Breaking of Bread

Breaking of Bread

The early church in Acts 2 did not limit their “remembering the Lord” in the breaking of bread to Sunday only.  They did it on other days as well.  However, as the gospel spread and many local churches were established the practice of doing it once a week on the Lord’s Day developed.  This is shown by the following Scripture: “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.”  Acts 20:7

Paul had been in Macedonia and was now going to Troas in Asia Minor with eight companions.  They had been delayed in their trip and arrived sometime during the week.  They stayed for seven days because they wanted to include a “first day of the week” in their visit.  This demonstrates their desire to be with the church in Troas when they “gathered together to break bread,” Paul’s primary purpose in going to Troas was not just to teach.  He wanted to be there on the first day of the week to participate in their weekly pattern of breaking bread. Luke uses the pronoun “we” in describing this visit.  This means that the eight believers traveling with Paul were also welcome to participate in the breaking of bread.  This is why our web-site invites visitors who are believers whose lives are of a godly character and free from serious moral sin to participate in the Lord’s Supper with us.

It is well to note that, though Paul himself was there, his presence was not allowed to overshadow the claims of the Lord. For it was primarily the breaking of bread that brought them together, showing what supreme control it had over their hearts, and that even the ministry of the great apostle himself ranked but as a secondary matter.  When the breaking of bread meeting was finished, then the apostle Paul was given the opportunity to speak and the congregation stayed to listen to him.

Paul was not in Troas to preside over the breaking of bread.He was not there to conduct a “communion service” and pass out the elements to the congregation.  The truth is that the breaking of bread is the action of the whole assembly of saints at which the Lord in the person of the Holy Spirit and no one else presides, not even Paul. He declared himself to be the less than the least of all saints. When it was a question of communicating the truth of God, he did so as an apostle and a prophet, as a teacher and a preacher. When it was a question of remembering the Lord he mingled with the rest. 

The pattern for the breaking of bread meeting is not defined specifically in the New Testament.  However, it is clear that singing hymns of worship and praise (psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord- Colossians 3:16}, prayer, the reading of Scriptures should be a part of it.  The Lord should be the focus of the Scriptures read and the thoughts shared.

When we come together for this meeting we should bring something.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14, “when you come together, every one of you has a psalm”…I would encourage our brothers that if you feel the Holy Spirit is prompting you to participate, do not hold back or you may be “quenching the Spirit”.  Even sisters play a big part in this meeting.  We sat close to Bev Boettcher for many years and she often had her hymnbook or Bible open to a song or Scripture she was thinking about.

The early church set the pattern for the weekly breaking of bread.  It is a time for remembering from our hearts what Christ did for us on the cross. Christ deserves that we devote this time to Him more than once a month or once a year.  The only church membership required to participate in the breaking of bread is that you are a member of His church that He loved and gave Himself for.  Whether you are young or old, you will bring great joy to the Lord Jesus by remembering Him in the breaking of bread.

Author: John Spence

A Great Debt, Who Can Pay?

The late Harry Allen Ironside, former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, Bible teacher, and prolific author, used to tell the story of a young Russian soldier. Because his father was a friend of Czar Nicholas I, the young man had been made paymaster in one of the barracks. He meant well, but his character was not up to his responsibility, and he began gambling, eventually losing a great deal of the government's money and all his own.

In due course the young man received notice that a representative of the czar was coming to check the accounts. That evening he took out the books and totaled up the money that was to be paid out to the soldiers in the barrack; then went to the safe and retrieved his own pitifully small amount of money. As he sat looking at the books and money, he was overwhelmed at the astronomical debt versus what was left in the safe. He was ruined! Disgrace was certain; prison was looming!

The only solution was to take his life. He pulled out his revolver, placed it on the table before him, and wrote a summation of his misdeeds. At the bottom of the ledger where he had totaled up his illegal borrowings, he wrote, "A great debt! Who can pay?" He decided that at the stroke of midnight the deed would be accomplished—he would end it all.

As the evening wore on the distraught young man grew drowsy and fell asleep. It was during this time that Czar Nicholas I, as was sometimes his custom to disguise himself to check on his men made the rounds of the barracks. Seeing a light under a door, he stopped, went in, and saw the young man asleep. He recognized him immediately and, looking over his shoulder, saw the ledger and realized all that had taken place.

He was about to awaken him and put him under arrest when his eye was fastened on the young man's message: "A great debt! Who can pay?" Suddenly, in a surge of generosity, he bent over, wrote one word at the bottom of the ledger, and slipped out.

When the soldier awoke, he glanced at the clock and saw that it was long after the midnight hour. He reached for his revolver, but his eye fell upon the ledger, and he saw something that he had not seen earlier. There beneath the exclamation that he had written—"A great debt! Who can pay?"—was a single signature:  Nicholas.

He was dumbfounded! It was the czar's own signature. He thought to himself, "The czar must have come when I was asleep. He has seen the book! He knows all! Still he is willing to forgive me!"  The young soldier then rested on the word of the czar, and the next morning a messenger came from the palace with exactly the amount needed to meet the deficit. Only the czar could pay . . . and he did.

What a great reminder of what Christ has done for us. Beneath the words, "A great debt! Who can pay?" there has been written a single signature:  Jesus.

Only Christ could pay for our sins . . . and He did!

A story told by H A Ironside summarized and retold by John Spence.

BE IN TIME

In Noah's day, when man's evil had crested,

God's patience was spent, His goodwill arrested,

His solemn pronouncement, a change in His plan,

"My Spirit shall not always strive with man."

The Pharaoh of Egypt, a really sad case,

Defies His Creator, and right to His face.

"And who is the Lord, that I should obey Him?"

"I know not the Lord." - confessing his whim.

Then Pharaoh continues to harden his heart,

God's warnings unheeded, this course is not smart.

Resisting God's Spirit, has sealed this man's doom,

He's chosen a way, that leaves mercy no room.

God's voice is still calling today. Have you heard?

He speaks in the pages of His holy Word.

He offers a pardon, a cleansing from guilt,

All paid for by Jesus, - His blood that was spilt.

This offer has limits, you must not be late,

Don't harden your heart, lest you seal a sad fate.

The door stands wide open, come in while you may,

The Lord will receive you. So, what do you say?

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Beware of that cry!

You've no guarantee, upon which to rely.

Whoever receives Him, He will not cast out,

His Word remains faithful, removing all doubt.

"The ball's in your court." He's done all that He can,

He's showered His love and His grace upon man.

The choice you must make will determine your fate,

Choose Heaven, not Hell. - And don't you be late.

D.E. Zwicker - July 2016

Five Crowns - Part 2

The Crown of Righteousness (His coming)

 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8

 All Christians have been declared by God to be righteous because Jesus paid for our unrighteous sins on the cross.  “He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. Therefore all Christians to a degree have a right to claim this crown. In favor of the view that the crown of righteousness is given to all believers is that the phrase, “all who have loved His appearing,” seems to be a description of all believers. If Christ has saved you by shedding His blood for your sins, you long for the day when you will see Him.

Because it is obtained and possessed in a righteous way, and not by force and deceit as earthly crowns sometimes are, it is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord and eagerly wait for His return. Through our enduring discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity.

That “Day” also refers to the time when we will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and have our lives evaluated for rewards. The fact that we will stand before the Lord, the righteous Judge, on that day should motivate us to live righteously on this day.  There will be a special reward for living our Christian lives in a righteous way.

The Crown of Glory. (Shepherding)

“Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed:  shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” 1 Peter 5:1-4

The shepherd’s crown will be given to leaders in the church who lovingly and graciously oversee and lead God’s people.  They faithfully exercise oversight because God has assigned them this responsibility.  They practice their leadership by being examples rather than by trying to dominate their flock.

The reward for faithful shepherding is the unfading crown of glory. The rewards come when the Chief Shepherd returns. That Christ is the “Chief Shepherd” again reminds us that leaders are only under shepherds, accountable to the Chief. We presently do not see the Chief Shepherd, but soon He will be made visible, when He comes again in power and glory, to shepherd the nations with a rod of iron. Therefore, the motivation for serving as shepherds now must never be to receive the praise of men, but only the desire to hear on that great day, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Then we will share in His glory! Unlike earthly rewards which fade, that crown will last forever.

Crown of Rejoicing (Soul Winners and Evangelists)

For who is our hope, or joy or crown of rejoicing, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Or is it not indeed you?  For you are our glory and joy.” 1 Thessalonians 2:10-20

This is the soul winners and evangelist’s crown given to those who win others to Christ.   The apostle Paul was not content to be saved himself. Paul said the real joy was that he would have spiritual children that he would bring with him, whom he had led to know Jesus Christ as Savior.

Have you ever led a soul to Christ? You may say, “I am not an evangelist. I am not a good personal worker.” But have you ever tried? God loves to use those who are willing to be used. Almost anyone can give out gospel tracts. Any Christian can pray. Anyone can support missions. There are more ways than one by which earnest Christians can lead souls to Christ. When that glad day comes when we are in the presence of Christ, will we have some trophies of grace?

What Will We Do With These Crowns?

In Heaven we will “worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast our crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:10-11.  He will receive the praise.

Author – John Spence

Three Crowns - Part 1

Olympic athletes train for years to obtain rewards for their accomplishments but these rewards fade away and do not last beyond this lifetime.  Christians will also be rewarded for their faithful service at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  These rewards will last for eternity.  The Judgment Seat of Christ is not like a final exam that qualifies us to enter heaven.  If we have trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior and have had our sins forgiven, then we are qualified to enter heaven because our sins, past, present, and future were all paid for at Calvary’s Cross. 

When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ our whole life will be reviewed and rewards will be given for our faithful service to Him.  These rewards are viewed in the New Testament as Crowns. There are five heavenly Crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. They are the crown of life, the imperishable crown, the crown of righteousness, thecrown of glory, and the crown of rejoicing.

The Greek word translated “crown” is stephanos and means “a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally.” Used during the ancient Greek games, it referred to a wreath or garland of leaves placed on a victor’s head as a reward for winning an athletic contest. As such, this word is used figuratively in the New Testament of the rewards of heaven God promises those who are faithful.

The Crown of Life (Trials)

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has passed the test, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him”. James 1:12. Many Christians experience trials in their lives and it often involves suffering.  It can be from sickness, physical injuries, or aging.  Also, Christians have been imprisoned and made to suffer for their faith. 

James says a person who perseveres under trials can be blessed in this life, but James real emphasis is on the rewards of heaven. The “crown of life” refers to the eternal life that we will enjoy forever with God. It is not that we earn eternal life as a reward for our endurance. Rather, eternal life is God’s gift of grace, but we don’t enter into the full enjoyment of it until after we have persevered in the race that God has given us to run in this life. “If we endure, we will also reign with Him” 2 Tim. 2:12.

The strength to endure trials comes from our love for Christ.  You might expect James to say, “the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who persevere,” or “to those who obey,” or “to those who believe in Him.” But rather, he says, “to those who love Him.” Why does he say this? Love for Christ motivates us to persevere under trials. Love for Christ does not keep us from trials. Rather, it gives us the strength to endure. Love for Jesus Christ is the necessary motivation to serve Him, especially when serving Him causes hardship and persecution. If we are struggling with suffering in trials, we need to examine the quality of our love for Christ.

The Imperishable Crown  (Disciplined Life)

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave”  1 Corinthians 9:25-27

It is a reward for Christians who have a priority in their lives to serve the Lord by practicing self-discipline and control over their worldly appetites.   This crown is also referred to as the Victor’s Crown. The Christian life is being compared to a race in which a runner is competing to obtain a reward for winning this race.

The prize for a physical race does not last. The Christian is in a spiritual race which has an eternal prize for winning the race. The crown for winning this race will last forever.  We have to compete with many things that prevent us from running this race well.  Self-discipline is required. In order to practice self-discipline, we have to say “No” at times not just to things that are sinful but instead give priority to things that are of eternal value.  Life is full of good things but sometimes they interfere with the better things that Christ has to offer us. 

Author – John Spence

THREE SONS

A Certain Man Had Two Sons or the Story of Three Sons – Luke 15:11-31

These 31 verses from the Bible book of Luke that tell us of a -

·       younger son who ‘traveled to a far country and wasted his possessions with prodigal living’ (15:13), and an

·       older son who ‘never disobeyed his father’s orders’ (15:29), neither of which however, would have any hope for an eternal relationship with God except for

·       The Son who is telling the story.

Firstly, we want to be deeply impressed with this One who is the storyteller, as we discover in the book of Luke that He is –

The Son of the Highest - (1x) Luke 1:32

The Son of God - (7x) Luke 1:36, 38; 4:3, 9, 41; 8:28; 22;70

The Son of Man - (26x) Luke 5:24; 6:5,22; 7:34; 9:22,26,44,56,58; 11:30; 12:8,10,40; 17:22,24,26,30; 18:8, 31; 19:10; 21:27,36; 22:22,48,69; 24:7;

The Son of the Highest is a reminder that Jesus is absolutely unique, none being higher in Person or Position or Power that He will display someday soon.

The Son of God reminds us that Jesus is The Son from all eternity, being co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and the Person of the Godhead who -

·       Perfectly executed the mind of the Father in creation - ‘For… all things have been created through Him and for Him’,  (Colossians 1:13-16),

·       Perfectly executed the mind of the Father in redemption - ‘the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.’ (Colossians 1:13,14), and will in a future day will

·       Perfectly execute the mind of the Father in regards to the coming judgments as - ‘the Father judges no one, but as committed all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22)

The Son of Man is a reminder that this Person of who is The Son, stepped into the world He created, taking on the life of humanity, going to the Cross, and remaining a man forever,

·       To ‘seek and to save the lost’. (Luke 19:10)

·       Having ‘the authority to forgive sins’,  (Luke 5:24),

·       To ‘suffer many things…be killed and be raised the third day’. (Luke 9:22), 

·       Now is ‘seated at the right hand of the Power of God’. (Luke 22:66), and

·       Soon ‘is coming [back] at an hour that you do not expect’. (Luke 12:40)

What is striking about the younger son who we might call the ‘bad kid’, while he cared nothing about a relationship with the Father, was deeply interested in the benefits and privileges that came along with being a son through creation, and no had no shame in in asking his father to –

·       ‘give me the share of the estate that I have coming to me.’ (15:12) and upon receiving it would

·       ‘travel to a distant country where he squandered his estate in prodigal living’ (15:13). Thank God for that moment in time

·       ‘when he came to his senses’, (15:17), and

·       ‘he got up and went to his Father.’  who when

·       ‘He saw him, ‘ was filled with compassion, ran and threw his arms around his neck and kissed him,’ (15:20, 21), and then

·       slaughtered the fatted calf, and they began to celebrate’. (15;23, 24), a celebration that will continue on eternally.

The older son who we might call the ‘good kid’, like the younger son also cared nothing about a relationship with the Father, but was also deeply interested in the benefits and privileges that came as a result of being a son through creation. When the Father heard that the older son would not come into the celebration, he went out to him and invited him in to also participate in the eternal relationship that is made possible through the Cross Work of The Son. Sadly there is no record that he ever did.

We do not know if you are like that the younger son who has lived a prodigal life, but have repented, and been brought back into an eternal Relationship with his Father based on the Cross Work and Resurrection of The Son, or if you are like the older son of whom there is no record of repenting from his self-satisfied ways. Either way, would encourage you to turn to back to God today and based on the Cross Work and Resurrection of Jesus Christ The Son –

·       confess – I have sinned (15:21) and 

·       ask - ‘God [to] be merciful to me, the sinner’. (18:13).

The God of creation is able to save you and to make this eternal relationship possible, because of the Cross Work and Resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Author: Sid Osborn

SIN

SIN

Why Do We Do It?

Why Would We Cause Others To Do So?

Sin is serious business, and when man sinned in the Garden, the vertical relationship between God and man was broken, as explained in the Bible, ‘when Adam sinned, sinned entered into the world, and brought death, so that death spread to everyone, for everyone has sinned. (1)

Sin – this is the root problem, and the Sins that we commit are the fruit problem that comes out of that root problem of Sin.

The good news is that when God sent His Son into the world 2,000 years ago, is that He never succumbed to the temptations of and the pressure to sin. He thwarted the ‘devil’s’ attempts as he walked in the power of the Spirit of God that had descended upon Him at John the Baptist’s baptism and used the Word of God as a response to the ‘tempter’s’ very real temptations.

But that was not all. On the Cross the Lord Jesus would not only pay for ours sins that we might be forgiven of our indebtedness as He ‘bore our sins in His own body on the Cross. (2) but He was treated by God as if He were the ‘sin’ problem and judged for it. ‘God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be Sin, that you and I might be made the Righteousness of God in Him. (3)

Now that we have been made the Righteousness of God in Christ (which can never change) and have been forgiven of the Sins we have committed because He paid for them, we should recognize that it would be a horrible thing for us or others to cause a Little One (a New or Young Christian) to commit a sin against God. It is such a great sin that Jesus says, ‘if anyone causes one of these Little Ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. (4)

To become a Christian, we all must become like a ‘little child’’, that is, in lieu of what I think about myself, I recognize and agree with God what He says about me and my needy condition because of my Sins. Then I agree with Him about who His Son is and the enormous Cross work He accomplished to satisfy God as to the Sin question and my Sins, so that I could be brought into relationship with Him. Then I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, ‘for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (5)

Now as Christians we are responsible not to stumble newer or weaker Christians. There may be areas where we are free to do or allow things in our lives, but that may very well be a problem in the life of a New or Younger Believer. Paul says that it is terribly wrong to cause another believer to stumble, (6) because of our insensitivity to their ‘weaker conscience’, when they see us do or allow something that they feel or believe would be wrong in their own lives.

So, what is the solution? Sometimes believers allow sin or carelessness in our lives, and it clouds our thinking as to the ‘holiness of God’ and dulls on our sensitivity as to where Newer Believers might be in their relationship with Him. The Bible says that ‘if we confess our sins (agree with the Lord’s assessment of our carelessness or sin issues and take personal responsibility for them) He is faithful to forgive us of these sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, (7) which once again will give us His clear thoughts as to our responsibility and privilege in regards to our relationship with New Believers, so that they will not stumble or even have their lives (not their souls) destroyed. Let’s be quick to give Jesus His position of Lord in our lives, confess our sins to Him when we do wrong, as it results in a clean conscience and a decision to know God’s Will instead of my own, so we do not stumble other Christians

(1) Romans 5:12

(2) 1 Peter 2:24

(3) 2 Corinthians 5:21

(4) Matthew 18:6

(5) Romans 10:13

(6) 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

(7) 1 John 1:9

Author: Sid Osborn

Why Do We Do It?

Why Would We Cause Others To Do So?

Sin is serious business, and when man sinned in the Garden, the vertical relationship between God and man was broken, as explained in the Bible, ‘when Adam sinned, sinned entered into the world, and brought death, so that death spread to everyone, for everyone has sinned. (1)

Sin – this is the root problem, and the Sins that we commit are the fruit problem that comes out of that root problem of Sin.

The good news is that when God sent His Son into the world 2,000 years ago, is that He never succumbed to the temptations of and the pressure to sin. He thwarted the ‘devil’s’ attempts as he walked in the power of the Spirit of God that had descended upon Him at John the Baptist’s baptism and used the Word of God as a response to the ‘tempter’s’ very real temptations.

But that was not all. On the Cross the Lord Jesus would not only pay for ours sins that we might be forgiven of our indebtedness as He ‘bore our sins in His own body on the Cross. (2) but He was treated by God as if He were the ‘sin’ problem and judged for it. ‘God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be Sin, that you and I might be made the Righteousness of God in Him. (3)

Now that we have been made the Righteousness of God in Christ (which can never change) and have been forgiven of the Sins we have committed because He paid for them, we should recognize that it would be a horrible thing for us or others to cause a Little One (a New or Young Christian) to commit a sin against God. It is such a great sin that Jesus says, ‘if anyone causes one of these Little Ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. (4)

To become a Christian, we all must become like a ‘little child’’, that is, in lieu of what I think about myself, I recognize and agree with God what He says about me and my needy condition because of my Sins. Then I agree with Him about who His Son is and the enormous Cross work He accomplished to satisfy God as to the Sin question and my Sins, so that I could be brought into relationship with Him. Then I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, ‘for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (5)

Now as Christians we are responsible not to stumble newer or weaker Christians. There may be areas where we are free to do or allow things in our lives, but that may very well be a problem in the life of a New or Younger Believer. Paul says that it is terribly wrong to cause another believer to stumble, (6) because of our insensitivity to their ‘weaker conscience’, when they see us do or allow something that they feel or believe would be wrong in their own lives.

So, what is the solution? Sometimes believers allow sin or carelessness in our lives, and it clouds our thinking as to the ‘holiness of God’ and dulls on our sensitivity as to where Newer Believers might be in their relationship with Him. The Bible says that ‘if we confess our sins (agree with the Lord’s assessment of our carelessness or sin issues and take personal responsibility for them) He is faithful to forgive us of these sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, (7) which once again will give us His clear thoughts as to our responsibility and privilege in regards to our relationship with New Believers, so that they will not stumble or even have their lives (not their souls) destroyed. Let’s be quick to give Jesus His position of Lord in our lives, confess our sins to Him when we do wrong, as it results in a clean conscience and a decision to know God’s Will instead of my own, so we do not stumble other Christians

(1) Romans 5:12

(2) 1 Peter 2:24

(3) 2 Corinthians 5:21

(4) Matthew 18:6

(5) Romans 10:13

(6) 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

(7) 1 John 1:9

Author: Sid Osborn

YOUTH - Part 2

In SPIRIT

This word is found three times in Paul’s letter to Timothy, twice referring to the Holy Spirit of God who has sealed us and lives inside of every true believer in Christ. Often we forget that God dwells inside believers by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and in this case it is the evidence in Timothy’s, and our lives that we are under His control and experiencing His power for living the Christian life. It is a good reminder that we cannot live the Christian life outside of His power, as it is the Holy Spirit who connects us to the Lord Jesus who is in heaven. When we realize this, the Holy Spirit influences us, giving us a right spirit as we live out the life of Christ. A life lived in this manner will be fulfilling and fruitful, and an example that points others to Christ Paul encourage us to ‘walk by the Spirit and we will not carry out the desires of the flesh’. Galatians 5:16

  in FAITH

This word is found in eighteen verses in Paul’s letter to Timothy so obviously must be very relevant. Faith is an important word that is sometimes misunderstood, so we want to be clear that saving faith is that which brings us into an eternal relationship with God through Christ. We are saved at a point in time by faith in “Christ alone”, as we believe and personally apply to ourselves who He is (His Person) and believe and personally apply to ourselves what He accomplished on the Cross for us (His Work).

 I recently heard the following true story: The assistant Chief of Police of a large City received a phone call at home late one evening.  Two of his officers had been trapped in a gun battle so he drove to the scene of the crime only to find one of his officers dead.  On the passenger seat next to the ‘fallen’ police officer he saw the officer’s ‘bullet proof vest’ that had never been ‘put on’, even though the officer believed in its’ value, and believed it would have saved his life if he had put it on,

‘Saving faith’ not only believes in the Person and Work of Christ, but it is necessary to personally receive Him as Lord and Savior. The law enforcement officer should not only have believed academically, but should have ‘put on’ the vest, making it his own.

 While we are saved by faith in Christ alone, it is not a faith that is alone, as ‘saving faith’ is always followed by a changing life as we ‘walk by faith’, practically lived out as we study, believe, and act on the Word of God. This second aspect of faith is also always expressed with an action.  It is vital to have been saved from our sins by faith in Christ alone, and now as a result of that, to be in the process of living by faith as we walk with Christ, studying and acting on His word. The writer of the book of the Hebrews would remind us that ‘without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him’. Hebrews 11:6

  In PURITY

This word is found twice in Paul’s letter to young Timothy and it is the only book of the Bible where it is used. Paul understood that the moral temptations that young people face and might fall into, would ruin their testimony for the Lord Jesus, and also have a devastating effect of on their minds and lives. Today, a significant percentage of professing Christian young people go away to college and then abandon their faith. Very often the real issue is that immorality has been practiced, causing their minds to become confused and the God given spiritual armor of protection for their minds to be removed, allowing the world’s thinking and teaching to do its devastating work. When confronted, some have continued in their impure lifestyles rather than act on the Word of God in repentance and faith and return to blessed lives of purity.

                                                         Author: Sid Osborn

YOUTH - Part 1

YOUTH - Part 1

Author: Sid Osborn

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers    in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. I Timothy 4:12

Timothy came from a family who had faith in Jesus Christ for the two previous generations. His mother Lois and his grandmother Eunice had been spiritually influenced by the man who had met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. This Damascus Road meeting resulted in a radical transformation of the writer of this letter to Timothy, and in it he would remind Timothy ‘that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom [he/Paul] was chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15. His transformation included a change ** from Saul to Paul  ** from the one who had persecuted the church with imprisonment and death, to the ‘apostle’ who would write fourteen of the New Testament books.

It is a wonderful thing to be beneficiaries’ men and women whose lives were changed and have become Godly examples to us and realize that is now our opportunity to be examples to those who are following us.

Timothy is a young man and Paul recognizes that while he has a real relationship with the Lord Jesus, there would be distractions and temptations, and he wants to encourage him (and other young believers) to live a life that will be fruitful, with no regrets. It is our purpose is this article is to look at the six challenging areas that are significantly important in living out this life, so that this young man Timothy could and would be a Godly example to others.

In WORD

This word in the Greek language is such an important word that it is used eight times in this letter to Timothy, and Paul reminds Timothy that the words that come out of his and our mouths and our manner of life should always be consistent with the teaching of the Bible which is the Word of God. Young men and women today, while facing the very real challenges of youth, have the privilege to read, to study, and to obey the Word of God so that their words can be true and include a life style that points others to a life where Jesus Christ is the focus. James in his book instructs believers to ‘be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was’. James 1:22-24

In CONDUCT

This word is found thirteen times in the New Testament, and Paul as well as James and Peter use it to encourage believers to have a lifestyle and behavior that is consistent with the teaching of the Word of God. When our conduct is inconsistent with the Word of God that we claim to believe, those we are around recognize that we are hypocritical, and are often repelled from coming to Christ rather than being drawn to Him. Let’s be sure to confess any inconsistencies in our lives to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to help us live lives for His glory. He loves to answer prayers like this, especially as we are honest with Him about our failure and express our need for His help. Peter in his book encourages us to ‘have our conduct honorable among the gentiles, so that when they speak against you as evil doers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God on the day of visitation’ 1 Peter 2:12

in LOVE

This word is agape in the Greek language, and is found five times in Paul’s letter to Timothy, While this word means affection or kindness, the root word from which it comes is the ‘unconditional’ love of God, and shows us that if our lives are going to be characterized by affection and kindness to others, we must first be beneficiaries of the ‘unconditional’ love of God through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, followed by what the apostle John calls an ‘abiding’ or a ‘day to day’ ongoing relationship with Him. Let’s be sure to continue to appreciate and cultivate that relationship that we have been brought into with Him, so we can display it practically in our lives to others, so that they may be either drawn to Him, or encouraged in their relationship with Him. John reminds us that ‘there is no fear in [this] love; but perfect love casts out fear,.. 1John 4:18

Part 2 to be continued February

PEACE

PEACE

We are living at a time when there is increasing unrest and violence in the world. It seems that each new day brings with it further disappointments, new conflicts and added troubles. All of this is very unsettling, and many people are longing after, and even crying out for peace in their hearts and souls. In their desperation they wonder if such a peace really does exist, and if it does exist, where can it be found.

Here is some good news for you if you are seeking peace in this restless and troubled world. God Himself has provided a way for each of us to experience everlasting peace in our hearts and souls through the atoning death of His Son on the cross. Jesus suffered there to pay for the sins of everyone who will put their trust in Him. In the Bible we read, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) The moment we turn from our sinful ways and trust in Jesus and His atoning death we receive the gift of everlasting peace. When we receive Him as our Savior by faith, none of our sins will ever be held against us. We read in (1 John 1:7), “The blood of Jesus Christ, His (God’s) Son cleanses us from all sin.’’

Having this wonderful peace with God is the solid foundation for enjoying the peace of God in every circumstance of our lives. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that we can experience the peace of God in spite of the troubled world that we are passing through.

In (Colossians 3:15) we read, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Here are four examples of how we can let God’s peace rule in our hearts.

1)    “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

One of the surest ways to upset a peaceful mind and heart is to let our minds be occupied, and dwell on negative and impure things. On the other hand, if we walk in the instructions given to us in the above verses, we have the wonderful promise, “The God of peace will be with you.

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2)    “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Another thing that often disturbs our peace and troubles our souls is our tendency to worry too much about so many things. How often have you been concerned about someone or something, and then, not seeing a solution to your concern, you started to worry. The verse above has the right course of action for us. We are to cast all of our care(s) upon the Lord because He cares for us. If you are anything like me, you have cast your burden upon the Lord, and then, 5 or 10 minutes later there you are, trying to carry the weight all over again by yourself. May the Lord teach us how to cast our cares upon Him and leave them there in His capable hands. Replacing worry with real peace is the right thing to do.

3)    “My son, do not forget My teaching, but let your heart keep My commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.” (Proverbs 3:1-2)

This is a wonderful and sure way of enjoying the peace of God in our lives every single day. Notice that first, we are told, “do not forget My teaching” and then, second, we are told, “let your heart keep my commands.” This reminds me of what we read in the book of James, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” We are to feed on God’s word daily and then walk in the light of what He has revealed to us, this surely is the way to blessing and the peace that He has promised to provide.

4)    “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good things.” (Romans 10:15b)

Another way that we can enjoy the peace of God in our daily lives is to share the good news of salvation with others in our sphere of influence. There are persons all around us who need the Lord in their lives desperately. Living without God, and without hope is a very sad condition. We know the only One who can enlighten their darkness and bring lasting blessing and peace into their lives. Let us share “the good news of good things.” And see what the Lord can do.

Author - Dave Zwicker

Where in the World Are We Going - Part 3

In our first REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR article we focused on who Jesus is.  In the second article we focused on what Jesus did when He went to the Cross and Rose again.  He is the Person we need to believe in and receive in order to know we will be with Him in heaven when our journey through this life is over.

In this third article we will look ahead to see what Jesus is going to do, based on who He is and what He has done for us when He went to the Cross.

About 2,000 years ago, this One who became a man, stood at a judgment seat before Pilate the Roman governor and was unjustly convicted. He was sentenced to the Cross, but while he did suffer at the hands of men there.  He would also suffer at the hand of God, taking responsibility for the sins of all that would receive Him, and pay for them as if they were His own, so that we who have now received Him will never have to bear the judgment we deserved.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God who did this, will in a coming day will also be the Judge of all mankind. The Bible the Father, in fact judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. John 5:22

As He ‘in the beginning’ perfectly executed the mind of the Father in God’s Creation Plan, and as He ‘on the cross’ perfectly executed the mind of the Father in God’s Redemption Plan. in a coming day this One who was judged un-righteously by man, will perfectly and righteously execute the mind of the Father in God’s Judgment Plan.

This event is recorded in the last book of the Bible and is described as…Then I saw a Great White Throne and Him who sat upon it from whose face the earth and heaven fled away… And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened

And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books… And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 20:11-15

What this reminds us of, is that in the world today there are only two kinds of people.

Those of us who are guilty, but after pleading guilty before God and receiving Christ as His provision for our guilt, will never be judged for our sins because a Holy God will only punish sins once.  It is a wonderful thing that Christianity is the only belief system where we can afford to be honest with God, and when we agree with Him that we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23, and receive His Son as our Savior, we are forgiven and brought into an eternal relationship with God, and as promised in the Bible to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.  John 1:12

The other group of people in the world are those who are guilty as well, but have never acknowledged it before God and received His provision of forgiveness and eternal life that is only available through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is the group described here in Revelation 20. There lives will be fairly and justly evaluated as the first set of books is opened, and after a fair and just trial, they will be found guilty.  The reason that they are cast into the Lake of Fire however, is because they never acknowledged their guilt and received God’s provision of His Son as their Savior, and had their name written in His other book, which is the Book of Life.

The Lake of Fire is a place and condition where one is eternally separated from God, and it was never intended for man, but the eternal fire was prepared for the Devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41

If you have never done so before, the Bible reminds us that Look, now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:1            

Author – Sid Osborn

Where in the World Are We Going - Part 2 of 3

PART 2

In our last REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR article, we focused on who Jesus is, which is the first vital fact we need to believe in order to know where we will go when our journey through this life is over.  It made me think of the words of a song that was written by Graham Kendrick who had discovered who Jesus is –

“Meekness and Majesty, Manhood and Deity, In perfect harmony, the Man who is God”

The second vital fact that we will focus on in this article is what Jesus accomplished by going to the cross.  We have no hope of understanding why we are here nor where we are going unless we become beneficiaries of the two emboldened points above.

In the first chapter of John’s gospel, John the apostle records what John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus coming toward him, saying “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” In the 19th chapter, John the apostle records the horrific crucifixion of Jesus Christ when, as the Lamb of God, He paid for our sins and shed His blood that we might be forgiven.  It is a worthy expenditure of time to take a few minutes and personally read John chapter 1 and John chapter 19 in your Bible.

Jesus was on the cross for six hours, between 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, and it is of interest that the gospels of Matthew (27:45), Mark (15:33), and Luke (23:44) spend considerable time focusing on the second three hours of the six-hour time period, between noon and 3:00 pm. The three gospels tell us that at noon, darkness fell across the whole land until 3:00 pm, and that it was during this second three-hour period that Jesus was abandoned by God, as evidenced by His recorded words, “My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?” as God made Christ “who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21) and He died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

 SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS TO US WHEN WE BELIEVE ‘WHO HE IS’ AND PUT OUR CONFIDENCE IN ‘WHAT HE DID FOR US WHEN HE DIED ON THAT CROSS’?

·        But to all who believed and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

·        In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins… (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14)

·        Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…(Romans 8:1)

·        But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)

·        These things have I written unto you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)

·         So, if we have received Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become children of God, we are forgiven of our sins (forgiveness means to have our debt cancelled), we are no longer under condemnation, we are now seen as righteous as God is because of the ‘cross’ and not by our own works, and we now have eternal life.

These are just some of the incomparable benefits of “trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ”.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW THAT WE KNOW THIS? (IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE SO, PLEASE DO SO TODAY)

For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:12)

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Author: Sid Osborn