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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Christmas and the Christian

Christmas... the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus. So, what about Christmas? Does the Bible say anything about Christmas? When did Christians begin celebrating Christmas? Are churches to celebrate Christmas? Can a Christian celebrate Christmas? All good questions that need Biblical answers.

To be sure, Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. The family is together. Gifts are exchanged. Santa comes down the chimney. Children are happy. Songs are sung. Food is eaten... what is not to like? As a child, I didn't really give a lot of thought to the fact that at my house it was Christmas, but at church it was not. We decorated a tree, put presents under it, waited for Santa and talked about Jesus birth... oh, and waited impatiently for the yearly showing of Rudolph. As I got older, my Sunday School teachers would be very careful to make sure I knew that Christmas was not really Jesus' birthday, but just a day that a person had selected to celebrate it. But what about the church celebrating a day that is a human tradition? Is that ok?

First things first, the Bible is completely, totally silent on the matter. Our only record is that His birth took place during the rule of Caesar Augustus and while Quirinius was governing Syria. No day, no month of the year or even the year. So how did we get to December 25th? Ok, here goes... the Jews believed that a prophet died on the same date as their conception. They believed that Jesus died on March 25th, so he was conceived on March 25th, so nine months later... December 25th. Early Christians, like Origen denounced the idea of celebrating His birth, but somewhere around 354 AD, his birth shows up on a calendar on December 25th. Little by little, this spread and soon churches were holding this day a special, Constantinople in 379 AD, Antioch in 380 AD and Alexandria in 430 AD.

Among Protestant churches that arose during the Reformation, Christmas was denounced as the "trappings of popery", since Christmas literally means the "Mass of Christ". It was banned by church leaders in England in 1647. It was outlawed by the New England government in 1659 and completely fell out of favor in the USA after the American Revolution. Over time, through literature and immigration, Christmas was revived in America and in 1870, Christmas was declared a U. S. federal holiday.

So, should Christmas be the work of the church? Should we as a church celebrate Christmas in our assemblies? Should we as individuals celebrate Christmas? Two different questions, with two different answers. First, as a church, we have no authorization to celebrate Christmas. The only remembrance that we are commanded to hold is the Lord's Supper as a remembrance of His death. In fact, Jesus was very strong in condemning human traditions being forced onto God's people as commands. (read Mark 7: 1-13)  Christmas is a human tradition, very clearly so; therefore to bind it anyone in our assemblies is to violate a very clear Biblical principle. Traditions of men are wrong when they become matters of doctrine and are bound upon all, so to bind the observance of a human tradition on a congregation of the Lord's people would be in violation of the Jesus' teaching and is at least unwise, if not wrong.

Ok, can I celebrate it in my home? What does the Bible teach in regard to this? Paul gives us teaching that will help us in this discussion...  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ (Col2:16-17) Paul teaches us that as individuals we can hold days as special, but that we must not bind that on others. In Romans 14: 5-6, Paul teaches our personal liberty on the matter...   One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.  When we consider these teachings, it becomes clear that we have the personal freedom to hold a day as "special" if we choose, but again, the rub comes when we push that onto others.

In closing, let me make it clear that I love Christmas. I love being with my family and enjoying the fellowship, food and fun. I am free to do that. But, I am not free to bind that on anyone else. You are free to enjoy the day as you see fit, celebrate it or not and no one has the right to condemn either action. Christmas is a human tradition and a very beautiful one at that, but it is not a day set apart by our Lord for remembrance of His birthday. Our Lord set apart each Sunday as the day to remember Him in a special way by the church joining together to eat the Supper. That is what the Bible teaches and that is what His church should do. Individually, hold the 25th of December as a special day or don't, either way is fine, but don't condemn others for their actions... that is not fine.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Good Deeds

Today's reading is Paul's letter to Titus. A short little letter packed full of instruction. I am always amazed at how much teaching Paul, through the Spirit can pack into a paragraph. So, today I want to unpack Titus 3:3-8...

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Sometimes being reminded of our past is useful. Sure, it can bring on feelings of guilt, even shame when we consider some of the things that we were involved in. But Paul uses our pasts to highlight what our present condition looks like in comparison. In the past, I was "foolish", yep; "disobedient", for sure; "led astray", check; "slaves to my passions and pleasures", you got it; "malice and envy", been there, done that; "hated and hating", true that. The mirror doesn't lie, before I met Jesus and made Him Lord and Master of my life, it was all about me. I did things that I now regret. You were probably in the same boat, involved with the wrong people, doing the wrong things; if not, you are fortunate. Paul wants us to take a moment and consider who we were, what we did and the outcome of such conduct. So, let's do that.... (take a moment and think on the matter)

When the scriptures throw in a "but", it is usually a very good thing and in this case Paul gives us a "but" that changes everything. He says this is how you once were, but... this is how you are now. He says when Jesus appeared, (the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior), HE saved us! That is good news! We once were lost, but now we are found; we once were blind, but now we see... (thanks John Newton). He changed everything! Paul wants us to understand that it is not our goodness, our acts of kindness that save us; it is God's rich mercy. He tells us that this all occurs at our "washing of regeneration" and ""renewal of the Holy Spirit". (see Acts 2:38) It is not an accomplishment of ours, rather Paul tells us that we are "justified" by His grace. It is His unmerited favor that we get through Jesus!

What is our reaction to this mercy, this grace? We are to devote ourselves to good deeds. As "heirs" according to the hope of eternal life, we are to start living like His children. The past was focused on ourselves and what we want, as renewed people we begin focusing on what God wants and He wants us to show His mercy, His grace to those around us by doing good deeds. He says "these things are excellent and profitable for people". Not only is doing good the response to His grace, doing good is to our profit. It benefits others, but it also brings a return to us. I don't know how all that works, but this I know, when I focus on the needs of others and serve them, I always receive a blessing. My life is enriched, I am encouraged as I encourage others.

How are you doing in all this? Have you considered where you were before Him and where you are now? Has the result of God's mercy been the outpouring of good deeds in your life? Have you changed from a "it's all about me person" to a "it's all about God and people" person? At the Wilkesboro church, our mission statement is simple and easy to learn... "Love God and Love People"; this fulfills the commands of God. If you are still trapped in "me", God has grace and mercy waiting on you. If you have forgotten where you came from and have slipped back into your former life, Paul says take a moment and reflect on these things and get busy doing good deeds. God expects change. He paid our debt, but He expects change. May He bless you in the doing of it!



Friday, December 14, 2012

You Were Dead!

Today's reading takes us to the letter to the church in Colosse. Paul is under house arrest and learns of the struggles the church is having in Colosse and writes this letter to help them understand their relationship to Christ and how their lives are to reflect Jesus. As far as we know, he has never visited the church in Colosse, but hears reports from his friend, Epaphras (more on him at a later date). I am always encouraged when I read Paul's letter to the church in Colosse and know that it contains words that are just applicable to the church in Wilkesboro. So, take a moment and read the short little letter to the Colosse church of Christ.

Paul begins his letter with encouragement for the Christians there and builds them up by telling them all the wonderful things he has heard about the church. He tells them they are in his prayers. What an uplifting thing to know others are praying for you... especially an apostle! He declares to them the preeminence of Christ, that He is the God made flesh (2:9) and that He is the firstborn from among the dead. (others had been raised, but they would die again, not so with Jesus) (1:15-20)

As I read today, the section that really came alive for me is found in Chapter 2, verses 9-14.

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 

So much to learn in these few verses... In Jesus, the fullness of deity dwells bodily... as the Christ, there is nothing lacking in Jesus. He is God, completely, fully. That is difficult to understand, we know He was also completely a human and faced the exact temptations and difficulties that we face today. We know that after His death on the cross, He tells His disciples that God had given Him "all" authority. (Matthew 28:18ff) So, we begin to get the idea that until He returns and takes His church home to be with the Father, He is in charge. He has the reigns; He is the captain of the ship.

Having established that Jesus is the One in charge, Paul tells us the He has done something to us. Under the Old Law, the Jew was to be circumcised on the eight day after his birth. It was a sign to the world that he belonged to God. Paul uses this reference to talk about something every Christan does and what the effect of the act is. He tells us that we are circumcised with a circumcision made without hands. He tells us that it is the Christ that performs this operation and it is done in our baptism. He says that when we are immersed we experience the putting off the body of the flesh. What does that mean? Thankfully Paul doesn't leave us in the dark. He says that before our baptisms, we were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. But after, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.

Paul wanted the disciples in Colosse to know that something very special had occurred when they were immersed into the Lord. He wanted them (and wants us) to know that this wasn't some meaningless symbol, but that something happens (actually happens!) when a person submits to Jesus in baptism. Some would argue that baptism is a work of man, but this scripture makes it very clear who is doing the work... having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. Our faith in God's ability to accomplish this work is what we do. What He does is raise us from the dead lives of sin, just as He raised Jesus from the dead (unless you believe that He didn't do that) ... And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him.

I imagine myself on the operating table, dead in my sin with God as the surgeon. He opens up my life and with the skills of a surgeon, cuts away all my sin and brings me to life. I come off the table alive, a new man made alive with Jesus. Thanks be to God, our Father for the provision of His Son, who bore our sins on the cross. And, that He applies the shed blood of Christ to our lives and removes our sins when we submit to His working in baptism. What about you, have you made the transaction of exchanging eternal death for eternal life. It is for you that He died. Make the decision and God will remove death and give life... life eternal.


Monday, December 10, 2012

Innocent!?

Our daily reading today takes us to the book of Acts and chapter 20. Today we get to tag along with the apostle Paul as he travels through Philippi, Troas and Miletus as he heads for Syria. I can only imagine what it would have been like to travel with Paul. I am sure of one thing... there was never a dull moment. I am convinced that is what it should be like to be a Christian today! We are part of the greatest adventure ever written and the good news is... it is still being written. We are just as important in God's story as those we read about in the Bible. The people we read about are just like you and me; they are people who made the decision (most of them anyway) to follow God. We get to see the good, the bad and the ugly, which makes our lives seem normal.

Paul arrives in Troas and stays seven days. Acts 20:7 contains an interesting statement... On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. This is the record of the assembly of the first century church. They gathered on the first day of the week (Sunday) to break bread (the Lord's supper). It is said very nonchalantly as if that is what everyone understood. Today, churches meet when they choose and they take communion occasionally, holidays, quarterly or annually. But, the example we have in the scriptures is that the church met on Sunday to take communion. Maybe we are free to do anything we choose, maybe, but the Bible records that Sunday is the day they met and Sunday is the day they "broke bread".

Paul leaves Troas and comes to Miletus. Whilein Miletus, he sends to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. (v 17) He doesn't send to Ephesus for the elder or the pastor, he sends for the "elders". Today's church usually has one pastor or elder, but the Biblical pattern is for multiple elders in each church. In Titus 1:5 we read that Paul left Titus in Crete to appoint elders in every town. So the elders arrive to be with Paul and he relates to them that he is headed to Jerusalem and that prison awaits him. He reminds them of the example that he was to them when he lived with them in Ephesus...

You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (vv 18-21)

He tells them... Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.(vv 26,27) Paul says that because he had proclaimed to them the entire counsel of God; that he had held nothing back, he was innocent of the blood of all. That is a scary statement! Had he not communicated the full gospel of Christ, would he have been guilty of the blood of some? And in turn, if we do not communicate the "whole counsel of God" to those around us are we guilty of their blood? If we know something that Lord requires and we keep it from those we meet, is God going to hold us accountable? Do you and I have the responsibility to teach those around us? Paul thought so. As he leaves the Elders, he tells them that he is transferring the responsibility to them... Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God. (v 28)


Paul does just what Jesus did as he prepared to leave... "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 19,20) We are commanded to teach those around us... some will listen, others will turn a deaf ear. The result is not our concern, God gives the increase. Our concern is the telling of it. If we are to be found "innocent" of the blood of others, we have to tell them the truth that saves. What they do with it is between them and God.

Paul finishes his talk with the elders and they pray together and shed lots of tears. I like that. When we part with those we have loved and worked with in the Lord, may we shed tears! Several times in the past few years, we have said goodbye to families that we have grown to love and worked with and tears have been shed and prayers prayed. If Paul and the elders can cry... so can we! 

So, what did we learn from Acts 20? Meet on Sunday and eat the Lord's supper,  live as examples to those around us, teach everyone we can about Jesus and when we have to part company with a coworker for the Lord, pray and cry. Good stuff!! What is being written about you? We get to read about Paul and his travels and experiences, but what would I read about you? What would you read about me? Our stories, yours and mine are being written; we can't change the last chapter, but we can make the next one the best chapter yet!! Live it out, everyday!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Should I Be Rebaptized?

Acts 19: 1-5 contains an interesting story of some disciples that Paul encountered in Ephesus. Let's take a look at the text... And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”  And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”  On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Paul meets these disciples and a discussion begins. Somewhere along the way, something is said that prompts Paul to ask if they received the Holy Spirit when they "believed". I am sure they gave him a puzzled look as they said that they had never heard of the Holy Spirit. Let's pull over and park and make sure we are on the same page... Paul meets some disciples, these disciples say something that concerns Paul and so he questions their conversion. They believe in Jesus, but something is missing. So, Paul asks them if they had received the Holy Spirit and they say that they had never heard of the Spirit. Ok, ok.

Depending on your religious background, Paul's next question could cause you some heartburn. When these disciples say that they have no knowledge of the Spirit, Paul asks them about their baptism. Strange? They didn't have the Holy Spirit and Paul asks about their baptism. Paul is connecting the receiving of the Holy Spirit with baptism. Let's keep reading... they say that they only knew of John's baptism. (read Mark 1:4) Someone had visited Ephesus and taught about the baptism of John. They had a partial understanding of the truth, but it was incomplete. Paul could have left it there and said God would work it out. He could have thought, "they believe in Jesus and that is enough". He could have, but he didn't.

It was and is important for disciples to be on the same page when it comes to doctrine. He knew that if he didn't confront this and teach them the truth about baptism, sooner or later, there would be a split in the church in Ephesus. Just look around, how many different belief systems do we have today? All caused by a different understanding of doctrine. Paul didn't want that and so he taught them about baptism that is accompanied by the Spirit. (Acts 2:37-41) He could have left them believing something wrong and they could have refused to listen to this "different" teaching. They could have said that they were baptized once and that was enough. But they didn't! They were open to learn truth and when confronted with it, they were obedient.

When Paul finished teaching them about Jesus and their need to be baptized for the remission of their sins and receive the Holy Spirit, they jumped in (so to speak). He wouldn't let them remain in error and they were open to truth. That is a great example for us today. Those that understand the truth must be willing to confront error and those in error must by open to learn the truth. If we were all like that, there would be one church... just like we find in the Bible. Instead, we don't confront error and we aren't willing to confront the things we believe that don't line up with scripture and we have thousands of denominations.

What about you? Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you were baptized? Or were you taught to say a prayer? I have read the Bible through many times looking for a person that was told to "pray Jesus into their heart" and am yet to find one. If you know of one, please send me a comment so that I may learn about it. Instead, every person is told the same thing... believe, be baptized and receive the Spirit. Over and over, all the way through the book of Acts... believe, be baptized and receive the Spirit. Paul told these disciples that had a partial understanding the same thing and they were rebaptized. Do you need to be immersed for the forgiveness of your sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? If so, let me know and I will get you in touch with someone that can help you study and help you become a baptized believer. May God bless you in your decision.

Check out what Francis Chan has to say on the subject.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Is8QnxviOI



Monday, November 26, 2012

Restore Him Gently

One of the great things about belonging to the family of God is our responsibility to one another. The New Testament is filled with "one anothers" to direct our actions as we follow Him. Jesus demonstrated these "one anothers" perfectly and we are given instruction through the Word as to how we are to treat each other. The final chapter of Galatians contains a little instruction that is often ignored or at least not fully applied.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. (Gal 6:1-5)

We have a mutual responsibility to each other. If I am "caught" in a sin, my fellow Christian has a responsibility to help me escape. If I see my brother or sister trapped in a sin, I am to intervene in their lives to help carry that burden. You may be asking why we should do such a thing... "why would I entangle myself in someone else's problems?". The answer to that question is fairly simple, first, God wants His children to live in such a way that He is glorified. We are to live righteously!  Secondly, James tells us that when we do that, when we rescue a child of God from their entrapment, we "save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins". (James 5:19-20) So, it is about life here and hereafter. It is about helping each other live rightly here and helping each other get to live with God in the hereafter. I know that might make some of you uncomfortable, but read the Book and let me know where I am wrong.

Paul warns us in this passage in Galatians that we are to be careful because we can be tempted by what we are helping others deal with. If I am a recovering alcoholic, I don't need to go sit with someone that is drinking. If I am struggling with pornography, I am not the one that needs to go to the strip club to bring a brother home. If I am dealing with drug dependency, I don't need to go to a party to pull a sister out of a bad situation. We need to be wise in our helping is what Paul is saying. We have a responsibility to each other and we have a responsibility to ourselves, to keep ourselves from temptation. We are to help carry each other's burdens, but we are also to carry our own load.

As members of God's family, may we all determine to be alert to each others activities and be open enough to know when someone is trapped in sin. Once we know about it, let us be busy pulling each other from the snare of sin. Our lives here are to be rich and full in Christ Jesus and our lives hereafter are to be eternally spent with the Father. Even Paul was concerned that he might come up short after he had taught so many others... So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Cor 9: 26-27). May we have his attitude as we help others and keep a watchful eye on ourselves.

Friday, November 23, 2012

The Day After Thanksgiving

I woke up this morning in a full turkey stooper. I admit it, I ate too much of the big bird. My wife knows how to fix a turkey... and I know how to eat it. As is the custom, we had some 35 friends and family over to our house for an evening of food and fellowship. Neither disappointed. But now it is the day after and I am recovering from having to say goodbye to a daughter that lives too far away and a food hangover.

But what am I thinking about today? Yesterday it was easy, all day long we talked about what we have to be thankful for. We were focused and we said all the right things, prayed all the right prayers... but what about today, the day after? How easy it is to get busy and forget what yesterday was all about. Black Friday calls us to the stores and the leftovers are needing to be eaten. But will I, will you live the day in the same attitude of gratitude as we had yesterday? Will we stop to think about our blessings the day after Thanksgiving?

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Col 2:6,7)

Paul gives us a little instruction that gives us insight into how we can always live as a grateful people. He reminds us that we received Jesus... no matter how our days are going, just knowing that we have a relationship with the Creator of the universe should give us reason to rejoice. He says we are "rooted and built up in him". Our beginning and our end is found in our Savior. We are able to stand firm against the day because our foundation is firm. Our strength comes from the Lord, so we are to "overflow with thankfulness"!

Not just one day each year. Not on really good days. Not when life deals us a great hand. Every day! Every day we are overflowing with thankfulness. Every day! Flat tire... thankfulness. Dead battery... thankfulness. Tough day at the office... thankfulness. Difficult day at home with the kids... thankfulness. Our worst day is better than a lost person's best day. Think about it... even when things go terribly wrong, we are still children of the King. How bad can it be when we know that God is our father?

Acappella puts it like this in their song "Begins"...

Your life begins with God
Your love begins with God
Your hopes and your dreams
And your plans begin with God


When we fully understand that concept, we will live as a grateful people. When everything begins with Him, the end of everything is Him. If we have that knowledge, how can we not overflow with thankfulness? May each of us determine to live everyday like we lived yesterday. May each day be Thanksgiving and may we determine to give what we have to those that don't have it. It is the only way they will ever truly be thankful. God bless you in the doing of it.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Go and Make Disciples

As Jesus prepared to ascend into heaven, He gave His apostles their life purpose. We all look for what we are meant to do, that is nothing new. The apostles were facing life without their Master and I am sure they were looking into each others eyes and asking "what now?". He was leaving and they were staying... what now? He had trained them for three years, given them Himself, but what was it all about? What did He prepare them to do?

In Matthew 28: 16-20, He tells them what the preparation was all about. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”

He tells them that God, the Father had given Him all authority. He is in charge. Period. Whatever He says settles it. What ever He commands is His marching orders. Period. Next, He tells them what to do with their "Master's degrees" they had earned studying at His feet. They were to spend the rest of their lives going and telling. Everywhere they go, they are to tell the people about Him. They are to work to make those people His disciples. They are to persuade others to follow Him. That is what it was all about. Three years of preparation to be disciple makers. 

Ok, so... what is the direction from Jesus on how to make disciples? He gives them pretty simple directions that are simple to understand, yet complex in their understanding. Two things... 1. baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and 2. teach them to obey everything He had commanded them. Sounds simple enough. When we go to the book of Acts, we find that after His ascension in Acts 1, the apostles begin to do just what He had commanded them to do. In Acts 2, Peter teaches a crowd gathered in Jerusalem. He teaches them about who Jesus is (vv 17-36) and then he commands them to be immersed for the remission of their sins (vv 38- 40). Next, we read that those that believed and were baptized began to study at the apostles feet (vv 42- 47).

Jesus gave the command for His followers to get busy telling others about Him. He gave them the instruction that His disciples were to be baptized and that they were to be taught His commands. That was His last instruction to His disciples and we read through the rest of the New Testament about how the early Christians carried out His command. Everywhere they went, people became disciples, they were immersed and taught. That we His instruction and that is what they did. Period.

And that was the story for centuries... people were taught about Jesus, they were immersed for the forgiveness of their sins and they were taught everything He commanded them. They were Christians and they belonged to His church. I believe that we are still in the disciple making business. As Christians, that is our job... teach them, baptize them and teach them everything He commanded. Anything short of that is not making disciples the way Jesus commanded. Anything short of that is someone elses command.

 If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, you need to be taught. There are several ways for that to occur. First, contact me and I will be happy to study with you. Second, go to www.worldbibleschool.org and sign up as a student and get started learning. Third, if you live in Wilkes County, North Carolina, go to www.wilkes.worldbibleschool.org and someone form this area will work with you. These are a few ways to get into His word and begin the process of becoming His disciple. Get in there a dig, learn His plan for your life!! The main thing is... get started!

Love God, Love People!






Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Love One Another

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13: 34-35)

In the upper room, on His last night with His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus gave them much to digest. Some have called this time "the last board meeting with the Chairman". He was giving them their marching orders, knowing that He was about to leave them. He was preparing them for what they would face shortly.

In the middle of instituting the Lord's Supper, washing feet, calling out Judas and promising to send the Holy Spirit, Jesus gives them this "new command" to love each other. Had He never taught them to love before? Sure... but I believe that He is giving them a bigger, a deeper and a larger command. He knew he was to leave them shortly... He had seen their jockeying for position in the Kingdom and He knew they needed a bigger idea of love to sustain them.

So He open their minds to the idea that their love towards one another should look like His love for them. They were about to face the world without Him. What would sustain them through the difficult times, the persecution, the dying? Love. "As I have loved you, so you must love one another". How? As Jesus had loved them! Let's pull over and park here for a minute... the example of love that they were to follow was the example of Jesus leaving heaven, becoming a man, giving up everything for them, going to the cross, suffering and dying... for them. (open your Bibles to Philippians 2, read verses 1-11 and just let it sink in for a moment) This was the example that He had given them and now He tells them that they are to love that way.

Next, Jesus tells them that this love "would do" something that nothing else "could do". When the world, when men see this kind of love, this self-denying, giving, caring, putting others first kind of love, they would see Jesus. By their love for each other, the world would know that they are "His" disciples. Something about their relationships would be so different that people would be able to identify them as followers of Jesus.

This wasn't to be some... "love you bro" kind of thing. This was a "I will live for you, but if I have to, I will die for you" kind of thing. This is the "get you up in the middle of the night" kind of love. We have to understand the difference that Jesus made in their lives, the kind of love He demonstrated before we will ever understand what He is commanding. It was and is "new". It is not the same love as we see in the world! This is the "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" kind of love found in Matthew 25.

Jesus commanded the apostles to teach "us" to obey all things He had commanded them... so, while the command to love like that was given to them, it is also given to us. You and me! We are to love others like Jesus loves us. (thinking time here) Here is the question for you and me... Do others know we are His disciples by the love we show in our lives? Does anyone think I am different because of the way I love? Does anyone see you as different by your love for them?

Casting Crowns asked it this way...

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?


What about it? Are we keeping His "new" command? Let's talk about it and then let's do it.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Are You Bleeding?

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her,“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Luke 8:43-48

Today's reading contains a story that I am sure most of us are very familiar with. It is the story of the lady healed by touching Jesus garment. Let's dig a little deeper into the story and see if we can come away with something useful for us.

This woman had been dealing with this problem for twelve years. For twelve long years, she had bled, probably daily. She was viewed by her town as "unclean". She had spent her entire life savings on doctors who could not fix "her problem". Twelve years of being the outcast. Twelve years of "doctors" taking her money and leaving her with "her problem". I can hear it now, down on the corner of Main and 8th Street, "here comes bloody Betty" or "get out of the way, here comes Flo". It is tough enough when  your problems are private, but when the entire village knows.... shame, disgrace, embarrassment... you get the idea.

One day, Betty hears that Jesus is in town. She has heard about His power to heal and she makes the long walk to Town Square. One more time... go see a man that she hopes will help her. Twelve years of shame, twelve years of dashed hopes, twelve years of ridicule; but still she gets dressed and makes the hike... bleeding as she goes. She quietly sneaks up behind Jesus... enough of the straight on embarrassment. She reaches out her trembling hand for one last time and touches the "fringe of His garment". I can only imagine what that moment of faith took. (think here) I can only imagine the feeling that came over this woman as twelve years of desperation evaporated in a moment. (think here) Freedom!

Jesus recognized that "power had gone out of Him". I don't know what that means, but this I do know... He had the power in Him! Whatever happened, however the power left Him... we know that she was the one that benefited. It is odd, Peter says “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”, but something different happened when this one woman touched Him. He was touched by thousands, maybe tens of thousands; but only in this case are we told that He felt "power" leave Him. Maybe it happened every time someone was healed, but something is different this time.

One last time, this woman must face the public and admit that she was the one that had touched the Master. "And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him". She had to publicly confess "why" she had touched Him. But now the story is different! Instead of "the doctor took my money and left me bleeding", now it's the "Great Physician" has healed me. Now it's, "He paid the price, it was His power that changed me".

When Jesus healed someone, it was instantly and it was fully! Betty got her life back! The corner gossips would have to find a new topic on Monday. But what was it about Betty that made her different? Jesus tells us the answer to the question... it was her faith! "And he said to her,“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace”. The moment she got up that morning and decided to get dressed and go see Jesus, that was faith. The moment she made her way through the crowd, that was faith. The moment she reached out her hand to touch the Man, that was faith! Jesus honored her faith with His gift of healing. If she had stayed home in bed that morning, she would still be bleeding. She had to demonstrate her faith by her actions!

I am sure you can make the application... if you want healing, come to the Man. If your life is a bloody mess, come to the Man. Do you have twelve years of shame to get rid of, come to the Man. He has the power, you demonstrate the faith and He will honor you with healing. Physically... maybe, if it suits His purposes;  but spiritual, definitely! That is a promise... "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. She got rest; Betty's days of suffering were over and her new life had begun. What are you waiting for? Or as Ananias said to Saul, "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." (Acts 22:16) Come to Him in faith, confessing your sins and turning from your past life and be immersed to have your sins removed and begin a new life, healed by His blood. (Acts 2: 37-41)

Wherever you are... I know this blog is read all around the world... find a church of Christ and talk to someone about becoming a Christian. Make the walk, demonstrate the faith and be healed by Jesus. His flow of blood is eternal and able to cover every sinner who by faith comes to Him. Do it today. Find freedom today!

Monday, October 29, 2012

What Kind of Soil Are You?


In Matthew 13, we find the Parable of the Sower. And while most Bibles call it that, I prefer to call it the Parable of the Soils. Why?...because the parable is truly focused on the types of soils that the seed encounters. We have a sower, we have seed and we have various types of soil.

Jesus uses parables to convey ideas in terms that help people to relate to His message. In this case, He is speaking to people that understand agriculture and so He talks about seeds and soils. He tells them the parable… “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The four soil types… 1. The hard packed earth of the path 2. Rocky soil. 3. Thorny soil and 4. Good soil. What’s the point Jesus is trying to make? First, that we are all one of these soil types. Maybe we change from time to time, but consistently, day by day, we fall into one of these categories. The sower does his job, he spreads the seed around. The seed does its’ job, it is planted and has the power within it to grow. Really, the only variable in the equation is the soil. The end result is a function of the type of soil; not the ability of the sower or the quality of the seed.

For those that have hearts that are hardened, the seed cannot penetrate and it quickly disappears. The seed that is sown has no chance to grow and it is disposed of immediately. For those that are shallow, the seed might well take hold and spring up quickly, but the depth is not there and soon the plant withers and dies. For those that care more about the world than spiritual matters, it doesn’t take long for work or play to get in the way of the really important things. But there are some, a few, who are good soil. For them, the word of God penetrates and grows and changes who they are and whose they are. We have all seen people like that. We have all admired those that truly allow God to rule in their lives.

Jesus tells us that some will never give God a chance, while others will accept Him, but quickly fall away. The seed is planted and grows, but life gets in the way and one day they just disappear from our churches. Were they never really saved? Jesus says they were. He says the seed was planted, the plant began to grow, but then they "fell away"… listen to Jesus explanation of the parable “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

You see, the question isn't about the seed or the sower… the real question is what kind of soil am I? What kind of soil are you? The answer to that question has eternal consequences. While this parable deals specifically with a person becoming a Christian, it can be applied to our willingness to hear His word and make changes throughout our lives. Can we change? Sure. The farmer calls it cultivation. The soil has to be worked. Things have to come out and other things have to go in. Weeds have to be pulled and stones have to be removed. It takes effort! But the first thing it takes is recognition of the type of soil you are now. Does God’s Word penetrate your heart and make changes in you? Do you go away on Sunday morning fired up and ready to go, but on Monday you can’t remember what you heard? Are you more focused on worldly success than kingdom success? Take a good long look in the mirror and ask yourself these questions. Eternity depends on the answers.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Temptation

(Today's focus - Matthew 4:1-11)

Temptation is a word that needs little explanation. It is like "red", the second you hear the word red... you see the color in your mind. With "temptation", we might all see something different, a doughnut, a fast car, a pretty woman or a handsome man... whatever comes to your mind is "temptation" for you. It is real and it is ongoing. Some days, temptation is easy and on other days, it is difficult. Sometimes we defeat it and other times it defeats us. That is the nature of temptation.

The Scriptures teach that Jesus was tempted just like us. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) The Hebrew writer tells us that Jesus experienced temptation "in every respect" that we do. He tells us that He faced it and beat it.... every time! He was able to deal with the enticement of physical and emotional wants and live rightly before God. Why?... so that He would be able "to sympathize with our weaknesses". Good news... great news!

In Matthew 4:1-11, we have recorded the events that occurred after Jesus' baptism and His 40 day fast. He had just heard the voice of God from heaven announcing to the world that He was God's Son. He had just had the Spirit of God descend from heaven and lighting on Him. As a human, Jesus could have allowed these events to puff Him up and He might have displayed His Deity openly and dramatically. Rather, He goes off by himself to be alone to prepare for His ministry.

It was at this time that Satan chose to confront Jesus and tempt Him. Knowing His physical hunger, he tempted Him with food, but Jesus had an answer from Scripture....“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” He tempted Him to prove His Deity and Jesus responded...“Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  Lastly, he tempted Him with earthy wealth, if He would only worship him, to which Jesus replied...“Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

John tells us ... Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17) All of our sins, all of our temptations fall into these three categories. All of Jesus' temptations fall into these three categories. That is how the Hebrew writer is able to say clearly that Jesus experienced temptation in "every respect" just like us. He is able to sympathize with our temptations! He understands! Our Savior gets us! Praise God for a Savior that faced down the same temptations we face and came out the other side sinless.

We need to understand this. Jesus loves us and wants us to live pure and holy lives, but He understands our desires and our failings. But He still calls us to change. He still calls us to sinless lives; but when we fall, He is there to lift us up and He says to you and me... "I understand". "I understand"; thank you God for sending your Son in the flesh. Thank you Jesus for facing the same temptations that we face. Thank you for living a sinless life and giving that life for me.






 

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Work of the Spirit

Now we come to a topic that people will discuss and debate until He returns. We have for two thousand years, so why stop now. What is the work of the Holy Spirit? What does He do in our lives or does He do anything? Is His work different for us now than it was during the first century church experience? What does the Bible have to say on the subject? Isn't that what all "truth seekers" want to know?
    We have already talked about His involvement in the creation. But, reread Genesis 1 and understand that His work has been ongoing from the creation of this world and everything in it. Other verses that you might want to check into are Psalm 104:30, Job 26:13 and Psalm 33:6. His involvement in the creation of humans is recorded in Genesis 1:26-27 and Job 33:4. So, we learn from these verses that he Spirit was at work form the beginning, but we also see that He continued to work as God began to reveal His plan for the redemption of man.
    The Spirit was at work in the revelation of God in the Old Testament. Peter tells us "knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someones own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21)  and "of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ". (1 Peter 1:10-11) Clearly, the Spirit was busy in Old Testament times communicating through the prophets. 
    In New Testament times, He was busy guiding the apostles into all truth (John 16:12-13). We are told that all scripture is God-breathed in  2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." God breathed - the breath of God, in Greek "pneuma" meaning the Spirit of God. He was there giving breath to God's words and leading the prophets and the apostles to write down His revelation for man.
    When Jesus made his appearance as a man, it was the Spirit that gave confirmation to His identity. Many claimed and still claim to be the Messiah, but only one, Jesus had the Spirit there to give confirmation to who He was. He gave the Spirit the credit for His ability to work miracles in Hebrews 2:3-4 and Acts 10:38. The Spirit was given to Him during His human existence to allow Him to do works that would confirm Him as the one and only Son of God. And when He left this earth and gave the apostles their commission (Matthew 28:18), the Spirit was there giving them the ability to perform miracles to confirm their words. (Hebrews 2:3-4 and Romans 15:19) The Spirit was busy confirming Jesus as the Son and the apostles as His spokespersons.
    Now we get to some good stuff... He was and is involved in our regeneration and our sanctification. In regeneration as the word was preached and obeyed. Acts 2 is a great place to see both the preaching and the obedience of people who heard the word preached. Peter taught them that Jesus was the Son of God and that it was their sins that had put Him on the cross. The people heard and those that accepted his message wanted to know what to do. He gave them the Gospel to be obeyed in Acts 2:38 and those that heard and believed, obeyed and 3000 souls were saved that day. In sanctification, He is involved in both our initial setting apart and our ongoing growing into His likeness. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:11) After our conversion, we are ongingly set apart through the work of the Spirit...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man (Eph 3:16)  He is busy working in us to accomplish our sanctification. I don't understand all I know about that, so somethings I just accept that I cannot fully understand.  
I am sure there are questions about His ongoing work in the area of miracles and revelation, and we will get to that shortly. But for now, we see that He was busy working in those areas during the time that our Bibles were being written and that He is continuing to be involved in our conversion and our growth. Stay tuned for more discussion.....

   

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Is the Holy Spirit.... God?

Last week we looked at the scriptures that deal with the Spirit having a personality, that is traits that make Him a "person". (not a human, but an individual) These established that the Spirit is an individual being that possesses individual characteristics. The question for us to pursue this week is what kind of person is He? The answer to that is found in the Bible and can be discovered through some study. I will not attempt to fully dive into this subject in a short blog.

The Spirit is a "divine being", that is He is deity. His personal attributes demonstrate His divine nature. The Spirit is "omniscient", that is that He knows everything! These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Cor 2:10-11) The Spirit searches all things and knows all things because He knows the thoughts of God!

The Spirit is "omnipresent", that is He is everywhere! Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:7-10) The Psalmist makes it clear that we cannot escape His presence. The Spirit of God is everywhere, all the time!

He is "eternal" in nature. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14) The Spirit has existed from the beginning and exists through eternity. (read Genesis 1)

His "works" demonstrate His divine nature as well. The Spirit was involved in the "creation" of the world. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2) When God was busy creating the world, the Spirit was there doing His part. Creating worlds surely falls under the purview of Deity.

He was involved in the working of "miracles". But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matt 12:28) When challenged by the religious elite of His day, Jesus gave the Spirit of God credit for the miracles that He worked while on Earth. Undoubtedly, if the Spirit is the power behind Jesus' miracles, He must be divine. 

He was involved in the "redemption" of man.  How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. I don't claim to understand how all that works, but Jesus offered Himself for us... through the Spirit. The Spirit was at work in the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf. Our redemption through Jesus must include the work of the Holy Spirit.

Lastly, He is involved in our "regeneration", our becoming a new creation, a new person before our God. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-6) He saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit; sounds a lot like Acts 2:38 and John 3:1-9. Somehow, someway the Spirit makes us new before God. We stand cleansed and new, without spot or blemish through the working of the Holy Spirit. Good news? Great news!

In our class this Wednesday night, we will explore this in depth and even get into the different concepts of God. Should be exciting! See you there.