January 11, 2014 Vol 2 Issue 2

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” 

I Corinthians 13:1.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul tells us that even if he were to speak eloquently the greatest words ever heard on the face of  the earth, but lacked charity, his speech would be nothing but cacophonous and annoying noise and clamor. 

How can these words encourage us?  What can we take from Paul’s admonition that will better serve our lives and our fellow man?  The simple answer is actually found in the meaning of the word charity.  While charity can be considered an act of love, it is truly an outward expression and extension of love that defines what it really is.  We all “love” things and people.  (I love coffee, but that’s not necessarily going to benefit those around me except at Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks or the McCafe!)

Charity is the selfless act of love exercised without expecting anything in return.  It is agape love, sacrificial at its roots and a blessing to those whose condition or situation may benefit from someone’s thoughtfulness, compassion, care and love.  Each one of us possess the capacity to exercise charity on a daily basis, even in times when it may be difficult for us to give or share.  In our world today, people are being indoctrinated with an entitlement mentality, believing that they are owed something for nothing.  Yet, when was the last time we actually wondered how much we owe others?  The words we chose to use throughout the day (charitable words), the way we speak one to another (charitable speech) and even the way we drive to and from our homes (charitable patience) are opportunities that allow us to extend charity to others by placing their feelings and needs before our own.  Paul understood this and wrote to the Christians in Rome saying, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.“(Romans 1:14).  Paul truly appreciated the charity of others and felt indebted to them all.  Maybe you are asking  yourself, “how does this encourage me?”  When we place the needs of others before our own and at the forefront of our lives, we find that we begin to encourage those around us and once we experience encouraging someone else, that will in turn encourage us.  Charity becomes its own reward, to us and to others.  Encouragement through sacrificial love is a reciprocal ministry in the life of the Christian.  

There are three ways to produce charity in the lives of those around us.  As we engage in the lives of people whose paths we may cross, many on a daily basis, we recognize that some people’s needs are simply greater than others.   Often those with the greatest needs are most appreciative of the charitable gift of our time which is a very personal way of sharing.  Time is a great treasure, a limited, non-renewable resource which cannot be saved, duplicated or re-used and is hopefully spent in appropriate ways.  Yes, it requires time invested in the lives of others to truly make a difference.  We most likely are able to recognize  the time family, friends and, on  occasion,  strangers have selflessly invested in our lives over the years.  When we examine the needs of those around us with an appreciation for all that has been invested  individually in us by others, an understanding of Paul’s feelings as a debtor to the Greeks and to the Barbarians becomes quite apparent.

Secondly, charity is exercised into the lives of others by our testimony. Sometimes simply  lending an ear to those that are in need will be all that is required while other times some sage advise and uplifting words may be desired.  The greatest encouragement to others, however, will be our personal  testimony of the great things the Lord has charitably provided for us in our lives, the blessings of which may then be shared as great and wonderful gifts.  Remember that charity is a reciprocal ministry!  The spirit of charity is revealed throughout the Scripture as men went forth and testified of the great things Christ had done for them. 

Lastly, exercising charity, like the sacrificial love witnessed in our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, will sometimes require our treasure.  Beloved, sometimes it is going to painfully cost us to exercise the kind of charitable love our Lord left us as an example to be followed.

Today may be the day that the  charity exhibited in our lives gives hope to others and changes the direction in the ones we least  expect. 

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 

I Corinthians 13:13

January 4, 2014 Vol 2 Issue 1

(A Psalm of David) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Psalms 23:1

     Along with John 3:16, the 23rd Psalm would probably be among the most well known verses in all the world.  Men have quoted it, movies have recited it and monuments are engraved with it.  This psalm holds the single most vital element that every soul in the world searches for, yearns for and desires to have and hold, that being peace and contentment in life. There is indeed a peace that can be found in this life and a contentment that rests within the hearts of those who adopt this scripture verse as a part of their existence.  While Hollywood scavenges for it in money, city leaders search for it in monuments and some churches attempt to create it in their members, there is only one source of pure contentment and only One by whom true peace may be given, granted or gained.  That source is The LORD, Jesus Christ.

   Read with me the opening salutation in Psalm 23 in which David proclaims, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”   Because we know that David was a man after God’s own heart, he does not refer to the Lord generically by saying “a” Lord, nor with an impersonal title just of “Lord”,  but in full recognition of His majesty, as THE LORD!

   When Christ traveled into Caesarea Philippi as recorded in Matthew 16:18, He stated to Peter, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Beloved, we know that Jesus Christ is the Rock upon Whom the church is built.  From a very early age, even my children understood that it was Jesus, not Peter, who was the foundation of the church.    Peter himself professed Christ as the Rock in the second chapter of his first epistle in verses 6 through 8.

While Jesus declared to Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church, there stood as a backdrop a pagan shrine known as the Temple of Pan.  It was referred to by pagans as the “Gates of Hell”, believing that it was the entrance into a sacred place populated by the dead and ruled by the pagan god of the underworld, Hades.  The Temple of Pan was a place where a number of statues of pagan gods stood on display. The historian Josephus provided a description of this temple and some of the Idols and carvings in the the walls of the ruins are still there today.  Pan means “all” or “many”.  By combining the Greek words “pan” with “theos”, which means “god”, we may understand that the Pantheon constructed by the Romans in 27 B.C. was a structure dedicated to the hundreds of various gods worshipped by the Romans.  As bad as that may sound, the Hindus today worship a pantheon of more than 300 million gods, ranging from insects to monkeys. 

   Yet David referred to THE LORD and, as believers, we know that the LORD we serve and worship today is “THE LORD of all” and not “the all as lord”.  When David refers to God as the LORD, we must know and understand that there is power in those two words, great, mighty and wonderful power!  He is THE LORD of the Living!  In Psalm 23:1 of your King James, AV1611 Bible, notice that the letters O,R and D in LORD are printed in small capitals which denotes the God of Israel.  In other places in the Bible, we see “Lord” printed with a capital L preceding the lower case letters o,r and d.  This word, Lord, means “Adonai”, the personal name of God, the Lord who is God. 

This distinction is that LORD in Psalm 23 is translated from the name that identifies God with Himself as the personal God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  This word is translated from YHWH  (pronounced Yaheweh) and is the same title found in Exodus 3:15, “…the LORD God of your fathers…”.   The same name is used in Genesis 12 when God introduced Himself to Abraham.  In Malachi 2:16, LORD is also used as an identification: “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.“   He is the same Lord in Colossians 1:10-18.  He is “The LORD” of the Living, the Creator and the Lord of Life.  Romans 10:9 is another important and oft quoted scripture verse which can be effectively used when leading someone to Christ for salvation: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus…”  Note that the emphasis here is back on “the Lord”, not a Lord or best Lord or better Lord, but THE Lord (read Hebrews 2:10).  The key to salvation is to make Christ, Who is The LORD, the Captain of your salvation.  One must confess (proclaim) the Lord (agree that Jesus Christ is God) in order to be saved.  

   In Psalm 23, David is singing to proclaim “The LORD”.  The Psalm is an acclamation that He is the LORD of the Living, the LORD of Life and the LORD of Love.  The word occurs 310 times within 260 verses. So how significant is Love to the 23rd Psalm?  Love occurs 23 times in 23 verses in the book of Psalms and there is no way that these “23’s” are coincidental.  It is a as much a coincidence as John 6:66 which reads, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” 

   Friends, when David penned by inspiration of the Holy Ghost the 23rd Psalm, there can be no doubt of how the love of God was poured into his heart and overflowed onto the parchment as he was moved by the LORD.  Paul tells us in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 

So what is the LORD of Psalm 23?  He is the:

Father of all Living,

Savior of all Life and

Creator of all Love.

Verses 7 and 8 of I John 5 tell us that, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”

   What a great blessing to know the God of all creation is the God who loves us and is willing to faithfully and willfully provide for us in all things… in this life as well as in the next.

The LORD is my shepherd.

December 28, 2013 Vol 1, Issue 44

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.  This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”

Isaiah 43:18-21

In just a few days, should the Lord tarry His appearing in the air, we will say farewell to 2013 and hello to 2014 and another new year.  During many of the opportunities that I have had to teach other preachers or church staff, I will often recommend that each individual take what I call a “30,000 foot view”.  This consists of a four part process of evaluating what progress has been made in the ministry or in business (used in a previous issue of toencourage:  1) Granular View, 2) In the Weeds, 3) Above the Weeds and 4) The 30,000 Foot View).  This exercise is performed once or twice a year and is not designed to see where we are going, but rather as a look-back to see where we have been.  It offers us the opportunity to reflect upon where we have been led by the Lord and what He has accomplished through us from the last time the 30,000 foot evaluation was performed.  The reason I suggest employing this 30,000 foot view over our lives just once or twice a year is because if we spend too much time looking back at “the former things”, we may become distracted and take our eyes off of the path we are intended to follow.  

As we reflect upon the past year and look forward to the new, we can build upon what we have experienced.  The Lord has guided us through numerous mighty and wonderful circumstances during the past year and those victories which have been achieved encourage us to move forward in the direction the Lord reveals to us each day.   

Should we see the new year, we can be assured that there are new things that God has prepared for each one of us which may include new destinations involving a new determination.  We would be gravely mistaken to engage in a search for new revelations or new doctrines in the Word of God, for  His Word is perfect and without void or error of any sort.  We must not fall prey to the beliefs of the Athenians who “… spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” (Acts 17:21)  The new year and any new things prepared for us by God will include the continual light of understanding found in the Scriptures and the application of them in our lives to the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus Christ.

My hope and prayer for all of you who follow this writing is that  2014 will involve a new and fresh Adoration of God.  Looking  back upon the victories of 2013 and pressing forward into the new year, we can know and trust that the Lord Who has blessed us during the past year will do so again through 2014.  We can then offer praises in a greater manner to the One who gives His never ending love for the life of those, His bride.  

 The Lord’s new thing is not only a fresh adoration for Himself, but also a clear and pure Approach.  As we reflect on the past year, we will undoubtedly find places where we made the wrong turn in a direction not in keeping with the will of God.   There is a good chance, however, that somewhere along the line the Lord will allow for a course correction, thus placing us where He ultimately intended for us to be.  Pain is a good teacher and there is much to learn from our disobedience and wayward choices.  From these we learn, so that when faced with similar choices in the new year, we will choose the clean and pure approach in our service to God keeping us on the path of His perfect will.

Finally, when our approach to the Lord is clear and pure with a new and fresh adoration of God, we will find that God’s blessings are Abundant.  As our lives are mostly spent in the tedium and minutiae of daily activities, abundant blessings, security and spiritual renewal can be found in God’s loving hands. 

Encouragement during the dark and discouraging episodes of our lives and the peace, happiness and joy found in the brightest days are granted through the goodness of God’s love and grace.  We must learn from the former things while looking forward to the new with an appreciation and understanding that God has not only blessed us in the days of yesteryear, but also that the Lord’s goodness is bestowed afresh day by day.  “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16)  May God bless you richly in the new year!

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth…

I wish you all a blessed and happy new year.

toencourage December 21, 2013

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35

It is that time of year again when families gather to share blessed mornings and wonderful evenings together and will exchange pleasantries and special presents one with another.   

Over two thousand years ago the Advent of Christ was fulfilled.  The birth of Jesus has been celebrated for hundreds of years and divided time as we know it. Biblically, as recorded in Luke 1 and I Chronicles 24, we know that the true miracle of Christmas was not the birth of Jesus, but rather His conception.  However, time lines and genealogies are not the theme of this week’s edition, but rather the pure reason for the season that of the Lord Jesus Christ.  No other person or character in history has affected the world in the manner that Jesus did and continues to do so.  One author reasoned about our Lord in this manner:

“He never traveled  more than 100 miles from home, but His followers permeated every country in the world with His story.  He never wrote a book, but more have been written about Him than anyone else in history. By far.  The first book about Him (the Bible), has been translated into almost 3000 different languages. The first runner-up (Don Quixote ), Only 60. He had only 12 disciples, but billions of people discuss His teachings every day.  According to one Harvard professor (not a Christian), the Sermon on the Mount alone represents the “most luminous, most quoted, most analyzed, most contested, most influential moral and religious discourse in all of human history.”  The professor adds, “This may sound like an overstatement, but it is not.“

Amazingly enough, we sometimes hear some snipet of the Sermon on the Mount quoted (or misquoted and misused) on a daily basis.  Our own president, whose policies  seem to attack and undermine Christianity through immoral legislation, has referenced the Sermon in the Mount on several occasions.  

 Nevertheless, Jesus is a Man, but Who is also God.  He is the God-Man.  Jesus was as much a human as His mother and as much God as His Father.  The Bible records the proclamation in Matthew 1:23, ”Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”.  God with us… that is Jesus!  Though  He never married, He established holy matrimony.  Outside of Christ,there is no true marriage.  Marriage is the institution and entity solely sanctioned by the Lord Jesus Christ and without Him, His words and pattern, marriage does not exist.  He is the Bridegroom and His church is the bride.  That is the plan, pattern and promise used to grant and govern marriage between man and woman as they join together to become one.  The process of the father “giving away” the bride to fall under the love and authority of another man, is analogous to the blessed reminder that we as the bride of Christ have been given to the Head and chief cornerstone, the Lord Jesus Christ.  

 As husbands, men are assigned responsibility to the bride by way of example in Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5:25).  As a husband, I am to give myself to my wife, to love her as Christ loved me.  That, my friend, is a sacrificial love.  I know of men (one in particular is a friend in the office of a  pastor) who speak of their brides in a manner that is a sad example of the love of Christ (yet this man in particular will stand in judgment of others; he has ruled out more men for the ministry than a Major League Baseball umpire has called out batters!).  Men such as these rule their homes outside of the example that the Lord has given us and away from the simplest form of marital love one for another.  They basically are attempting to dominate instead of depend on the Saviour, Who loved us so much that He gave His life for us.

 It is almost comical how devout atheists will celebrate Christmas in a certain sense of the season, but yet deny the existence of God.  Even those that denounce God cannot deny the power of the name of Jesus.  The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, who was an atheist, observed that “the name of Jesus was not so much written as ploughed into the history of the world”.   Author H.G. Wells, also an atheist, said, “a historian like myself finds the picture centering irresistibly around the life and character of this most significant man. The historian’s test of an individual’s greatness is, ‘Did he start men to thinking along fresh lines with a vigor that persisted after him?’  By this test Jesus stands first.”  There can be no gratification for those who choose not to acknowledge Jesus as Saviour but who make  statements that prove His existence. Their confession of Christ as Saviour would indeed be the greatest of all joys and would have enriched their lives immensely. 

Our belief does not prove anything.  The Lord is no more real, especially to others, just because we believe.  The awesome love story of a Father giving His only begotten Son to a lost world, humbled to be laid in a stable manger and thirty three years later to die on a cross so that sin could be atoned is the most profound and precious event that can be shared during any season of the year.  As G. K. Chesterton observed, “since Jesus died on the cross it has never been quite enough to say that God is in His heaven and all is right with the world, since, according to the Bible, God left His heavens to set it right.”

 Yes, it is true that it is more blessed to give than receive.  Jesus Christ proved this in the sacrificial death He suffered on the cross.  One of my dearest and closest friends gave an illustration in a sermon concerning Paul’s statement in Acts 20:35.  Here is the thought, paraphrased in my owns words: “It is a very true statement, especially when you consider the context in which it should be accepted.  One would think it better to receive something than to lose something.  But the reality is found in the magnitude of the event.  Why is it better to give than receive?  Simply because of the state of one’s position in order to do so. It is much better to give, because that means you are in a position to give as opposed to a position of need  thus to receive.  The Lord, at the darkest moment on earth, brought a light, a shinning glimmer of hope into what occurred on the cross.  It was a reflection of the prophesied promise fulfilled thirty-three years earlier in a manger in Bethlehem.  Jesus Christ willingly gave His life on the cross (John 10:18, Matthew 20:28) in the same way God the Father willingly and sacrificially gave His only begotten Son to this world (John 3:16).  From the cradle to the cross and eventually to the crown, the love of God has shone through two millennia of human history proving that He has and never will be surpassed.

 “…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive”

toencourage December 14, 2014

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.  And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.  And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.”  Luke 8:24-26

Last week we discussed the power of Christ as being: 

Delivered by God – John 17:1-2 

Derived from the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:14

Delegated to others – Luke 9:1

Determined by Himself – John 10:18

The central theme of our previous discussion revolved around our Lord’s incredible power, one manifestation of which was demonstrated by His control over the Devil.  So often in this life we find ourselves engaged in struggles which bring despair, sorrow, regret, depression and defeat.  These struggles are often spiritual in nature (either at their inception or in their results), instigated by the powers of darkness and the connivance of devils.  As believers, we recognize the absolute power of Christ over all things, including the Devil and all of his minions (devils, demons, and unclean spirits).  “And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.  And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.   When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high?  I beseech thee, torment me not.  (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)  And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.  And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.” (Luke 8:26-31).  Here we have Legion, named as such due to the multitude of devils that had possessed this poor man, torturing him to the point of insanity.  The size of a Roman legion varied over the years and initially would have consisted of as many as 36,000 soldiers until they were later separated into ten groups of approximately one hundred and called Centuries.  At this time in history, however, most Legions consisted of 3,000 to 6,000 men.  The name “Legion”  was given in reference to how many devils had entered the man of Gadara, infecting him with a spiritual rot and controlling him bodily with writhing spasms.  We should not forget that this man was someone’s family member.  He most definitely had parents and may have had brothers or sisters.  He might have even been a father himself with children of his own.  The Devil and his devils have no regard for anyone’s position, stature, situation or prominence.  All humanity are viewed as potential victims.  

They ravage the lives of men, women and children with malevolence and morbid delight, “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8).

In Luke 8:32-33, we read of the Power of Christ and the power of His spoken Word which exorcise these demons, casting them all into a herd of pigs which then stampeded down a steep hill, crazed, plunging to watery deaths drowned in a lake.  In verses 34 and 35, the confrontation had ended and the devils, having been commanded to withdraw, are now gone.  Those that had witnessed these events recognized the power of Christ and ran to tell others, while the man who had been possessed sat fully clothed and “in his right mind” at the feet of Jesus.

Praise the Lord that Christ has absolute Power over the Devil, devils and, as we will see, disease also.  “And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.”  (Luke 8:43-44).  

This woman had hemorrhaged blood for 12 years, but by the Power of Christ, she was healed after simply touching the hem of His garment which demonstrated His power over disease and illness.  As the struggles of life seem to escalate during the holidays, the power of Christ is able to overcome anything this world imposes upon us.

I am here to tell you that Christ has the Power over physical, emotional, mental and spiritual disease and illness.  We may be physically beaten, emotionally battered or spiritually backslidden, but Christ has the Power!  He and only He has the power to heal us of all manner of disease and illness in our lives!  He can do what we can not.  In your heart, you may be saying today that: 

“I’ll get back into the game…”

“I’ll make up my time…”

“I’ll become more faithful…”

“I know where I need to be…”

Friend, we can do nothing on our own, but with our Lord we can and will be made whole.  “And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” (Luke 8:48).  Only in Christ can we place our lives, trusting and depending completely on Him and Him alone for the power needed to overcome the devils and diseases that constantly attack us.

It is this power that Christ projects into our hearts, minds and souls that enables us in storms or struggles to possess the faith to know that we are able to “go in peace.”

toencourage December 7, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 41

These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. 21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. John 8:20-24

There is no doubt whatsoever that what Jesus Christ preached was forthright and straightforward.  He spoke eloquently without contradiction.  He preached boldly without fear of people “voting him out of office” for being “politically incorrect” or worrying that some group, such as the Pharisees, would usurp His authority or that His words were simply pleasing sermons that tickled the ears of the wayward. Simply put, Jesus Christ preached plainly with great POWER!  When one surveys the Gospel of Jesus Christ they will find that it is not just a doorway to heaven nor a dormitory of wisdom or a directing influence in one’s life.  They will find that it is power!  Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).  We may confidently assert that there is power in the spoken word of the Living God.  It was His Word that brought forth creation in the first chapter of Genesis as He spoke the universe into existence.  Solomon said, “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?” (Ecclesiastes 8:4).  Recognizing the authority that a president, a prime minister or a king wields, can we imagine what power the words of the King of Kings would hold?  Jesus is that King!   The Apostle Paul said, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance…” (I Thessalonians 1:5).  There is extraordinary power and tremendous blessing in the simple belief that Jesus Christ was the One sent of the Father to assume the penalty for the unspeakable crimes and offenses of mankind and to take away the sin of the entire world, as John the Baptist had proclaimed.  Notice that John did not say sins, but SIN.  Jesus Christ died for the collective SIN of humanity, the totality of sin this darkened world has been cursed with for 6,000 years.  The key to benefiting from the power of Jesus Christ is that you must believe that He IS, not WAS and in His spoken word that “I am HE” lest ye die in your sins.

It is simple enough (II Corinthians 11:3) to be saved by believing that Christ agonized and died on the cross at Calvary, was buried and three days later rose gloriously from the grave.  Understanding this, we can begin to intellectually and emotionally grasp the magnitude of the great power our Savior commands. (I Corinthians 1:18).

Beloved, His power is seen throughout the world (Hebrews 11:3) and in the Word of God.  Christ Power is:

Delivered by God – John 17:1-2  His power comes from an eternal source and therefore cannot be destroyed, no matter what this world does to you.

Derived from the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:14

Delegated to others – Luke 9:1

Determined by Himself – John 10:18

That being said, what else could we ever want in the power of Christ?  What else could we need?  As a complement to the beauty of the Power of Christ having been Delivered, Derived, Delegated and Determined, it is also Demonstrated!

Friend, Jesus Christ’s power is demonstrated by His control over the Devil and his dark storms.  “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.  But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.” (Luke 8:22-25).  Many times, God permits storms which have been activated by the Devil and his evil workings to intrude into our personal lives.  Job was allowed by God to suffer terribly and to endure great loss which included the loss of his children, his home, his wealth and ultimately, his health.

The Sea of Galilee historically is known as the “sweet sea of Galilee”.  It is normally a beautiful and tranquil body of water which is also called Lake Gennesarat as well as the Sea of Tiberias.  Yet as beautiful as it is, it also has a propensity for quickly developing storms, similar to the storms that arise in our lives.  The storms in our lives can come upon us so fast that one minute we are enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and the in the next, we are cowering beneath ominous clouds that have rolled in like a darkened veil upon the light of our very existence.

It is that darkness that we often allow to come in between us and the power of Christ.  Too often we succumb to the darkness of a raging storm which interferes with our relationship with God.  Flowing from the Sea of Galilee is the River Jordan.  It is noted to be one of the fastest moving rivers in the world and in many locations along it banks, currents are so strong that vegetation cannot take root and grow.  The River Jordan travels from the Sea of Galilee emptying into the Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea.

We may draw upon an interesting analogy to our lives as well in this illustration.  The Devil wants us to run from our personal storms (which he has created) by jumping into the fast moving waters of the River Jordan, seeking what appears to be an escape from the winds, the rain and the raging tempest.  The problem lies in the fact that as we see the storm passing and fade in hindsight, we never realize that we are trapped, carried downstream in the swift currents of the River Jordan.  Satan would tempt us to take the easy way out to surrender and drown never to succeed in crossing the sea of life so that we are able to minister in this world.  

I was taught that “the path of least resistance will always make rivers and men crooked”.  That easy path taken away from the course of the storm may provide sunny skies, but only for a moment, for the river ends in a place of death, the Dead Sea, where nothing grows.

That is the Devil’s desire, to have us flee from the storms resulting in ruined lives filled with remorse and loss.  The Devil depends on us not to exercise the Power of Christ which is clearly demonstrated over him.  It is in the midst of the storm that we experience Christ’s uplifting and overcoming power the greatest.  It is during those dark and stormy days when life is filled with fearsome noise and thunder that the glorious power of Christ holds us close to hear His comforting words: “Peace, be still.” 

The storms are terrible and tumultuous, but there is nothing greater than the power of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, if we would only believe.

“…for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins”

toencourage November 30, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 40

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 100:4

With all that we have to be thankful for in this life, I would be amiss not to focus upon the need to give thanks for the blessings of God Almighty, especially during our celebration of Thanksgiving this week. Thanksgiving, celebrated since 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the fourth Thursday in November to be a national holiday, represents the tremendous gratitude the Pilgrims felt toward the Lord for providing an opportunity to worship Him  in a manner His precepts required from their new homes in a free land.  From the Pilgrims who sailed across the sea in search of religious freedom to our founding fathers who fought and died to preserve that freedom, we in America should be thankful that we have been a part of such a rich and wonderful history.  Moreover, as Christians, born again by the blood of Christ, we have the liberty to share the Gospel so that people all over the world may be assured of an eternal future with God in Heaven to be even more thankful for.

In 1789, President George Washington stated, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favors…Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these states to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country… and for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.”

Beloved, the founding fathers of America openly recognized God, despite what the revisionists have proclaimed in their vile attempts to rewrite and pervert our nation’s history in order to deceive and deny future generations of Americans the truth of our founding.  These men were keenly aware of our desperate need for God if America was to survive as a nation.  President Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

It is sad to say that times have changed and we must recognize that we may be the only country that openly acknowledges God in our constitution, currency and calendar while simultaneously refusing to allow God to be recognized in our schools and public institutions.

Families fail today because they feel as if they can function and exist without God and the Bible.  Strong, long-term marriages seem to be but a memory because men and women refuse to come under the ONLY authority that created this union, that being God and the Bible.  People have become perverse and immoral because they have rebelled against God and the Bible.  Beloved, I have no idea why we were chosen to be born and raised in the greatest and freest nation on earth, but for that reason alone, let us give thanks to God!  It is without doubt or despair that when we give our thanks, we glorify Him.  It is from a thankful soul that God receives glory and praise.

Our thanksgiving is expressed toward God in our Consideration.  The Apostle Paul penned by inspiration these words to the Philippian church: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6).  Consideration is not simply coming to God during a crisis when we need Him, but rather recognizing that that we need Him in every moment of our lives.  At any time, God could take away our breath and our lives would end.  He could take away our thought and our minds would end, or He could deprive us of our strength and our work would end.

David said, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” (Psalms 95:2).

In our thanksgiving, we express our Consideration toward God as well as our Condition.  Another admonition by Paul through the Holy Spirit is, “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;” (II Corinthians 9:10-12).  We are to live with thanksgiving in our hearts and minds as we work for the Lord.  The psalmist said, “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” (Psalm 26:7).

Finally, a grateful and thankful heart, mind, soul and attitude brings to fruition Consecration.  “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1Timothy 4:4-5).  It is Christ that has sanctified us through the shedding of His precious blood. It is said in Psalm 116:17 that “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.”

Like no other nation in the world, we as a people, especially those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, should offer our thanksgiving toward heaven as it is the very least we can do.

Many of us have been seated at tables this past week feasting on abundant plates of food which we must accept as a generous blessing!  But let us also remember the men and women who suffered and died so that we could celebrate this holiday and enjoy our Thanksgiving meals together.  Let us remember the families that lost mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters so that the precious Gospel could be carried around the world, enabling Christ’s richness too flourish.  As we lift our glasses to quench our thirst, let us remember the multitudes of people who sacrificed all so we might drink our water freely.  Beloved, as we awake each morning, let us come to Christ to remember the One who removed His robe of royalty to don the rags of the flesh.  As we kneel to plead with Christ for His mercy and grace, let us be ever thankful to the One who shed His blood on the cross of Calvary so that we may pass from death to everlasting life. 

Today, let us recall those words spoken by our nation’s first president: “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection, aid and favors…”

We are fortunate to have been blessed with the gift of freedom and the gift of salvation which work together to permit the faithful to freely share the goodness and love of God and their relationship with Him with everyone.

“…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48)

To Encourage November 23, 2013 Vol 1, Issue 39

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Matthew 5:41

 

The Sermon on the Mount is a doctrinal statement for a Jewish Kingdom at the Second Advent of Christ.  This is without argument contained within the Word of God found by rightly dividing the Holy Scriptures.

Yet, inspirationally, a Christian should live a charitable life extending kindness to others.  “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” (Matthew 5:41) is what our Lord Jesus Christ said in His encouragement to give more than what we are asked.

Mark 12:41-44 depicts the account of the poor widow who threw in (tithed) two mites, which was a relatively small amount of money, even though it was “all that she had, even all her living”.  All that she possessed she gave!  Beloved, the lesson to learn here is that our Lord’s first concern is not what we give, but how we give it.  While so often giving is equated with some monetary value,  the Lord is also concerned how we give of our Time, our Talent and our Treasure.  It has never been about the element of quantity, but rather that of quality.  Friend, Christ is interested in our motive for giving.  With that thought in mind, let’s look at the verse through the lens of examining our motives to share and sacrifice for others:  “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”  Jesus Christ is interested in our motive to walk the mile and whether or not that commitment represents a dedicated sacrificial spirit on our part.

The widow in Mark 12, impoverished and poorly dressed, was out of place among the more affluent of the congregation, but walked passed the wealthy and humbly placed her mere two mites into a collection plate.  A farthing, which is worth about a quarter of a cent in today’s money, is what she gave, yet Jesus Christ described her giving: “And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:43-44).

Have we considered the great joy of giving in our lives?  Let’s ask ourselves in what ways can we give like this when we are compelled to walk a mile.

Romans 12:1 is my life verse, one that has become so near and dear to my heart that I ponder upon its precepts regularly.  Christians have never been commanded to sacrifice their lives by killing themselves (or others during the act of termination).  The truth is, however, that one day we may have to die and give our lives for the name of Christ, but as a rule, the Lord has required only that we give our lives over to Him as a living sacrifice, thus compelling us to go the extra mile.  Is this difficult to do in today’s world?  Absolutely.  Is it possible?  Yes, for if it was not, the Lord would not have required it.  How can we go the extra mile? 

We can go the extra mile by Overlooking Other’s Faults.

Romans 12:9-10 reads, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”  How many times do we find ourselves sliding into fault finding missions against others?  Sometimes we should just accept others and out of kindness, respect and love, simply overlook their faults.  Sometimes it is best just to watch and wait on the Lord.  Going the extra mile means we exercise some effort in trying to understand where others are in their Christian lives or in their life in general.  The reality is that we are not walking in their shoes and we have yet to walk in the footsteps of their faults, whether they be from their background, their past or prior experiences. If we read Matthew 7:1-5, we learn that we have the obligation to judge fairly and righteously, remembering that the beam in our own eye must be removed before we demand that the mote, or splinter, be removed from the eye of a friend.  Going the extra mile for other Christians is exercising what we are taught in Galatians 6:1: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”.  This is really an important verse in helping and encouraging fallen brothers and sisters in Christ which is too often forgotten. 

Secondly, we can go the extra mile in Overcoming our own Faults.

Romans 12:11-12 reads, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer,”.  We all have faults, faults which if not overcome, can become sin.  As  Christians, we have been given the power to overcome our faults which is the promise found in John 4:4:  “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

The Apostle Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote in Romans 5:19-21, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Here we find the source of overcoming our own faults.  Many times faults become heavy, cumbersome weights that develop into sin.  Paul also encouraged the Hebrew believers by writing, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1).  The truth of the matter is that to finish this race we have to go the extra mile and out of necessity, we must lay aside all unneeded weight.  We lay aside these burdensome weights by putting on Christ.  “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14).

Going the extra mile involves Offering Help to Friends, Family and Foes.

We are instructed in Romans 12:13-15, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”  When given the opportunity, we should selflessly support, encourage and help others however we can, remembering that the Lord is interested in how we give rather than in what we give.  He is interested in our motives in giving to others that we may best exercise the gifts of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  In doing so, no matter how dark the work may become, the light of the Lord will shine in our acts of kindness, walking in the steps of someone who may simply need a kind word of encouragement so that they know of God’s love and care for them.  This my friend, is going the extra mile. 

…go with him twain.

toencourage November 16, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 38

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

II Timothy 1:7

 The bill for our car insurance arrived in the mail last month and with the number of miles we are traveling across the country to attend preaching meetings and missions conferences, this is one bill we want to be sure will be paid on time.  Whether you’re in good hands with AllState or you’re saving 15% by switching to GEICO, there is a certain comfort in knowing that you have insurance on your car.  Should an accident occur which results in injury or damage to the vehicle, it is a relief to know that most of the expenses related to the accident are covered by an insurance policy which provides for repairs and medical costs.

Having this security does not give us license to to become reckless in our driving or to be ignorant of the law, but it does gives us a comfort in knowing that if an accident does occur, we’ll be covered.

This is an analogy which we can also apply in our Christian lives.  Instead of an insurance policy, we have an “assurance promise”.  As our Lord began to reveal to His disciples that He would have to die and leave them after He was resurrected from the grave, He promised that He would send a Comforter.  

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26).  

This Comforter is not some warm and fuzzy influence or the product of positive thinking, nor anything that man could produce.  The Comforter is the Holy Spirit: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…” (John 14:26).  This Comforter, the Holy Ghost, is the third entity of the Holy Trinity that makes up the eternal Godhead, equally God as the Father and the Son.  This is Who our Lord sent back to earth for those that are His.  He did so in order for the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and teach us: “…he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26).  The Holy Spirit was sent to comfort us while we wait and work and live for the Lord.  In many ways not unlike the comfort of having insurance on our vehicles, the assurance of the Holy Spirit of God gives us the comfort we need to move forward doing what is right in the eyes of our Lord, even when the task or challenge is difficult.  No matter what events or incidents may occur in this life, the Comforter gives us the assurance and peace of mind to live without fear of what lies ahead.  

It is this Comforter that enables us to live and work in Control.  As mentioned in our introduction, automobile insurance does not give anyone the right to drive carelessly or in ignorance of the law, nor does it grant one the freedom to drive with reckless abandon.  The Comforter extends to us the control and discipline needed to live Godly lives and to drive safely with purpose and direction.  The Holy Spirit gives us an avenue to experience the joy of knowing God who is present in every day of our lives.

The Lord provided mankind salvation through His death, burial and resurrection and sent the Comforter so that we would be able to Continue.  Is this not the very basis of our reason for existing in this world?  Just as having automobile insurance allows a driver to legally operate their vehicle on the road, the Holy Spirit allows the body of Christ to continue its travels on the highway of life toward its heavenly destination.

 As we review the events of the day and glance at the headlines, we are stunned at the increase in school shootings, typhoons, earthquakes, tornados, terrorist attacks, morality failures, suicides, parental abuse, hypocrisies in the pulpit, etc. which, sadly, are more prevalent than ever.  Imagine living in the world as we do today besieged with such news of sadness and tragedy without any comfort, with NO HOPE.  How tragic it would be to live in this world overwhelmed by sorrow, despair and fear without a Comforter and feeling hopelessly out of control.  Our desire to continue under these grave circumstances would be diminished.

 God hath not given us the spirit of fear but He has given us a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Who directs our level of control enabling us to continue on.  Knowing that should some incident or event suddenly occur, such as Christ’s imminent return, all will be well.  That is living a life in the assurance of salvation.  That, my friend, is comforting and as an added bonus, I do not receive a bill!  It was paid in full on the cross of Calvary.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

II Timothy 1:7

toencourage November 9, 2013 Vol 1 Issue 37

Last week, our points of focus were the two words in Ecclesiastes 5:2, “in heaven”.  We discussed that Heaven is a Place, a Promise and is intimately Personal.  This week I would like to conclude these thoughts using the same verses and topic of “in heaven”.

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

We also find in heaven Particulars.  Our minds truly cannot fathom what really rests beyond the other side of the river, but Scripture has revealed some particulars of what we will one day find.  Friend, in Heaven we find God’s Abode: “Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)” (II Chronicles 6:30).

Also, Heaven is where Christ Abides.  “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” (I Peter 3:21-22).  

In Heaven, Children Await.  “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.   And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” (Mark 10:14-16). 

Beloved, as if all of that which has been mentioned is not enough,  we must also make mention of Heaven’s Angels.  “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;” (Revelation 5:11).  Can you imagine the sound of over one hundred million angels in Heaven harmoniously singing praises to the Lord Jesus Christ?   Amazing!

Truly all that is in Heaven would take years to preach upon.  In addition to the splendor that awaits us when we arrive in Heaven, we will have the Personality of Christ.  In 2 Peter, chapter 1, verse 4, we are revealed to be partakers of the divine nature of Christ that, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Because we are the partakers of Christ’s divine nature in Heaven, we will have the ability to lead encouraging, Godly lives while here on earth, fulfilled by His blessings and grace, as detailed in continual reading of the chapter within verses 5 through 8.

We will have the personality of Christ, much like as when iron is forged in a hot, blazing fire; it will begin to glow brightly and turn red like the fire, yet it continues to have the properties of iron.  In this, Christians will glow brightly with the nature of Jesus Christ, pure and holy and perfect, but will still retain the iron of their own personalities in Christ.  

In our heavenly home, we will be able to rekindle:

Relationships with loved ones:  even though it is on a Heavenly scale, it is to be expected that believers will know one another in that capacity.  Just as David grieved when his child from Bathsheba died, he wept, “And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?  But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (II Samuel 12:22-23).

In Heaven there is also Recognition.  Our recognition of one another will be somewhat different than in this world, however.  “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:21).  Yes, we will recognize one another, but not in the same manner as we do today. (Read also I Corinthians 15:42-44).

Finally, in Heaven there is a Relationship with God.  We will have a Heavenly relationship that will supersede and far surpass any relationships we have ever had with anyone while here on earth (Luke 20:27-38).  Our only relationship will be as children to our Heavenly Father and to one another as brothers and sisters in His family! 

 Over the door of a blacksmith’s shop located along a cobblestone street in Thatcham, England, were the words, “Residence above”.  Like this blacksmith, we, too, should strive to work below while at ground level, but to live above. 

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 

Hebrews 13:14

…for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.