I Stand Alone on the Word of God

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

I have been writing and preaching about attitudes lately – referring to an old saying of mine – Christianity Boils Down to Attitude – the condition and position of the heart.  Today’s passage reminds us what impacts the attitudes of the heart.  Namely the Word of God! Reading and understanding the Bible is essential as we mature in Christ.

We have had a number of people put their faith and trust in Jesus lately at Mt. Oak (Praise the Lord).  Something exciting is happening at Mt. Oak – just this past week a sister saw her prayers answered as her husband gave his heart to Jesus.  The best advice I can give him and others is to begin to read the Bible and join a Bible study where he/they can search together the truths of God.

General Conference of the United Methodist Church is meeting in Tampa, FL this week (and last).  Some important decisions are being discussed.  Each day I pray for the Holy Spirit to pour out upon them and for the delegates to uphold Biblical standards.  Thanks to Central Conference delegates – mainly delegates from Africa – they have held firm to the Biblical view of marriage (between one man and one woman) for instance.

The Bible can help us understand any and all circumstances of life if we read it and allow the Holy Spirit to help us understand it.  It is the Biblical truth that judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Satan working through the world around us will constantly be trying to get us to move away from Biblical truths and a Biblical worldview.  I pray that Mt. Oak – the United Methodist Church – and other believers will not be taken captive by the society we live in – but rather would hold firm to what we know to be true through the Bible.  Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.  If we must – we must stand alone on the word of God rather than succumb to the ways of the world.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Please continue to pray for General Conference 2012 which is underway in Tampa, Florida.

Scripture is God-breathed

Our vision is to reach the whole family for Christ.  As we develop plans and best practices for reaching the whole family for Christ, we would do well to remember that it is in the Bible where we can find the foundations of our faith.

Whatever we plan to do, it must be in-line with the teachings found in the Bible.  We must not try to keep in step with the world or secular thinking when it differs with the Bible.  We should keep current in the ways of reaching the whole family, without changing the truth we are trying to share with them.  The example I have used in my ministry has been my grandfather’s sermons. I could preach the truth found in them, but the examples used would need to change to be current.  As long as the truth remains the same, the methods can change.

In one of his writings, Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these words.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As we develop plans and best practices for reaching the whole family for Christ, we need to remember to become students of the Bible and its truths first.  We should then be very careful how we interject the ways and practices of our society.  Paul urges us to be careful to not include the hollow and deceptive philosophies of the world because they are not based on Christ.

Colossians 2:8 – 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

The world will call many sinful acts natural that are sinful and thus try to persuade us to accept them.  Examples can be found in the world’s view toward expressions of human sexuality.  Society will accept things that Christians should not and bombards us and our families with their vile swill.  Examples can be found in movie ratings, the world excepting things that Christians should have nothing to do with at any age.

Pray with me that as we develop plans and best practices that we will always remain faithful to the Bible – the word of God.  Pray that everything we do is Biblical and pleasing in God’s eyes.  Thanks.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Saved by God’s Right Hand

Psalm 138:7

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

I remember growing up in Seat Pleasant and Annapolis – two very different communities.  But in both communities, as I was working my way through Elementary School, Junior and Senior High School, it was often how strong you were or how strong your friends were that counted. Quite often loners were picked on and they had a hard time.

In Elementary School, during recess, the athletic boys and girls would be playing kickball together.  Some of the other boys and girls, who were going together, would parade around the fields walking hand in hand.  Ugh I thought, I would rather be playing ball. There were other groups around school as well such as band members who hung together, studious students often stayed together, and even the way people dressed put them in or out of some groups.

Occasionally groups would clash, nothing violent mind you, just turf disagreements, like when a ball would roll into the parade line – lol – or when we were playing dodge-ball and the ball would bounce over to where the cool kids were standing.  The clash would be short lived – partially because the athletes wanted to get back to playing ball and the other group wanted to get back to whatever they were doing.  But during those brief moments, when someone was trying to make a name for themselves, it was tense.  People would take sides – people would stand opposite one another and pose and posture as if they were about to fight.  Occasionally there would be a brief skirmish, only to have one of the bigger kids step in and break it up or a teacher.

During these times you learned who your friends were – who would stand by you in a fight.  I remember a friend of mine who was going to have a fight after school in Junior High.  I was told to hold his books.  He also told me to come help end the fight if he was in real trouble.  I imagine the other boy had someone that was instructed in this way as well.  Even when trying to act tough, we often want someone to save us in the end.

Some of us go through life thinking we can handle all that life brings our way.  We are tough, we think.  But occasionally times are tougher.  At times we realize that what we are up against is greater than we can handle.

If we haven’t come to Christ before such times arrive, we often turn to Him when things get really bad.  Attendance in worship rose during World War II for instance.  People were looking for some help!  Looking for someone to stand with them during the fight.

Hear me when I say a relationship is usually required before someone will stand up for you in trouble.  You need to have developed some mutual trust, some mutual respect, a relationship with someone to get them to stand with you in troubled times.  How’s your relationship with God these days? When tough times arise, would God know you from a deep relationship? The Psalmist had a relationship with God – when he proclaimed that God would help him during tough times.

Psalm 138:1-7 - ¹ I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. ² I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. ³ When I called, you answered me;  you made me bold and stouthearted. ⁴ May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. ⁵ May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great. ⁶ Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. ⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,  you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Seeking the Lost: Do we have a heart to reach the lost?

Luke 15:1-7

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. ²But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

I love this story – Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Jesus – sitting with the sinners of His day according to society – was trying to teach the religious leaders of His day the heart of God.  They didn’t get it and at times I don’t think we do either. A quick look at how we spend our resources in the church will reveal that we spend way more on the 99 in the flock (church) than the 1 lost in the world.

When we come to worship week after week – are we more concerned with what we want or how we can be used to help someone come to Christ?  Have we gone out of our way – even attending the other service if need be – to reach a neighbor, a friend, a family member and invite them – even bring them to worship with us?

When is the last time we went out looking for the lost?  When is the last time our small group invited someone to join us?  When is the last time in youth group we stepped out of our clique and helped make a new person feel welcome?  When is the last time we worried more about making someone feel welcome at our worship service or any activity?  When is the last time we went out looking for someone to invite?

Easter is fast approaching – April 4 – and it is a perfect opportunity to begin to invite the lost – who do you know that doesn’t know Jesus?  Who could you invite and tell them you will meet them here and sit with them so they know someone?  Or even offer to pick them up?

God rejoices in the new converts – the lost being found. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.

How about this Easter we all invite 5 people to worship with us?  And then make that our practice each week – seeking those who do not know Jesus and going out of our way to help them see Jesus.

If I offered the person who brought the most people to worship on Easter $100, would it be worth the effort?  Or is the possibility that a family member, friend, or neighbor, comes to know Jesus worth it?  Two Sundays ago I counted seven people who raised their hand – saying that they received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in one of our worship services.  That could have been someone you love – if you would simply invite them and not give up.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

There is No Excuse!

Romans 1:20

²⁰For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

I’ve always appreciated this passage.  It is a bottom-line type of passage.  If all other means of reaching a person or a society have failed – God is still evident in the creation – there is no excuse for not seeing and understanding God’s presence and awesomeness.

Have you ever argued this point or had someone argue it with you?  What if there are people who have never heard of God?  How will God deal with them? The example given is usually a deserted island somewhere with people who haven’t seen or heard from the rest of the world in centuries.  You could argue that all people came from Adam and Eve and so they had a faith in God as a root.  You could argue that all people came from Noah and his family after the flood and had a root of faith.  Somewhere along the way the ancestors of those who are on the deserting island made a break from faith in God and now generations later the descendants are living without faith in God.  So what happens to them?

You could suggest that the sins of the fathers and mothers are visited upon the generations to come, but some do not like that argument.  Yet there is some truth to it.  If I left the faith and raised my children that way and they did the same – my sin started generations of sin.

The best answer, in my humble opinion (IMHO), is today’s passage.  Even if there were a people somewhere who had never heard about God, God is still evident in the creation, and there is no excuse.  Let me put today’s verse in context.  Paul is beginning his letter (Epistle) to the church in Rome.  He introduces himself in what we have labeled the first chapter and he lays out the reason for his letter.  He is called to preach to Greek and non-Greek alike in Rome and throughout the world.  His is eager to share with them the truth of the Gospel and to empower them with spiritual gifts.  The reason he is so eager to carry out the ministry before him is that the wrath of God was being revealed and he wanted folks to avoid it.

Romans 1:18-20 - ¹⁸The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Paul wanted those in Rome to believe, so that they would avoid the wrath of God.  What a word for us today.  Is there someone in your family, someone in your close circle of friends, that doesn’t know God?  Are you eager to share what you know with them so they may avoid the wrath of God?  There is no excuse – if you don’t share – God is made evident by creation – but – God may wish to use you to help bring someone to faith.  Are you willing to be used by God?  Paul said he wasn’t ashamed of the Gospel – are we? Romans 1:16 -I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:

Easter is coming my friends.  One of the easiest times of the year to invite folks to church.   How about starting now and praying about who God would have you invite to worship with you on Easter morning?  Begin as soon as God lays people on your heart.  Fill up a whole row or several rows with family and friends.  If you are a parent with grown children or a grandparent – and your children or grandchildren ask you what they can get you for Easter or your birthday, anniversary, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or some other special day,  tell them just come to church with me on that Sunday.  Who knows, but that one Sunday might be just what is needed to prick their hearts to become people of faith.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way. 

The Bible: God’s Word

2 Peter 1:16-21 (The Message)

^16-18We weren’t, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes: Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight.” We were there on the holy mountain with him. We heard the voice out of heaven with our very own ears.

^19-21We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts. The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.

I want to look at Scripture and its authority.  If Scripture is authoritative in our lives than Scripture is the base of our understanding as we sculpt doctrine. I believe that our theology reflects our view of the Bible.  If we believe the Bible is the Word of God we will weigh it heavily in our understanding of God.  If we see it as a good book, a nice guide, but humanly created, we will not.  On one hand the Bible is authoritative, on the other it is no more authoritative than our personal experience, community history or our reasoning.

I love the way The Message puts the last part of today’s passage.  The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.

The Bible – God’s Word – has been divinely transmitted to us.  Peter, an Apostle, firmly believed this truth.  He shares this understanding with his readers.  The Scriptures are not from human minds. The Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak and write God’s Word.

Paul, an Apostle, wrote something very similar about Scripture in one of his letters.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Jesus Himself understood the Scriptures to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.  He is quoted in Mark’s Gospel saying that David was inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote in the Psalms.

Mark 12:36 – 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘

One could argue that these writers were all referring to the Old Testament, because that was Scripture for them.  The church has adopted both the Old and New Testaments as Scripture.  I believe that God was referring to the whole of Scripture when He inspired the writers about Scripture.  Even though the writers knew very little about what we call the New Testament, God knew.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 – 1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

What are your thoughts concerning the authority of God’s Word?