’s?  

No one really denies himself or herself of the things they really want.  Yet Jesus said that self-denial  is the way to fulfillment.  Where are you going to hear this teaching?  Which book at Barnes and Noble is going to lead you down this path?  Self-help books are about self achievement and self fulfillment.  Jesus is about self-denial and self-abasement.  Self-help gurus make millions by people who want to find self-fulfillment.  Jesus was mocked, rejected and crucified by those He taught.  Who is right?  Whose way really leads to fullness of life? 

Another lie is that accumulation is a good goal.  Jesus taught that you can gain the whole world and gain nothing if you lose your own soul.  Which is of more value, the world or your soul?  This is an amazing thought that if we truly grasped we would invest in souls more than in stocks.  Who should we look up to, the rich and famous who can buy whatever they want or the Christian who invests heavily in his or church, missions, and the spread of the gospel?  So what if I die with a beautiful house or two, several expensive cars, large bank accounts, and more?  What if I die with just enough money for a funeral but my life investments assisted in bringing hundreds or thousands of others to eternal life through Christ? 

The world will shame the one who lives denying self.  God exalts the one who denies self.  O that we would bring glory to God and rejoice in His coming presence. 

Today is the surgery for Richard Carlin, Connie Puga’s brother.  He is in surgery now.  Pray for this delicate brains surgery to restore sufficient blood flow to his brain.  He was in good spirits last night.  We read Psalm 40 and prayed together. 

Pray for the end of abortion.  Today is our church’s day to pray at the Aurora Planned Parenthood facility.  What a travesty of our generation that we have killed so many million little lives. 

Please join us in prayer tomorrow night for revival in our church.  We need to meet for passionate and persevering prayer.  Break out of your normal routine and join us for prayer. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

October 9, 2009

 Can we be satan’s tool against God’s will?

 Mark 8

 27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?"

 28 So they answered, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."

 29 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."

 30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

 31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

 32 He spoke this word openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.

 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

Two events took place in this passage. 

1.       Jesus sought to confirm in the disciples His true identity.  We have to understand that though His life fulfilled over 200 OT prophesies the people, blinded by their traditions, did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.  In retrospect we shake our heads and stand in amazement at their blindness!  He healed the sick, raised the dead, taught like none other, He calmed the storms and even walked on water. 

And yet for all of this, the people could not see who Jesus was.  Peter did see this.  He was at the Mount of Transfiguration.  He walked on water to Jesus, for a moment.  He ate the multiplied bread and fish.  He caught the fish with the coin in its mouth to cover his public blunder.  Peter knew that there was never a man like this Man. 

When Saul of Tarsus realized that Jesus was the Christ, he was gloriously converted.  He later wrote in Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Believing and acknowledging in your heart that Jesus is the Christ is the key to your eternal salvation. 

2.       The second event here is that Peter, believing that Jesus is the Christ, feels the liberty to rebuke Him for saying that He was going to die at the hands of the elders, chief priest and scribes.   Somehow, Peter thought he was justified in his rebuke.  He must have thought that the world was better with a living Messiah than a resurrected Savior.  Obviously Peter was speaking from emotional ignorance not eternal wisdom. 

Have you ever done that?  Have you ever questioned the revealed will of God or perhaps rebelled against it?  Jesus revealed the will of God from eternity past to the disciples and Peter verbally and emotionally rejected it.  When God brings His will into our lives we have the Peter option and I am afraid we too often use it.  Will you notice that when Peter used this option, instead of complimenting Peter as He had just done moments before; Jesus rebukes Peter telling satan to get behind Him?  Can I push this into today one more time?  If Peter, the beloved apostle who was complimented by Christ could be used by the devil to attempt to stop the will of God, are we not susceptible to the same actions?  

You might be sailing joyfully through life when God brings, by His will, a trial into your life to shape you more like Him.  When the trial comes your joy turns to bitterness and frustration toward the One who saved you.  You question God’s goodness and reject His will.  Satan is working through your fleshly desires to encourage you to reject God’s perfect will.   Fear not, He has not left you alone.  Jesus is still within you and He is still the Messiah in every way.  Whatever has hit you is for your good and for His glory.  Let Him have His way and do His will.  It will turn out and you will be thankful.  Don’t you know that Peter was eternally grateful for a risen Savior after it was all done?  I surely am.

Continue to pray for Sunday’s services.  The message on the need for prayer in revival is slowly taking shape.  Yesterday turned out to be a people day not a study day.  It was a good day but the study came up short.

Pray for Pastor Bill as he ministers today at Spring Meadow and at Sunrise west.  These are important opportunities to minister the Word of God in our community. 

Pray for our country.  So much is happening that is not godly and does not reflect godly wisdom.  Man seems to be focusing on his logic and intelligence and rejecting the wisdom from God.   We will pay for these costly mistakes of human wisdom.   In the meantime, pray for the quick return of the Lord Jesus and for souls to be saved before that time. 

Men, tomorrow is supposed to be our monthly prayer breakfast.  It was not announced.  If you can make it send me a reply.  We have been meeting at IHOP.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

October 8, 2009

The Lord can test our faith before He is finished

Mark 8:22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him.

 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.

 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking."

 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.

 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town."

This is the only instance recorded where the Lord Jesus did not bring complete healing right away.  For some reason, which is not revealed to us, Jesus let the man see imperfectly at first.  “Seeing men as trees walking” would indicate that the man saw movement but could not make out detail.  We might think it odd that for this man Jesus gave incomplete healing.  Remember that Jesus knew what this man needed and He knew what He was going to do.

When the Lord begins a work, He will complete the work He begins.  We need not fear that half-way through the Lord is going to quit His work and leave us incomplete.  If you have come to Christ for salvation, the Lord completely and fully saves you.  When the Lord begins His work of sanctification in your life He is not going to do a half-way job and leave you partially addicted to sin and partially dedicated to Him. 

We tend to think the Lord only does a partial work in our lives.  There is no such record of Him doing a partial work.  In today’s passage Jesus did a partial work knowing that He was going to do a complete work.  That was the Savior’s prerogative.  We must not question His ways for they are perfect accomplishing His purposes in His children. 

What is Jesus doing in your life today that you have wondered if He did a partial work and then left you alone?  Realize that He never leaves a work undone and may be testing your faith in the process.  Do not despair if your spiritual sight is only partial but still blurry.  God is working and will finish His work in you.  Have faith in God’s will and in God’s plan to accomplish His will in you.

Congratulations to Alex and Jana Miller on the birth of their son Tuesday night around 10:00.  Easton Warren came in at 9 lbs, 13 oz and 22 inches long.  Mom and baby are well.  Pictures will be out tomorrow morning. 

Please pray for our services on Sunday.  I will be bringing a message on the importance of prayer in revival.  The research on this has been amazing.   God has brought countless revivals in churches and in communities when His people sought Him for that revival.  Our church is a praying church and I am going to ask that for the rest of October we turn up our prayers a few notches to let God know our dependence upon Him and our desire for Him to do His miraculous work through us. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

October 7, 2009

Don’t miss the lesson when you are focused on the food

Mark 8

 13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side.

 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat.

 15 Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no bread."

 17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?

 18 "Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

 19 "When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They said to Him, "Twelve."

 20 "Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven."

 21 So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?"

The convicting voice of the Lord Jesus in our hearts is bad enough.   We have strayed from Him and the Lord brings conviction to our hearts and we regret the disobedience.   Can you imagine the Lord’s rebuke of his short-sighted disciples? 

Jesus begins to teach them about the leaven, the sin, of the Pharisees and of Herod.  Though they looked good on the outside they were not to be trusted.  To a Jew, the Pharisees were the epitome of righteous living.  They were looked up to.  Their advice was sought.  They were the best of the best.  But Jesus, knowing the coldness and wickedness of their hearts spent much of His ministry debating them and exposing the emptiness of their hearts.  So here, Jesus takes a moment to teach the disciples about the danger of these people.  When baking bread not much yeast is needed to make it rise. When watching a life, not much sin is needed to corrupt it.  This was Jesus lesson of the day to the disciples. 

This is still an important lesson to us today.  Is someone good if they are living a sinful life?   There was a time that civic leaders were held at a higher standard because of their position.  Nowadays if someone is a strong leader but living in sin, their sin is overlooked because of their talent.  Beware of the leaven of sin which corrupts a person all the way through. 

But the disciples missed the point and were worried about their temporal need of food.  They had forgotten to bring enough for themselves and their empty stomachs missed the lesson.  They tried to read into what Jesus was talking about and He rebuked them.  They did not consider that if Jesus could break bread and feed four thousand surely He could break bread and feed twelve. 

Thus, Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith.  They saw but did not believe, they heard but did not hear and they quickly forgot who Jesus was.  Are we that much different?  We can rejoice in a message or a service or in a testimony of God’s goodness and shortly thereafter we hear some bad news and go into moans a groans.  How quickly we can forget the goodness and power of our God.  We forget the words of Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.  If Jesus can feed the multitude, He can feed us.  He does not want us to worry about trivialities that He has already proven He can take care of.  No, the Lord wants our attention so He can teach us the important lessons.  Do not miss any more lessons while focused on how the Lord is going to take care of you.

This morning the mission service at Wayside was very full.  Many men there could not raise their hands that they knew the Lord as their Savior and Lord.  At the end, five men came out to receive Christ.  Pray for these men to grow in their new faith.

Tonight at church we begin the Kids 4 Truth clubs.  Be  here a few mintues early as will have much to do on this the first night.  Thanks to each of you who are participating at various levels.  Pray for this kick-off night. 

The men  and women will be meeting for their regular times of prayer and Bible study tonight at 7:00.  I hope to see you here as we begin focused prayer on the revival meetings in November. 

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

October 6, 2009

Can you trust the Lord or do you wish for a sign from Him?

Mark 8:9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away,

 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

 11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.

 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation."

 13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side.

After feeding four thousand people in one area, Jesus and the disciples crossed the sea and came to another region.  The Pharisees, ever the enemies of Jesus, wanted Jesus to perform a miracle at their request.  We know that Jesus performed many miracle of healing wherever He went.  Jesus performed these miracles to prove to Israel that He was the Messiah, the promised One.  Twice He fed multitudes of people; surely there were Pharisees there who witnessed these signs. 

We often accuse the Pharisees, and rightfully so, for their lack of faith in Christ.  They did not want to believe in Him and so even in the face of raising Lazarus from the dead, they wanted to kill the Lord Jesus to stop His influence.  You would think that having heard the Lord’s amazing teaching, having seen His miracles which only One come from God could perform, that the Pharisees, the ones who knew the prophesies better than anyone else, would have accepted the Messiah with open arms.  But no, they rejected the Lordship of Christ not wanting to place themselves under Him.  

In today’s passage, we see one more rejection by the Pharisees.  To come to Christ requires faith in Him as God.  Faith is not sight. Without faith it is impossible to please God.  The Pharisees, looking for tangible proof, were refused a sign.  Note that Jesus did not do any miracles of healing or casting out of demons or of feeding a multitude in this region.  Were there no sick people here?  Of course there were.

Here is the point for today: Jesus wants us to believe in Him by faith.  He gave us His Word and we have all that we need in the Bible for faith and for godly living.  To require a sign or a feeling or an answer to prayer to prove to yourself that you can believe in and follow the Lord Jesus puts you in the same category as the faithless Pharisees.  We do not need a sign from heaven to increase our faith.  We need simply to believe in the person and the work of Christ and to put our eternal hope in Him.  “He that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.”  “He that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

The Lord has not changed.  He is honored and pleased when we trust Him by faith without being able to see what He is doing.  Can you trust the Lord today with everything that comes across your plate?  Can you look to Him with thanksgiving that He is in control and can you live in submission to Him without being able to see and know what is next?  Let’s reject the attitude of the Pharisees and trust the Lord Jesus to do His work in our lives.  He then, pleased by our faith, will do His work in us.

Thank God for doing His work again at our church on Sunday morning.  In spite of a burned belt which half-filled the church with smoke and in spite of it being a bit cool in the building because of open windows and fans, the church was full of people and the service exalted the Lord.  Furthermore, a man named Don, who has been coming for several weeks now, accepted Christ during the message and rejoiced with us  afterwards!  Pray for Don’s young faith now to grow and for him to grow into a vibrant disciple of Jesus Christ.

I spent yesterday at Victory Academy for Boys.  Pray for their newest boy named Victor to come to Christ.  Pray for healing for Mike Morrison who injured his shoulder last February and is still dealing with being unable to use his right arm much.

Hal, a man at Sunrise, passed away this week.  Hal prayed to receive Christ with us earlier this year.  Thank God for these opportunities to snatch souls from the burning.

Have a great day in the Lord,
PS

October 2, 2009

How can we show that we care?

Mark 8

 1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them,

 2 "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

 3 "And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."

 4 Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?"

 5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven."

 6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them ; and they set them before the multitude.

 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.

 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.

 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away,

In a very similar situation to the feeding of the 5,000 men, here Jesus feeds 4,000 with seven loaves and a few small fish.  Please take time to notice that Jesus cared for individual people’s needs.  This second time He was concerned about sending them back to walk home on empty stomachs.  Jesus did not start a welfare program nor did He open a soup kitchen but in the moment of need, He did what He could do to meet people’s apparent need. 

Today we leave the social needs of people to the welfare agencies.  We send them to the food pantries.  We are guilty of James accusation of having faith without works in that we tell the needy to be warmed and filled but then send them to someone else to warm and fill them.  Notice here that Jesus did not empty out the poor houses nor did He feed the homeless.  He did meet the needs of people who had a need.  Since there are agencies we can be quick to send someone to an agency.  Perhaps we would be better off to find out their need and meet it ourselves. 

In the early church they would learn of a member in need and would rally together to meet that member’s needs.  People sold property and things of value to help meet the real needs of church members.  The Grace for Life church family is a very giving family.  Let us not forget that Jesus is our example and that whenever someone has a need we should ask God just how He would have us to help meet their need. 

Remember the WWJD fad?  In this case, we know what Jesus did.  He cared for the real needs of 4,000  people and did what He could do to meet their needs.  He taught them and He fed them.  We are good at the teaching side.  Are we as good on the feeding side?  Does our community know that we care for individuals in their tangible needs?   I hope so and may we demonstrate our tangible care just as often as the needs arise.

I have mentioned the need of our missionaries Doug and Ruth Bachorich for a van since theirs was flooded.  What can we, as a church, do for them? 

We received the following letter from our missionary Janet McClanahan.   As you read this letter keep in mind that Janet has been in Brazil as a missionary for 50 years!   She has refused to retire and just keeps on serving her Lord.  What a testimony to us all.

Where did the month of September go?  Well, first I traveled with the mission team to an interior church, then our seminary had a three day retreat at our camp.  Then last week I went interior to meet with the women planning our 50th women's retreat and also spoke in Sunday School.  How did your mission get to these places?  Very interesting..take note  the retreat by bus which was very comfortable but after some of the students got bus sick very smelly!  Then I took the mission group in my car and praise the Lord we had a good trip, other than all the bad roads!  It[s a challenge to dodge all the pot holes.  Then, this last trip, we took a Topeka that's what they call the vans they drive.  Since it was Saturday, and market day, we only stopped 15 times to either pick up or let out people!  Then when we arrived in one city we had to hop out and catch another van to Ico.  How did I get to the meetings there, on the back of a motor bike.  You can believe that I was hanging on for dear life!  So, thank you for praying for me, the OLD back survived all of these trips.

     Praise the Lord in the deaf school we now have the windows and gratings on the windows in the library.  Thank you for your gift that made this possible.   

      What's on the schedule for October?  More classes. My women's Bible study.  This Saturday going to our area women's work Also, we have Children's Day on October 12th.  I am helping the students to take some of the needy children on a day and half retreat at a camp nearby.  Tomorrow I am going to the big supermarket to start buying rice, beans, etc.  Please pray that many of these little ones will come to Christ.  Also pray for strength for the leaders

      While evertything is cooling down in the states, it is getting hotter here.  The caju trees are producing wonderful fruit, so we are enjoying the juice and later we will be roasting the cashew nuts.

      Pray for our students as they are in their 8th week at the seminary.  Some of our graduates have already received invitations and others are praying for God's will. 

       The end of the month the Brazilian Mission will have a big conferece for 3 days.  Pray that many will answer God's call to stand in the gap in this vast mission field.  God is working and souls are being saved! 

       Then on October 30th throgh November 2 the seminary will have our big evangelistic thrust with the 700,000 pilgrims that will be arriving in Juazeiro do Norte to worship a priest.  We will be presenting the gospel by puppets, giving out tracts, chalk drawing.  Every year some come to know the Lord, and this year I am expecting great things from God's Word.  How these poor lost souls need to know the true and living Lord.

       Then, on November 16th I will be going to Fortaleza and catching a plane out on November 18th for the states.  I have surgery marked for Dec. 2nd.  Northing serious, just a repair on a hernia, but necessary. 

        So, dear ones pray for strength for these two months.  Every day will be hotter and hotter and NO! no air-conditioning! 

Praise the Lord for His Grace that is Sufficient to Sustain us.

         Thank you for your prayers and faithful support.  Together we are training young people to reach the lost

Your Missionary to Brazil     Janet McClanahan. 

October 1, 2009

What would change if Jesus touched you?

Mark 7:31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.

 32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.

 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.

 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

 36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.

 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

What does Jesus need to do to heal someone?  Does He need to go through any process such as is described in this paragraph?  Of course not.  The woman with the issue of blood simply touched Christ and was healed.  The man dropped through the roof simply heard the voice of Jesus say, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”  Yet there were a few times that Jesus did something physical to the one about to be healed.  We do not know why but let me suggest an idea here. 

A man was brought to Jesus for healing.  He could not hear and he could barely speak.  He needed help that only Jesus could give.  For some reason, Jesus knew that this man needed a personal touch from Him.  Yes, Jesus could have just spoken the words of healing and sent the man away.  But this man’s needs were different than some.  This man needed the touch of the Savior.  In years to come, this man would look back to the day that Jesus healed him and would remember the touch of Jesus on his hears and on his tongue.  The areas of greatest need were touched by the Savior.  Human touch is powerful and this man was touched by the Lord Jesus Himself.

Perhaps Jesus wanted this man to remember that what he said and what he heard from this day forward needed to be consecrated to a holy God.  Perhaps sometime after the Day of Pentecost when the church began this man would remember the touch of Jesus on his tongue and ears and give his life to Christ to speak boldly for Him.  After all, were it not for Jesus he could not clearly speak. 

Here we are born both hearing and speaking and often careless of what we let be heard and of what we say.  What if Jesus had physically touched your ears and tongue thus enabling you to hear and speak, would you speak more about Him?  I think you would.  In fact, Jesus has touched your ears and your tongue and your heart and your soul.  He has saved you from a fate far worse than deaf and speech troubled.  He has saved you from an eternal hell!  By grace, Jesus Christ touched your whole life, washed away your sin and eternally saved your soul. 

If this healed man would go from this wonderful day to speak of Christ and to hear His voice then how much more should we go from the day He touched our lives listening to His voice through His word and to use our tongue to speak of His wonderful grace.   As this healed man would never forget the day Jesus touched him and he heard the Savior’s voice, so we must never forget that glorious day in our lives and thus live from that day forward rejoicing in what He has done for us.  May we say with this crowd that Jesus does all things well.

I have been so moved by the tragedies taking place in Indonesia.  People who have lost family, others who are still trapped and suffering all in great need.  Keep these dear souls in your prayers.  Except the Lord intervene many more will be lost. 

Perhaps our problems will be much smaller in comparison to fellow human beings around the world who have lost so much in the past week.  Do keep them in your prayers, the relief workers in your prayers and pray for those Christian missionaries there whose ministry just changed dramatically.

Have a great day in the Lord,

PS

September 28, 2009

How does one clean the inside, not just the outside of his life?

Mark 7:1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.

2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.

 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.

 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"

 6 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

 8 "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."

 9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

 10 "For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'

 11 "But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"-' (that is, a gift to God),

 12 "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,

 13 "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:

 15 "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

 16 "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.

 18 So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,

 19 "because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"