HOUSE OF PRAYER OR DEN OF ROBBERS?

Matthew 21:13 (ESV) — 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Do you remember the context of this verse? When Jesus went into the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers... those who were selling the animals needed for sacrifices instead of treating the Lord's temple with respect and awe?

Is it possible that Jesus is saying the same things about our churches today? Each week when we gather together, is Jesus saying "‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers."? Sure we are not selling animals in the sanctuary to be used as sacrifices unto God but are we praying like we should be? Are we robbing God somehow?

What are some of the ways that we may be robbing God? How about our motives when we gather? Are we gathering for His glory or for our wants? Are we stealing the attention that is due Him because we want people to notice us and give us what we want? 

Another way is rebelling against Him. If we are obedient to Him, not only are we blessed for doing so but so are those around us. For example, Luke 5:3–4 (ESV) — 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Jesus taught the crowd while He was in Peter's boat. Notice that Jesus did not dismiss the crowd when He finished teaching. He just turned to Peter and said “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter did as Jesus said and they caught so many fish that the boat began to sink. What a miraculous catch! But understand this... if Peter had disobeyed Jesus and not gone fishing, he would have robbed Jesus of the opportunity to show His power to all who were watching. Jesus wants to work through you. Don't rob Him of that opportunity.

One more way that we may be robbing God is through our giving. Malachi 3:8–12 (ESV) — 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

The next time you gather with your church family, ask yourself "Am I really trying to communicate with God through prayer today? Am I doing anything that would rob God of anything that belongs to Him?"

WHEN WE PRAY FOR YOU

Last night, I mentioned Colossians 1:3-14 in my last post. This morning, I would like to share with you that passage once again along with some notes showing how Paul was praying for this church. This will give you another example of how we should be praying for each other...

Colossians 1:3–14 (ESV) — 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 
6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 
7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 
8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 
10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

WHEN WE PRAY FOR YOU, 
WE THANK GOD FOR YOU 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
WHY? 
1. BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
2. BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE FOR ALL OF THE SAINTS and of the love that you have for all the saints, 
3. BECAUSE OF YOUR ETERNITY IN HEAVEN 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. 
4. BECAUSE YOU HEARD THE GOSPEL Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world
5. BECAUSE THE GOSPEL IS BEARING FRUIT IN YOUR LIFE it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,
6. BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD FAITHFUL TEACHING 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 
7. BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT YOUR LOVE IN THE SPIRIT 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 
8. BECAUSE GOD HAS SAVED YOU 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 
9. BECAUSE GOD HAS DELIVERED FROM THE DEVIL AND TO HIS SON, JESUS. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 
10. BECAUSE YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 


WE HAVE NOT CEASED TO PRAY FOR YOU
11. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 
12. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL LIVE A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
fully pleasing to him, 
bearing fruit in every good work 
increasing in the knowledge of God. 
13. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY GOD’S POWER 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, 
A. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL HAVE ENDURANCE for all endurance
B. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL HAVE PATIENCE and patience
C. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL HAVE JOY with joy, 

PASTORS, IT'S OUR FAULT TOO

One of the trends that has had a negative effect in churches today is "consumerism". This refers to the "It's all about me" attitude that some people have when they gather with their church family. An attitude that says, "I want my kind of music" or "I want my kind of preaching". What happens in this type of situation is the disappearing of that person if he or she doesn't get what she wants when he or she attends our churches.

Researcher George Barna recently observed, “We are a designer society. We want everything customized to fit our personal needs — our clothing, our food, our education. Now its our religion.”

United Church of Christ minister and journalist G. Jeffrey MacDonald recently lamented the consumerization of faith in his book, “Thieves in the Temple: The Christian Church and the Selling of the American Soul,” (Basic Books, 2010). “Faith has become a consumer commodity in America. People shop for congregations that make them feel comfortable rather than spiritually challenged. They steer clear of formal commitments to Christian communities. They flee when they are not quickly gratified or when they encounter interpersonal problems. Changing churches has become as routine as changing jobs. As a result, churches are no longer able to help people develop solid moral characters.”

Titus Benton, who writes for a website called Relevant, said, "Many churches innovate, but innovation is based on trends. Innovations are fine, but they play to the consumer. Who is it we are trying to please? Could it be that we are obliging the very people that will cause our extinction? Could it be that the methodology we embrace will take us to a place where we are innovated-out and tired of selling?"

While it is true that all of us have shown consumerism tendencies in our lives in various ways, what are pastors and other church leaders doing in order to be the churches that God wants us to be? Or should I ask, "What are we supposed to be doing?" 

In order to reach people for Jesus Christ (which is our calling as gospel churches), many of us who are pastors and other church leaders have been guilty of looking for that next big secret to powerful church growth. Some new book or conference. Maybe something we read on the internet or something that we saw another church do. Then we take it home to our local churches and say, "Here's the answer to all of our problems! We need to start _______________________ (you fill in the blank)."

Personally, I have been guilty of that at times as well. Thinking, "What can we do to reach more people and keep them connected to our church family?" but I am convinced now more than ever that the problem is the fact that we are focusing on what we can do instead of what God can do. We need to be more focused on what God can do when we are seeking to be faithful and fruitful as He leads us.  

So what are we supposed to be doing? Faithfully preaching the Bible. Praying that God would be glorified in our personal lives as well as in His church. Singing songs in such a way that Jesus is the focus instead of our musical performance. Connecting with fellow believers in continual fellowship instead of only seeing each other occasionally at the church house. Telling others about Jesus in a way that is real and personal instead of sounding like an old infomercial. 

Let's preach the Word and sow the seed of the gospel. Let's be faithful in what God has called us to do and stop trying to find the next big gimmick that will double the size of our church in 20 minutes or our money back. Let's depend upon God who will determine the when and how our churches grow as we continue to serve Him.

Maybe, just maybe, if our congregations stop seeing us shop around for those gimmicks so much, maybe they will stop some of the consumerism as well?

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE?

Last night, our Bible study group looked at the middle part of our motto which is “BRINGING IN, LIFTING UP AND SENDING OUT TO IMPACT OUR WORLD THROUGH THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST” so the attention was on the phrase “LIFTING UP”. The purpose of this study was to remind all of us that we must make sure that what is happening in the middle of that motto is driven by love… the kind of love that God tells us to have.

First notice some key words in Ephesians 4:1–3 (ESV) — 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [underlining added]

We are to humble towards each other which is the opposite of being arrogant. We are to have a spirit of gentleness towards each other as well. Adding to that, we are to be patient with each other and bear with one another in the spirit of love making sure that we are promoting unity and peace in the body of Christ.

Next notice some key words in Ephesians 4:4–6 (ESV) — 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [underlining added]

One. One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. One. We are to think in terms of one. Thinking about the oneness in verses 4-6 and the key words in verses 1-3, we then spent most of our time together looking at verses 11-16 and asking the following questions…

Ephesians 4:11 (ESV) — 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

• WHO IS “HE”? God. 1 Corinthians 12:18 (ESV) — 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
• WHO DID “HE” GIVE “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” TO? To the church, first the "universal church", which means all of those who are born again, and then more specifically to the "local church" which means each group of born-again believers that meet together to worship and become more like Christ. 
• WHY DID “HE” GIVE “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” TO THEM? " to equip the saints for the work of ministry" from verse 12

Ephesians 4:12 (ESV) — 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

• WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “equip”? To train and prepare someone for something.
• WHO IS TO BE EQUIPPED? The "saints" which means the born-again believers of Jesus Christ. "Saints" does not mean perfect people. If you are a true Christian, you are a saint.
• WHAT ARE THEY TO BE EQUIPPED FOR? "the work of ministry". Every Christian is to be busy serving God in addition to worshiping God. And yes, ministry is "work". It doesn't happen automatically. It takes prayer and hard work but what greater thing could we hear being said to us than "Well done, My good and faithful servant"?
• WHY ARE THEY TO BE EQUIPPED? "for building up the body of Christ"
• HOW ARE THEY TO BE EQUIPPED? VV.15-16 Through "love". By "speaking the truth in love" and by "build[ing] itself up in love"

Ephesians 4:13 (ESV) — 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

• WHO ARE “we all”? All believers. Regardless of title or position or lack of either, we are all to growing up in Christ.
• WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE SAINTS BEING EQUIPPED FOR MINISTRY? Unity, both in faith and in knowledge of Jesus. Spiritual maturity, "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" 

Ephesians 4:14 (ESV) — 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

• WHY SHOULD WE SEEK “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”? "so that we may no longer be children" We are to be growing in our spiritual walk so that we don't chase after every fad that comes along. For example, some churches are always changing their identity to copy somebody else whether it be Rick Warren's "purpose-driven church", Bill Hybels' "seeker-sensitive church", etc. We are to pattern our church after God's Word and how He shapes us.
• WHAT CAN CAUSE US TO BE “tossed to and fro”? "by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" Again, what does God's Word say? Anything we consider to be "doctrine" must be based upon the Bible and nothing else. We must not follow people's "cunning", "craftiness" or "deceitful schemes".
• HOW CAN WE KEEP OURSELVES FROM BEING “tossed to and fro”? By being grounded in God's Word so that we are seeking to "attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) — 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

• WHAT IS THE “truth” THAT WE ARE TO SPEAK? God's Word
• HOW ARE WE TO SPEAK THAT “truth”? "in love" Love that shows that we care for each other and not just for ourselves.
• WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IF WE SPEAK THAT TRUTH IN LOVE? We will be able to "grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ". [Underlining added]

Look at the key words in Ephesians 4:16 (ESV) — 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. [underlining added]

The whole body, not just part of it, being joined and held together. Each part being equipped and working properly. The body growing up and building itself up in love. That is what is supposed to be happening in every church.

WHAT COULD KEEP THIS PASSAGE FROM HAPPENING IN OUR CHURCH?

• WHAT IF THE PREACHERS/TEACHERS WERE NOT EQUIPPING THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? Then the whole ministry load would be saved for or fall upon the preachers and teachers. That would keep the church from growing and it would keep the saints from being able to serve and develop their spiritual gifts.
• WHY WOULD THE PREACHERS/TEACHERS NOT WANT TO EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? Pride (not wanting to share the ministry with anyone), not having confidence in the saints to be able to learn it or do it, not willing to take the time to train someone to minister, being burned too many times from training someone and then that person turned on you or left you, etc.
• WHAT IF THE SAINTS DIDN’T WANT TO BE EQUIPPED FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? Then they would be disobedient and rebellious towards God and the church. They would act like "consumers" who only come to church to get what they want and then leave, etc.
• WHY WOULDN’T THE SAINTS WANT TO BE EQUIPPED FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? They don't want the responsibility, they are too focused on themselves, they don't feel like they are qualified to minister, they think somebody else will do it, etc.
• WHAT IF THE CHURCH WASN’T SEEKING “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”? It would be full of divisions and conflicts. It would have no appetite for God's Word and no desire to see any growth.
• WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT A CHURCH IS NOT SEEKING “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”? Not reading your Bible, not attending Sunday School, the worship services and the Bible studies.  Arrogance instead of humility. Being focused on self instead of the whole body. 
• WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT A CHURCH IS ACTING LIKE “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”? Always chasing after the latest celebrity preacher or author. Not being serious about your commitment to God and to His church. Not being consistent with what you believe and why you believe it. Fighting for position, power and recognition.
• WHAT CAUSES A CHURCH TO ACT LIKE “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”? Not seeking "the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"
• WHY WOULD WE NOT WANT TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE? This quote is very powerful. “Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” Warren W. Wiersbe Some people don't want to speak the truth in love because they feel better about themselves by pointing out the faults of others. Some people are more concerned about what they say than how it will affect whoever they are talking to.
• WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T “speaking the truth in love”? We will cause more divisions and more folks to leave the church.
• WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T WANT TO GROW UP? Disobedience to God. We are to be making disciples, not making divisions. We cannot please God if we refuse to grow up.
• WHAT HAPPENS IF WE THINK WE ARE GROWING UP BUT REALLY WE AREN’T? Then our talk won't match our walk. We will say that we are Christians but our lifestyles will scream the opposite. Jesus said in several places that we will be known by our fruit. If our fruit is not matching what we are saying, we are only deceiving ourselves.
• WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT THE WHOLE BODY BE “joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped” AND “each part is working properly”? Simple, if we are not joined together, we are falling apart and that will happen if each part is not working properly.
• ACCORDING TO VERSE 16, WHY MIGHT BE ONE REASON THAT THE BODY ISN’T “joined and held together” AND “working properly”? If there is no true love for each other.

Let me close this post with verses from the King James and the New American Standard Bibles (because of the beautiful word "edify" which we should be doing...)
Romans 14:19 (KJV) — 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1 Corinthians 8:1 (NASB95) — 1 …Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
1 Corinthians 14:12 (KJV) — 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Ephesians 4:29 (KJV) — 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) — 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

TODAY'S SNOW REMINDS ME OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

How does this snow remind me of the local church? Think about the beauty you see each time it snows... before anyone has made any tracks in the snow... you see a huge blanket covering everything. Now think for a moment how big a snow flake is. Just one. One snow flake can easily fit on the tip of your finger but when it joins other snowflakes, you can have a large snowfall like today. Some folks are reporting 20 or more inches of snow in their yard.

So what does that have to do with the local church? It is another great example that God has given us about the need for our church family. On our own, we are not able to do as much work. On our own, we are very vulnerable to temptation and destruction. On our own, we are very weak. But when the local church comes together, it is beautiful to see all of the relationships growing stronger, it's members working together to fulfill the Great Commission and the local church can accomplish so much more than any one individual.

Consider this passage of Scripture.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 (ESV) — 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

How is "two" better than "one"? Here are four reasons we need each other.

9 ...because they have a good reward for their toil. 

Imagine a dump truck lost part of its load at the end of your driveway and now you have 1,000 pounds of rock keeping you from being able to go anywhere. Let's say that each rock weighs 50 pounds each and because of their size and shape, you can only carry one at a time. That would mean you would have to pick up 20 rocks before you could drive your car!

But what if your neighbor saw what happened and came over to help? Now you only have to pick up 10 rocks apiece. Just by adding one person. What if three other guys saw what you were doing and came to the rescue? Then you would only have to pick up 4 rocks each! THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 20 TRIPS AND 4 TRIPS.

Being a pastor for the last 20 years, I have seen many people trying to pick up 20 rocks when all they had to do was ask their church family to help. If they had gotten 20 people to do the task, each one would only have to pick up ONE ROCK!

WHAT IF THERE WAS ONLY ONE ROCK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WEIGHED 1,000 POUNDS??? Using this example, one person couldn't do it by themselves but 20 people working together could do it.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 

This verse alone speaks volumes why we need our church family! When we isolate ourselves, it is so much harder to get up when we fall into temptation or discouragement. We have no one to see us fall, we have no one to protect us and no one to encourage us. 

But when we have our church family around us, they notice when we are down or hurting. They also notice when we start to drift away or fall back into some dangerous patterns in our lives. We can love and be loved. We can help each other remember that no matter what happens in our lives, we are not alone. We can remind each other of God's faithfulness and power. 

Speaking from experience, I can't tell you how many times somebody from our church family has encouraged me, challenged me to grow, reminded me of the big picture and so much more. Don't miss out on these benefits. 

11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 

Sometimes my wife speaks a few words that I am supposed to recognize as many words. For example, at a cinema, she may say, "I am cold." which is translated in Rhondaese as "I am cold so get closer and let me snuggle up to you and warm up." If I don't get that message, she will repeat herself and say, "Honey, I said I am cold." then a light bulb goes off above my head and I understand what she wanted me to do.

Think about what happens when you are alone (more than you want to be). Time drags on. No interaction with anyone. Your mind begins to run in every possible direction... "What if...", "I hope...", "I don't think I can...", etc. Mary Teresa once said, "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."

While I was writing this post, I searched Google for images under the title "loneliness". So many of those photos show sorrow, pain and suffering with no one around to help them. Just look at this pic I found and see what I mean...

Now contrast that photo with these photos...

This is what it is like to be a part of a local church. Enjoying each other. Celebrating each other. Helping each other in times of need. Loving others warms them up.

12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

When training for overseas mission trips, we were told to always pair up with someone in our group and never wander off from your group alone. So many news reports have shown where someone was abducted because they were an easy target. When somebody pulls away from the group, nobody is there to protect them from trouble.

The same is true in local church. We have each other to help protect us from trouble. Every one of us will be attacked by the evil one but thank God for our church family. We can pray for each other and hold each other accountable. We can protect each other from wandering away from the faith. We need each other. You can't make it on your own. God knows that and this is why He gave us this list of "one anothers" in scripture. I hope that you will take the time to look through this list and see why we need each other so much.

1. Be at peace with one another (Mk 9:50)

2. Love one another (Jn 13:34)

3. Be joined to one another (Ro 12:5)

4. Be devoted to one another (Ro 12:10)

5. Honor one another (Ro 12:10)

6. Rejoice with one another (Ro 12:15)

7. Weep with one another (Ro 12:15)

8. Live in harmony with one another (Ro 12:16)

9. Accept one another (Ro 15:7)

10. Counsel one another (Ro 15:14)

11. Greet one another (Ro 16:16)

12. Agree with each other (1 Co 1:10)

13. Wait for one another (1 Co 11:33)

14. Care for one another (1 Co 12:25)

15. Serve one another (Gal 5:13)

16. Carry one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)

17. Be kind to one another (Eph 4:32)

18. Forgive one another (Eph 4:32)

19. Submit to one another (Eph 5:21)

20. Bear with one another (Col 3:13)

21. Teach, admonish each other (Col 3:16)

22. Encourage one another (1 Th 5:11)

23. Build up one another (1 Th 5:11)

24. Spur one another on (Heb 10:24)

25. Offer hospitality to one another (1 Pe 4:9)

26. Minister gifts to one another (1 Pe 4:10)

27. Be humble toward one another (1 Pe 5:5)

28. Confess your sins to one another (Jas 5:16)

29. Pray for one another (Jas 5:16)

30. Fellowship with one another (1 Jn 1:7)

WHY WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL WHEN GOD SAYS "NO"

Think about a time you were praying about something that you felt very strongly about and how you were sure that God was leading you that direction. If God said "No" to that prayer, how did you feel? Surprised? Discouraged? Confused?

Ron, Judy, Sue, Darlene, myself and Matthew

I had that happen to me earlier this year and it wasn't until this week that I found out why God said "No". I was making arrangements for us to go to the Philippines again this year and suddenly, the trip was cancelled. Our partner told us that he couldn't work with us again. I was very surprised, very discouraged and very confused because I had already been four times and was looking forward to working with more Filipino pastors and preaching more revivals, this time in Mati and other regions. But now, that plan was gone.

Pastor Joe, Juliet, Darlene, Sue, Richard and me on the way to Mati in 2014

Preaching a street revival in one of the compounds

For several days, I really wondered what happened... why weren't we going to the Philippines again. But then after talking and praying with my wife, family and friends, I had peace with it knowing that everything happens for a reason.

This week, I saw the reason in a new email from my partner, Pastor Joe. Here is part of what he said... 

"I am sorry to inform you that Mati City Police Camp or Head Quarter was attacked last Sunday February 15 by the Communist New People's Army. A gun battle errupted. It is not very safe to travel now for American visitors. Also, and encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and our Special Action Force last January 25 have resulted to 44 killed of our Policemen. Again, the Peace and Order situation in our island of Mindanao is not conducive for travels and visitors like Americans. I can not encourage you to come. It is very dangerous... Both the New People's Army and Muslim Rebels are very active and unpredictable in their struggles to achieve their goals. This means as far as I am concerned it is no longer safe to invite Americans to conduct ministries open to the public.  this is the issue that we really worked wisely and with prudence when we tried to work with American preachers and missionaries." 

Another American pastor and I would have been traveling to that area in less then four weeks had God not said "No". Matthew would have joined us a few days later. As soon as I read that email, I thought, "God, You are my deliverer!"  

Psalm 18:1 (ESV) I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

The next time God tells me "No", I hope I remember this lesson and thank Him for His guidance and protection instead wondering why. God is so good and His love endures forever!!!

Psalm 100:5 (ESV)  For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES?

Luke 6:27 (ESV)  “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 
28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 
29  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 
30  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 
31  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 

Very few of us have taken the time to really understand the depth of this passage. Aren't we tempted to just skim through the passage and recognize the fact that we need to love everyone even if they are not nice to us? If we look closer at the wording, we will find this passage even more challenging to obey and also have a better understanding of how much we need Jesus Christ.

TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE SUPPOSED TO SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

Looking at the phrases one at a time, we will see what kind of example we are supposed to be setting for others.

 

"Love your enemies," 

The word used for "love" here is the Greek word, agapao [ag-ap-ah'-o], which means "to seek the highest good in the one loved."  [The Bible Knowledge Commentary] Perhaps you are more familiar with the noun form of this word which is agape. Some people explain agape as a "God-kind of love". Agape is a much higher form of love than the Greek word, "phileō" which means to "to be a friend to, have affection for". Now contrast agape to the Greek word used here, "echthros" for enemies and you will discover that it means "to hate, to be hostile, an adversary". JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO SEEK THE HIGHEST GOOD IN THOSE WHO ARE HATEFUL AND HOSTILE TO US. Let that sink in for a minute. That person who is hateful to you and acts hostile towards you is the very person that Jesus is telling you to love.

"do good to those who hate you"

Now we have the "kalōs" which means "well (usually morally)…honestly" and "miseō" which means "to detest (especially to persecute)". JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO TREAT PEOPLE WELL EVEN IF THEY DETEST US AND TRY TO PERSECUTE US. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 (ESV)  and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. If we are true followers of Jesus and we living like Jesus, then we are going to rejected and hated like Jesus was.

"bless those who curse you" 

The original word for “bless” as it is used here is "eulogeō" which means "to speak well of... to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper)". The word "curse" is from "kataraomai" and means "to curse, doom, imprecate [OR CALL FORTH] evil upon". JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO SPEAK WELL OF PEOPLE AND PRAY FOR THEM EVEN IF THEY ARE ASKING FOR EVIL TO FALL DOWN UPON US.

"pray for those who abuse you." 

"Proseuchomai" is the Greek word used for pray in this passage and it means to "pray earnestly for". The "epēreazō" is the Greek word for "abuse" and it means "to insult, slander:— use despitefully, falsely accuse" JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO PRAY EARNESTLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE INSULTING US AND FALSELY ACCUSING US.

"To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also" 

JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT TO SEEK RETALIATION OR REVENGE. Read these next passages and see what you discover. 

• Romans 12:17 (ESV)  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• 1 Peter 2:19 (ESV)  For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

"and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back."

JESUS IS ALSO SAYING THAT WE ARE TO GIVE GENEROUSLY EVEN WHEN WE FEEL THAT WE ARE BEING RIPPED OFF. Why would Jesus say that? Because when we give, we are following God's example and we are to focus on pleasing Him instead of trying to keep score with those around us.

"And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." 

JESUS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE TO TREAT OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE THEM TREAT US. Many people call this the Golden Rule. But let's be really honest here. How many of us are really doing a great job with the Golden Rule? How many of us are loving our enemies the way that Jesus was describing? How many of us are truly blessing those who are trying to curse us?

SO HOW CAN WE LIVE OUT THIS PASSAGE?

Before we answer that question, read two more passages of scripture.

• Romans 5:1 (ESV)  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
• Galatians 5:22 (ESV)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 

How do these passages answer the question "How do we love our enemies?" and the other phrases we looked at earlier?

1. BY REMEMBERING THE GRACE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED. Romans 5:2  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand--I have sinned, you have sinned, everyone of us have sinned. We need to remember that before we start to look down on somebody else. What if God was only as merciful to us as we are to other folks? What is He was only as forgiving to us as we are to others? Remember that grace that God has shown you and then show that kind of grace to others.
2. BY REJOICING IN ALL SITUATIONS. Romans 5:2-3 and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings-- This doesn't mean that we are glad that someone hates us or that we are having a problem with someone but it does mean that even during our hard times, we are rejoicing in the fact that God is with us and will take care of us.
3. BY RECOGNIZING THE BENEFITS OF SUFFERING WHICH ARE ENDURANCE, CHARACTER AND HOPE. Romans 5:3-4 knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope-- Though we do not want to have trials and stressful situations, we need to remember that we grow stronger through them. We have more endurance, stronger character and brighter hope to help us get through the next battle.
4. BY DESIRING MORE OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT TO BE EVIDENT IN OUR LIVES. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.-- This is what God is looking for in each one of us. These qualities enable us to love those who are hateful towards us and wish the worst for us. As we focus on God instead our "enemies", we will please God more through our thoughts, words and deeds.
5. BY LIVING IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT OF THE FLESH. Galatians 5:24-25  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.-- Romans chapter 8 is a great passage to give more explanation to this section of scripture. Look at Romans 8:1-11. 
6. BY NOT BEING CONCEITED, AGITATING OR ENVIOUS. Galatians 5:26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.-- Isn't it easier to get upset with someone who is arrogant towards you and agitating you than it is with someone who is humble and giving you some privacy? Sure. This verse tells us not to be arrogant, agitating or envious towards anyone else because it only leads to problems. 

Loving our enemies is obviously not easy but Jesus commanded us to do so. Who are you having a hard time loving right now? Would you pray about that situation and ask God to help you reconcile it? Would you pray for that person who has offended you and ask God to bless them? Remember, if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us.

ARE WE GOING TO KEEP WASHING OUR NETS OR LET THEM DOWN?

I just saw this pic from Logos Bible Software and I had to share it. Why? Several reasons...

One, because one of the themes in that passage is RECOGNITION. Peter recognized that there was something about Jesus that got his attention. This passage begins in Luke 5:1 (ESV)  On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2  and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. Peter and the other fishermen were washing their nets after an unsuccessful night of fishing. Jesus was teaching a large crowd and as the crowd gathered in, Jesus wound up on the shore and was running out of room so He got into Peter's boat and asked him to move out into the water enough that He could still teach the crowd. And Peter did what Jesus asked him to.

Has Jesus gotten your attention yet? Do you realize how different He is from everyone else?

Two, because one of the themes in that passage is SUBMISSION. Look what happens in verse 4. Jesus said "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Imagine that you are Peter and you are washing your nets and are disappointed in the fact that you didn't catch anything and now a teacher is going to tell you, the professional fisherman, how to catch some fish. Many of us would have said something like, "Look, man, you are a teacher and i am a fisherman. You take care of your stuff and I will take care of mine." but Peter didn't do that. Look at what Peter said to Jesus.  Luke 5:5 (ESV)  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 

"Master"? Peter had heard enough of His teachings to realize that they weren't on the same level, didn't he? He gave Jesus a quick report of the fishing conditions from the night before ("we toiled all night and took nothing"), but then says "Because You say so, I will let down the nets." Wow! Can you imagine how much that took for a man like Peter to say that? We find several places in the Bible where Peter says some things that get him into trouble with Jesus but not this time. He submitted himself to Jesus. 

What about you? Have you submitted to Jesus yet or are you still trying to do things your way? Peter didn't catch any fish the night before. Maybe things in your life are not going so well either. Submit your life to Him and watch what happens.

Three, because one of the themes in that passage is OBEDIENCE. Now we see that Peter did what Jesus told him to and Jesus was absolutely right about catching some fish! Luke 5:6 (ESV)  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. They not only caught some fish, but they caught so many that their nets were breaking! Think about that for a moment. These men are not just some guys who fish occasionally as a hobby, they are professional fisherman who do this for a living. They must have had the type of nets that professional fishermen would use and yet these nets were breaking because of the number of fish being caught. 

They caught nothing the night before but because they obeyed Jesus, they caught so many fish that they needed the other boats to help them bring the fish into shore. As if that wasn't dramatic enough, verse 7 says that the boats were so full of fish that they were beginning to sink! I can' help but smile at that one. When you obey Jesus, BIG things happen!

Are you obeying Jesus? If not, what's keeping you from doing what you are supposed to be doing? Excuses like "we toiled all night and took nothing"? Rebelling by saying "but we have already cleaned the nets for today"? Or maybe "What do you know about my life? I know what I am doing."

Fourth, because one of the themes in that passage is CONFIRMATION. How do you respond when something like that happens? What should you say? What should you do? Look what Peter did. Luke 5:8 (ESV)  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Peter recognized the power of Jesus and acknowledged his sins. He knew that he was not worthy to be in His presence but remember? Jesus came to him. Jesus sat down in his boat. Jesus asked him to pull away from the shore Jesus told him to let down his nets. 

Luke 5:9 (ESV)  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.  These men were so amazed at what had just happened that when Jesus said "Follow Me", they left it all. They didn't say, "Wait, can we sell these fish first?" They just walked away from it all and followed Jesus.

That is why that picture is so powerful to me. As we prepare for this new year, we need to ask ourselves if we recognize His holiness and power? Are we willing to submit to Him as we should? Will we obey Him with all of our lives like never before? I hope so. What about you?

Would you pray right now and ask God to forgive you of any unconfessed sins that you may have? Then would you commit to serving Him this year, even if it means "letting your nets down again"?

WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER

The time is now. We can't wait any longer. We must begin at this very moment. We must seek the Lord while He may be found.

Isaiah 55:6 (ESV)  “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

We need to decide today to wholeheartedly seek after God, not waiting until New Year's Day to make resolutions that we don't keep. Now. If there is anything in our lives that is not pleasing to God, let us repent (reject that sin and turn around to God) which is shown in verse 7 "let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD,". 

We must ask God to forgive us. We must seek His compassion and His pardon (forgiveness). If we don't, we will still be in our sins and our prayers will not be heard. Psalm 66:18 (ESV)  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. "Cherished" means "loved" and "iniquity" means "sin". So that verse is saying if we love our sin, then God would not listen to us. Why? Because we chose that sin over God.

BUT we must realize what our sins will cost us. Judgment. Punishment. Eternity in hell. Every time we sin, we EARN something. Romans 6:23 (ESV)  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. "Wages" are what you earn or deserve for your work. Your sin and my sin have earned us death BUT God has given us an opportunity to have eternal life instead. Not by being "good" or being "nice". Not by some rituals or routines. God will give us eternal life if, and only if, we have received it through Jesus Christ.

This opportunity is a "free gift". You and I don't deserve it. We can't earn it. We can't achieve it on our own. We must ask God to give us that eternal life through Jesus.Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  We can only receive this eternal life by putting our faith in Jesus.

How do we put our faith in Jesus? Great question. It is not easy and it is not a quick-fix to our problems. Putting our faith in Jesus requires our total commitment and our lifetimes to develop. 

First, we must recognize that we are sinners and apart from God's gift, we are headed for hell. Not because He doesn't love us but because we REJECTED Him. 

Second, we must ask God to forgive us of all our sins and to rescue us from the penalty of our sins by giving us eternal life through Jesus Christ. 

And third, we must commit our lives to Jesus and live our lives in accordance with His Word, the Bible.

Again, it's not easy and that is why we are blessed with other believers to help us and teach us and warn us when we are off track. We find these other believers in our churches. When we gather together, we are to seek God as we saw earlier in Isaiah 55. We are to focus on God and not ourselves. We are to ask Him to teach us, guide us and make us more like Jesus everyday. 

Have you put your faith in Jesus yet? If not, we would like to help you. You can reach us at brucenichols@rollingforkbaptistchurch.com  Please don't begin this new year without God. 

 

"HEY, MOM, I POURED OUT THE RED WATER FROM THE CANDLE FOR YOU"

Throughout our house, we have candles sitting around and some of them are various forms of cinnamon which is my favorite scent. When we light them, the house smells so good. When I saw one of those candles today, it reminded me of a funny story that features our son, Blake. Blake has always been know as a caring person. He loves to help others. Rhonda and I have been told for years what a loving young man he was and still is. 

One night, Blake said to Rhonda, "Hey, Mom, I poured out the red water that was in the candle for you." At first, we laughed because little Blake Thomas called the melted wax "water" but then quickly asked "WHERE did you pour out the red water???"

The candle that he was talking about was in the bathroom and he poured the "red water" into the sink. Still being warm, it poured very easily and he felt confident with his good deed. But as you know, when wax cools, it hardens. And it did. It clogged up the bathroom sink. After the pipe was cleaned out, Blake apologized for what he did. He really thought he was doing a good deed. 

We still laugh about that now but there is a very powerful lesson in that story. Sometimes we think we are doing something good but God shows us that we should always ask Him first. Isaiah 55:8 (ESV)  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. From our perspective, our choices usually make perfect since but God sees the whole picture at the same time and only He knows what is the right choice or not. 

That is why we should constantly be asking God for wisdom. Look at what James writes in James 1:5 (ESV)  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. God wants to give you wisdom. God wants you to do the right thing. God wants you to fully trust Him.

Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.  Remember, His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. We need to trust Him with all of our heart instead of leaning upon our own knowledge, talents and resources. If we acknowledge Him continually then He will lead us the right direction. Instead of thinking we know so much, we should focus on God with all of our attention, respect and worship. 

So the next time you see a red candle, think about the Light that God is shining in your life. He will direct you the right way. Just like Jesus said in John 8:12 (ESV)  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

DO YOU HEAR WHAT MARY SAID?

I know that some of you are grading my grammar on that title, thinking that I typed it wrong but I didn't. When reading Luke 1:38, do you hear what Mary said? Do you really understand what the total impact on her life would be because she said “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”?

To help you hear what she said, let's go back to Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)  In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29  But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Mary was a virgin engaged to Joseph and God found favor on her. Don't lose sight of verse 29 when it says that she was "greatly troubled at the saying". This wasn't a casual conversation that you have every day. An angel had appeared to her and it frightened her.

Oh, the beautiful words of verse 30... "Do not be afraid". We see them often in scripture but yet how many times is God telling us not to be afraid? [Before you read any farther, is there some area in your life that has you frightened that you could pray about right now and ask God to give you peace?]

After the angel said that Mary had found favor with God, he began to describe an amazing event that was about to take place in her life that would not only change her life forever but also everyone who would be saved by His life, death, burial and resurrection.

31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” If you were Mary, I am sure that this news would have surprised you too. Because she didn't know what she was supposed to do, she asked "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" in verse 34. The angel answers her by saying “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36  And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37  For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

Now comes the statement that I don't want you to miss. A statement so bold, so powerful, so full of faith! She said "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." Can you sense the tension in what she said? A virgin woman agreeing with becoming pregnant in such a way that most folks would never believe how she got that way. What if they tried to stone her because they accused her of adultery?  Agreeing  to becoming pregnant even though she didn't know how Joseph would handle that situation. And what about all of those details about Him being the Son of God? What did that mean? And yet she said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." 

Today, are you a totally-committed servant of the Lord? Are you willing to lay down your life to serve God and accept whatever He puts in front of you? What is holding you back from full obeying God?

May it be said of you and of me that we are willing to say "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."