The Bible

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Matthew Henry writes about the words of the bible: It is given by inspiration of God (v. 16), and therefore is his word. It is a divine revelation, which we may depend upon as infallibly true. The same Spirit that breathed reason into us breathes revelation among us: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were moved or carried forth by the Holy Ghost. The prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves, but what they received of the Lord that they delivered unto us. That the scripture was given by inspiration of God appears from the majesty of its style,—from the truth, purity, and sublimity, of the doctrines contained in it,—from the harmony of its several parts,—from its power and efficacy on the minds of multitudes that converse with it,—from the accomplishment of many prophecies relating to things beyond all human foresight,—and from the uncontrollable miracles that were wrought in proof of its divine original: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.

 

 

The Bible, which is God’s word, is living and breathing. Each of us can use The Bible to prepare our lives, help us find meaning, and to direct us in the good work we do on behalf of God.  The Bible is unique and stands apart from any other book written. It covers a wide period of time. The words were penned by many people and yet the Bible flows continuous because God was the author and directed each word penned.

The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years. Manuscripts came from three different continents. There different languages were used in the writing of the Bible: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Forty different writers penned the words: a doctor, a fisherman, a rabbi, a military general, a king, a tax collector and others. And yet the Bible remains consistent in its message and theme, which is about God’s love for us and his redemption of mankind through the work of Jesus. The words of The Bible have been preserved for thousands of years and have been passed from generation to generation.

The Bible is trustworthy.  The Bible is from God.  The Bible is about God.  But we don’t worship a book -- We worship the One who wrote the book.  Jesus accused the Pharisees of missing the point of Scripture in John 5:39: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” The Bible leads us to the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. It is not the Bible that saves us, but Jesus Christ Himself.

Take time to read the Bible and learn from it. There are lessons on how to live life. There are words to guide us. The Bible tells us God created us. It tells us that we fell into sin because of our own desires. The Bible tells us this sin separates us from God. But most importantly the Bible is about The Gospel, or Good News of Jesus Christ who died for us so that we can live an eternal life with God.

Avoid being exteme

Proverbs 25:16 (NLT)
16 Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!

In this we are cautioned to avoid excess. Honey may be acceptable and pleasurable to us, but too much of even a good thing can have its consequences.  In that which we do we should always look towards moderation and be careful of extremism.

 

 

In January of 2007, a radio station in Sacramento, California, staged a water-drinking contest for its listeners. The intent was to reward the person whose bladder could hold out the longest by giving them a free Nintendo Wii [pronounced "wee"]—the newest video game system at the time. Twenty-Eight-year-old Jennifer Strange was one of the contestants; she hoped to win the game console for her three children. She did her best, but ultimately fell short of the grand prize. Tragically, the consequences of her water consumption extended further than anyone would have dreamed. Several hours after the contest, Jennifer informed her coworkers that she was going home with a terrible headache. Later that day, she was found lying on the floor of her home—dead. An autopsy later revealed that too much water disrupted the electrolyte balance in her blood. In other words, Jennifer Strange literally died of water intoxication.

We must always remember that even things which are good for us can hurt us when taken to extremes. Even in religion extreme views can create problems and issues. Pray people will be tolerant toward others in life and try to understand one another by eliminating extreme views on life.

Importance of faith in Christ

Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

The apostle writes about the changes that take place in a Christian’s life. For at one time all were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures;  living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. God’s grace and mercy of salvation through Jesus Christ however frees a person from the bondage of sin. They are allowed to live free from guilt and shame trusting God to bring about goodness in their lives. Their freedom even affects the lives of others by ending malice, envy and hatred. It’s not good deeds that make a person righteous, but God’s salvation and because of that salvation we can do good deeds which please God and make us right with God and people.

 

 

                               God 100% righteous

100%------------------------------------------------------------------
|                                                                                           
|            Pope              Billie Graham                                
|                    Priest                                                              
|                                    Church Leader               
+                 Mother            Father                                                                          
|                          Good Neighbor                                                        
|                                                                                            
|                                                                                             
|                                                                                             
0%----------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTION: If you had to chart your righteousness on the chart above where would you place your name and what reason would you give for the ranking you chose?

Romans 3:10 tells us “there is none righteous”.  Isaiah 64:6 says, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.” Romans 3:23 says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

So if we all have fallen short of God’s standard for righteous how can we ever be in God’s presence?

There is only one way and that is by repenting of our sin and placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For Jesus Himself told us, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not why are you waiting?

Time to care about others

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

In this verse we are told to sympathize with those who face weaknesses, improprieties, burdens, temptations, infirmities and other various trials and troubles that each of us may face. Christ commanded us to love one another and therefore in performing this duty we are fulfilling the law of Christ to see to it that out fellow man and brothers and sisters in Christ are cared for. Pride, conceit, idolatry and covetousness often get in our way of compassion for others; therefore we must take care to abide in God’s care, His love and His mercy and grace. Our duty is to carry other’s burdens so they too may one day carry ours.

 

My 4-month-old daughter and I took a trip to the library. She babbled softly as I browsed through the books. I overheard an older man say gruffly, “Tell that kid to shut up, or I will.”

“I am very sorry for whatever has caused you to be so disturbed by a happy baby,” I angrily shot back, “but I will not tell her to shut up, and I will not let you do so either.”

I braced myself for an outburst but he looked down, took a deep breath, and said softly, “I apologize.” He had tears in his eyes, and we remained silent. Then he looked at my daughter. She smiled at him and happily kicked her arms and legs. Slowly, he said, “My son died when he was 2-months-old.”

I moved to sit in the chair next to him. He went on to explain that his son died from SIDS over 50 years ago. He described how his anger grew, leading to a failed marriage and isolation. I asked him to tell me about his son. As he did so, he smiled back and forth with my daughter. Eventually, he asked to hold her. As he held her, his shoulders relaxed, and he briefly laid his cheek on her head. He returned her to me with a heartfelt “Thank you.” I thanked him for sharing his story, and he quickly departed.

[Written by Karisa Smith, Wheaton, Illinois]

 

How often do we encounter people who are abrupt, curt, angry and ill-tempered towards us for no reason and we are ready to punch back?  Maybe, just maybe they need someone to reach out to them in compassion. Maybe the burdens of life have weighed them down so heavily they no long have any joy in their life.  Maybe they need to see the love of Christ in someone.

When you meet someone smile. When you hear someone in a foul mood provide some encouraging words. When you see someone in need provide what you can. God will honor your good deeds and the fruit of your labor will prosper. Try it and see what happens.

The right word at the right time

Proverbs 15:23 (NIV)
23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary: Note, 1. We speak wisely when we speak seasonably: The answer of the mouth will be our credit and joy when it is pertinent and to the purpose, and is spoken in due season, when it is needed and will be regarded, and, as we say, hits the joint. Many a good word comes short of doing the good it might have done, for want of being well-timed. Nor is anything more the beauty of discourse than to have a proper answer ready off-hand, just when there is occasion for it, and it comes in well. 2. If we speak wisely and well, it will redound to our own comfort and to the advantage of others: A man has joy by the answer of his mouth; he may take a pleasure, but may by no means take a pride, in having spoken so acceptably and well that the hearers admire him and say, "How good is it, and how much good does it do!’’

 

 

Christian businessman and author John D. Beckett shares the following personal story about the redemptive power of speaking the truth in love:

I was in a dental chair being prepped for the replacement of a filling. Just as my mouth was filled with dental hardware so I could only mumble, the dental technician said, out of the blue, "You're Mr. Beckett, aren't you?" I grunted assent.

"Well, I want to thank you for firing my husband."

I was stuck. I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I could only listen to the ensuing monologue.

"It happened ten years ago," she said. "A few days after your company hired my husband, he was notified he had failed a drug test. You may not recall," she continued, "but you called him into your office before he left. You said, 'I realize I don't have any choice but to terminate you, but I want to tell you something. You're at a crossroads. You can keep going the way you are, and the results are very predictable. Or you can take this as a wake-up call. You can decide you're going to turn your life around.'"

I'm sure the technician couldn't see the beads of perspiration on my forehead under all the paraphernalia as she continued: "I want you to know, my husband took your advice. Today, he's a good father, a good husband, and he has a fine job. Thank you for firing my husband!"

I wish I could say that all our terminations have turned out this way. … Regardless of the outcome, however, we must be prepared to take action when a situation can't be brought around. In a strange way, it's an aspect of our care for people. [John D. Beckett, Mastering Monday (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2006), pp. 157-158]

 

We never know when the right word, the right action will have a positive and timely effect in someone’s life. Look for opportunities to share God’s words of truth that may help others and bring you a reward of kindness in the process.

Our delight in God becomes our delight

Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
4 “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

We must not only depend upon God, but solace ourselves in him. We must be well pleased that there is a God, that He is such a one as He has revealed Himself to us, and that He is our God in covenant. We must delight ourselves in His beauty, bounty, and benignity; our souls must return to Him, and repose in Him, as their rest, and their portion forever. Being satisfied of His loving-kindness, we must be satisfied with it, and make that our exceeding joy.

 

 

Chuck Swindoll shares the following story about a conversation with a Christian leader who started a new ministry for the Navigators in Uganda. The man told Swindoll that after much discussion and prayer, he and his wife were convinced God wanted them to move to Uganda. So they uprooted their family and flew to Kenya, where he put his family up in a hotel so he could rent a Land Rover and travel across the border into Uganda. The man told Swindoll, "One of the first things that caught my eye when I came into the village where I was going to spend my first night were several young kids with automatic weapons, shooting them off into the sky. As I drove by, they stared at me and pointed their guns." Naturally he started to wonder if God was really in their decision. Finally, after a long day exploring Uganda, he pulled up to a dingy, dimly lit hotel. Inside, he went up to the registration counter. The clerk, who spoke only a little English, told him there was one bed available. So he walked up two flights of stairs and opened the door and turned on the light -"a naked light bulb hanging over a table. He saw a room with two beds, one unmade and one still made up. He immediately realized, I am sharing this room with somebody else. A chill went down his spine. At this point he definitely needed the kind of encouragement only God can give. The man told Swindoll, "I dropped to my knees, and I said, 'Lord, look, I'm afraid. I'm in a country I don't know, in a culture that's totally unfamiliar. I have no idea who sleeps in that bed. Please, show me that you're in this move!'" And then, he said, "Just as I was finishing my prayer, the door flung open, and there stood this six-foot five-inch African frowning at me, saying in beautiful British English, 'What are you doing in my room?'" "I kneeled there for a moment, and then I muttered, 'They gave me this bed, but I'll only be here one night.'" "What are you doing in my country?" the African asked. "Well, I'm with a [Christian] organization called the Navigators." "Ahh! The Navigators!" Suddenly the tall African broke into an enormous grin, threw his arms around his new roommate, and laughed out loud as he lifted him up off the floor and danced around the room with him.

"Praise God, praise God," said the African. "For two years I have prayed that God would send someone to me from this organization." And he pulled out a little Scripture memory-verse pack and pointed to where, at the bottom of each of the verses, it read, "The Navigators, Colorado Springs, Colorado."

"Are you from Colorado Springs, Colorado?" he asked. "I was. But I'm coming to Uganda to begin a work for the Navigators in this country." This Ugandan eventually became a board member for the new Navigators ministry in Uganda. He helped the American leader find a place to live, assisted him with the language, and became the Navigator staff member's best friend. [Chuck Swindoll, Embraced by the Spirit (Zondervan, 2011), pp. 111-114]

The Bible tells us when God is for us who can be against us? When we delight in God and we delight in the work He has put before us, God will see to it that our hearts are also delighted.

Wait on God

Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

David urges us to bear up and be prepared for adversity, despair and other afflictions that might come our way.  Matthew Henry writes of this verse, “Keep close to God and to your duty. Wait on the Lord by faith, and prayer, and a humble resignation to his will; wait, I say, on the Lord; whatever you do, grow not remiss in your attendance upon God.  Keep up your spirits in the midst of the greatest dangers and difficulties: Be of good courage; let your hearts be fixed, trusting in God, and your minds stayed upon him, and then let none of these things move you. Those that wait upon the Lord have reason to be of good courage.

 

 

Archbishop of Calcutta Henry D'Souza knows that at times in her life, Mother Teresa felt abandoned by God. She wrote in her diary, "I wandered the streets the whole day. My feet are aching, and I have not been able to find a home. And I also get the Tempter telling me, 'Leave all this, go back to the convent from which you came.'" She found her home, and the rest is history. The Missionaries of Charity feeds 500,000 families a year in Calcutta alone, treats 90,000 leprosy patients annually, and educates 20,000 children every year. [Citation: Kevin A. Miller, Vice President, Christianity Today International; source: CNN]

King David also knew the frustration of waiting on God, which we can see from this in Psalm 13:1-6. 

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;  But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord,for he has been good to me.”

There are none of us exempt from feeling alone and abandoned. We all face times of frustration mostly because we want to react instead of allowing God to direct our paths.  We want something now, which is in our sinful nature. But God knows what He is doing and plans things to work according to His time.

Pray God would give you the strength and endurance to face what may come into your life. Sometimes we face painful things, but God is always faithful to strengthen us when we ask. Pray that you might be patient as to not rush God’s timing. My hope just as King David’s is that you can wait for the lord; be strong and take heart and again wait on the Lord.

Loving God first

John 21:15-17 (NLT)
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

Jesus waits until after breakfast to ask Peter an important set of questions. Most likely Jesus wanted Peter to enjoy his breakfast before asking him something very difficult. In the verses above Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. In each response Peter says, “Yes, you know I love you.” You don’t see in the English what is hidden in the Greek language; the first two times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him -- Jesus was asking if the love for Him was of a godly nature; loving him deeply, fondly and dearly. The response Peter gave was yes I love you, “but as a friend”. The third time Jesus asked Peter, He said “Do you love me as a friend?” to which Peter responded again, “You know I love you as a friend.”

In Matthew 22:34-37 it is written, “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Peter was there when Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees. Peter knew He was to love God with all his heart and soul. What Peter was missing was that his love for God was to be above any love for anyone else. His love for Christ and God was to be a godly love, agapaō , instead of a phileō love or brotherly love.

In our lives we need to ensure we place our love for God first and then we are able to care for others in the proper way. A good example in the Bible is Samson. Delilah told Samson if “he loved her he would tell her the secret of his strength.” Instead of listening first to God, Samson gave up his secret, lost his strength and was tortured by the Philistines. Had Samson put God first and listened to God he would have kept his secret and kept his strength. Instead he let Delilah maliciously bait him by tempting him with his love for her over his love for God.

So I encourage you to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Value what God has to say over what people have to save. Value God’s judgment over man’s judgment. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Pray for God's will in the world

James 4:1-3 (NLT)
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

James writes the Jewish Christians to reprove them for the fights taking place among them. The Jews were a very seditious group and had frequent wars with the Romans. They were a very quarrelsome divided people, often fighting among themselves; and many of the corrupt Christians. James informs them that the origin of their wars and fighting was not (as they pretended) a true zeal for their country, and for the honor of God, but that the cause was their prevailing lusts.

 

I’m going to apply James writing to American politics. In the United States of America, We the People, are called Americans. But it seems Americans at times forget where they come from. They forget this country was built together by people struggling for a common cause. They forget in times of war people have put aside differences to fight alongside of each other.

When it’s election time we see groups turning against each other. There is name calling that takes place. Lies begin to be told. Groups strategize how they might quiet the voices of groups they oppose. In some cases even states are opposing states. Let’s just say politics as we know it becomes a fight, almost a battle about who is going to win.

We all need to remember as Americans we should want the betterment of our country. We should be willing to give up some of our jealous motives to see a better country. We should be willing to work together instead of fighting and quarreling. Yet, just like the Christians James wrote to above we seem to have a problem. Most often the problem is because of the things we want and not what is for everyone’s benefit.

As the elections approach pray for our country. Pray that We the People, Americans, work together for a common cause. Pray we have leadership that guides us not from their jealous desires, but for the desire of others. Pray for peace and calmness. May God continue to bless our country and help it through the difficult times we face.

I know there are other countries too that face similar problems may we all pray together as one people that God’s will is accomplished throughout the world.

A kind word

Proverbs 12:25 (NLT)
25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

The consequence of worry is a heaviness that is felt in the heart. It is a burdensome load of care, fear, and sorrow pressing down and making life disabling. It can sink a person and lead them to a state of depression where they are rendered hopeless. Those inclined to worry should keep watch for worry and pray against it. A delightful remedy is a good word from God. This good word can come directly from God, through His word or through another whose heart seeks to do God’s will by showing love and cheer to another.

 

There is a story I enjoy sharing from time to time which helps me remember to be encouraging to others, to let them know I care and I am willing to listen. I was working out of town and it was time for dinner so I walked down the street looking for a place to eat. I saw a place I had always wanted to try so I went inside, but the restaurant was very busy. I was asked if I would mind sitting at the bar where I could order my meal. I saw the line of people waiting and I said sure, would be glad to.

There were a few empty spots and next to where I was placed was an almost empty beer glass. When the waiter took the order for my meal he removed the glass and what was left of the beer. Seconds later a man walked back and noticed the glass was gone. He started complaining to the bartender he had just stepped away to the restroom and wanted to know where his beer went. After a few exchanges of words the bartender said, “I’ll give you another glass on the house”, this calmed the gentleman.

As the bartender went to get him a fresh beer I looked over and said, “It sounds like you have had a difficult day.” The response was, “Man you just don’t know!”  So I said, “Well I’ll be glad to listen.” So the man started telling me how he was worried about looking for a job. He had been in jail for a short period and now no one wanted to hire him. So I tried to be encouraging that a job would come along. Then I asked, “Do you have a church you attend?”  The man answered, “I have been going with my grandmother since I got out of jail. When I was in jail a minister came in and told me about Jesus and I was saved. I haven’t learned much yet about The Bible, but I’m trying to read some. My grandmother is a Christian lady and she is helping me out right now.” I said, “It seems like you have a very caring grandmother.” He told me she was very caring and knew some people in the church who might be able to get him a job. I asked if he had pursued that opportunity and he said no. Then I told him it sounded like his grandmother was willing to help him and willing to help him find a job through the church. I said, “It must be really encouraging to know someone like her loves you” to which he said “Yes!” Then I said, “You know Jesus also loves you and wants the best for you and I’m sure with His help and your grandmother you will do ok.”

With those words said the man looked at me and said, “God sent you to talk to me today. I’m going home right now to talk to my grandmother. Maybe she can help me find a job. I’m willing to do anything.” I said it sounded like a great plan. With that he got up, thanked me again and walked out of the restaurant. Still sitting there was the full beer glass he first complained about.

The man thought the beer was going to solve his issues when what he needed was some encouragement, some understanding, and words of good cheer. May God be with those who need a kind word in their life. May God lift the burdens of your heart.

Dealing with anger

James 1:19-20 (NIV)
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

English Minister and Commentator, Matthew Henry writes, saying -- it is our duty rather to hear God’s word, and apply our minds to understand it, than to speak according to our own fancies or the opinions of men, and to run into heat and passion thereupon. Let not such errors as that of God’s being the occasion of men’s sin ever be hastily, much less angrily, mentioned by you; but be ready to hear and consider what God’s word teaches in all such cases. Instead of censuring God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to hear what he will say to us. Whenever matters of difference arise among Christians, each side should be willing to hear the other. People are often stiff in their own opinions because they are not willing to hear what others have to offer against them: whereas we should be swift to hear reason and truth on all sides, and be slow to speak any thing that should prevent this: and, when we do speak, there should be nothing of wrath; for a soft answer turneth away wrath.

In February 2009, a 27-year-old woman from Fort Pierce, Florida, walked into a McDonald's restaurant and ordered a 10-piece McNuggets meal. Well, that's when things got really tough for this hungry woman. The person behind the counter took the order and received payment. The McDonald's employee then discovered that they were out of those bite-sized, warm, tasty McNuggets. The employee told the customer that the restaurant had run out of McNuggets, and she would have to get something else from the menu. The customer asked for her money back. The employee said all sales are final, and she could have a larger priced item from the menu if she wanted.

The customer got angry. She wanted McNuggets—not a Big Mac, not a McRib, not a Quarter Pounder. She was angry, this was clearly an emergency, and she knew what to do in an emergency: she took out her cell phone and called 911 to complain. Apparently the 911 workers didn't take her seriously, because the McNuggets-loving woman called 911 three times to get help!

She never got her McNuggets that night, but she did later get a ticket from police for misusing 911.

 Anger twists our perspective. It skews our judgment. Anger makes small things big and big things small. When we're angry, having to eat a burger instead of McNuggets is a disaster, and calling 911 is not a big deal.

Psalm 37:8 says -- Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.

Are you finding yourself angry and out of control? The Lord teaches us there is nothing wrong in seeking counsel from others about our issues. In fact we are encouraged to share with one another those problems that plague us. May the Lord show you how to put aside your anger and keep peace in your heart.

Fulfilling The Great Commission

Acts 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

In these two verses there is a lot of information to discern. The Disciples have gathered to see Jesus before His return to heaven. They have concerns about the kingdom of Israel over what is to happen as they perceived. So Jesus corrects them—letting them know it is not their place to know or be concerned. Then He tells them the Holy Spirit will come upon them and they will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and to all ends of the earth. It is then they would present the Good News of the gospel as Jesus had previously commanded.

 

For the first time since researchers began tracking the religious identity of Americans, fewer than half said they were Protestants, a steep decline from 40 years ago when Protestant churches claimed the loyalty of more than two-thirds of the population. [Source New York Times Online, Oct 9, 2012]

Years ago Jesus told His disciples to go first to Jerusalem, which was home for them. Next they were to go to Judea, which were those who were close to them. Next they were to travel to Samaria to those who were different and distant from them. And finally any place they had not covered they were to go and be witnesses for Jesus.

It seems from the statistics just published, we as Christians, have failed to reach out to those near us and to those who are different from us. A younger generation has fallen into a group of having no religion, which has created the diminished number of Protestants.

Matthew 28:19-20 contains what has come to be called the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus gave this command to the apostles shortly before He ascended into heaven, and it essentially outlines what Jesus expected the apostles, and those who followed them, to do in His absence.

In the original Greek, the only specific command in Matthew 28:19-20 is “make disciples.” The Great Commission instructs us to make disciples while we are going throughout the world and while we are going about our daily activities.

Each of us who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior are to share the message of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ with others. We are to do so as we go about our daily lives. We are to live out what Christ has taught us so that we may also teach others by our lives. Have you let others knows about your love for The Lord? If not maybe it’s time to do so.

 

Enabling or assisting?

John 5:1-9 (NIV)
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

This is the story of the Pool of Bethesda. The name Bethesda means “house of mercy”. It was said an angel would come from time to time to stir the waters and the first person to enter the water after the stirring of the waters would be healed.

 

Here we find a man that cannot walk. There are no wheelchairs. The pool of water is not fitted with rails or ramps for the disabled. The only way for this man to get there was by the mercy of his family and friends who would bring him in the morning and pick him back up in the evening.  

Today though is this man’s fortunate day; for the Son of God walks up to him and asks him an important question, “Do you want to be healed?” Now remember this is Jesus. Jesus knows the suffering the man has endured. Jesus knows the man has been coming for thirty years. Jesus is not asking this question out of lack of information because He already knows the answer. Jesus wants the man to respond.

How does the man respond? Instead of saying yes-- he gave was an excuse as to why he was there. “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

For thirty years this man had others carry him to the pool each morning. For thirty years he took handouts. For thirty years others came and picked him back up and carried him home. For thirty years others attended to his needs. Yet there was no one around for those thirty years to help him get in the pool. Amazing isn’t it! Or was it that the man enjoyed the attention more than his desire to be healed?

There are stories of addicts whose families have helped for years and yet there has been no healing. Why is that? The addict enjoyed the comforts or attention others were providing more than they wanted to be healed. The same was true for the man at Bethesda. He was enjoying the comforts others were providing and they enabled him by having a daily routine for themselves of taking him to the pool.

You can assist a person who wants help and genuinely wants to change. But when the person has no desire to change you are enabling their problem. Those who for thirty years carried the man down to the pool enabled him to feel pity and still enjoy comforts.  For his answer wasn’t yes I want to be healed, but was instead and excuse of why he had not been healed.

Are you enabling or assisting? Ask does the person really want to change or are they happy where they are? Are they making excuses or saying help me through this for the betterment of myself?

Willing to pray

James 5:13-18 (NLT)
13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

In these verses from the Apostle James we are directed how to act, both under affliction and in prosperity. There is to be prayer for the sick and Christians are directed to acknowledge their faults one to another, and to pray one for another. Then finally we are to see the results of prayer as prayers have been established in our lives.

 

E. M. Bounds, in his book “Power Through Prayer” said, “We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel . . . The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.”

God has given us many ways accomplish prayer like:  Personal prayer, Public prayer, Meditative prayer,  Intercessory prayer, Prevailing Prayer, Prayer without ceasing.  All these and more were given to us in order to facilitate a culture and life of prayer. However in 2005, LifeWay Christian Resources surveyed more than 1,300 evangelical leaders from around the world to determine what they perceived to be the "Top 10 Issues Facing Today's Church." Number one was Prayer: The need for more ongoing, passionate prayer in both personal and church life.

We need righteous people earnestly praying for our nation, for our leaders, for our churches, for our people. Will you be one of those willing to pray?

Open the door to Jesus

Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
20 Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

In this verse Jesus is talking to the Church of Laodicea. As Jesus speaks to the various churches in the book of Revelation, Jesus first speaks words of their good values, then offers a rebuke of their issues and follows up with words of encouragement. In verse 20 Jesus is speaking to The Church saying He is calling out to them and He is waiting for them to invite Him in so that He may fellowship with them in a close and intimate way.

 

 

Jesus wants to be in our lives so much He calls out to us to open up and let Him in. Sometime we push Jesus away, while at other times we allow Jesus to use His power through us.

Tim Keller tells the following story about the power of Christ's resurrection:

 A minister was in Italy, and there he saw the grave of a man who had died centuries before who was an unbeliever and completely against Christianity, but a little afraid of it too. So the man had a huge stone slab put over his grave so he would not have to be raised from the dead in case there is a resurrection from the dead. He had insignias put all over the slab saying, "I do not want to be raised from the dead. I don't believe in it." Evidently, when he was buried, an acorn must have fallen into the grave. So a hundred years later the acorn had grown up through the grave and split that slab. It was now a tall towering oak tree. The minister looked at it and asked, "If an acorn, which has power of biological life in it, can split a slab of that magnitude, what can the acorn of God's resurrection power do in a person's life?"

Keller comments:

 The minute you decide to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit comes into your life. It's the power of the resurrection—the same thing that raised Jesus from the dead …. Think of the things you see as immovable slabs in your life—your bitterness, your insecurity, your fears, your self-doubts. Those things can be split and rolled off. The more you know him, the more you grow into the power of the resurrection.  [Nancy Guthrie, editor, Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (Crossway, 2009), p. 136]

I pray everyone would open their hearts to Jesus Christ when you feel His presence and His desire to enter into your life. I pray you would allow Jesus to fellowship with you, talking with you and guiding your directions in life. May Christ always bless you and give you hope and happiness in life. Amen.

There's always tomorrow - Well, not really

Proverbs 27:1 (NLT)
27 Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

There are two thoughts presented with this verse.  1) We are not to count the comforts and continuance of life for they can be taken away at any moment. Therefore we cannot presume we have another day of life even if it seems hopeful we do. 2) We should not put off the things we must do.  For if today God calls out to us then we must respond as God requires. Our dependence is to be upon God and we must submit to His good will about the uncertainty of life.

 

On 20th December 1995, American Airlines flight 965, a Boeing 757, was flying from Miami, Florida to Cali, Colombia. Radar was unable to be used by Air Traffic Control in Cali, because of attacks by leftist guerillas in 1992 left the radar inoperative. Radio navigation aids and the airports instrument approach system were used instead.  A problem began when air traffic control gave the pilots the option of taking a shorter route.

The pilots accepted the change in flight path and upon this decision the pilots cleared the waypoints from their navigation computer. The pilots then used their maps to identify the next waypoint and program it into the navigation computer. The next waypoint was Rozo, which was identified as ‘R’ on their charts. The pilots programmed this into the navigation computer by entering ‘R’. However, there were duplicates locations for ‘R’ stored in the navigation computer and the larger location Romeo was listed first. Not realizing the error in their selection the pilots had programmed the plane for a path to Bogata, Columbia -- a totally different direction from their flight path.

With the aircraft flying on the autopilot, this selection caused the aircraft to turn sharply and head towards Bogata and most importantly an almost 2 mile high mountain. The Ground Proximity Warning System activated approximately twelve seconds before the crash. The captain and first officer reacted swiftly, but were unable to clear the mountain.

People were returning home for the Christmas Holidays. There were 163 people on-board the aircraft and only four passengers survived. The crash was the first U.S.-owned 757 accident and the highest death toll of any accident in Colombia. It all happened due to a mistake that occurred in less than 12 seconds. These people could not brag about tomorrow for it never came.

 

Use every moment you have to live out your life for God. Live your life with purpose, happiness and enjoyment so that no second may be wasted. Follow the will of God and accept God‘s plan of salvation, for it cannot be accepted after death. Listen for God’s call and do today what you may not be able to do tomorrow.

Don't be fooled

Ephesians 5:6 (NLT)
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.

Never make an excuse for sin or discount the effects it may have on your life. Watch for those who would also lead you into sin saying it’s not a problem or it won’t consume you. We know from Adam and Eve that they were fooled by Satan into believing they could become like God. Even though they were warned by God of the consequences they fooled themselves excusing the sin they took part in.

 

Pastor Jud Wilhite shares the story of a church member named Cody Huff. Before Cody became a member at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, he was sleeping in an open field next to the church. But at one time Cody was making loads of money as a famous bass pro fisherman who had even been featured on ESPN. Yet he couldn't overcome his problem with drugs. He began a crack addiction that led him to smoke up $600,000 worth of savings, his house, his Harley, his new boat. He smoked away everything he had and ended up homeless. A man who had eaten at fine restaurants and interacted with celebrities had bottomed out and was now homeless.

But God would turn his life around—and it all started with the kindness of a church volunteer. Some people from the church's homeless ministry were handing out sandwiches in the park where Cody slept, and they told him he could get a shower at Central Christian Church. The last place Cody wanted to go was a church, but he hadn't bathed in so long that even other homeless men couldn't stand his smell anymore. Cody explained what happened next:

I walked into the church, and this lady named Michelle, who knew me from the homeless ministry, said, "Good morning, Cody. How are you?" Then she looked at me, and she said, "Cody, you need a hug." And I said, "Honey, you don't want to touch me because I haven't had a shower in 3 months." If Michelle heard me, she didn't seem to care. She walked up, and she looked in my eyes, and she gave me a big hug and told me that Jesus loved me. In that split second, I was somebody. She even remembered my name. That was the point where I knew that God was alive in this world.

Over the next several weeks, Cody's life began to be restored. He gave his life to Christ. He started leading a Bible study in the park for other homeless people. "That was over 3 years ago," Jud says. "Now he's married, and he and his wife serve faithfully in our homeless ministry every weekend. He has his own business. From ashes, God has raised him up to use him as an instrument." But his involvement in ministry all started with the warm embrace from one of the church's greeters.

[Jud Wilhite, Uncensored Grace (Mulnomah, 2008)]

Excusing sin will eventually pull you down, but obeying the Lord will lift you back up. Never fool yourself thinking you can reach for sin and it won’t impact your life. Trust in the Lord with all your heart following His words of wisdom.

God weeps for the lost

1 John 4:9 (NLT)
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

In this verse we see the depths of God’s love for man. God loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus Christ to atone for our sin. His love was so great He was willing to allow Jesus to be sacrificed to take away the sins of man.

 

Most of us know The Bible story of Moses parting the Red Sea so that the Israelites were able to safely retreat from the Egyptians across the dry sea bed. The Egyptians who were out to kill them were destroyed as the sea closed in on them. There is a Hasidic fable that tells of a great celebration in heaven after the Israelites are delivered from the Egyptians at the Red Sea and the Egyptian armies are drowned. The angels are cheering and dancing. Everyone in heaven is full of joy. Then one of the angels asks the archangel Michael, "Where is God? Why isn't God here celebrating?" Michael answers, "God is not here because he is off by himself weeping. You see, many thousands were drowned today."

For God so loved the world, not just a few, or some, or one, but the entire world that He gave His Son Jesus Christ so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. God loves every person in this world and weeps over those who reject Him and perish because of their choices.

Let God's word speak to you

John 2:2-12 (NLT)

2 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” 11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.

These verses record the first miracle Jesus performed turning water into wine. What a fitting occasion to do so since a wedding is often used to describe the union between Jesus and the church. Not only did Jesus provide the wine, He provided the best wine. When God answer’s our calls He does so with much more that we planned or anticipated.

 

My wife and I love the show Everyone Loves Raymond. It’s one of the best shows for seeing the dysfunctions of family life. In an episode where Robert and Amy were getting married, Robbie’s father, Frank, was upset they were charging for the alcoholic beverages. His statement was, "And the broad's family is supposed to pay for the wedding and it is to be a full bar, free of charge with top shelf hooch. Read your Bibles!" Frank used the verses above just a little out of context, but he was trying to make a point.

When you quote the Bible are you trying to use it for your own purpose or for what God intended. God’s word is living and breathing; meaning it speaks differently at different times to different people. I have posted a Bible verse before and got back multiple responses of how that verse meant something to the person who read it. What was unique is everyone had something different to say about how the verse affected them. Let God’s word speak into your heart and find what God is trying to say to you.