It is now just two days after the earthquake in Haiti and we are seeing hundreds of thousands of lives lost. There was no warning of the earthquake just people going about their daily lives thinking they had more time to live and consider what really matters. For many in Haiti the time to consider what really matters is over, millions more are now more aware than ever that life does not last for long. It can be snuffed out with a quick shake of the ground and it is all over.
Even this morning we have news of a college basketball player who fell on the floor and was rushed to the hospital only to be declared dead moments later. He was a great player in good health. He was only a sophomore and he had years left of his life or so many thought. No one knew that he was playing his last game with the opening tip off.
What is to be made of these happenings in our world? One thing is sure, we have only this moment before us to consider Christ. There is no guarantee of our next breath. There are some television preachers who proclaim that it is because of sin that the nation of Haiti had this devastation. Others may proclaim that it was because of sin that this player died suddenly. Such statements do not correctly represent the gospel.
To be sure they are right in what they said, all people die because of sin. No one leaves this world in perfect righteousness. We are all under the curse of sin and death because of it. We all have rebelled against God and all equally deserve his judgment. But God in his grace has revealed his Son to us and those who have fled to Christ will escape the coming judgment at the end of the age.
All of these storms and sudden deaths are merely what happens in a world that has rebelled against God. The disciples were walking along the road one day and they were thinking of tragedies in their day and they thought of the thousands of Jews who were slaughtered by Pilate as they went to the temple one day. Listen in on their conversation. Luke 13:1-9 (NIV)
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
Such seems to be the answer of a modern day television evangelist. TO be sure he was right in that Haiti was under a curse but see how Jesus responds to their question.
3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Jesus' replied, No, they were not worse sinners than you. The reason that they died is the same reason we will all die, we have sinned against God and as a result this world is under a curse, not just the nation of Haiti but all of the earth stands under a curse.
Once again the question comes "Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?"
The disciples are just like us in this way, we somehow think when bad things happen to others it happens because of some specific sin they committed, so we think to ourselves we must be better because this has not happened to us. Let us forever put away such thinking. Let the Word of the Lord correct us in this attitude. Hear now the Word of our Lord as he responds to such a question, "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Here is the message the Word of the Lord gives us about disasters and tragedies that come upon us unaware. This world is under a curse and it will always be under a curse until it is purified by the coming of our Lord. (For more information about this read II Peter chapter 3.)
When we see disasters and tragedies it should point us all to the fact that it will happen to us one day as well. We will be walking along and then death will sweep over us and take us. The Scripture says that it is appointed unto man once to die and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) All of us have an appointment with death and it is fixed in the eternal counsel of God. So how should we respond to this news of tragedy and disaster when it happens?
First let us examine our own hearts to see if we are prepared to meet God in judgment. Any death is a reminder to all of us that none of us will escape this life alive. Are we in the faith? Have we turned from our sins and trusted solely in Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins? Then we are safe in Christ alone and we do not need to fear our physical death for it will only be the doorway into eternal life with God.
If we are not in the faith let us flee at once while we still have breath in our lungs to Christ for forgiveness and cleansing. There is no other way to be prepared for eternity.
Then if we know others who do not yet know Christ let us go to them and plead with them to trust in Christ for they know not the day of their death. It may come upon them suddenly like the earthquake in Haiti, or it may creep upon them like old age creeps upon many and they lose their ability to see and remember and respond to God and his Word.
So let us give ourselves to Christ afresh and anew and let us sound the clarion call of repentance and trust in Christ as man's only hope to escape eternal death and destruction.
Hear once more the words of our Lord who said, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish." No, the Haitian nation is not any more cursed than we are here in America. We just do not know how fragile our life really is. Some falsely think that they can trust in their health for long life but this was not the case yesterday for a twenty one year old healthy basketball player from Southern Indiana.
We work to alleviate the suffering of the world not thinking we can end all suffering for that will not happen until the new heavens and the new earth are made. We work to alleviate suffering now because we desire all men to see the goodness of God and come to repentance. So let us go forth with a towel and food and medicine and care to those who suffer and let's at the same time speak of the grace of Christ who loved a lost world and stands ready to save those in eternal danger of perishing forever.
This is the gospel and this is what we must proclaim in these days.
Taking a Good look at Scripture
Pastor Phil
Teachng the Word
Friday, January 15, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The urgency of the Gospel
Ezekiel 3:17-19 (NIV)
17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Acts 20:25-31 (NIV)
25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Have you ever considered how many people you pass by each day? Have you ever felt the weight of the gospel as you go about you daily routine? God is jealous for His Son's glory and he has set us with the task of telling the gospel to all who live around us. How shall we accomplish such a great undertaking when it seems that most do not have the time to listen to the story?
Let me suggest a few possibilities. !. Begin to ask God to give you divine appointments with those you encounter each day. As you pass by each person lift up a prayer to the Father asking for his discernment as to how to share about Christ with this person. It may be just a kind word or a smile breathed in prayer. It may be you hand them a tract that explains the gospel for them to read later. It may be that you offer a word of praise as you are passing through the checkout counter. It may be that you actively listen to those who express a difficult day and then offer to pray for them.
2. It may be that you write out a personal presentation of the gospel and have it copied so you can distribute it to those you encounter. I have found that this one thing really helps to set in your mind what exactly it is that you believe. You may want to have your pastor or some other leader in your church to help you evaluate the contents of your writing.
3. It could be that you take advantage of writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing biblical views on any number of cultural concerns.
4. It could be that you take notice of the obituary column and send note of prayer to those who have lost loved ones recently.
5. It could be that you volunteer to spend time in your church's prayer room praying for the lost in your area and around the world.
These are just a few ideas that you could develop to help you be a faithful proclaimer of the good news. Certainly Paul had developed a way in his day to share about Christ with everyone he met so he could say that he was free from the blood of all men because he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God to them. Let us also be among those who have been found faithful.
A word of warning though, if you go on record as belonging to Christ and set your heart to declare the gospel expect difficulty to begin to visit you since you have now decided to go on the offensive against the enemy.
Join with me and others who have set our hearts on declaring the good news of the gospel until the Lord comes for us. I want my last words in this life to be, "I urge you to repent and turn to Christ."
Pastor phil
17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Acts 20:25-31 (NIV)
25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Have you ever considered how many people you pass by each day? Have you ever felt the weight of the gospel as you go about you daily routine? God is jealous for His Son's glory and he has set us with the task of telling the gospel to all who live around us. How shall we accomplish such a great undertaking when it seems that most do not have the time to listen to the story?
Let me suggest a few possibilities. !. Begin to ask God to give you divine appointments with those you encounter each day. As you pass by each person lift up a prayer to the Father asking for his discernment as to how to share about Christ with this person. It may be just a kind word or a smile breathed in prayer. It may be you hand them a tract that explains the gospel for them to read later. It may be that you offer a word of praise as you are passing through the checkout counter. It may be that you actively listen to those who express a difficult day and then offer to pray for them.
2. It may be that you write out a personal presentation of the gospel and have it copied so you can distribute it to those you encounter. I have found that this one thing really helps to set in your mind what exactly it is that you believe. You may want to have your pastor or some other leader in your church to help you evaluate the contents of your writing.
3. It could be that you take advantage of writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing biblical views on any number of cultural concerns.
4. It could be that you take notice of the obituary column and send note of prayer to those who have lost loved ones recently.
5. It could be that you volunteer to spend time in your church's prayer room praying for the lost in your area and around the world.
These are just a few ideas that you could develop to help you be a faithful proclaimer of the good news. Certainly Paul had developed a way in his day to share about Christ with everyone he met so he could say that he was free from the blood of all men because he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God to them. Let us also be among those who have been found faithful.
A word of warning though, if you go on record as belonging to Christ and set your heart to declare the gospel expect difficulty to begin to visit you since you have now decided to go on the offensive against the enemy.
Join with me and others who have set our hearts on declaring the good news of the gospel until the Lord comes for us. I want my last words in this life to be, "I urge you to repent and turn to Christ."
Pastor phil
Friday, January 8, 2010
How Important is the Gospel?
Acts 20:22-24 (NIV)
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Yesterday I did something I have been praying about for some time. I was not a believer when I graduated from high school 35 years ago and over he years I have often prayed about how to share Christ with my graduating class of 1975. I knew that there would be some repercussions from sharing about Christ and I was somewhat concerned about that but as I have watched our culture continue to spiral out of moral truth I decided yesterday that the time was now.
I penned a letter that I sent to everyone by e-mail yesterday. It went out to about 200 of my former classmates. Today I received one letter back so far telling me that they were glad I had found religion but they found it offensive that I would use such an e-mail list to proselytize my classmates. At the end of the letter they did wish me a happy new year.
This response got me to thinking more about the necessity of the gospel. As I have been reading several biographies of those who have gone before us and those who have lost their lives for the sake of the gospel I was at once convicted and challenged to no longer be silent with the gospel.
I began to think what it would be like to stand next to our brothers and sisters across the history of the church at the end of time and hear them ask us what we had suffered for the cause of Christ. They may tell us of their scars and the life they had lived and the cost they paid and then it would be our turn and the question would come, “What scars do you have to show for your confession of Christ in your day?”
I thought for a moment and knew at once something was terribly wrong. What scars do I have to show for my walk with the Lord? Possibly a few that think I am crazy for believing in such "Nonsense." Every time I step onto an elevator I find myself grow timid, I step into a room of unbelievers and feel afraid because I do not want them to think I am a fool. My silence has been too deafening, my courage too lacking. I believe it is no longer time for us to be silent about the Gospel.
To be sure we must live lives that demonstrate the truth of the gospel. We should pray for our enemies and love those who despitefully use us, but we should not stop at that we must speak the gospel. There was an old preacher who was thought very wise when he said to his congregation, "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words." When I first heard that I thought to myself, “What a nice statement.”
It sounded good in my ears and gave me a sense of rest. I no longer had to share the truths of the faith I just had to live a good moral life led by the Spirit. What a breath of fresh air, I thought.
I could not have been more wrong. The gospel is a matter of words, right words, and right doctrine. To only live a moral life is to reject the very gospel we seek to proclaim. The one who gave us the gospel speaks from His Word, Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
The salvation of those who will rust in Christ is dependent on preachers being sent. Romans 10:13-17 informs us that it is the preaching of the Word that is heard in the ear that produces faith in the redeemed. Words are absolutely essential to this ministry that God has called us to. Without words being spoken there will be no faith be exercised.
But we also must know this that when we begin to speak these words the enemy will do whatever he can to shut our mouths. Let us labor to be as the early disciples and say that we cannot help but speak of the things which we have seen and heard. O God may you open our mouths even more in these days so the dead can hear and live again.
Speaking up for the Gospel,
Pastor phil
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Yesterday I did something I have been praying about for some time. I was not a believer when I graduated from high school 35 years ago and over he years I have often prayed about how to share Christ with my graduating class of 1975. I knew that there would be some repercussions from sharing about Christ and I was somewhat concerned about that but as I have watched our culture continue to spiral out of moral truth I decided yesterday that the time was now.
I penned a letter that I sent to everyone by e-mail yesterday. It went out to about 200 of my former classmates. Today I received one letter back so far telling me that they were glad I had found religion but they found it offensive that I would use such an e-mail list to proselytize my classmates. At the end of the letter they did wish me a happy new year.
This response got me to thinking more about the necessity of the gospel. As I have been reading several biographies of those who have gone before us and those who have lost their lives for the sake of the gospel I was at once convicted and challenged to no longer be silent with the gospel.
I began to think what it would be like to stand next to our brothers and sisters across the history of the church at the end of time and hear them ask us what we had suffered for the cause of Christ. They may tell us of their scars and the life they had lived and the cost they paid and then it would be our turn and the question would come, “What scars do you have to show for your confession of Christ in your day?”
I thought for a moment and knew at once something was terribly wrong. What scars do I have to show for my walk with the Lord? Possibly a few that think I am crazy for believing in such "Nonsense." Every time I step onto an elevator I find myself grow timid, I step into a room of unbelievers and feel afraid because I do not want them to think I am a fool. My silence has been too deafening, my courage too lacking. I believe it is no longer time for us to be silent about the Gospel.
To be sure we must live lives that demonstrate the truth of the gospel. We should pray for our enemies and love those who despitefully use us, but we should not stop at that we must speak the gospel. There was an old preacher who was thought very wise when he said to his congregation, "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words." When I first heard that I thought to myself, “What a nice statement.”
It sounded good in my ears and gave me a sense of rest. I no longer had to share the truths of the faith I just had to live a good moral life led by the Spirit. What a breath of fresh air, I thought.
I could not have been more wrong. The gospel is a matter of words, right words, and right doctrine. To only live a moral life is to reject the very gospel we seek to proclaim. The one who gave us the gospel speaks from His Word, Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
The salvation of those who will rust in Christ is dependent on preachers being sent. Romans 10:13-17 informs us that it is the preaching of the Word that is heard in the ear that produces faith in the redeemed. Words are absolutely essential to this ministry that God has called us to. Without words being spoken there will be no faith be exercised.
But we also must know this that when we begin to speak these words the enemy will do whatever he can to shut our mouths. Let us labor to be as the early disciples and say that we cannot help but speak of the things which we have seen and heard. O God may you open our mouths even more in these days so the dead can hear and live again.
Speaking up for the Gospel,
Pastor phil
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Finding Joy in the Midst of Despair
Often after the holiday season many find themselves in the throws of despair or depression. Things they had put their hopes in did not offer the deliverance from the fleshly word that we live in. They open of some gift bringing with it the form of lasting hope and peace does not materialize and once again life is thrown into the regular often mundane, even depressing situations of living in a fallen world.
Where shall we find our hope in such case? Does the Christian life have any offer to those who find themselves in this season of gloom? From one who often finds himself ins such cases hear these words clearly; the Gospel is our only hope for deliverance from such states. As David spoke to his own soul we must speak to ours, "Put your hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is my savior and my God." Psalms 42
We are commanded by Scripture to put our hope in God alone not in what we feel or in what we do to find our deliverance. Are you depressed, in the pits, feeling gloomy? Then look away from your despair unto Christ. See him standing at the right hand of the Father serving as your righteousness. The day of your eternal redemption is coming and the guarantee that you will not be in this pit forever is Christ, your redeemer. Look unto him and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth.
IN the same manner that you looked to Him for salvation at first you must look to him in this for he alone is your only hope. We labor in this hope for he who promised is faithful and he will rescue, though for a season if need be we may be in heaviness for our Sovereign God's appointed ends, which are always for our good and for His glory. Let us therefore boast in our weakness, though it be finding ourselves often in such places, for we shall soon be caught up to be with the Lord forever at the last trumpet call of God.
Surely now we can see that these times are meant for our savoring and rejoicing in our Lord when he comes for us, for had we not such pits of despair we would not savor the rescue of our Savior. SO let us rejoice when we find ourselves in such places for this is working for us a more sweet release when he comes for us.
Looking Unto Jesus, the Author and Hallelujah the Finisher of my Faith,
Pastor phil
Where shall we find our hope in such case? Does the Christian life have any offer to those who find themselves in this season of gloom? From one who often finds himself ins such cases hear these words clearly; the Gospel is our only hope for deliverance from such states. As David spoke to his own soul we must speak to ours, "Put your hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is my savior and my God." Psalms 42
We are commanded by Scripture to put our hope in God alone not in what we feel or in what we do to find our deliverance. Are you depressed, in the pits, feeling gloomy? Then look away from your despair unto Christ. See him standing at the right hand of the Father serving as your righteousness. The day of your eternal redemption is coming and the guarantee that you will not be in this pit forever is Christ, your redeemer. Look unto him and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth.
IN the same manner that you looked to Him for salvation at first you must look to him in this for he alone is your only hope. We labor in this hope for he who promised is faithful and he will rescue, though for a season if need be we may be in heaviness for our Sovereign God's appointed ends, which are always for our good and for His glory. Let us therefore boast in our weakness, though it be finding ourselves often in such places, for we shall soon be caught up to be with the Lord forever at the last trumpet call of God.
Surely now we can see that these times are meant for our savoring and rejoicing in our Lord when he comes for us, for had we not such pits of despair we would not savor the rescue of our Savior. SO let us rejoice when we find ourselves in such places for this is working for us a more sweet release when he comes for us.
Looking Unto Jesus, the Author and Hallelujah the Finisher of my Faith,
Pastor phil
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Salvation of A Great Sinner
January 5: Luke 15:20 (NIV)
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
What is necessary to understand for a full and meaningful walk with the Lord in this world? Some may answer, “Your theology must be perfect. You must not have any unworthy thoughts of God." Others may respond, “Make sure your life is ordered only be the Scriptures and that you possess no unwholesome practices in you." Still others reply, “Care not for anything but that you are saved and worry not about such things as theology, behavior or the like, and just live your life."
A man who was well known for his rejection and open ridicule of the Christian faith and its dictates would spend the first almost thirty years in complete wanton disregard for the truths of the gospel. He would live as a reprobate and encourage others in the same way. Even though he had been spared numerous times from certain death on the high seas and in ordinary life routines he would not turn to Christ.
He had attempted a few occasions of living the Christian life but all to no avail. These turns would only last a few months or at best a couple of years but he would once again return each time to greater reprobation. What would be his hope? From where would he find his deliverance? He tried to turn to the churches of his day only to find false teachers filling her pulpits. He tried reading books on religion or philosophy but nothing seemed to work. It would be a gradual awakening over time after being delivered from certain death on the high seas one more time that he would begin in earnest to seek after this God who had spared his life time and again.
How would God receive such a person who had spent the first part of his life living in wanton disregard for the things of God? The text before us today answers much to the shock of the world, that our Great Redeemer does not wait for us to come home he runs after us and finds us in the far country and as we turn to him he runs towards us to receive us. Can this be true? Yes Church this is the truth which we have received and on which we stake our claim. The good news of the gospel is that when we once see the utter hopelessness of our condition we will find our Savior running toward us with open arms.
O Holy Spirit come and bring your conviction of sin that we might see our utter brokenness so we too can be rescued as the great hymn writer John Newton who penned these wonderful words for us, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound the that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see.”
Proclaiming such an Amazing Grace,
Pastor phil
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
What is necessary to understand for a full and meaningful walk with the Lord in this world? Some may answer, “Your theology must be perfect. You must not have any unworthy thoughts of God." Others may respond, “Make sure your life is ordered only be the Scriptures and that you possess no unwholesome practices in you." Still others reply, “Care not for anything but that you are saved and worry not about such things as theology, behavior or the like, and just live your life."
A man who was well known for his rejection and open ridicule of the Christian faith and its dictates would spend the first almost thirty years in complete wanton disregard for the truths of the gospel. He would live as a reprobate and encourage others in the same way. Even though he had been spared numerous times from certain death on the high seas and in ordinary life routines he would not turn to Christ.
He had attempted a few occasions of living the Christian life but all to no avail. These turns would only last a few months or at best a couple of years but he would once again return each time to greater reprobation. What would be his hope? From where would he find his deliverance? He tried to turn to the churches of his day only to find false teachers filling her pulpits. He tried reading books on religion or philosophy but nothing seemed to work. It would be a gradual awakening over time after being delivered from certain death on the high seas one more time that he would begin in earnest to seek after this God who had spared his life time and again.
How would God receive such a person who had spent the first part of his life living in wanton disregard for the things of God? The text before us today answers much to the shock of the world, that our Great Redeemer does not wait for us to come home he runs after us and finds us in the far country and as we turn to him he runs towards us to receive us. Can this be true? Yes Church this is the truth which we have received and on which we stake our claim. The good news of the gospel is that when we once see the utter hopelessness of our condition we will find our Savior running toward us with open arms.
O Holy Spirit come and bring your conviction of sin that we might see our utter brokenness so we too can be rescued as the great hymn writer John Newton who penned these wonderful words for us, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound the that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see.”
Proclaiming such an Amazing Grace,
Pastor phil
Fixed on the Sovereign God
January 4: 2 Samuel 7:28 (NIV)
28 O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
How shall we face the coming year with all of it uncertainties and trials? Let us take courage from the text of Scripture in front of us today. Our God is sovereign and he controls everything in his universe, nothing, not even evil can occur without his divine permission and direction. Such thoughts are perhaps too marvelous to us to grasp and yet they are true nonetheless. Whatever God has promised will come to pass no matter how many forces are aligned against such truths.
It was this confidence in the Word of God that would compel Adoniram Judson to cross the thousands of miles of ocean to set his course toward India and Burma. He would leave his homeland and family and travel with his wife, Ann and together they would give birth to several children that would all die under the harsh tropical climate. Along with the loss of his children, Adoniram would see his own beloved wife, Ann, taken by the same diseases.
How shall one fare when faced with such hardships? Hear in his own words how Adoniram viewed the sovereignty of God which would sustain him on the foreign field for decades while he would tarry for the Master often alone on foreign soil. "If I had not felt certain," he says, "that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated sufferings." Judson joined with Paul in declaring: "The love of Christ constraineth me ... Therefore I will glory in reproaches, in persecution and in distresses for Christ's sake."
We all face many trials in this life but none so hard that the sovereign God cannot keep us in the midst of such trials. He can deliver us from such trials but his most often way is to sustain us in His Word through such trials. Let us go forth into this new year with the confidence that the sovereignty of God will keep us, for he who commanded he light to shine out of darkness has shined into our hearts and he has already given us the knowledge of God in the face of Christ our Savior. If we have such a treasure like this then let us face the future with unwavering confidence.
Facing the Future under the Sovereign God’s Care,
Pastor Phil
28 O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
How shall we face the coming year with all of it uncertainties and trials? Let us take courage from the text of Scripture in front of us today. Our God is sovereign and he controls everything in his universe, nothing, not even evil can occur without his divine permission and direction. Such thoughts are perhaps too marvelous to us to grasp and yet they are true nonetheless. Whatever God has promised will come to pass no matter how many forces are aligned against such truths.
It was this confidence in the Word of God that would compel Adoniram Judson to cross the thousands of miles of ocean to set his course toward India and Burma. He would leave his homeland and family and travel with his wife, Ann and together they would give birth to several children that would all die under the harsh tropical climate. Along with the loss of his children, Adoniram would see his own beloved wife, Ann, taken by the same diseases.
How shall one fare when faced with such hardships? Hear in his own words how Adoniram viewed the sovereignty of God which would sustain him on the foreign field for decades while he would tarry for the Master often alone on foreign soil. "If I had not felt certain," he says, "that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated sufferings." Judson joined with Paul in declaring: "The love of Christ constraineth me ... Therefore I will glory in reproaches, in persecution and in distresses for Christ's sake."
We all face many trials in this life but none so hard that the sovereign God cannot keep us in the midst of such trials. He can deliver us from such trials but his most often way is to sustain us in His Word through such trials. Let us go forth into this new year with the confidence that the sovereignty of God will keep us, for he who commanded he light to shine out of darkness has shined into our hearts and he has already given us the knowledge of God in the face of Christ our Savior. If we have such a treasure like this then let us face the future with unwavering confidence.
Facing the Future under the Sovereign God’s Care,
Pastor Phil
What God can Do With One Man Totally Committed to Him.
January 3: Philippians 3:12-14 (RSV)
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
In this day of success driven ministries and church growth conferences and principles of how to grow large churches and build thriving ministries I find some things very disturbing, something of vital importance is being neglected. I just finished reading a brief biography of Dwight L. Moody and found things in his life that were very visible at the outset that never left his ministry.
At the beginning of his ministry Mr. Moody heard a preacher raise the question, “The world has yet to see what God can do with one man that is totally committed to him.” Upon hearing that it is told that D.L. Moody said to himself and a few gathered around him that he wanted to be that man. It would be his practice from then on to rise early every morning for prayer and serious Bible study. Most mornings would find him up before 4 a.m. studying in his small prayer room.
This practice of significant Bible study would be the foundation on which God would build a worldwide ministry. Out of his commitment to serious Bible study he discovered the regular discipline of intercessory prayer. It would become his lifelong thrill to take every concern to his Heavenly Father and seek to prove the reality of God by his own prayers. He would often call many of those who supported his ministry to times of prayer and fasting for specific meetings in the cities he would travel in.
Out of his continued walking with God he came upon the commitment to not let a day go by where he did not talk with at least one person about their need for Christ. There would be some days when he would be preparing for bed and realize that he did not speak with someone about their need for Christ and he would get up and go about the city seeking to find one person whom he could share his Savior with.
I suppose if you were to travel with Mr. Moody you have been somewhat embarrassed by his constant pleading with people to put their faith in Christ. The conversation would not cover the topics of the day but would often turn to the truths of Scripture. Gossip would not do around Mr. Moody for there was too little time and too many lost persons around to spend it in trivial conversations.
May we set our course like that of Mr. Moody and set our sights much higher because of the path he has set for us, which in reality is only the path that our Savior has set before us. Let us seek to study and pray and share as if we had no more time before our Savior would come for us.
God give us the same spirit that was given to Mr. Moody, in our day,
Pastor Phil
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
In this day of success driven ministries and church growth conferences and principles of how to grow large churches and build thriving ministries I find some things very disturbing, something of vital importance is being neglected. I just finished reading a brief biography of Dwight L. Moody and found things in his life that were very visible at the outset that never left his ministry.
At the beginning of his ministry Mr. Moody heard a preacher raise the question, “The world has yet to see what God can do with one man that is totally committed to him.” Upon hearing that it is told that D.L. Moody said to himself and a few gathered around him that he wanted to be that man. It would be his practice from then on to rise early every morning for prayer and serious Bible study. Most mornings would find him up before 4 a.m. studying in his small prayer room.
This practice of significant Bible study would be the foundation on which God would build a worldwide ministry. Out of his commitment to serious Bible study he discovered the regular discipline of intercessory prayer. It would become his lifelong thrill to take every concern to his Heavenly Father and seek to prove the reality of God by his own prayers. He would often call many of those who supported his ministry to times of prayer and fasting for specific meetings in the cities he would travel in.
Out of his continued walking with God he came upon the commitment to not let a day go by where he did not talk with at least one person about their need for Christ. There would be some days when he would be preparing for bed and realize that he did not speak with someone about their need for Christ and he would get up and go about the city seeking to find one person whom he could share his Savior with.
I suppose if you were to travel with Mr. Moody you have been somewhat embarrassed by his constant pleading with people to put their faith in Christ. The conversation would not cover the topics of the day but would often turn to the truths of Scripture. Gossip would not do around Mr. Moody for there was too little time and too many lost persons around to spend it in trivial conversations.
May we set our course like that of Mr. Moody and set our sights much higher because of the path he has set for us, which in reality is only the path that our Savior has set before us. Let us seek to study and pray and share as if we had no more time before our Savior would come for us.
God give us the same spirit that was given to Mr. Moody, in our day,
Pastor Phil
The Greatest Promise
January 2: Matthew 28:18-20 (RSV)
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
How shall this year fare when the calendar is finalized at the end of 2010? What promise can we take with us into this coming year that will sustain us and give us hope in the midst of challenging times? I suggest we take this verse from Matthew with us for it has been the foundation and the support of two of my favorite missionaries of all time, John Paton and David Livingstone.
David Livingstone was often heard to say, that this text is the word of a gentleman and I shall trust the word of such a gentleman. John Paton learned early on in his young childhood that he could take this promise and live off of it because he had witnessed his father living off such a promise every day of his life as he led his family in worship at the start and end of each day.
It would be this promise that would sustain John Paton as he went to minister among cannibals in the New Hebrides islands in the middle to late 1800’s. For our consideration today let me share one day in the life of John Paton as he jived among violent cannibal tribes.
The tribes that Paton had gone to minster among had circled around him several times to take his life. The following is one such record. “On one occasion when Paton was preaching in one of the villages, three sacred men stood up and declared that they could kill him by Nahak or sorcery, if only they could get possession of any piece of fruit or food of which he had eaten. Being thus challenged, he resolved, with his Lord's help, to strike a blow at the tremendous power for evil wielded by the sorcerers. After taking a bite out of three plums, he handed one of them to each of the sacred men. The natives were astounded at his action and momentarily expected to see him fall over dead, as the sorcerers proceeded with their incantations. With many gesticulations and mutterings, they rolled up in leaves the three plums, kindled a sacred fire and burned them. "Stir up your gods to help you," urged Paton. "I am not killed. In fact I am perfectly well."
At length the sorcerers said that they would call all the sacred men together and that they would kill Missi before the next Sabbath arrived. Paton told the people he would meet them at that same place the next Sabbath morning. Great excitement prevailed on the island. Every day messengers came from different quarters inquiring if the white man was ill. Sabbath morning he appeared before the people in sound health and said: "Now you must admit that your gods have no power over me and that I am protected by the true and living God. He is the only God who can hear and answer prayer. He loves all human beings, despite their great wickedness, and He sent His dear Son, Jesus, to save from sin all who will believe and follow Him." (Copyright 2009 www.WholesomeWords.org)
There would be many other times in Paton and Livingstone and countless other missionary lives that would stake all their hope on this one text. It served the faith of those who have gone before us well so let us take this text and set our affections on it as well as we seek to make the gospel known in our day.
Staking My Claim on his promise, “I am with you always.”
Pastor phil
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
How shall this year fare when the calendar is finalized at the end of 2010? What promise can we take with us into this coming year that will sustain us and give us hope in the midst of challenging times? I suggest we take this verse from Matthew with us for it has been the foundation and the support of two of my favorite missionaries of all time, John Paton and David Livingstone.
David Livingstone was often heard to say, that this text is the word of a gentleman and I shall trust the word of such a gentleman. John Paton learned early on in his young childhood that he could take this promise and live off of it because he had witnessed his father living off such a promise every day of his life as he led his family in worship at the start and end of each day.
It would be this promise that would sustain John Paton as he went to minister among cannibals in the New Hebrides islands in the middle to late 1800’s. For our consideration today let me share one day in the life of John Paton as he jived among violent cannibal tribes.
The tribes that Paton had gone to minster among had circled around him several times to take his life. The following is one such record. “On one occasion when Paton was preaching in one of the villages, three sacred men stood up and declared that they could kill him by Nahak or sorcery, if only they could get possession of any piece of fruit or food of which he had eaten. Being thus challenged, he resolved, with his Lord's help, to strike a blow at the tremendous power for evil wielded by the sorcerers. After taking a bite out of three plums, he handed one of them to each of the sacred men. The natives were astounded at his action and momentarily expected to see him fall over dead, as the sorcerers proceeded with their incantations. With many gesticulations and mutterings, they rolled up in leaves the three plums, kindled a sacred fire and burned them. "Stir up your gods to help you," urged Paton. "I am not killed. In fact I am perfectly well."
At length the sorcerers said that they would call all the sacred men together and that they would kill Missi before the next Sabbath arrived. Paton told the people he would meet them at that same place the next Sabbath morning. Great excitement prevailed on the island. Every day messengers came from different quarters inquiring if the white man was ill. Sabbath morning he appeared before the people in sound health and said: "Now you must admit that your gods have no power over me and that I am protected by the true and living God. He is the only God who can hear and answer prayer. He loves all human beings, despite their great wickedness, and He sent His dear Son, Jesus, to save from sin all who will believe and follow Him." (Copyright 2009 www.WholesomeWords.org)
There would be many other times in Paton and Livingstone and countless other missionary lives that would stake all their hope on this one text. It served the faith of those who have gone before us well so let us take this text and set our affections on it as well as we seek to make the gospel known in our day.
Staking My Claim on his promise, “I am with you always.”
Pastor phil
Friday, January 1, 2010
Pressing On The Upward Way
January 1: Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
With the new year in front of us and the past year over what shall be our first thought for this new year? Let me suggest one from Scripture from our text this morning. We have not yet arrived for there is much still to do so we press on to take hold of Christ. Though we have walked with Christ for years we have not yet reached our full maturity so we press on. We may have faltered many a time in the past but we will not give up we will press on. We may not have all that others have but still we press on not for ourselves as much as for those who have yet to hear the gospel of our Lord.
We come to this new year with thousands of people groups still untouched by the gospel of Christ so we press on for their sakes. There are those in our families and friendships that are still without his knowledge so we press on for them. There are places where our Lord is not glorified so we press on, not considering that we have attained anything for there are still millions who have not heard so we press on.
Let this new year be the year that you press on toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters that high calling is to be found in him declaring his glory when he comes for you. Let us labor so to speak and live that the last words that form the breath of our mouths be words of praise and adoration so the nations can see that he is faithful to the end just as he promised.
Still Pressing one the Upward Way,
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
With the new year in front of us and the past year over what shall be our first thought for this new year? Let me suggest one from Scripture from our text this morning. We have not yet arrived for there is much still to do so we press on to take hold of Christ. Though we have walked with Christ for years we have not yet reached our full maturity so we press on. We may have faltered many a time in the past but we will not give up we will press on. We may not have all that others have but still we press on not for ourselves as much as for those who have yet to hear the gospel of our Lord.
We come to this new year with thousands of people groups still untouched by the gospel of Christ so we press on for their sakes. There are those in our families and friendships that are still without his knowledge so we press on for them. There are places where our Lord is not glorified so we press on, not considering that we have attained anything for there are still millions who have not heard so we press on.
Let this new year be the year that you press on toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters that high calling is to be found in him declaring his glory when he comes for you. Let us labor so to speak and live that the last words that form the breath of our mouths be words of praise and adoration so the nations can see that he is faithful to the end just as he promised.
Still Pressing one the Upward Way,
Longing for His Appearing?
December 31: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV)
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
As we come to the end of another year and look back over the past months we must ask; Have we grown any in our walk with our Savior? Are we any better off this year than last in our fight against sin and evil? Perhaps some have made progress that they can see, but there are many others who look back over the past year and see nothing but more of the same; many frail attempts at remaining stedfast in the faith, few opportunities taken to further the gospel of Christ, many times of weakness and frailty.
Do not allow these times of failure to drag you down, even these times will be used by our God to grow in us a desire to depart this life and be with Christ. Paul says that he finished the race and kept the faith. Just what did this mean to him as he approached the end of his life? Did it mean that he never faltered from the course, he never wavered from his appointed task, he never sinned against his Lord after his conversion? Certainly this cannot be what Paul means for he writes in the same letter that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom he was the chief.
If it does not mean these things then what can it mean for us? Notice the phrase, “to all who long for his appearing.” Who is it that longs for his appearing? It is only those who face the constant struggle against sin and evil and find that they grow weary of such battles, they really long to be free from such struggles but God has deemed it necessary for them to endure hardships and pain and difficulty so that they will love his appearing when it comes.
So as you look back over this year take careful stock of all the sin that you have been guilty of and let it mount up. Then take all of this and turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full in his wonderful face and you will find that the things of this world will no longer hold the power over you. You will find yourself longing for heaven so you can be done with sin and be in your Saviors presence for the rest of forever.
Go ahead and drink deeply of his grace this last day of 2009 and then turn your eyes toward the future with the great expectancy that it may be this year when we will all be gathered around the throne in worship without any sin to hinder our love for God ever again. O what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. Until then we walk with God through the pain and through the struggle. Let us be faithful as was Paul to always long for his return.
Looking Upward Until He comes,
Pastor phil
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
As we come to the end of another year and look back over the past months we must ask; Have we grown any in our walk with our Savior? Are we any better off this year than last in our fight against sin and evil? Perhaps some have made progress that they can see, but there are many others who look back over the past year and see nothing but more of the same; many frail attempts at remaining stedfast in the faith, few opportunities taken to further the gospel of Christ, many times of weakness and frailty.
Do not allow these times of failure to drag you down, even these times will be used by our God to grow in us a desire to depart this life and be with Christ. Paul says that he finished the race and kept the faith. Just what did this mean to him as he approached the end of his life? Did it mean that he never faltered from the course, he never wavered from his appointed task, he never sinned against his Lord after his conversion? Certainly this cannot be what Paul means for he writes in the same letter that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom he was the chief.
If it does not mean these things then what can it mean for us? Notice the phrase, “to all who long for his appearing.” Who is it that longs for his appearing? It is only those who face the constant struggle against sin and evil and find that they grow weary of such battles, they really long to be free from such struggles but God has deemed it necessary for them to endure hardships and pain and difficulty so that they will love his appearing when it comes.
So as you look back over this year take careful stock of all the sin that you have been guilty of and let it mount up. Then take all of this and turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full in his wonderful face and you will find that the things of this world will no longer hold the power over you. You will find yourself longing for heaven so you can be done with sin and be in your Saviors presence for the rest of forever.
Go ahead and drink deeply of his grace this last day of 2009 and then turn your eyes toward the future with the great expectancy that it may be this year when we will all be gathered around the throne in worship without any sin to hinder our love for God ever again. O what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. Until then we walk with God through the pain and through the struggle. Let us be faithful as was Paul to always long for his return.
Looking Upward Until He comes,
Pastor phil
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