Lewis and Clark Bible Church

POSSIBLE WITH GOD

2012-01-26T10:42:00.000-08:00

He was young, wealthy, and powerful, but spiritually impoverished. Aware of a deficiency he made his way to Jesus. His question? “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). He desired “eternal life”—his youth, possessions, and power still left him hungering for something more. St. Augustine: “Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until we find rest in Thee.”

His question was problematic. The man was on the wrong course. The doings of man, no matter how impressive, can never measure up to God’s standard. God alone is good (Luke 18:19; Romans 3:12). The best of man’s religious efforts fall short (Romans 3:23; Philippians 3:6).

Jesus worked to reveal the man’s shortcomings by issuing a challenge. “Keep the commandments,” He said (Matthew 19:17). “Which ones?” asked the man. Jesus recited for him the second half of the Decalogue—the social division of the Ten Commandments—and added the Leviticus 19:18 requirement to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:18-19).

The young man responded by claiming that he had kept all the commandments. Did he really think so? He must have. But he was mistaken. Jesus knew the truth of his heart’s condition and responded: “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). “Do you really love your neighbor as yourself?” Are you willing to sacrifice all that you have for their sake? Salvation by good works will demand this and more. Jesus was not suggesting that salvation can be earned, he was revealing to the man the hopelessness of his condition. The young man had much property—he was unwilling to give that up. The demands of salvation by works were too great. Man has neither the will or ability to do all that is required by the Law.

He did not do what Jesus demanded, but instead went away “grieving” (Matthew 19:22). The course he had chosen came to a bad end. It would have been better if he had come to Jesus with need and in faith (in the one alone who is good)--as a child would have come (Cf. Matthew 19:13-15). But he came attesting to his good works, and they were inadequate. It was a sad end of to the story, at least as far as the rich young ruler was concerned. But Jesus used the occasion to teach His disciples some important things. “And Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God’” (Matthew 19:23-24).

The Jews of Jesus’ day perceived riches to be indicative of a man’s piety and God’s blessing upon him. So the disciples were no doubt surprised by what they heard. The reality is that the rich and poor alike must come to God as spiritual paupers. But it is harder for the rich to do that. Agur recognized this. He prayed, “Two things I asked of Thee, do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty or riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:7-9). It is natural for a man to “fix (his) hope on the uncertainty of riches, (rather than) God” (1 Timothy 6:17). Wealth is not a helpful thing when it comes to the realization of one’s need for God.

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God! How hard is it for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? I saw a camel recently on our trip to Uganda. He was really large and had really big humps. The eye of a needle is incredibly small. It is not just difficult, it is impossible.

Thank God that what is impossible with man is possible with God (Matthew 19:26). He is able to make us aware of our need for Him and His forgiveness. In convicting us of sin the Holy Spirit causes us to reassess our true condition—spiritual bankruptcy (John 16:8; Matthew 5:3). It is only then that we realize that there is nothing that we can do—“not the labor of my hands can fulfill the law’s demands.” Helpless and contrite we are directed to the one who became poor, that we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). True and lasting riches—bound up in Him alone-- are then bestowed on those who sincerely trust in Him (1 Timothy 6:17-19). As Jim Elliot once said: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Thank God that He is able to do the impossible. Salvation is a miracle of God’s grace for rich and poor alike—but especially for the rich.

1 Corinthians 1:26-30, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no many should boast before God. BUT BY HIS DOING YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.” Praise God that it is by His doing—it would otherwise be impossible.

Pastor Jerry

SEVENTY TIME SEVEN

2012-01-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

They were aghast at what they had observed. Their fellow slave had amassed a huge debt of 10,000 talents towards their master. The debt was so large that it would take 150,000 years of the wages of a laborer to pay off. It was an unheard of amount—hard to even comprehend. The master, wishing to settle accounts, brought the slave to himself and demanded payment. Since he had no means to repay, the master commanded that he be sold, along with his wife and children and belongings, and that he repay.

Helpless to rectify his condition the slave fell to the ground and begged for the master to show patience towards him. In an incredible and unprecedented display of compassion the master forgave him the debt. The other slaves were astounded. What kind of master was this who would show such compassion!

But no sooner had the slave been forgiven, than he went to one of their fellow slaves who owed the man a debt. The debt was small by comparison. A mere one hundred denarii—an amount that could be earned in 100 days or so. The forgiven slave seized the man and began to choke him. He too begged for patience. But the forgiven slave showed no compassion and instead threw the slave into prison. The other slaves were “deeply grieved” and reported to the master what had happened.

Oh the incongruity of it all! An unpayable debt forgiven by a compassionate master. The forgiveness of a small debt withheld by a fellow slave. And so it goes.

The rabbis had taught that a repeated offense might be forgiven three times, but on the fourth there could be no forgiveness. Peter questioned Jesus regarding the extent to which forgiveness should be demonstrated—“Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). Jesus’ response was not up to seven times, “but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). Jesus used a parable to illustrate the truth about forgiveness.

It is altogether human to want revenge. The Devil cheers us on in our anger, bitterness, and vengeance. He would have us to believe that some victory is won in retaliation. The flesh is eager to participate. The dreaded injustice is joined with vengeful thoughts into a turbulent concoction. It is simmered on the back burner of the brain and brought to a fervent boil. The wicked brew is drunk down and then vomited up, emitting a noxious odor.

Forgiveness is a God thing. Were there no God there would be no such things as forgiveness. To forgive is to release someone from liability to suffer punishment or penalty. It is to make a decision about an injustice suffered: to not think about it, to not bring it up, to not talk about it, to not allow it to stand between us and the other person. That kind of response is not always easy. It is by God’s grace and by the Spirit alone that we can lovingly respond in this manner (Cf. Galatians 5:20 vs. 5:22; 1 Corinthians 13:5).

Seventy times seven. God has forgiven much. It is His nature to forgive (Cf. Psalm 103:8-11). My certificate of debt was of infinite measure (Colossians 2:14). He “cancelled it out” by nailing it to the cross. He who knew no sin was made to be sin that I might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). “And the transaction so quickly was made when as a sinner I came, took of the offer of grace He did proffer, He saved me O’ praise His dear name.”

It is reasonable to expect that those who have been much forgiven should readily forgive. That’s the point of the account. Anything less is unreasonable and deeply distressing. Those who have been much forgiven should be “forgiving each other” (Ephesians 4:32a). The reason? “Just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32b). Ken Sande: “Christians are the most forgiven people in the world. Therefore, we should be the most forgiving people in the world.” Pat Morison: “We are not called to forgive others in order to earn God’s love; rather, having experienced his love, we have the basis and motive to forgive others.”

It is oftentimes thought that there is some victory won in withholding forgiveness. But that is not true. Anger and bitterness are emotions that work against the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of those who harbor them. In withholding forgiveness one might win the battle—but he will lose the war. I once knew a wealthy man, a believer in Christ, who became embittered with his daughter over a business related matter. He refused to forgive her. He cut her out of his will. His bitterness began to affect his thinking. He lost his health, his wife, and then his wealth. He was taken advantage of by a woman who stole away his money. He died a lonely and confused man. He won the battle—as far as I know he never forgave the daughter--but he lost the war.

Thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness! Help me to readily show that same kind of forgiveness to others. To the praise of the glory of Your grace!

Pastor Jerry

A GLIMPSE OF GLORY

2012-01-24T13:42:00.000-08:00

Six days following Jesus’ revelation to His disciples of His pending death, He led Peter, James, and John up a high mountain where He was “transfigured” before them (Matthew 17:1). Perhaps it was to assure them—in light of His predicted sufferings—as to His true identity and therefore encourage them in their faith. Whatever the reason, it was a privileged viewing for only three disciples.

He was transfigured before them (Matthew 17:2). The Greek word, metamorphoo, is related to our English metamorphis and means to “change into another form.” The result of this was that “His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light” (Matthew 17:3). They were privileged to see what others were not—Christ transfigured before them. His face shone with a light unrivaled on planet earth. His garments were made whiter than white.

Moses and Elijah, representing both the Law and prophets, appeared and talked with Jesus (Matthew 17:3). A bright cloud overshadowed them all. A voice declared: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5). What are we to make of this occurrence?

Jesus’ appearance on planet earth was exceptional in that the full revelation of His visible glory was not openly manifested. His preincarnate state was that of sharing in the glory of the Father “from before the world was” (John 17:5). In His incarnation He took “the form of a bond-servant, and (was) made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). He divulged Himself of His glorious array. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords put aside His robe and dressed down for the occasion (Cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9; Isaiah 53:2).

The mystery of Christ’s incarnation is especially so in His humility. To hear of suffering and death on one day, and to behold Jesus in glorious array on another was quite the dichotomy of experience for the disciples. And the dichotomy remains difficult to comprehend. “He left His Father’s throne above, so free, so infinite His grace! Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race; Amazing Love! How can it Be, That Thou, My God, shouldst die for me!”

The experience stuck with Peter. He wrote about it years later: “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). They were eyewitnesses of His majesty! They saw Jesus in all of His glorious splendor on that day. Peter remembered what he had seen years later. It was a foretaste of what we will all experience when “the day dawns and the morning star arises in (our hearts)” (2 Peter 1:19).

John experienced a similar encounter with Jesus on the island of Patmos. He saw Jesus. “His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Revelation 1:16). When he saw him, he “fell at His feet like a dead man” (Revelation 1:17; Cf. Matthew 17:6).

Only Peter, James, and John were privileged to behold Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration on that day. But there will come a day when every believer will “see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2), “when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). “And we shall behold Him, We shall behold Him, Face to face in all of His glory!”

Pastor Jerry

SEEING THINGS GOD’S WAY

2012-01-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

Salvation is bound up in a right understanding regarding the person and work of Christ. Declaring and defending these truths is at the heart of Biblical Christianity. Such was the nature of the preaching of the Apostle Paul:

• “But we preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23).
• “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

There are no more important questions that these: 1) Who is Jesus? 2) Why did He come? These were questions that both confronted and confounded the Apostle Peter. Jesus asked His disciples: “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter responded with the correct response “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” and was richly commended: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:17). “Blessed are you, Simon!” God has revealed to you this glorious truth! Note how Peter had entered into this blessed estate. He did not “figure it out.” God’s higher thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) are not “figured out” by men, they are revealed to man by God (Matthew 11:25-27). Happy is the man to whom God has revealed Himself! Salvation is bound up in it. The many miracles of Jesus bore witness of His true identify (John 20:30-31)—that sinners would affirm what Peter declared in order that they might saved.

Peter was not so “blessed” in responding to the second question. “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21). Jesus was born to die. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). He came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The cross was His God-given destiny. But Peter didn’t understand these truths then. “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22).

On a future day, following Christ’s death and resurrection, Peter would stand before thousands and boldly proclaim what he then could not comprehend (Acts 2:22-24). But on this occasion his confusion led to a sharp rebuke: “But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:22). The Father had revealed Christ’s identity to Peter, but not yet His plan. He knew who Jesus was, but not the purpose for which He came. Jesus responded to Peter in the same manner he responded to anything else that would work to deter Him from His purpose: “Get behind me, Satan!” From the pinnacle of Christ’s affirmation Peter plummeted to the depths of rebuke. Christ diagnosed Peter’s problem this way: “You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:23; Cf. Isaiah 55:5-9).

Peter’s confusion regarding Christ’s purpose is shared by most. The cross is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:23). Many are glad to affirm Jesus the good man or good teacher—but when it comes to His cross, they falter. They cannot comprehend it. They don’t like it. It is an offense to them. All of God’s glorious attributes are made manifest at the cross (1 Corinthians 1:24; Ephesians 2:4; 1 John 3:16). It serves as the sole basis of salvation. Throughout eternity we will praise Christ for His work on the cross (Revelation 5:12). But a mind set on the things of man lacks the vision to apprehend its glory. These truths are Spirit-revealed.

The revelation of God’s purpose in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection would come later to Peter. Ultimately he gave his life declaring and defending the truth he had previously decried. The glory of the cross compelled him to respond to Christ’s call to discipleship (Matthew 16:24-27).

Who is Jesus? Why did He come? Great questions! It is by the Spirit of God alone that we enabled to comprehend these truths regarding the person and work of Christ (John 16:14). A great transition of opinion takes place in the heart of the new believer as he is Spirit-led to comprehend the glory of the cross. Galatians 6:14, “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!” Do you glory in the cross?

O that old rugged cross,
So despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction to me;
For the dear Lamb of God
Left His glory above
To bear it to dark calvary.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown.

Pastor Jerry

THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM

2012-01-20T09:45:00.000-08:00

Last night in our visit to the hospital I noticed the prevalence of hand washing stations. They were everywhere available—at the entrance; in the hallways, in the bathrooms (of course), and inside and outside of the patient rooms. The medical community has recognized that the washing of hands is good practice in helping to prevent the spread of bacteria and disease.

The Pharisees practiced hand-washing also. It was one of their most important religious practices. They did it in a certain manner. They would wash one hand with the other fist then raise the hand so that the water might run off just at the wrists. An exact amount of water was specified. They would do so before eating, and even between courses. They washed their hands when coming home from the market and on numerous other occasions. Very particular rules were also established regarding the washing of dishes and other eating utensils. But their observance of these rules was not primarily about cleanliness. As with their other traditions it was all about establishing a self-righteousness through religious rule-keeping.

The disciples failed to observe the practice (Matthew 15:2). The Pharisees asked “Why?” Jesus Himself neglected it (Luke 11:37). A Pharisee was surprised (Luke 11:38). Both occasions gave opportunity for Jesus to communicate an important truth: “the heart of man is the heart of the problem.”

• Matthew 15:18-20, “Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”
• Luke 11:39, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside you are full of robbery and wickedness.”

The heart of man is the heart of the problem. Religious practice has no power to deal it. The heart of man is wicked by nature and must be changed. The cup is filled with sin, and must be emptied and refilled. These are things that God alone can do. There is a scene in Shakespeare’s MacBeth which illustrates the problem. Lady Macbeth encouraged Lord Macbeth to slay the king. But when he returned his hand was covered with blood. So she said to him, “Go, wash thy hand,” a little clean water will clear us of this deed.” So he went, but then looked at his hand and declared, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; rather this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.”

Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” The heart of man is the heart of the problem. The great physician is alone qualified to make a proper diagnosis. Jeremiah 17:10, “I, the Lord, search the heart.” The Spirit of God convicts of sin and reveals to man the gravity of the problem (John 17:8-9). The condition is dire—rule keeping, self-improvement, or behavior modification deal only with the symptoms. A heart transplant is necessary.

At the moment of saving faith a person is forgiven and changed. “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Having been identified with Christ—in His death, burial, and resurrection—the believer in Christ is inalterably changed (Romans 6:1-7). He is a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), empowered “to walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

The transforming work of the Spirit of God is an inside-out process. The work He intends is to transform us into the very image of Christ (Romans 8:29). His desire is that we be Christ-like in every way—heart, head, hands. He patiently reveals to us our sins that they might be put off (Hebrews 4:12; Romans 8:13). His presence in our lives is revealed by those wonderful Christlike virtues: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Religious rule-keeping is no substitute for the inside-out transformation that Christ alone can achieve. It’s a good idea to wash our hands—for many reasons. But external cleansing is no substitute for heart change.

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed, in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”

Pastor Jerry

THAT SINKING FEELING

2012-01-19T14:54:00.000-08:00

My first attempt to walk on water was when I was about 8 years old. Our family was camping along the Little Deschutes River. My Dad and I were fishing—he was a ways downstream from me. I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but somehow I fell into the river. I can vaguely remember still how I frantically tried to resist the current—but I didn’t know how to swim. Fortunately, my Dad wasn’t too far away and he somehow managed to pluck me from the river. I wasn’t really trying to walk on water, but that experience comes to mind as I read this account. Generally speaking, human beings sink in water.

The disciples were in a boat and quite a distance from land. The wind was contrary and the waves were battering their vessel (Matthew 14:24). In the wee hours of the morning Jesus came to them, “walking on the sea” (14:25). They, being fishermen, had no doubt seen a lot of things in their days at sea—but they had never before seen anything like that. They were frightened, thinking Him to be a ghost, and they cried out in fear (14:26).

“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” He said (14:27). So many fears come our way and in so many ways. They are “God-sent” inasmuch that we might “heart-sent” to find courage in the Courageous One. He knew no fear. He was strong and brave in the face of every challenge. He has unlimited resources and compassion to grant courage to our timid hearts. If it is courage we need, then it is to Him we must go.

Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (14:28). Peter was typically the one who was first to speak. His request was immediately granted: “And He said, ‘Come!’” (14:29). And Peter walked on water. He was enabled by Jesus to do what he otherwise could never do. Human beings generally sink. Peter was walking on the water without sinking. Jesus is able to empower us to do things that we could never do otherwise. Apart from Him we are bound by natural laws and can only rise to the limits of our human potential. In Him there is supernatural power that transcends our understanding. That power is at work in the life of the believer: “He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Ephesians 3:20; Cf. Philippians 4:13).

“But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” (14:30). It is at this point in the account that Peter’s actions give rise to criticism. He started out to well, but then he faltered. But Peter’s actions are to be commended, not condemned. He is, after all, the only disciple who was willing to get out of the boat. He began to sink as he took his eyes off the Lord. And so it is in life. We are left with two choices in the midst of our trials and troubles. What will keep our focus—our circumstances or our Lord? Big waves and contrary winds are ever apparent. They threaten to undo us. They sometimes overwhelm us. They cry out for our attention. Left to ourselves we have not the resources to make our way through them. If we are to make our way we must make our way by faith. Trust in Jesus is the only way. He has resources that far outweigh our own. Peter made progress as long as he kept his focus on the Savior. We must do the same! It is as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, that we endure (Hebrews 12:1-2). Lord, put blinders about my wandering eyes that my gaze might be affixed on You!

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Pastor Jerry

HAPPY EYES AND EARS

2012-01-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

Matthew 13:16-17, “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears because they hear. For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

The term “blessed” can otherwise be translated as “happy.” What makes for happy eyes and ears? Eyes that see and ears that hear!

Jesus taught in parables (Matthew 13:3). The disciples asked him why (Matthew 13:10)? He explained that truth is revealed as God dictates (Cf. Matthew 11:25-27). Those who could hear were privileged to know, those who could not hear were not. This was to fulfill what Isaiah prophesied, “You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive” (Matthew 13:14; Isaiah 6:9).

Most do not understand. “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Most are blind to the truth: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The context of our passage speaks to this. The sower went out to sow, but more often the seed fell on unfruitful soil (Matthew 13:3-9; 19-23). Jesus spoke in parables, but most did not understand. The prophets and righteous men desired to see (ESV, “longed to see”), but were not privileged to see.

Helen Keller was only two years old when an illness struck her blind and deaf. Unable to communicate with the outside world her life was filled with a despair that one can only imagine. Miss Anne Sullivan was brought to assist her and worked patiently to break through the darkness. One day she and "Teacher"—as Helen always called her—went to the outdoor pump. Miss Sullivan started to draw water and put Helen's hand under the spout. As the cool water gushed over one hand, she spelled into the other hand the word "w-a-t-e-r" first slowly, then rapidly. Suddenly, the signals had meaning in Helen's mind. She knew that "water" meant the wonderful cool substance flowing over her hand. Quickly, she stopped and touched the earth and demanded its letter name and by nightfall she had learned 30 words. Helen later wrote of the experiences of that day: “As we continued to the house every object which I touched quivered with life. That was because I saw everything with a strange, new sight that had come to me. It would have been difficult to find a happier child than I was as I lay in my crib…and for the first time longed for a new day to come.”

Beloved, the “Teacher” has worked to remove your spiritual blindness and deafness! The ability to see and hear is a privilege that has been granted to you by God. Remember the day when the Spirit first brought opened your eyes to the truth! Words that had previously lacked meaning and import were made precious. A longing for the truth was Spirit-borne into your heart! What a precious day it was when your eyes and ears were made happy by God!

• 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

• 1 Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God.”

• “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”

You have happy eyes and ears! You are privileged as most on earth are not. Others long for Bibles, you have many. Others believers around the world meet in secret and risk persecution and arrest, you have the freedom to openly gather to fellowship and learn. Don’t take for granted that which God has so graciously given. Happy eyes are made happier still as they are fixed upon the Savior (Hebrews 12:2). Happy ears rejoice to hear Him speak through His Word (John 10:27; Colossians 3:16). He has many more things to show you and to tell you about (1 Corinthians 2:9). Be glad for keen sight and good hearing!

Charles Spurgeon, “Happy men to be chosen to such a privilege! Grace has opened y our eyes and ears. Blessed are your eyes, for they see. What wonders, treasures, revelations do they see! Eyes are blessed which gaze upon the mysteries of divine love. Blessed are your ears, for they hear; hear something sweeter than the song of angels, even the voice of everlasting love from the heart of Jesus. You have learned the great secret; the counsel of the Lord has been revealed to you, and you are blessed. You under the gospel are made to know what the greatest and best of men under the law could not discover. The shortest day of summer is longer than the longest day in winter; and you, ye humble ones, under the gospel dispensation see more of truth in Jesus than the best of saints could see before he came. There is no doubt about this, for Jesus sets the seal of—“Verily I say unto you”--upon the statement. Favored above all others are those whose regenerated faculties both see and hear the truth of God. Are we among this blessed number? If so, let us praise the Lord for so great a boon. Truly to hear the gospel and to see its blessings is a high favor. The love and gratitude which we show in return should be great indeed!”

Pastor Jerry

JESUS REFUSED TO PLAY BY THE RULES

2012-01-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day lived according to an extensive set of rules. This was nowhere more evident than in their keeping of the Sabbath. In his book, “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah,” Alfred Edersheim pointed out: “On no other subject is Rabbinic teaching more minute and more manifestly incongruous to its professed object.” There were laws that dealt with how far a person could travel, how much weight a person could lift, and what could and could not be done to deal with a medical need or injury. These smaller traditions worked to cloud the intent of the original commandment and set aside the weightier concerns of the law itself (Matthew 15:3, 6-9; 23:23-24). Jesus perfectly upheld the law (2 Corinthians 5:21), but refused to be bound by their man-made traditions.

After one Sabbath-breaking controversy (Matthew 12:1-8), Jesus entered “their” synagogue and caused another (Matthew 12:9). A man with a “withered hand” was there, along with the people, Jesus’ disciples, and the Pharisees. We are given no history and few details regarding the man, though Luke’s gospel records that it was the man’s right hand (Luke 6:6). It is possible that the Pharisees had deliberately brought the man—to see what Jesus would do. Alfred Edersheim comments regarding the scene: “We can now imagine the scene in the Synagogue. The place is crowded. Christ probably occupies a prominent position as leading the prayers or teaching: a position whence He can see, and be seen by all. Here, eagerly bending forward, are the dark faces of the Pharisees, expressive of curiousity, malice, cunning. They are looking round at a man whose right hand is withered, perhaps putting him forward, drawing attention to him, loudly whispering, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath-day?’ The Lord takes up the challenge.”

Jesus had the man come forward. He asked the Pharisees, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?’ (Mark 3:4). “But they kept silent.” “And after looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heard” (Mark 3:5) the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8) healed the man on the Sabbath. “Then He said to the man ‘stretch out your hand!’ And he stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other” (Matthew 12:13). As with Jesus’ other miracles, this one revealed His divine authority and identity (Cf. John 20:30-31). We are not told of the reaction of the people there, though a future miracle caused the people to ask ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can He?’ (Matthew 12:23). But the reaction of the Pharisees was both tragic and predictable: “But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus” (Luke 6:11).

They were, after all, nothing but white-washed tombs, filled with dead men’s bones and all uncleanness (Matthew 23:27). A lively love for God that would have responded to the Spirit’s testimony was absent (Matthew 12:31-32). A genuine love for man that would have delighted in the restoration of this man’s health was missing. In its place was a violent disdain for the One who was working to reveal the true nature of their puffed-up religiosity (Matthew 12:34-35). Henceforth they would not rest until the Light was extinguished.

Religious rule-keeping is no substitute for right relationship with God. It is the nature of “self-made religions” to invent “commandments and teachings of men” (Colossians 2:22-23). But the inferiority of anyone’s self-righteousness is readily exposed before the Divine Son of God. And henceforth there are but two choices, hate the light or come to the light (John 3:20-21)--stand with Jesus or against Him (Matthew 12:30). The Sabbath-day healing of the man with the withered hand enraged the Pharisees, but I’m thinking that the man with the withered hand probably had a different response.

Pastor Jerry

TFT – MATTHEW CHAPTER 11

2012-01-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

COME TO ME

A glorious invitation is given by our Savior in Matthew 11:28-29. Jesus extends an open invitation to weary and burdened sinners to find rest in Him. It is important to note the context. The Father reveals Himself only to those who have laid aside all pretense of self-sufficiency. He can only be known through the Son—and to those whom the Son chooses to reveal Him (Matthew 11:25-27; Cf. John 14:6). It is in relationship with God that true rest is found. St. Augustine, “Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless ‘til we find rest in Thee.”

The first invitation is to find “rest” FROM one’s labors—“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus’ invitation stands in stark contrast to that which was offered by the religious leaders of His day. Jesus indicted the Pharisees, saying, “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger” (Matthew 23:4). Such is the nature of false religion—heavy burdens are laid, but no rest is realized. Many work hard in “self-made religion” (Colossians 2:23), but their most strenuous efforts avail no alleviation of the sin burden. Atlas carried the globe on his shoulders, the burden of sin is of even greater mass. And it cannot be lightened or lifted by anyone but Jesus.

Jesus’ invites the heavy-ladened to come to Him. The false teachers wouldn’t lift so much as a finger, to alleviate a burden. Jesus bore all our burdens on the cross. He “cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). No sense of release and relief and rest can compare with that experienced by those who come to Jesus for forgiveness! “Days are filled with sorrow and care, hearts are lonely and drear; burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.”

A second invitation is given to find rest IN one’s labors—“Take My yoke upon you…and you will find rest for your souls.” The believer in Christ is to take up His yoke and learn from Him. In contrast to all others Jesus is “gentle and lowly.” The devil is a harsh taskmaster. His demands are burdensome in every respect (Cf. Romans 6:16, 21, 23; 1 Peter 1:18). Jesus is the gentle “Shepherd and Guardian” of our souls (1 Peter 2:25). It is He who loved us and delivered Himself up for us who commands us (Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:24). He demands nothing for which He does not provide the necessary strength and resources (Philippians 4:13). “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). True joy and rest is found in learning from Him and serving Him.

“Come to Me,” He says, “And I will give you rest.” Rest is “Christ-bestowed.” It is bound up in Him, in His person. Are you weary? Troubled? Restless? The invitation is given with a promise and the promise is valid this day. “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Charles Spurgeon commented on this text: "’Come.’ A simple word, but very full of meaning. To come is to leave one thing and to advance to another. Come, then, ye laboring and heavy laden, leave your legal labors, leave your self-reliant efforts, leave your sins, leave your presumptions, leave all in which you hitherto have trusted, and come to Jesus, that is, think of, advance towards, rely upon the Savior. Let your contemplations think of him who bore the load of human sin upon the cross of Calvary, where he was made sin for us. Let your minds consider him who from his cross hurled the enormous mass of his people's transgressions into a bottomless sepulchre, where it was buried forever. Think of Jesus, the divinely-appointed substitute and sacrifice for guilty man. Then, seeing that he is God's own Son, let faith follow your contemplation; rely upon him, trust in him as having suffered in your stead, look to him for the payment of the debt which is due from you to the wrath of God. This is to come to Jesus.”

Horatius Bonar (1808-1899) was one of Scotland’s most gifted and influential pastors and writers in the 1800s. “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” based on this text, is generally considered to be the finest of his hymns. He intended the hymn to be used by the children—he considered it essential for the children to learn the truths of the person and work of Christ. He penned the words while serving as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Kelso, Scotland.

"I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say"
by Horatius Bonar

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down,
Thy head upon My breast."
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream.
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"I am this dark world's Light.
Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise
And all thy day be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of Life I'll walk
Till traveling days are done.

Pastor Jerry

TFT – MATTHEW CHAPTER 10

2012-01-13T10:18:00.000-08:00

FREELY, FREELY

A timeless truth is included in Jesus’ instructions to His disciples in Matthew chapter 10. He sent His disciples out to preach and to heal. He instructed them to conduct their ministry according to this principle: “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

It is the nature of God to give. “Every good thing given and ever perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17).

Our forbears, Adam and Eve, received an adequate covering that was freely given them by God. The history of Israel gives testimony to God’s abundant and ongoing provision of undeserved blessings. The full measure of God’s desire and capacity to give has been revealed in the person of Jesus Christ: “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:16). He is the “indescribable gift” freely given by God (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The Apostle Paul asked the Corinthians: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). What’s the answer? Nothing! The first inclination of need for a Savior was given to us by God. The faith that worked to unite us to God through Christ was freely given us (Ephesians 2:8). The indwelling Spirit, forgiveness, redemption, justification, regeneration—these have all been freely given to us. He has freely given to us “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). The good works we do “were prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)! All that we are or ever hope to be we owe it all to Thee! From beginning to end the life of the believer gives testimony to God’s amazing capacity to freely give and is “to the praise of the glory of His grace!”

The world operates according to a different principle—the barter system of reciprocal giving (i.e.“I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine”; Cf. Luke 12:12-14). Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give, than to receive” (Acts 20:38), but the world has that turned around. Taking and getting come natural to us. Some even portend to offer religious benefits for profit (Cf. Acts 8:18-21; Titus 1:11). And much of what happens in the name of Christ fails to measure up to the “freely give” principle. To freely give is to give (and forgive) not demanding or expecting anything in return. It is to give “before God” governed by a desire to please Him (Matthew 6:1-4). God freely gives because it is His nature to give. The believer freely gives because the Spirit indwells him. And to the extent that He is filled with the Spirit he will give in God-like manner.

The Spirit is at work to conform us to the image of the Son. He fills us with God’s love and sends us out into this needy world. He would have us to think and act like Jesus. Jesus gave freely His all in life and then He gave that too. That same attitude is to govern our lives (Philippians 2:3-5). God is glorified in it! Taking and getting rule the day. But when God’s children freely give it reflects upon Him from which all blessings flow. They are mere “channels of blessing, conduits through whom God can make Himself known. Gifts given in freely in Jesus’ Name honor the source of the blessings!

1 John 3:16-17, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

2 Corinthians 8:7-9, “But just as you abound in everything…see that you abound in this gracious work also. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so you though His poverty might become rich.”

FREELY, FREELY

God forgave my sin in Jesus' name.
I've been born again in Jesus' name
And in Jesus' name I come to you
To share his love as he told me to.

He said 'Freely, freely you have received--freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe others will know that I live.

All pow'r is giv'n in Jesus' name
in earth and heav'n in Jesus name
And in Jesus' name I come to you
To share his pow'r as he told me to.

He said 'Freely, freely you have received--freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe others will know that I live.

Pastor Jerry

TFT – MATTHEW 9

2012-01-12T09:32:00.000-08:00

FAITH VS FEAR

Note: the account of the healing of this woman is found in Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-24; and Luke 8:43-48.

For twelve long years she had suffered. The bleeding would not stop. Her condition made her “ceremonially unclean,” physical weak, and embarrassed. She had seen many physicians. She had spent all that she had on them—but none were able to help at all. Instead of getting better she had only gotten worse (Mark 5:25-25). She had lost all hope. The good news is that it is typically when we come to and end of ourselves, that we look to God for help (Cf. Luke 15:15-17). And He never disappoints.

“When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.”

She heard about Jesus. She had heard of his power to heal. She thought to herself, “If I just touch His garments, I shall get well” (Mark 5:24-25). Her plan had fear to overcome. Jesus was on an important mission. Jairus’ daughter had died and he had come to Jesus for help. The crowds were pressing in on Him as He made his way there (Mark 5:22-24). She was “ceremonially unclean” and in no condition to be near a man, let alone this Man. The crowds made it difficult to get even near to Him.

Faith finds a way when there isn’t any way. It overcomes obstacles and difficulties and sets its sight unwaveringly on its object. In this case the object was most trustworthy. She had heard reports of His ability to heal. She was determined to make her way to Him, to touch His garments, to be made well. How is your faith in Jesus? Have you heard reports of His power to save? How He can forgive your sins and transform you from the inside out? No matter how long you have been in your lost condition, His power to save knows no limits. He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him! Have you trusted in Him for salvation? Believer in Christ, are you making your way to Him each day, knowing that He has the power to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that you ask or think? Is your faith overcoming the obstacles of past failures, contrary opinions, and doubtful thoughts?

She made her way to Jesus and touched the hem of His garments. “And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction” (Mark 5:29). Just to touch His garments was to experience His transforming power. His cure was no half-hearted thing! Doctors had promised for a cost what they could not deliver. Jesus freely and immediately accomplished what no doctor had been able to do. When we were in Uganda we visited a church called “What Doctors Cannot Do Jesus Can Church.” Great name for a church! But perhaps a better title would be “What Nobody Else Can Do Jesus Can Church,” because He alone can heal a man completely of all His afflictions. The Adamic disease is at the source of all others. Jesus did miracles of many kinds. His greatest miracle is the salvation of the sin-sick soul, whereby the rebel sinner is transformed into a worshiper of God!

Jesus recognized that “the power proceeding from Him had gone forth” (Mark 5:30). He looked around at the crowd and asked “Who touched My garments?” The disciples look around and saw only a crowd. Jesus looked around and saw the woman. The woman “fearing and trembling…came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed from your affliction” (Mark 5:34). We are not told what happened to that woman afterwards. But the record of her healing has left us with this truth: “If I make my way to Jesus He can deal with my need.” It’s really as simple as that. Peter put it this way: “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7-NKJV).

Hymnwriter George Root penned this hymn, based on this passage, in the 1800s:

She only touched the hem of His garment
As to His side she stole,
Amid the crowd that gathered around Him;
And straightway she was whole.

Chorus: Oh, touch the hem of His garment!
And thou, too, shalt be free!
His saving power this very hour
Shall give new life to thee!

He's pow'rful, present, real and gracious;
Thou too canst touch Him now!
Just come and touch while He is still passing,
His power thou shalt know.

Just touch in faith and touch Him in spirit,
And He will make thee whole;
And peace that passeth all understanding
With joy will fill thy soul.

Pastor Jerry

THE DEMONS WE KNOW

2012-01-11T11:09:00.000-08:00

The miracles of Matthew chapter 8 demonstrate the authority that Jesus exercised over disease (8:1-17), over men (8:18-22), over nature (8:23-27), and over the demons (8:28-34). They authenticated Him to be the divine Son of God. The disciples asked, “What kind of man is this?” These miracles tell us (Cf. Luke 7:19-23; John 20:30-31).

The account of the exorcism of the demons from the two men is remarkable. The demons recognized Jesus for who He was (Matthew 8:29). Both Mark and Luke tell us that the men were possessed by many demons (Mark 5:9; Luke 8:30). Note that Mark and Luke focus on only one men, while Matthew’s account includes two—Mark 5:1-17; Luke 8:26-37.

These demon-possessed men were greatly tormented. They had been driven away to live in the tombs. Both Mark and Luke record that at least one of the men had been bound with shackles and chains, but that the demons were powerful enough to enable the man to tear apart the chains and break apart the shackles (Mark 5:3-4; Luke 8:29). No one was strong enough to subdue him. “Constantly, night and day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out and gashing himself with stones” (Mark 5:5). Luke’s account adds that the man “had not put on any clothing for a long time (Luke 8:27). So violent were these men that no one could pass by them on the road. One can imagine children and travelers being warned to avoid these men and that area. They were injurious to themselves and dangerous to their community. But people had learned how to deal with them…

Jesus came to town and exorcised the demons. He did it authoritatively, powerfully, immediately, and dramatically. He granted the demon’s request that they be cast into the herd of swine. The swine herd “rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea” (Mark 5:13). It was an obvious display of Christ’s miraculous power.

The various responses to this miracle are instructive. The herdsmen “ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country” (Mark 5:14). “The people came to see what it was that had happened” (Mark 5:14). “And they came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened. And those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine” (Mark 5:15-16).

It’s what happens next that is surprising: “And they began to entreat Him to depart from their region” (Mark 5:17). Luke adds “for they were gripped with fear” (Luke 8:37). It reminds us of Peter’s first response to a miracle of Jesus: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8). John MacArthur commented on their response: “They saw the supernatural and it panicked them. They saw one who could control the demons. They saw one who could control animals. They saw one who could take the soul of a man and give it back to him as white and pure as the driven snow, and they were scared to death. They saw God is what they saw. I don't know if they all understood that, but they knew it was supernatural, and men don't like that. It makes them uncomfortable. Give us back our pigs and go away. Men can handle pigs; they can't handle God. The mystery of the supernatural they can't handle…People say, Oh if you could just see the miracles you'd believe. Listen, the people who saw the miracles didn't believe. They nailed Him to a cross and they'd seen miracle after miracle after miracle after miracle. They still didn't believe. That just made them hate Him more and more and more and more. People think today that if they can just show everybody a pile of miracles everybody will believe. No, because some people when exposed in the presence of the awesomeness of holy God will literally run because they love their darkness.”

The entire region drove Him off (“And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to depart from them”), but one stood by Him. The man who had been delivered was “sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in His right mind” (Luke 8:35). The region begged Jesus to leave—“better the demons we know than this Man we cannot control.” But the changed man begged Jesus for something else: “But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him” (Luke 8:38). He had personally experienced the sincere love and transforming power of Jesus. He had been a disgrace and blight to himself and the community, but Jesus made a worshipper out of Him. “And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:39). Has Jesus done great things for you? Follow in that man’s steps!

J. C. Ryle gave this solemn warning to those who respond to Jesus in the manner of the Gadarenes: “Let us take heed that we do not sin the sin of the Gadarenes. Let us beware lest by coldness, and inattention, and worldliness, we drive Jesus from our doors, and compel Him to forsake us entirely. Of all sins which we can sin, this is the most sinful. Of all states of soul into which we can fall, none is so fearful as to be "let alone." Let it rather be our daily prayer that Christ may never leave us to ourselves. The old wreck, high and dry on the sand-bank, is not a more wretched sight than the man whose heart Christ has visited with mercies and judgments, but has at last ceased to visit, because He was not received. The barred door is a door at which Jesus will not always knock. The Gadarene mind must not be surprised to see Christ leaving it and going away.”

Pastor Jerry

TFT - MATTHEW 7:13-14

2012-01-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

In Matthew 7:13-14 we have described for us two different gates leading to two different paths headed to two different directions. It is of utmost importance to make sure that you have entered through the correct gate and are proceeding on the correct path.

The broad gate is the popular choice: “and many are those who enter by it.” It is the gate established by Adam (Romans 5:12) and which “seems right to a man” (Proverbs 14:12). Multitudes pass through it. There are no crowds at the narrow gate: “and few are those who find it.” No one ventures through unless the Father first draws him (John 6:44). It is a narrow gate inasmuch as it represents the one way of salvation—salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9).

The broad way is well-traveled. You can believe whatever you want and do whatever you please on the broad path. It a path of tolerance and “good intentions.” All religions have a place on the broad way. The world, the flesh, and the devil work hard to usher people along that path (Ephesians 2:1-3). People encourage one another along the path (Romans 1:32) and discourage those who consider ever leaving it. People on the broad path generally disapprove of “narrow-path” travelers (Matthew5:10). No warnings beside the broad path are given regarding the path’s ultimate destination (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Broad path travelers can be distinguished by the bad fruit that is evident in their lives (Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 John 3:10). Some broad path travelers make religious professions and even do religious things (Matthew 7:21-22), but their true identity is known to the Lord (Matthew 7:23).

The narrow-way is the more difficult path. No one proceeds apart from God’s leading and provision. But He is careful to watch over His children along the way (2 Timothy 2:12, 4:18). It is the “way of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:21), established by the Lord Jesus Himself (1 John 2:6), and clearly mapped out in His Word (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19). To make progress one must lay aside encumbrances and sins (Hebrews 12:1). The world, the flesh, and the devil provide no encouragement to wayfarers on the narrow way—encouragement comes instead from the Lord (Romans 15:13), co-travelers (Romans 1:12), and the Scriptures (Romans 15:4; Psalm 119:105). Narrow path travelers can be distinguished by the good fruit that is borne in their lives (Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 3:10).

The destinations could not be more distinct. The broad path leads to destruction. “Those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus”…”will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). The believer in Christ is instead ushered into Christ’s presence and into a state of eternal bliss (2 Thessalonians 1:10; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:17). The rich man “enjoyed good things” as he traveled the broad path, but found himself in “agony in this flame” in the end (Luke 14:24). Lazarus endured “bad things” in his life along the narrow way, but was then “carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 14:22).

There are indeed two gates leading to two paths headed to two different destinations. Most are on the wrong path. As narrow-path travelers we are both obligated and privileged to share the gospel with those who are headed in the wrong direction. Jude 23-25 provides both encouragement and instruction to narrow way travelers: “Save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory and blameless with great joy, to the only God and Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Pastor Jerry

THOT FOR TDAY – MATTHEW CHAPTER 6

2012-01-09T12:59:00.000-08:00

Worry is defined as “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.” It is a common and popular sin, despite the fact that is can lead to a wide array of spiritual, physical, and emotional difficulties. Worry reflects a lack of trust in God and His ability or desire to care for us—it therefore tends to undermine the intimacy of our fellowship and credibility of our witness. Jesus spoke to the problem in depth in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:24-35).

There are at least 10 reasons given to refrain from worry. Here they are:

1. God commands us not to worry.
2. There is more to life than the concerns we tend to worry about.
3. God takes care of the birds—and you are of more value than they are.
4. God beautifully arrays the lilies of the field—though they expend no effort.
5. Worry doesn’t accomplish anything.
6. To worry--being preoccupied with earthly concerns-is to live no different than the unsaved.
7. Instead of worrying about earthly concerns, be concerned about His kingdom and His righteousness
8. God knows your needs.
9. Don’t borrow, by worrying, from tomorrow’s troubles.
10. Instead of worrying—pray (Matthew 6:8-14; Philippians 4:6-7).

John Newton, “We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday's burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.”

The words below, from an old song, by B.J. Thomas, put things in right perspective:

He's got it all in control
He's got it all in control
He's put that reassurance
Way down in my soul
He's got it all in control

I've put my life in His hands
I've put my life in His hands
So every road I walk down
I'm sure is in His plan
'Cause I've put my life in His hands

He holds the stars in the sky
He holds the land back from the sea
If He can do all of that
Surely he can take care
Of you and me

Pastor Jerry

MATTHEW 4 – INSUFFICIENT RIGHTEOUSNESS

2012-01-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

One purpose of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was to confront the false teachings and practice of the Pharisaic Cult. The religious leaders of that day had created a “self-made religion” (Cf. Colossians 2:23) entailing the strict observance of some six hundred laws. The only way that an approach like that can work is to reinterpret God’s laws to make them more manageable. That’s what they had done. Jesus, the perfect law-giver and keeper reaffirmed the law’s relevance (Matthew 5:17-19) and corrected their mis-interpretations (Matthew 5:21, 27, 33, 38, 43).

Of the many amazing statements in the sermon (Cf. Matthew 7:28), one stands out: “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Jesus’ listeners were no doubt surprised by that. The scribes and Pharisees made a good show in their religious efforts. They attended the synagogue, read the Scriptures, fasted, prayed, and gave alms (they would even sound a trumpet—Matthew 6:2). They were impressive in their religious credentials and self-righteousness. But it was not enough.

Jesus later reiterated this truth to Nicodemus. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night with an unasked question--for which Jesus gave him an answer. He was a Pharisee (John 3:1), a ruler of the Jews (John 3:1), and “the teacher of Israel” (John 3:10). But Jesus’ response to him was not that he should try harder to do better. He looked past the religious veneer to his heart and stripped away all of his religious achievements—“You must be born again,” He said (John 3:7). Man’s self-righteousness is inadequate no matter how impressive (Cf. Isaiah 64:6). Something greater is required.

Jesus “told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14). The Pharisee assured himself by measuring himself against someone he supposed to be less righteous than he was. This is an age-old practice that was repeated by some in the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 10:12). The wrong thinking is that if I can find some miserable soul less religious than I am than I must be doing okay. The problem is the standard is not ourselves, it is perfection (Matthew 5:48), it is Christ.

That was the revelation Saul received when he met Christ on the road to Damascus. He was a Pharisee. By his own profession he had been “found blameless”…”as to the righteousness which is in the Law” (Philippians 3:6). When he met Jesus two things were made readily apparent: 1) His own righteousness was worthless; and 2) Christ’s righteousness alone is adequate. He henceforth considered the first to be “rubbish,” and found the second to be of “surpassing value” (Philippians 3:8). Philippians 3:9 further explains the difference: “And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived by the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” Paul found, in Christ, the righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees and which is alone is approved by God. True righteousness, adequate righteousness, the kind of righteousness which perfectly justifies (declares righteous) a man, is not obtained through our own religious machinations—it is received by faith in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.”

Not the labors of my hands, can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone; Thou must save and Thou alone.

Pastor Jerry

MATTHEW 4 – “YET WITHOUT SIN”

2012-01-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

Despite God’s provision of everything needful in the Garden of Eden, the tempter found easy prey in Adam and Eve. Eve saw that the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil--the one thing they were not permitted to eat—“was good for food, and…a delight to the eyes…and desirable to make one wise.” The serpent claimed that partaking of the fruit would cause her to be like God, knowing good and evil. In Adam and Eve the tempter found easy takers, and the rest—as they say—is history.

From that time until now, with one exception, there has never been a person who never failed to succumb to the tempter’s power. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life run deep in the hearts of the sons of Adam. The most powerful political rulers and military leaders have been easily and repeatedly defeated by the tempter. Indeed, “through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19). Having the power of death, the devil has kept all of mankind captive in sin (Hebrews 2:14-15).

The temptations Jesus faced were like Eve’s in several ways—the devil tempted both to distrust God and His Word. He also appealed, in both cases, to the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life” (1 John 2:16). But they were unlike in another—the tempter used everything in his arsenal in his attack against Jesus. Forty days hungry the devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread. He took him to the pinnacle of the temple and tempted him to prove His identity in testing God. He then took Jesus to a very high mountain and offered Him the kingdoms of the world.

In every case Jesus responded by lovingly submitting Himself to the Father’s will in firm allegiance to the Word of God. How much more then do we need to rely upon the sword of the Spirit in this fight of faith: “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:13). But our warring against the devil would be a hopeless endeavor were it not for the ultimate victory won by our Savior. His temptations did not end there in the wilderness. Peter mistakenly urged Jesus to avoid the cross and gained a sharp rebuke: “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Matthew 16:23). Submission to the Father’s will won the day when Jesus cried out: “My Father, if it is possible, let his cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). In His death on the cross Jesus overcame: “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him” (Colossians 2:15).

It is more than Jesus’ good example that we need if we are to succeed. Forgiveness of sin and Christ’s transforming power are possessed only by those who are possessed by Christ. Those who trust in Him for salvation are identified with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. They are crucified with Christ and made alive together with Him (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:3-4). They are set free from sin (Romans 6:7). In Christ alone are these things true.

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). “Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Adam sinned, all was lost; Jesus came, and no matter the cost; said no to sin, did the Father’s will, ‘til the cross He did climb, upon that hill, the war was won, the captives freed, and now when the Devil comes to you and me; a new power we find, not in ourselves, but in He who is greater—“He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

Pastor Jerry

MATTHEW CHAPTER 2

2012-01-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

One cannot help but be inspired by the example of the Wise Men! Their journey from the east involved hundreds of miles, many days, and countless obstacles. Their purpose was clear, their destination not so much. Centuries before their predecessors had been instructed (by the prophet Daniel?) regarding the coming Messiah and “His star.” The time came and they set out crossing “field and fountain, moor and mountain” along the way.

Their stated purpose was to worship the new born King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). They asked “Where is He?” The chief priests and scribes knew where He was to be born, in Bethlehem—but demonstrated an amazing apathy to the unfolding events. Many have some kind of intellectual affiliation with Jesus. But that is no substitute for worship. Those legalistic religious leaders had plenty of time and energy for religion, but no time for their true ruler. They knew about His birthplace, but could care less of His birth.

King Herod feigned a desire to worship Jesus also. But the true intent of his evil heart was later made evident. In a desperate attempt to eliminate this rival king—he “sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16). Still today there are many who claim to have some allegiance or alliance with Jesus. They would say with Herod, “So that I too may come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:8). The reality is that that the heart of an unregenerate sinner has no room for Jesus (John 3:20, “For everyone who does evil hates the light”).

The Wise Men were not distracted by the King or discouraged by the apathy of the religious leaders. They were single-minded in their pursuit of the King of the Jews. They saw the star and “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10). Their experience is shared by all who have been led to the Savior (1 Peter 1:8, “And though you have not seen Him, you live Him, and through you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you great rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory”). They were God-directed to the baby Jesus. You, believer in Christ, have been Spirit-led to the Risen Lord. They rejoiced when they saw the star. Rejoice, believer, in that the Savior has found you!

They brought gifts--gifts that prophetically spoke of the tri-fold identity of the Christ child—King, God, and Savior. He is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). He is Jesus, who has come to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He is the King of Jews, the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17). “Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain; Gold I bring to crown Him again…Frankincense to offer have I: Incense owns a Deity nigh; Myrrh is mind: its bitter perfume breathes a lift of gathering gloom.” The Wise Men presented their treasures—thus helping to fund a quick escape to Egypt.

Worship involves sacrifice. David recognized that: “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). What is the acceptable sacrifice to be presented by the New Testament believer in view of his Spirit-led understanding of the glory of Christ and fullness of His work? Is it not our very lives! Romans 12:1, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 8:5).

Most are apathetic regarding the Lord Jesus. And some are downright antagonistic! But God has so worked in our hearts, brethren, that we might stand in awe of Him. And, as with the Wise Men, we might honor Him both with our lips and by our lives—that’s the nature of acceptable worship (Cf. Hebrews 13:15-16).

Pastor Jerry

2011-12-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Best Books read in 2011

The Mayflower

John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace

Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assissination that Changed America Forever

Haven: The Dramatic Story of 1000 World War II Refugees and How They Came to America

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Bonhoeffer

Son of Hamas

Bruchko: The Astonishing True Story of a 19 Year Old American, His Capture by the Motilone Indians

Unbroken

Triumph of Grace

The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War

Pastor Jerry

GOOD NEWS WORTH TELLING

2011-11-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

Nearly two hundred years ago the war of 1812 came to a close. A treaty was signed, ending the war, in Belgium on Christmas Eve, 1814. But the news traveled slowly by ship and was not delivered to New York City until a Saturday afternoon in February. No sooner had some men heard the news than they rushed in breathless haste into the city to repeat it to their friends, shouting as they ran through the streets, “Peace, Peace, Peace!” Everyone who heard the news repeated it. From house to house, from street to street, the news spread. Men bearing lighted torches ran to and fro shouting “Peace, Peace, Peace!” Only one thought occupied the minds of citizens that night. In the days that followed, every person became a herald of the news and soon every man, woman, and child in the entire city was evangelized with the message. Those New Yorkers excitedly and readily shared a message of peace achieved that Christmas Eve, a peace that had reconciled two great nations. Good news is meant to be shared with a sense of urgency.

Two thousand years ago an angel brought a message of good news to shepherds: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people, for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). God was pleased to reveal that glorious truth to lowly shepherds. The angel instructed them to go and witness, for themselves, the birth of the Savior. They traveled “in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as he lay in the manger” (Luke 2:16). Those ordinary men who had shepherded thousands of ordinary lambs were privileged to behold the “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The shepherds returned to their family and friends and shared what they had seen and heard: “They made known the statement which had been told them about this Child” (Luke 1:17). The term translated “made known” means “to publish abroad, make known thoroughly.” The King James translates it “they made known abroad.” They literally told anybody and everybody who would listen.

The good news of Christmas is good news worth telling. The message of Christmas is that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). It is a “word of reconciliation” regarding the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through which rebel sinners can be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:19, “Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.”). The end of hostilities is realized for anyone who trusts in Him—sin is forgiven, true peace is realized, salvation is assured. Every born again believer has experienced this “end of hostilities” and has been enlisted in this “ministry of reconciliation.”

As ambassadors for Christ we are to share the message with a sense of urgency. Peter and John were warned to stop speaking of Jesus. Their response? “We cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Paul likewise proclaimed “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Paul once shared the gospel with a man named Epaphras—he believed. His response? He returned to his home town and shared that same message with others, and the church in Colossae was born. The “treasure” we hold in our earthen vessels was never meant to be kept to ourselves. It is an “indescribable gift” that fills the heart with wonder and overflows with testimony to the grace of God (2 Corinthians 9:15.

Nate Saint left home and family burdened to share the good news with a people group that had never heard—the Auca Indians of Ecuador. He wrote in his diary: “If God would grant us a vision, the word ‘sacrifice’ would disappear from our lips and thoughts; we would hate the things that now seem so dear to us; our lives would suddenly be too short; we would despise time-robbing distractions and charge the enemy with all our energies in the name of Christ. May God help us to judge ourselves by the eternities that separate the Aucas from the comprehension of Christmas, and Him, who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor so that we might, through His poverty, be made rich. Lord God, speak to my own heart and give me to know Thy holy will and joy of walking in it. Amen.” Nate Saint wrote prophetically, later making the ultimate sacrifice in taking the gospel to the Auca Indians. Good news is worth telling no matter the cost.

This sin-darkened world is filled with those “having no hope and without God.” God has made the hope-bearing truth known to us. We’ve bear witness to the saving power of the gospel message (Romans 1:16). Christmas is good news and the good news is worthy telling--“Go tell it on the mountains, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountains that Jesus Christ is born!”

Pastor Jerry

“ALL-TIMERS”

2011-10-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

Eldred Bagley called me last week. Eldred and Shirley have been long-time friends of Lewis and Clark Bible Church. On many occasions they made the trip from Idaho to the Astoria area, sharing the gospel in churches, schools, and nursing homes—and wherever else the Lord would lead them.

Eldred and Shirley celebrated their 61st anniversary on August 25th, but Shirley was in poor health, and on September 24th she passed into the presence of our Lord Jesus. Eldred shared with me the details of her passing. Though her death wasn’t confirmed until hours later, he thinks that she actually died in his arms as he carried her to bed.

He told me that he was glad that she hadn’t suffered at all from Alzheimer’s and retained her mental abilities until the end. Curious, I listened on. He then went on to say that they both suffered from something he called “All-timers.” He explained how they had taken to heart the words of the Psalmist; “I will bless the Lord at all times” (Psalm 34:1). Throughout her final days—as her earthly tent was being torn down--they endeavored to bless the Lord!

Colossians 2:7 instructs us that we, as believers, should be “overflowing with gratitude.” The term overflowing speaks to having an abundance such that there is never any shortage. The term gratitude means to be appreciative of benefits received. The walk of the believer in Christ is to be characterized by an attitude of overflowing gratitude that reveals itself in the giving of thanks to God in all things (Col. 4:2 and 3:17). Indeed, maintaining such an attitude is “God’s will for us in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18).

I have to admit that I’m not always inclined to thank God as I should. I’m prone to grumble when things don’t go my way. I remember an experiment that I and a fellow submariner conducted many years ago. There was a fair amount of grumbling and complaining on board ship. My friend and I determined that we were going to go “against the flow” and refrain from complaining for a day. Unfortunately our noble-minded intentions didn’t last long—and we soon rejoined the grumbling choir of unhappy sailors.

As believers we have been blessed beyond measure! Through the intervention of our loving God and Christ’s work on the cross we have been forgiven and reconciled to God (Col. 1:20). We have been “delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred…to the Kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col. 1:13). In Him (we) have been made complete (Col. 2:10). Indeed, we have been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

The challenge for us in maintaining an attitude of overflowing gratitude is keeping our focus on what we have received in Christ, and especially in light of what we deserved. How are we to do this? Thankfulness to God is an aspect of worship (Cf. Heb. 13:15). And worship is not something that we conjure up—true worship is Spirit-led and truth-informed. Jesus made this clear, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:23).

It is the Spirit of God who reveals to us the glory of the Son of God. Jesus said, in speaking of the Spirit, “He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you” (John 16:14). The glorious nature of our blessed Savior, “the unfathomable riches of Christ,” (Eph. 3:8), are not uncovered by human intellect or reason—they are Spirit revealed (Cf. Eph. 1:18-19; 3:14-19).

Thankfulness is not the result of determined self-effort, but rather the overflow of a heart that is filled with the Spirit’s Christ-glorifying and Christ-revealing presence. Eph. 5:18, 20, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” When the Spirit of God fills us, thankfulness to God is the result.

We are to worship God in Spirit and in truth. God’s word is truth (John 17:17). Thankfulness is the result as the Spirit of God applies the Word of God to our hearts. The Word of God reveals to us the full extent of the undeserved blessings we have received in Christ. Col. 3:16 is a parallel text to Eph. 5:18, only there the command is to “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” The results are the same and the same with regards to our thankfulness: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col. 3:17). As the Word of God richly dwells within us, thankfulness to God is the result.

It is one thing to thank God when things are going well—it is another thing to overflow with gratitude when there is no apparent earthly reason to do so. By the Spirit “rivers of living water” flow from the “innermost being” of the believer ushering forth in songs of praise and thanksgiving (John 7:37-38). Even the trials of life contribute to the benevolent purpose of the Spirit to conform us to the image of the Son (Rom. 8:28-29). Paul wrote from a prison cell exhorting those in Colossae that they should be “overflowing with gratitude” (Col. 2:7). Such Spirit-led worship shines as a beacon of hope to grumble-weary souls directing them to its true source—Our God from whom all blessings flow (Rom. 1:21; Phil. 2:14-16; Acts 16:25-34).

How filled with gratitude are you? It is as we walk by the Spirit that the overflow of gratitude corresponds “to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us” (Eph. 1:7-8). True worship—and our witness--demands nothing less…

Pastor Jerry

SMALL WORLD-BIG CHURCH

2011-09-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

Jos is a city in the middle belt of Nigeria having a population of nearly a million residents. It is commonly called “J-town” or “Jesus Our Savior” by its residents and is the administrative capital of Plateau State. The city is located on the Jos Plateau at an elevation of over 4000 feet. During British rule, Jos was an important tin mining center. In recent years Muslim persecution of Christians has killed hundreds and destroyed many churches.

Dan Logan was our guest Gideon speaker this past Sunday (9/21/2001). He spoke of his visit to Jos in November of 2008. As a part of a team of Gideons he was privileged to distribute thousands of Gideon New Testaments to many of its citizens. His visit preceded riots that resulted in the death of hundreds and exile of thousands. I spoke to him about the timing of his visit. He was so thankful to have been given the opportunity to pass on God’s message of hope to those who later faced such desperate need.

Dr. Les Lofquist, Executive Director of IFCA International, was our guest speaker this past Sunday evening. He brought with him Steve Van Horm (International Training and Equipping Ministries) and Nathan Chiroma, a national from Nigeria currently preparing for ministry at a seminary in South Africa. Dr. Lofquist took the opportunity to introduce Nathan to us. We were especially blessed and encouraged by what he had to share. We discovered that Nathan is from the same area of Nigeria that our morning guest speaker had visited back in 2008. Nathan shared how his family had been victimized by the same kind of religious persecution that Dan Logan barely escaped several years ago.

The world is not as big as we suppose. How else can you explain the intersection of two different speakers who both spoke of the same far away place at a small church in a little town on the same Sunday! And what were they doing there in that far away place—in a town commonly referred to as “Jesus Our Savior?” They were both doing the same thing. They were, in the Apostle Paul’s words “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). The one, Danny, grew up in St. Helens, Oregon—he traveled many miles to make his way to Jos. The other, Nathan, grew up in Nigeria—he traveled many miles to make his way to us. They both worship the same Lord, are indwelt by the same Spirit, and labor for the same cause.

Their differing colors, varied past experiences, and diverse cultural backgrounds couldn’t be more different—their hearts, who they are in Christ, couldn’t be any more the same. It is an incredible God who has worked to reconcile us all together in Christ. The church is made up of people of “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). We all share a common bond in Christ—through Him we all have “our access in one Spirit to the Father” (Eph. 2:18). The same gospel message brought salvation to us all—“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).

Both men expressed their strong desire to share the gospel with others. Dan Logan has made many trips to far away places to get Gideon New Testaments into the hands of the lost. Nathan Chiroma is preparing for ministry at a Seminary that he might be used by God to reach his own people with the gospel.

“Blest be the Tie that binds” the hymn says. Blest indeed! The tie that binds, binds tighter, endures longer, and to a higher plane than any other cause on earth. The tie that binds is none other than a person—the One referred to in the common name that is given to a far away place in the heart of Nigeria—“Jesus Our Savior.”
We were blest to have such special guests this past Sunday! It was wonderful to see the pictures and hear the stories of Dan’s ministries in Nigeria and Indonesia. Les’s message to us on the relevance and importance of the small town church was especially encouraging. Steve spoke of his heart for the pastors in Africa. Nathan shared of his experiences there. A common theme resonated in all their messages—Christ is a glorious Savior and His gospel is a glorious truth!

Pastor Jerry

HEAVENWARD NAVIGATION

2011-08-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

I don’t own a GPS, but my daughter Claire does. Knowing her proclivity at getting lost, we bought it for her several years ago so that she would have it for a trip to California. She affectionately named it Gertrude. Gertrude was of great assistance in directing her to and fro on her recent trip to the East Coast. A GPS is an amazing device—by satellite it determines your position, within a few feet, anywhere on the planet. Give it a destination and it will give you audible instructions as to when to turn. No longer any need for maps or to stop and embarrassingly ask for directions—unless, of course, your GPS fails. That’s exactly what happened to Claire as she was making her way from Washington DC to Baltimore. Gertrude couldn’t find her satellite, so Claire was lost in a frightening and unfamiliar place. Fortunately she was able to call a friend and he guided her to her destination by use of the internet.

A GPS has its limitations. It will do you no good to type in “heaven” as your destination—it doesn’t know the way. The best of earthbound navigational means are of no value or assistance in making the trip from heaven to earth. But God has provided, in His Son Jesus Christ, all that is necessary.

The disciples were distressed when Jesus told them of His pending departure. But He told them, “And you know the way where I am going (John 14:4).” Thomas was quick to respond, “Lord we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way (John 14:5)?” Jesus’ response? “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me (John 14:6).” Nobody can journey to heaven from earth apart from Jesus—He is the Way. To know Jesus is to know the way. Apart from Him the journey is not just difficult, it is impossible. The great obstacle, sin, must be dealt with. He has done so on the cross. Jesus saves to the uttermost those who trust in Him. He frees sinners from the penalty and power of sin. He alone can “transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:21a). He will do so “by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:21b).

The Apostle Paul’s journey through life in ministry was met with many challenges and much opposition. He wrote to Timothy, in his final letter, “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:16). As believers we must sometimes travel alone on a wearisome and difficult path, but we are never truly alone. “But the Lord stood with me,” Paul said. In Jesus we have a travelling companion who will never desert us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5), indeed, He is with us always (Matt. 28:20). His guidance is not subject to technological glitches or operator error. He stands ready to guide us in all our decisions (James 1:5). He is preeminently qualified to direct us in all matters (Heb. 4:15-16). Paul was fully confident of Christ’s ability to lead him on his journey—“The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:18).

These are difficult times in which we live. The broad way that leads to destruction is well traveled. Doomed travelers are ushered speedily along a perilous route to a disastrous end. The narrow way is impossible to navigate apart from Christ and His Word. But His “word is a lamp to (our) feet, and a light to (our) path” (Psa. 119:105). God’s Word is far better than a GPS in as much as it is “living and active” (Heb. 4:12) communication from God to us in all matters pertaining to faith and practice. Through His Word, the God of the universe speaks to us in personal and practical ways—teaching, reproving, correcting, and training us in the way we should go (2 Tim. 3:16).

The Apostle Peter spoke to our great need to pay attention to the Word: “And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (2 Pet. 1:19; Cf. 2 Tim. 3:14-15). One day, when we are with Jesus, our difficult journey on the narrow way will be complete. In the meantime we need to be careful to “pay attention” to our heavenly navigator and His instructions—He knows the way, He is the way, and He alone can bring us safely home.

Every Gideon Bible includes this wonderful testimony regarding the Scripture’s ability to guide us: “The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”

Pastor Jerry

“DIVINE RESCUE”

2011-07-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

Colossians 1:13, “For He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son.”

A year ago this month an estimated 1 billion television viewers watched with great anticipation as rescue workers descended 2300 feet underground and brought the first of the Chilean miners to the surface. 33 miners had been trapped in the mine for 69 days. They had survived high heat, deep darkness, abiding hunger, mental anguish, and physical despair. There was no way out for them. They were totally dependent on others for their rescue.

The rescue effort involved hundreds of people. Nearly every Chilean government agency was involved. NASA and more than a dozen international corporations provided assistance. Three separate drilling efforts were undertaken. A rescuer was ultimately lowered in a capsule into the depths of the earth. The captives were brought to the surface amidst much excitement and jubilation—people cried, hugged, and cheered.

It was one of the greatest rescue efforts ever undertaken. But there is a rescue effort of far greater proportions—the divine rescue of lost sinners. It is hard to imagine a more challenging predicament than that of those miners, but the “domain of darkness” is a more foreboding place (“domain” = “authority”; Cf. 1 John 5:19). Held captive to sin, the lost soul wastes away his existence in a futile way of life (1 Pet. 1:18). Darkened in his understanding and blinded to the truth—he can see no way of escape (Cf. Eph. 4:18; 2 Cor. 4:4). The hopelessness of the plight of the rebel sinner cannot be overstated (Rom. 3:23, 6:23; Col. 1:21). And a pending deeper darkness looms over his existence (2 Thess. 1:8-9).

The rescue of the Chilean miners was motivated by loving concern. Skilled men devised a response. Tremendous resources were utilized. The rescue of lost sinners came at the hands of our loving God. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” God’s power and His wisdom were applied to the effort: “But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:23-24).

The rescue workers descended into the depths of the earth to rescue those men. Jesus came to earth to rescue lost sinners: “For the Son of Man (came) to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He humbled Himself: Heb. 2:14, “Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” As the hymn puts it: “He left His throne above, so free, so infinite His grace! Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race! ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, For, O my God, it found out me. Amazing love! How can it be? That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?”

The Chilean miners were brought to the surface and restored to their loved ones. The believer has been transferred to the Kingdom of His beloved Son. Having been forgiven of his sins and reconciled to God his rescue is the grandest of them all--from the depths of sin’s depravity to the heights of divine privilege (from the “mire” to the “choir”; Cf. Psalm 40:2-3). “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1). The believer in Christ has indeed been saved to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25, KJV).

The Chilean miners rejoiced with great joy when they broke the surface. We are to be “joyously giving thanks” for our deliverance (Col. 1:12). Our rescue has come about entirely by His grace and through His work on the cross. There will come a day when all of the rescued souls through all the ages will sing a new song in heaven, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals, for Thou wast slain and didst purchase for god with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). The rescued rejoice!

Jose Henriquez was one of the 33 men trapped in that mine. During the 69 days he led devotions twice a day, crying out to God with the other miners. He arranged for a Pastor to come to share the gospel with the miners. 20 of them prayed a salvation prayer. There are people trapped in sin all around us. God calls us to His rescue effort. Jude 23, “Save others, snatching them out of the fire.” Christ alone can rescue the lost. The rescued direct other needy souls to Him!

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Pastor Jerry

JOYOUSLY GIVING THANKS

2011-06-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

The heart of Paul’s prayer for the believers in Colossae (Col. 1:9-12) was his desire that they be equipped to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. The Greek term translated “worthy” is a term which spoke of “that which balances the scales.” To “balance the scales,” our walk must be consistent to and commensurate with our identity as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prayer has great relevance to us as NT believers and governs every aspect of our walk—what we know (our heads, Col. 1:9), what we do (our hands, Col. 1:10), and how we do it (our hearts, Col. 1:11-12). In order to walk is such a way we need to be “filled with the knowledge of His will”—we need to know where we are going and what we are doing. The worthy walk is characterized in what we do by an ambition to please God and bear fruit in good works. It is impossible for any of us to walk in such a manner in our own strength, we must instead be “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might” (Cf. John 15:4; Phil. 4:13).

The worthy walk is characterized by joy and thankfulness. It is not just what we do that is important, but how. We are to be “joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12). I regularly receive email messages from a friend who has the signature line—“serving with joy.” That is God’s desire for us—he commands us to “rejoice always” (Phil. 4:4) and to give thanks “in everything” (1 Thess. 5:19). In so doing we glorify God and maintain a good testimony before others--the problem is that it is not always easy to be joyful and thankful.

Two terms in verse 11 speak to God’s provision. There are two virtues, steadfastness and patience, that are essential if we are to worship God, even in the midst of trials. The first term translates the Greek “hupumone.” Its literal meaning is “an abiding under.” Webster’s has this definition, “firm in belief, determination, or adherence.” In this context it speaks to the one who remains undeterred—amidst obstacles and challenges-- from his faith, obedience, and love to Christ. The second term translates the Greek “makrothumia.” This term is defined as “forbearance, patience, longsuffering. Vine’s Expository Dictionary distinguishes between the two terms this way: “Longsuffering (“patience” in Col. 1:12 NASB) is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish, it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy….Patience (“steadfastness” in Col. 1:12 NASB) is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope.” The first term, “steadfastness,” speaks of patience through trials. The second term, “patience,” speaks of patience with people. And that pretty much sums up our troubles—problems and people problems.

These virtues are not native to human hearts. Our propensity is to respond to our problems in human ways by human strength with human wisdom. Such responses are typically according to the “deeds of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21) and work to dishonor God and undermine our relationships and testimony. Steadfastness and patience are Spirit-borne virtues (Gal. 5:22). Their presence in our lives—in the midst of troubles and trials—speaks to His presence in our lives. He is the ultimate example of steadfastness and patience, we are to follow in His steps (Heb. 12:1-3; 1 Pet. 2:20-23).

I met a fellow believer the other day and we rejoiced in the Lord together. He spoke to me of his job and other things. He told me how he once had difficulty with his boss, for a period of a couple of years. He kept praying that God would change his boss, but no change was forthcoming. But then he realized that maybe he needed to pray a different way—he started praying that God would change his own heart—and that’s just what God did. And the situation was resolved. And we thanked God together for His work in his life. In our troubles and trials are first inclination is often—“God get me out of this situation!” Instead we ought to say—“God what can I get (learn) out of this!” These Spirit implanted virtues-- steadfastness and patience—ultimately work to bear fruit in Christlike maturity (James 1:2-4).

It has been said that life is 10% circumstances, and 90% how we respond to them—by responding with Spirit-borne steadfastness and patience we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. We joyously give thanks, ever mindful, of how we are so blessed (“{He} has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light,” Col. 1:12). Our troubles are but “momentary, light affliction” as compared to the “eternal weight of glory” He has prepared for us at the end of our journey (2 Cor. 4:17).

Pastor Jerry

MUCH IN COMMON

2011-05-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

Some insights from our recent trip to Uganda…

At first glance it might appear as if we have little in common with our Christian brethren in the Masaka Region of Uganda. The most obvious difference is in color, but the differences don’t stop there. They reside in small homes, made of brick or clay, that have no power and no indoor plumbing. Their kitchens and bathrooms are outside. They live off their crops and the livestock they raise. Their monthly income is less that $50 per month. They have no television, no newspapers, no internet (unless the go far away to town to access such things). They have no health care plans, no retirement savings, and no insurance policies. They travel on dirt paths either on foot or by bike or motorcycle.

The best of their church buildings wouldn’t meet any of our building codes. They are typically built of either bricks or clay, but in one case the church simply meets under a tree. As with their homes, their buildings lack power, plumbing, and bathrooms. They typically consist of but one large room where the church gathers and meets on dirt floors where people sit on small handmade benches. Their singing is much different than ours—one instrument, drums, is all they need or use. They often times intersperse spontaneous testimonies amongst a repeated chorus. Their singing almost always includes some degree of dancing, clapping, or hand waving.

There are other differences. Most of their Pastors have not been to Bible school. They were chosen as pastor because they were the most qualified amongst the believers in a given village. They don’t receive a salary and often travel long distances by foot or bike to reach their churches or to visit church members. These pastors have no Bible study tools in their own language. The Bible that they own includes just a few cross-references. Most of their church members don’t own a Bible. They long to possess much of what we take for granted.

At first glance it might appear as if we have little in common, but that impression would be amiss. We share with them the same love for the same Savior. Pastor Bob Emrich and I were privileged to provide instruction to about 40 pastors in meetings with two separate Pastor Alliances. Pastor Bob taught on “The Spiritual Disciples.” The focus of my teaching time was “Major Themes in the Book of Ephesians.” What garnered the most visible response from the pastors was any reference to the glory of Christ in His person and work. Hearty “amens” were heard whenever we spoke of such things. One day we were privileged to visit about a dozen pastors and churches. We heard repeated testimonies of how Christ had worked to bring salvation to souls and growth to His church.

We share with them a common love for the Scriptures. At the beginning of our meetings with the First Alliance there was a time for the pastors to share testimonies. We heard repeatedly of that for which they were most thankful—for God’s provision of Bibles for their congregations. They know, as do we, that the Word of God is powerful to change lives as it instructs us in the truth of who God is, how He saves, and how He desires for His people to live. The pastors who attended the conference traveled long distances to get there and slept at night on concrete floors. But they listened attentively in our meetings—because they have a longing to better understand the Scriptures.

We share a common purpose in proclaiming the glorious gospel of salvation through faith in Christ. The pastors were burdened to share this message. They work together to take the gospel door-to-door to their villages. They look to God for opportunities and ways to broaden their ministries. Many of them have started Christian schools so that they can reach the thousands of children who make up so much of their population. Their teaching and curriculum is Christ-centered. I so much appreciated the logo on the patch of the uniform of “Arise and Shine” Christian school which said, “Knowledge Is from God!”

We share in common with our Ugandan brethren the most important things. Our homes and buildings and incomes and methods of transportation may differ, but in Christ we are united. We worship the same Savior, treasure the same Bible, and proclaim the same glorious gospel. The things we have in common are the things that truly matter. Christ is building His church and “Christ Jesus Himself (is) the corner stone” (Eph. 2:20). The “whole building (is) being fitted together (and) is growing into a holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:21). This glorious living temple is made up of “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:5) that have been redeemed for this very purpose “from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). We are intimately united in a common bond and eternal destiny.

No other Savior, no other truth, no other “religion” works to unite such dissimilar peoples in such an intimate fashion. The fact that we are bound together across such a cultural divide speaks to the glorious nature of our Savior and power of His gospel to reconcile sinners in “all creation” both to Himself and to one another (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Eph. 2:13-18). Far too much of our time is devoted to focusing on dissimilarities and concerning ourselves with insignificant things that won’t matter at all in heaven. There will come a day, “when He comes to be glorified in His saints…and to be marveled at among all who have believed” (2 Thess. 1:10), when all such differences amongst believers will be instantly eradicated. Our focus, on that day, will be only on Him. May it be increasingly so this side of heaven as we give attention to praising Him, growing in Him, and proclaiming His gospel (Cf. Phil. 3:20; 2 Cor. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Cor. 2:2).

Pastor Jerry

WHAT GOD HAS DONE

2011-04-22T09:03:00.001-07:00

I came across this story in the recent "Servant" magazine (Prairie Bible Institute's monthly)...

"At the funeral of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, executed in 1945 for his part in the plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler, Dietrich's uncle Hans Von Hase preached the sermon. He spoke of how this world of pain and sorrow is but a moment when compared with the joyous eternity with God. At the end of the service, as the coffin was carried down the aisle, trumpeters played an old German hymn Dietrich's mother had chosen:

What God has done, it is well done.
His will is always just.
Whatever He will do to me,
In Him I'll ever place my trust."

Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Pastor Jerry

WHAT GOD WANTS

2011-04-19T14:52:00.000-07:00

1 Timothy 2:4, “(God) desires all men to be saved.”

The word “desires” translates a Greek term which means “’to will, to wish,’ implying volition and purpose” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary). The King James Version translated the phrase: “Who will have all men to be saved.” God’s “wants” all men to be saved.

Empirical evidence argues against this glorious truth. All men are not saved. The vast majority of people continue in open rebellion against God. The broad way that leads to destruction is well traveled. Countless warnings of pending judgment remind us that God’s desire—that all men be saved--will not be ultimately realized (Cf. 2 Thess. 1:8-9). How can a sovereign and omnipotent God fail in that which He wants? Philosophical arguments are devised to resolve this theological dilemma, but satisfying answers lie hidden in subjection to His “unsearchable judgments and unfathomable ways” (Rom. 11:33; Cf. Isa. 55:8-9). We must exercise care lest we allow errant thinking to dilute our confidence in God’s desire to see others come to “a knowledge of the truth” (1Tim. 2:4).

The truth of this verse speaks to the benevolent nature of God. “God is love” (1 John 4:16). He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:32). He sought out Adam and Eve in the garden and spoke to them of a future redeemer. Countless Old Testament types and prophecies foretold of His coming. God purposed to send His Son: “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law” (Gal. 4:4-5). He “gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6). As the song puts it “He gave His life, what more could He give.” We know something of strong desires. No desire—this side of heaven—has been met with greater expression than God’s desire to see sinners saved. The clear testimony of His sincerity is the sacrifice of His Son upon the cross (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16).

His desire—that all men be saved--is akin to that of the father who welcomed back his repentant son: “But while he was still a long way off,” the Scripture says, “his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). God’s desire is evident in the response of the angels: “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). His desire is at present withholding the floodgates of divine judgment: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Tit. 2:11). The grace of God has made salvation available to all, but not all will receive it. The problem lies not with God, but man. In these difficult days it is easy for us to become disheartened by the hard-heartedness of sinners. Theological diversions, personal fears, and witnessing “failures” tend to discourage us in our zeal for evangelism. It is good for us to remind ourselves that God’s desire is for the salvation of sinners. Our unsaved family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and classmates are amongst the “all men” the verse speaks of. He desires their salvation. He is ultimately the one who saves, but He has privileged us to have a part in it.

It is good when our desires are aligned with God’s. So it was with the Apostle Paul. He said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is salvation” (Rom. 10:1). He spoke thus of his Jewish brethren, but his desire and prayer was likewise for all men. He was burdened to share the gospel (1 Cor. 9:16; 2 Cor. 5:14). He made himself a slave to all, “that (he) might win the more” (1 Cor. 9:19). He was willing to expend himself and suffer hardship for the sake of the gospel (2 Tim. 2:8-9). We are at our best, as believers, when that which matters most to God matters most to us.

God desires for all men to be saved. Do you desire the same? The Spirit of God is at work in us to fill our hearts with Christlike compassion for lost sinners. The “Titanic” of humanity is soon to be shipwrecked. Most are unaware, let us warn them. Most don’t know what to do, let us direct them to the One who is “mighty to save.” Let us do all we can to “Rescue the Perishing…”

Tho’ they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,

Waiting the penitent child to receive;

Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently,

He will forgive if they only believe.

Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying;

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

Pastor Jerry

’HALF-SMART’ PEOPLE AND GOD’S PENDING JUDGMENT”

2011-03-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

“The book of Revelation is a work of fiction describing how a truly vicious God would bring about the end of the world. No half-smart religious person actually believes the book of Revelation.” Such were the recent “worldly-wise” musings of Lawrence O’Donnell of MSNBC News.

Denial of God’s pending judgment is nothing new. The Apostle Peter warned us head of time regarding such declarations. 2 Peter 3:3-7, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water. But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

Lawrence is gravely mistaken regarding the nature of the God that we serve. The writer of the book of Revelation, the Apostle John, was the same man who declared “God is love” (1 John 4:16). Likewise, it was he who wrote “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). John was so convinced of the truths of which he spoke that he was willing to suffer great persecution for them (Rev. 1:9).

It is becoming ever more popular for men, even evangelicals, to deny the truth of God’s pending judgment. Hell and judgment have never been popular truths. But they must be understood in the broader context of what the Bible teaches about God. God is the creator of all things (2 Pet. 3:5). He is holy and just (Isa. 6:3; Heb. 12:29). Man is sinful by nature and practice (Col. 1:21; Eph. 2:1-3). God’s justice demands that sin be punished (Rom. 2:2; Jude 15). The wages--deserved punishment--of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). God--in His love, grace, and mercy—has provided for our salvation through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Tit. 3:4-5). He “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). Those who trust in Christ for salvation are saved (Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:36). Those who refuse to obey the gospel “will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:9). At a future time, God will bring a judgment upon this world--“the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men”--that will be characterized by the great calamities spoken of in the book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation promises a blessing to those who read and hear and heed “the words of the prophecy” (Rev. 1:3). Many years ago my uncle Frank, current Pastor of Edgewood Bible Church, was reading the book of Revelation. His brother Bob had been sharing with him of his need to trust in Christ for salvation. Reading of God’s pending judgment frightened Frank to such an extent that he was compelled to reconsider the Savior of whom Bob spoke. Frank trusted in Jesus and his life was transformed. Since that day he has been privileged to lead countless others to do the same.

Lawrence’s perspective reminds me of what happened to Harry Truman. Before Mt. St. Helens erupted a warning went out to all those in the vicinity of their urgent need to leave the mountain. Harry Truman refused to evacuate. The mountain erupted in a tremendous explosion equal in power to that of 500 atomic bombs. Scientists think that Harry probably had time only to turn his head when the mountain erupted. Moments later Spirit Lake was buried by landslides and mudflows. It is supposed that his body lies deep in the mountain--about 150 feet under the present lake.

Denying God’s pending judgment won’t stop it from happening. God has warned us ahead of time. He “is not slow about His promise…but is patient...not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:9-10). Smart people not only believe in the book of Revelation, they believe in Christ, “who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10).

Pastor Jerry

DO NOT QUARREL ON THE JOURNEY

2011-03-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

“Do not quarrel on the journey” (Gen. 45:24). Joseph admonished his brothers with these words as they departed from Egypt for Canaan. He knew something about their nature. They had a propensity for angry disputes--that’s what the word “quarrel” means.

Joseph’s counsel to his brothers is good counsel for us all. A similar admonition is found in Phil. 2:14, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” God has likewise spoken to us—“Do not quarrel on the journey.”

We are prone to do it. The two year old doesn’t have to be taught to fight over toys. The kids in the back seat on a long trip are prone to quarrel over insignificant matters. We, as humans, don’t need to be taught to quarrel—it is in our Adamic DNA. Cain murdered his brother Abel--mankind has been quarreling ever since.

“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel” (James 4:1-2). The fountainhead of quarrels is our lusts. The lust of the flesh (to do), the lust of the eyes (to have), and the boastful pride of life (to be) give rise to many quarrel causing concerns. To do, to have, to be—these desires lie at the heart of all quarrels. The flesh demands satisfaction of these desires, whatever the cost—even if it leads to angry disputes and destruction of relationships.

And the flesh will do anything to get want it wants. “The deeds of the flesh are…enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying…“ (Gal. 5:20-21). Such sins are a recipe for spiritual disaster in a life, in a marriage, or in a church.

God has saved us, in part, to rescue us from ourselves. He has so worked through His Son to reconcile us to Himself and to one another (Eph. 2:16). He has indwelt us with His Spirit such that we may “through love, serve one another” (Gal. 5:13). He is at work to transform us from our old selfish and demanding ways, into the selfless and giving nature of Christ. In Christ, relationships can and do work. The servant-minded believer, the loving marriage, the love-filled church all testify to the power of Christ to save and transform.

Joseph’s brothers didn’t have any reason to quarrel on the journey. He had sent them on their way with “ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and sustenance” (Gen. 45:23). They were well provided for. Not only that, their brother was the Prime Minister of Egypt. “The best of the land of Egypt” (Gen. 45:20) had been promised to them.

Likewise the believer in Christ has been blessed beyond measure with all that is needful for the journey of life. He has “granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). He has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Rom. 8:32 likewise assures us: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Why argue over crumbs that fall from the table if you have been served a bounteous feast? In the person of Christ Himself we have “unfathomable riches” (Eph. 3:8). Why quarrel then over pennies?

Mary Estabrook, now with Jesus in heaven, once shared with me how she had served in WW2 as a nurse and witnessed many unspeakable horrors. That experience changed her henceforth—as a mother she forbade her children from quarreling with each other. In so doing she left behind a wonderful legacy. You have the freedom to quarrel now, with others, if you choose. Your joy (in the journey) and your testimony (along the way) will, of course, be diminished. But one day the journey will end and it will end in a place where all quarreling will cease. What a glorious place that will be! Let’s not quarrel on the journey—we need to learn to get along--we’re going to be together for a long time!

Pastor Jerry

PRAYER IS FOR THE NEEDY

2011-01-25T13:16:00.000-08:00

I've been reading—and thoroughly enjoying--the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, fittingly entitled "Bonhoeffer.” The book tells of an occasion, in 1928, when he was visited a church in France and noticed many "heavily burdened people," and how they were naturally disposed to prayer. He remarked, "Nothing is so at odds with prayer as vanity." Prayer is for the needy.

It is the realization of our needs that drives us to our knees. Jesus told a parable of a Pharisee and a Publican. The self-righteous Pharisee prayed, not to God, but to himself as he acknowledged his superiority. The Publican cried out to God, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee had supposed he had no needs and did not pray (at least not to God). The Publican saw his need and cried out to God in prayer.

God knows we are needy creatures. His exhortations to us to pray speak to our neediness: "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5); "Let us therefore draw near...that we...may find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:5); "casting all your anxiety (anxiety=worry about needs) upon Him, because He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:6).

It is quite possible for any of us to be misled regarding our true condition. The Laodecian church wrongly assumed themselves to be in "need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17). They would not have been a praying church. James chided the proud, "You do not have, because you do not ask" (James 4:2). A spirit of humility is essential to prayer. Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in view of God’s holiness and our sinfulness. In humility we realize that God is perfect in all of His attributes. In humility we realize we "fall short” of His perfection.

Humility is not native to sinful soil. It is by the Spirit alone that we—as proud, rebel sinners--were brought to the point of humble trust in Christ for salvation. It is by the Spirit that we now recognize our total dependence on Him. The believer in Christ is “already” perfect with regards to his position (Col. 2:10), but “not yet”—and far from it—with regards to his practice (Phil. 3:12). An awareness of the dichotomy between the "already" and "not yet" is reason enough for us to pray. A Spirit-borne passion for growth in Christlikeness burdens our hearts and instructs our prayers . A Spirit-borne compassion for others causes us to intercede on their behalf (Col. 1:28; Rom. 10:1; 2 Tim. 2:1-4).

Needs of every kind surround us and threaten, at times, to overwhelm us. We are needier than we think that we are. The extent of our sin problem is greater than we realize. The spiritual opposition we face is stronger than we think. God’s purpose and plan for us in Christ is “exceeding abundantly” beyond what we can imagine (Eph. 3:19-21). Prayer is for the humble inasmuch as they alone appreciate the gravity of the task at hand. They know that the things that need to be, cannot be, apart from God’s intervention (John 15:5).

Prayer is for the needy and for those having faith in God. "Faith is the assurance of things of things hoped for" (Heb. 11:1). Prayer exercised in faith trusts in God and His readiness and ability to respond to our need. God says, "Ask and it shall be given to you" (Matt. 7:7). Asking is such a simple thing--a person in need asks of someone who is able to meet the need. God is able, more than able. The angel declared to Mary, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). God is indeed able "to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask" (Eph. 3:20). He is well-pleased to respond to the requests of His grace-needy children (Rom. 8:32). He is glorified in His abundant provision providing both “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

God exhorts us to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16). Needy souls need look no further. God is on the throne—and it is a throne of grace! He knows all about our troubles. He bids us to bring them to His throne—to cast them upon Him (1 Pet. 5:7). From His presence He freely dispenses both mercy and grace. His provision can never be exhausted. He will not turn His children away (James 1:5). We have the freedom to come at any time in any place with requests both great and small.

I have it in my mind that the throne of grace—like a stream in a populated desert--ought to be well-attended by countless souls. But in pride, the thirsty refuse to go. They wander about frantically searching for some other source of refreshment. It is sinful pride that keeps them from the obvious. But it is the Spirit who humbles them and drives them back. And they find, in Him, “rivers of living water” to satisfy their innermost longings and needs. Are you needy? If so, prayer is for you!

Pastor Jerry

ONE THING NOT ADDRESSED

2011-01-20T19:07:00.000-08:00

This excerpt is from the book "Bonhoeffer" and is his commentary on the preaching he heard in New York City: "In New York City they preach about virtually everything; only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life."

1 Cor. 2:2, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

THE REAL PROBLEM IS SIN

2011-01-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

If you have listened to the news yesterday you know that there was a shooting in Tuscon, Arizona, at a community open house hosted by congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Six people were killed, thirteen others were shot (including the congresswoman), outside a Safeway store, by a mentally unstable man.

Among those who were killed was a 9 year old girl, Christina Taylor Green. She had just been elected to her school’s student council. She had gone to the gathering that she could learn more about her government. Ironically, she was born on September 11th, 2011--the date of her birth and of her death, from this day forward, will both mark tragic days in the history of our country.

We should pray for the families of those who died and those who have been shot. Some of the wounded are still in the hospital. Some have suffered wounds in their souls that only God can heal. May the God of all comfort give comfort...

Not a day goes by without hearing of some tragic act of senseless violence in which innocent people are killed. These events are not far removed from us--just this past week the police chief of Rainier was killed in another act of senseless violence.

In the months to come we are going to hear again about how we need to do something to stop the senseless violence that is occurring in our country these days. Some will say that there is a need for better gun control. Others are already saying that something needs to be done to change the nature of political discourse in our country. Still others will argue that there is a need for better security at such events and gatherings--though acts of violence happen today in malls, businesses, schools, churches--no place is exempt..

None of these things strike at the core of the problem. “We have met the enemy and it us” said Pogo, the cartoon character. And it is true--it is us. Since the fall of man, man has been killing his fellow man. Since Cain killed Abel--senseless violence has characterized man’s existence on planet earth.

We were warned, long ago, of the nature of things to come in these last days. 2 Tim. 3:1-5, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gospels, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...”

And I don’t intend to take a lot of time here, but I just want to say that people, government officials, news media people, and others are going to suggest a lot of things to try to fix what is happening in the society in which we live. I just want to say--ahead of time--that any solutions that fail to address the sin problem that exists in the heart of man--are not true and lasting solutions.

The problem is sin and there is but one solution for sin--the person and work of Christ. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15). He transformed Saul, "a violent aggressor," (1 Tim. 1:13). and made a great missionary and Apostle out of him. Paul's example of sacrificial love was superceded only by that of Christ Himself. Christ alone can bring about such a transformation! He alone can forgive sin. He alone can transform sinners into saints. He alone offers true and lasting hope to lost sinners.

Paul spoke of the "glorious gospel of the blessed God" (1 Tim. 1:11). He used such language because he himself experienced the life-transforming power of the gospel. That is why we glory in Christ and in His work on the cross. That is why we are compelled to preach the gospel message from this pulpit. That is why God has given to every believer “the ministry of reconciliation.”

2 Cor. 5:18-20, “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely; that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Chirst, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

We are great sinners. Christ is a greater Savior. In Him alone we have a confident hope. We, believers in Christ, have been commanded and are privileged to hold forth a message before the “crooked and perverse generation” in which we live. We are to do so with a sense of urgency--as if lives depended upon it--because they do.

Pastor Jerry

THE DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE, Part 3

2010-12-24T07:20:00.000-08:00

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
Refrain: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
Refrain

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
Refrain

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
Refrain

When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.

The meaning of Christmas is bound up in a right understanding of the identity of Christ. As the Christmas hymn asks: “Who is He in Yonder Stall?” Who is He? The question is much more than an academic one. A person’s eternal destiny is bound up in a correct “heart-borne” response. Some say that He was a good man or a great prophet. But what do the Scriptures say? Who was the Christ child in the manger?

John 1:1-4, 14 speaks to His identity:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him…In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”

He is the eternal Son of God and creator of all things. He left His throne and kingly crown when He came to earth for you. He came in great humility as a servant. His life was that of a servant from beginning to end. There was no room for Him in the inn. His cradle was a feeding trough; His grave was a borrowed tomb. He lived the life of a servant-- He had no wealth, no home, and no possessions. He received no welcome from the religious elite, indeed they sought His death. He ministered day after day to the needs of multitudes of people, but in the end they cried out “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “And this is judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

But there were those who did receive Him and there are those who will receive Him this very day. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Have you any room for Jesus, He who bore your load of sin?

As He knocks and asks admission, Sinner, will you let Him in?

Room for Jesus, King of glory! Hasten now, His Word obey;

Swing your heart’s door widely open, Bid Him enter while you may.

Pastor Jerry

THE DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE, Part 2

2010-12-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

AWAY IN A MANGER

Col. 1:16 says of Jesus, "For by Him all things were created." This is an important truth to keep in mind as we sing the Christmas hymns.

Away in a manger no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus—the creator of all things—lay down His sweet Head. The stars—He created—in the bright sky—which He Himself created—looked down where He lay. The cattle—He created—were lowing.

How wide the gulf that spans His creation. Stars, light years away, shone from the expanse of heaven, down upon the lowing cattle in the lowly manger. That gulf in space was superceded only by the spiritual gulf that exists between the holy God and sinful man. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). In sin man is utterly divorced from God with no hope of reconciliation. No amount of religious effort or good intentions could ever bridge that gap.

Most people believe that good people go to heaven. The Scriptures say, “There is none who does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:12). Salvation is not something we do, but something God does for us. All we have to offer Him is brokenness and strife. He alone is able to make something beautiful of our lives.

The little Lord Jesus came to do what we could never do. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). He came as the “Lamb of God” to take away “the sin of the world” (John 1:29). On the cross He “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). He offers salvation to any person who will humbly place his or her faith and trust in Him. He alone is able to cause us to be born again and “fit us for heaven to live with Him there.”

AWAY IN A MANGER

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And fit us for heaven
To live with Thee there

Pastor Jerry

THE DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE, Part 1

2010-12-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

“One day when Heaven was filled with His praises, One day when sin was as black as could be”…It was indeed a dark day in the time before Jesus came. God’s chosen people, the Israelites, were held captive under the oppressive Romans. Sin had brought them to that place. God had privileged them beyond measure. To them belonged the “adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple services and the promises” (Rom. 9:4). But despite their privileges and blessings they forsook God and disobeyed His law. Their plight was according to God’s warning. 400 years of prophetic silence preceded Christ’s coming.

The estate of the Gentiles was, if possible, even worse. “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Rom. 1:21). Lost and exiled in sin, they had “no hope and (were) without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). It was indeed a sin-darkened and hopeless world.

But the prophets had spoken of one who would come to the rescue. “The people who walk in darkness” Isaiah declared, “will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isa. 9:2). “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” was the cry of the prophets. They spoke of One:

Who would come and ransom captive Israel;

Who would come and disperse the clouds of night;

Who would come and make safe the way that leads on high.

The One of whom they spoke was a man, but no ordinary man. He was Emmanuel—“ God with us,” the promised Messiah, the Savior of all, who was born into this world some 2000 years ago.

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight! Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might,

Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe. Refrain

Pastor Jerry

THE TOTAL TRANSFORMATION SYSTEM

2010-11-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you have heard the advertisement for something called "The Total Transformation System." Its creator claims that it can somehow bring a rebellious and unruly child into quiet submission, with results experienced in as little as 30 minutes. Needless to say, I won't be buying his product. There is only one "Total Transformation System" and it belongs to God. It’s called the gospel.

Before we can appreciate the full measure of the gospel's transforming ability we need to appreciate the extent of man's sin problem. As a result of the fall every man is born a sinner (Rom. 5:19; Rom. 3:23). “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Man is helpful to resolve his sin problem (Rom. 5:6; Eph. 2:1).

It is also helpful, however, to our appreciation of the gospel's transforming power, to reconsider the events related to the fall of man. Adam and Eve were created in the "image" of God. What is meant by the term "image?" The meaning of the term and the results of the fall both help us to answer that question. According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament the word "image" "basically refers to a representative, a likeness." There is a visual component to this definition. There was, for Adam and Eve, some visual correspondence to God. This understanding is affirmed by what happened to them after the fall. They saw themselves "naked" and took immediate steps to deal with the problem. What else could account for their nakedness, but the loss of some kind of God-imparted glorious covering?

Their response is instructive. They "sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loin coverings" (Gen. 3:7). Their man-devised response to their sin problem was the best that their sin-darkened minds could come up with. Their response is emblematic of all the misguided efforts of man ever since in dealing with sin. Fig leaves are no substitute for a God-imparted glorious covering. The religious efforts of an unredeemed man are "like a filthy garment" before God (Isa. 64:6).

God has a better way. "And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them" (Gen. 3:21). Two elements of this act are especially noteworthy: 1) God clothed them by grace. They didn’t come up with the plan. They expended no effort. They had done nothing to merit it; and 2) God clothed them through sacrifice. "He made garments of skin for Adam and his wife." These garments would have required a sacrifice, a sacrifice that looked to the future sacrifice of the Lamb of God. That covering was not the glorious one they had previously enjoyed, but it looked forward to a future one.

The gospel alone can restore unto man what was lost in the fall. "It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16). The gospel saves "to the uttermost those who draw near to God" (Heb. 7:25). Through the gospel--through faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross--a person is forgiven, transformed, and set on a course to heaven. These things take place per God’s design--by grace, through sacrifice. This glorious gospel represents "the power of God and wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:22-24).

The gospel imparts no half-way salvation. It doesn’t just save a man from hell, it saves him to heaven. It doesn’t just clean up his behavior, it changes his heart. It doesn’t just make him a good churchgoer; it prepares him for Christ’s presence. It changes a man from the inside-out. It is a transformation from one state of glory unto the next: 2 Cor. 3:18, "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

Christ's saving work is culminated in the glorification of the believer in Christ. Phil. 3:21: "(He) will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Cf. Col. 3:4; 2 Cor. 4:17-5:4). It is this very work that is said to be "exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:19-20).

Are you enrolled in God’s "Total Transformation System?" Have you trusted in Christ for salvation (Acts 16:31)? Fig leaf coverings and white-washed tombs are no substitute for the transformation empowered through the "glorious gospel of the blessed God" (1 Tim. 1:11). "To Him be the glory in the church to all generations forever and ever. Amen" (Eph. 3:21)!

Pastor Jerry

THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF THE BLESSED GOD, Part 1

2010-11-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

1 Cor. 15:3-4, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Gal. 1:7, “There are some…who want to distort the gospel.”

2 Cor. 11:4, “For if one comes and preaches…a different gospel…you bear this beautifully.”

The message of the gospel is the most glorious of truths. And because “it is the power of God for salvation to ever one who believes” (Rom. 1:16), it is the work of the Devil to oppose its proclamation in every possible way. He relentlessly works to distort the message, dissuade messengers, and deafen hearers.

The Apostle Paul reserved his most severe condemnation for those who would distort the gospel: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). Lest his readers underestimate his concern, he repeated himself, “ As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:9).

Nevertheless the gospel message is distorted in countless ways and counterfeits gospels are in wide circulation. In this day of diminished doctrinal emphasis and understanding it is getting harder and harder for believers to distinguish the genuine article.

The Father of Lies is a proficient distorter of truth. “Indeed, has God said?” he asked in his first deception. His temptations to our Lord were not with clearly identified falsehoods, but with subtle distortions of the truth (Matt. 4:1-11). It is a device of the Devil to dress up his deceptions in attractive and innocent looking garb (Eph. 6:11; 2 Cor. 2:11).

So it is with the gospel. Catholicism does not deny Christ and the cross, but the gospel is diminished and distorted in the sacraments. Mormonism acknowledges Christ, but not the Christ of the Bible. The modern evangelical church has its own distorted gospels. The believer needs to be able to discern the genuine article amidst counterfeits (1 Thess. 5:21).

Discernment is all the more necessary in this postmodern day. Most deny the existence of any absolute truth. Many believers give but lip service to the inspiration and inerrancy of God’s Word. “We preach Christ crucified” is not the anthem of the modern church. And gospel distorters find little resistance.

But in the midst of the darkness of our day, there are those who are gladly and accurately proclaim the “glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Tim. 1:11). And from time to time God opens the eyes of the blind to the truth. Praise God for the gospel and the salvation it brings! Let us always endeavor “to make it clear” (Col. 4:4).

Pastor Jerry

THE GREATEST NEED OF THE CHURCH

2010-11-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

Charles Spurgeon,

"The greatest thing the church needs in this time, is God's Holy Spirit. You all get up plans and say, "Now, if the church were altered a little bit, it would go on better." You think if there were different ministers, or different church order, or something different, then all would be well. No, dear friends, the mistake does not lie there, it is that we need more of the Spirit- his power and influence. But now people are saying, "This must be altered, and that must be altered." But it would go no better unless God the Spirit should come to bless us. You may have the same ministers, and they shall be a thousand times more useful for God, if God is pleased to bless them. You shall have the same deacons, they shall be a thousand times more influential than they are now, when the Spirit is poured down upon them from on high. That is the church's great lack, and until that lack be supplied, we may reform, and reform, and still be just the same. We need the Holy Spirit, and then whatever faults there may be in our churches, they can never materially impede the progress of Christianity, when once the Spirit of the Lord God is in our midst. All we need is the Spirit of God.

GOOD FOR THE HEART

2010-10-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 13:9, “Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited.”

How strong is your heart? Arrays of forces work to weaken our determination. Sin failures, troubles, and trials work to reveal the tragic reality--we are weak in the flesh. As with the cowardly lion--who was fearful even of his own shadow--we are prone to grow pint-sized problems into super-size proportions. We are, by nature, timid of heart. We tend to fear even imaginary threats. Sinful temptations, and our propensity to fail, steal away our resolve. We can all relate to the words of the hymn:

“When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources.”

How can our hearts be strengthened? The context of our passage is noteworthy. False teachers were espousing the merits of legalism, in particular, the need to obey certain food laws. Legalism is best defined as a set of rules that are established and maintained in the attempt to earn merit before God. The problem with legalism is that it has no power over the flesh, as Paul clarified to the church in Colossae, “There are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence” (Col. 2:23). Our natural bent is towards legalism. Our typical response to fears and failures is to try harder to do better. The problem is that human resolve is not the answer. Instead we come to realize the truth found in Romans 7:18: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of good is not.” No matter how hard we try, in the flesh, we fail (Cf. Zech. 4:6b). Self-effort works only to expose our weakness--”that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful” (Rom. 7:13). Legalism is no answer for “grace needy” hearts.

To be “strong and brave to face the foe” we need to be encouraged from a heavenly source. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense” bestowed upon the believer in Christ. The Christian life is lived under an “umbrella of grace.” The believer in Christ is saved by grace, strengthened by grace, and sustained by grace. “But by the grace of God I am what I am” is the God-glorifying testimony of the right-thinking Christian (1 Cor. 15:10). Grace is bound up in the person and work of Christ: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). We have been made rich in His grace--it has been lavished upon us (Eph. 1:8).

God’s grace is sufficient to make courageous the feeblest of saints. Indeed, feebleness is essential to its provision. The heavenly stream of God’s provision flows freely from the throne of grace not towards the proud and self-sufficient, but to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5). To be made strong of heart we must first measure ourselves weak. The Apostle Paul faced a great trial. He asked God three times to remove it from him. God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul learned to be “well content,” and to “boast” in his weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9-10). He understood the paradox: “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).

“I will glory in my weakness, I will boast in Your might;

For I found in my weakness, That You will be the strength of my life.”

Inasmuch as there is no limit to the matchless grace of Jesus, there is no limit to His ability to strengthen our hearts. The believer derives his strength, not from human resources, but from a heavenly reserve of “pow’r than has no boundary known unto men.” Past and present failures are swallowed up in Christ’s victorious grace (Rom. 5:20). By His grace the Lord is able “to deliver (us) from every evil deed...and bring us “safely to His heavenly kingdom.” Apart from Him the believer can do nothing, but through His grace he can do all things (Phil. 4:13).

Indeed, that wonderful promise that declares that He is able to do “exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” is true because of His “power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20). Our hearts our strengthened not as we look to ourselves and what we can do, but as fix our eyes on the Courageous One who “endured the cross, despising its shame” (Heb. 12:2). He stands ready to strengthen us by His grace (Cf. Heb. 4:16). It is indeed good for the heart!

Pastor Jerry

WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT

2010-09-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah chapter fifty-five verses 8 and 9 are frequently cited in response to difficult theological questions (i.e. the nature of the trinity, etc). This is appropriate inasmuch as God’s thoughts and ways transcend man’s in every respect. A proper interpretation of the text, however, demands that we relate these two verses to their immediate context. The preceding verses speak to God’s ability to abundantly pardon repentant sinners. In their context verses 8 and 9 relate the higher thoughts and ways of God in relationship to this specific matter. God’s ability to abundantly forgive repentant sinners transcends our limited understanding of God’s thoughts and ways.

Adam and Eve were the first to experience the reality of this truth. Having sinned against God, they suffered immeasurable loss. They went into hiding and sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness. That was the best that their sin-stricken minds could come up with in dealing with their sin problem. They WOULD’VE NEVER THOUGHT that God Himself would intervene in a far better way. After detailing the full measure of sin’s consequence in the curse, God clothed Adam and Eve: "And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them" (Gen. 3:21). God Himself took the initiative, prepared garments, and clothed them.

The prodigal Son squandered his estate with loose living (Luke 15:13). Having lost everything "he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating" (Luke 15:16). He finally came to his senses and decided to return to his father, thinking that at best, his father might forgive him and allow him to serve as one of his hired hands. HE WOULD’VE NEVER THOUGHT that his father would do what he ultimately did. While he was still a long ways off his father saw him and ran to him. Then he warmly embraced him, clothed him with a robe, a ring, and sandals, and prepared an elaborate feast to celebrate his return. The father’s abundant pardon was far beyond anything he would have expected.

Saul was a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor (1 Tim. 1:13). He persecuted "the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it" (Gal. 1:13). He was "in hearty agreement" with the stoning to death of Stephen (Acts 8:1). WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT that God could pardon such a man? Indeed, following Saul’s conversion, God had to convince the reluctant Ananias through a vision that he should receive Saul (Acts 9:15). God’s ability to abundantly pardon Saul was beyond what anyone would have thought. Paul’s own testimony is that he was saved, in part, to serve as an example to us of God’s ability to forgive even the worst of sinners: "And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life" (1 Tim. 1:16). In other words, if God could save Saul, God can save anybody!

WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT that God would send His only begotten Son into the world to die for our sins? What earthly intellect could have ever come up with such a plan? What earthly love would have ever brought it to pass? The plan of redemption was devised in the infinite mind of God! Nail pierced hands testify to its wisdom and power (1 Cor. 1:24)! The message of the gospel is akin to the message declared in Isaiah 55:8-9—God’s ability to abundantly pardon transcends our ability to perceive.

WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT that God would abundantly pardon sinners such as you and I? We were once alienated from God—just like Adam and Eve; engaged in evil deeds—just like the prodigal Son; hostile in mind—just like Saul (Col. 1:21). "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-7)."

The gravitational pull of sin-darkened thoughts tether our minds in countless Goddiminishing ways. The natural man does not understand the things of God, the born again believer understands them only by the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:12). The Spirit works to untether our earth-bound thinking that our thoughts might ascend to a higher and God-honoring plane (Eph. 3:16-19). Teach us thy ways, O Lord, help us to think your thoughts and walk in your ways!

Pastor Jerry

SPIRITUAL THIRST RELIEVED

2010-09-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

From Chapter 17 of J. C. Ryle's book, "Holiness":

Do you know anything of spiritual thirst? Have you ever felt anything of genuine deep concern about your soul? I fear that many know nothing about it. I have learned, by the painful experience of the third of a century, that people may go on for years attending God’s house, and yet never feel their sins, or desire to be saved. The cares of this world, the love of pleasure, the ‘lust of other things’ choke the good seed every Sunday, and make it unfruitful. They come to church with hearts as cold as the stone pavement on which they walk. They go away as thoughtless and unmoved as the old marble busts which look down on them from the monuments on the walls. Well, it may be so; but I do not yet despair of anyone, so long as he is alive. That grand old bell in Paul’s Cathedral, London, which has struck the hours for so many years, is seldom heard by many during the business hours of the day. The roar and din of traffic in the streets have a strange power to deaden its sound, and prevent men hearing it. But when the daily work is over, and desks are locked, and doors are closed, and books are put away, and quiet reigns in the great city, the case is altered. As the old bell at night strikes eleven and twelve and one and two and three, thousands hear it who never heard it during the day. And so I hope it will be with many a one in the matter of his soul. Now, in the plenitude of health and strength, in the hurry and whirl of business, I fear the voice of your conscience is often stifled, and you cannot hear it. But the day may come when the great bell of conscience will make itself heard, whether you like it or not. The time may come when, laid aside in quietness, and obliged by illness to sit still, you may be forced to look within, and consider your soul’s concerns. And then, when the great bell of awakened conscience is sounding in your ears, I trust that many a man who reads this message may hear the voice of God and repent, may learn to thirst, and learn to come to Christ for relief. Yes, I pray God you may yet be taught to fed before it be too late!

GOD, GOVERNMENT, AND THE GOSPEL--Lesson 4

2010-08-18T18:44:00.001-07:00

“What Are We To Do?”

REVIEW

1. It is natural for us, as believers, to be grieved by injustice and immorality.

2. How are we to respond? Fear, worry, and/or grumbling are not the answer. To what extent should we concern ourselves with politics and/or engage in political activism?

3. What is needful is a Biblical perspective leading to a God-honoring response that enhances, and does not undermine, our witnessing efforts.

4. God “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). He is sovereign over rulers and governments. He is ultimately in control of the affairs of our lives (Matt. 5:25f; Phil. 4:6-7).

5. Our eschatological viewpoint will dictate, to some extent, the degree to which we concern or involve ourselves with political matters. A Biblical eschatology (pretribulational, premillenial) offers true Biblical hope and puts greater emphasis on the salvation of souls.

INTRODUCTION

1. What is the purpose of the church?

2. The preeminent purpose and goal of the church is to glorify God. Note the three-fold doxology in Ephesians chapter 1 (1:6,12,14). The church glorifies God by its very existence, inasmuch as every member has been saved by His grace to His glory (Cf. 1 Tim. 1:11-17).

3. Two other concerns sum up the main purposes of the church: 1) the edification of the saints (Eph. 4:11-16); and 2) the evangelization of the lost (Matt. 28:18-19).

4. QUESTION: What are some of the other unbiblical purposes that churches sometimes mistakenly adopt?

5. When it comes to our relationship to our society and culture our mandate is to preach the gospel!

LESSON

From the Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis). One demon’s advice to another: “Certainly we do not want men to allow their Christianity to flow over to their political life, for the establishment of anything like a really just society would be a major disaster. On the other hand we do want, and want very much, to make men treat Christianity as a means, preferably, of course, as a means to their own advancement, but, failing that, as a means to anything--even to social justice. The thing to do is to get a man at first to value social justice as a thing which the Enemy demands, and then work him on to the stage at which he values Christianity because it may produce social justice. For the Enemy will not be used as a convenience. Men or nations who think they can revive the Faith in order to make a good society might just as well think they can use the stairs of Heaven as a short cut to the nearest drug store. Fortunately it is quite easy to coax humans round this little corner. Only today I have found a passage in a Christian writer where he recommends his own version of Christianity on the ground that “only such a faith can outlast the death of old cultures and the birth of new civilizations.” Yet see the little rift? “Believe this, not because it is true, but for some other reason.” That’s the game.” Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.”

1. Define the gospel (Cf. 1 Cor. 15:1-4).

2. From what does the gospel save (John 3:16; Acts 26:18; Rom. 6:23; 2 Thess. 1:8-9)? To what does the gospel save (John 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20; 1 John 5:11-12)?

3. What are different gospels that are sometimes substituted for the true gospel (Gal. 1:6: 2 Cor. 11:4). Identify and describe each of the following: social gospel; easy believism gospel; health, wealth and prosperity gospel; works gospel; the gospel of liberation theology.

4. To what extent is the preaching of the gospel to pervade the ministry of the church (Matt. 28:18-19; Rom. 6:1-7; 1 Cor. 2:2; 1 Cor. 11:26; 15:1-4)?

5. Are there any NT verses that exhort us to attempt to change, by fleshly means, society or unbelievers? What instructions are given regarding our relationship with unbelievers (Rom. 10:1; 1 Cor. 5:10, 12; 1 Cor. 9:19; 1 Cor. 10:31-33; 1 Cor. 14:23-24; 2 Cor. 6:14; Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:15; Col. 4:5; 1 Tim. 2:1-2, 3:7; 1 Pet. 3:15; Jude 23)? What chief concern should govern our relationships with unbelievers?

6. What are some of the different ways in which the church fulfills its mandate to preach the gospel?

7. To what extent, if any, can the church faithfully preach the gospel while simultaneously encouraging and promoting political activism? To what extent are the two endeavors mutually exclusive?

THE BELIEVER’S HOPE

2010-08-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

1 Tim. 4:10, “Because we have fixed our hope on the living God.”

INTRODUCTION

· “Hope” in the New Testament is almost always from the Greek word “elpis” (Noun) or “elpizo” (Verb). The term refers to a “favorable and confident expectation.” The term, unlike our English counterpart, connotes no degree of uncertainty.

· The following survey of various usages reveals that which should be the object of the believer’s hope:

SURVEY OF NT OCCURENCES OF THE WORD “HOPE”

What our hope is not in…

· The hope of the believer is radically different than that of the unbeliever:

o Eph. 2:12, “Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ…having no hope and without God in the world.”

o 1 Thess. 4:13, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.”

o 1 Pet. 3:15, “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

· In this life only:

o 1 Cor. 15:19, “If we had hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”

· In the uncertainty of possessions:

o 1 Tim. 6:17, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”

What our hope is in…

· The gospel, salvation:

o Col. 1:23, “If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard.”

o 1 Thess. 5:8, “But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”

· God, Christ:

o 2 Cor. 1:10, “He on whom we have set our hope.”

o Eph. 1:12, “We who were the first to hope in Christ.”

o 1 Thess. 1:3, “Constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ”

o 1 Tim. 1:1, “Christ Jesus, who is our hope.”

o 1 Tim. 4:10, “Because we have our hope fixed on the living God.”

o 1 Tim. 5:5, “Now she who is a widow indeed, and who has been left alone has fixed her hope on God.”

o 1 Pet. 1:21, “Your faith and your hope are in God.”

· Eternal life:

o Tit. 1:2, “In the hope of eternal life.”

· Heaven:

o Col. 1:5, “Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.”

o Heb. 6:19-20, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us , having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

o Heb. 11:1, 14-16, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country not their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one.”

· Our inheritance:

o Tit. 3:7, “Having been justified by His grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

o 1 Pet. 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

· Christ’s return:

o Tit. 2:13, “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”

o Phil. 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

o 1 Pet. 1:13, “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

o 1 John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

· Culmination of God’s transforming work:

o Rom. 5:2-5, “We exult in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us.”

o Rom. 8:20-25, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for [our] adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

o Col. 1:27, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

o Phil. 3:19-21, “…whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

· Reunion of fellow believers in the presence of Christ:

o 1 Thess. 2:19-20, “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

ADJECTIVES USED TO DESCRIBE THIS HOPE

· 2 Thess. 2:15, “Who has…given us good hope by grace.”

· Heb. 7:19, “There is a bringing in of a better hope.”

· Tit. 2:13, “The blessed hope.”

· 1 Pet. 1:3, “A living hope.”

THREE-FOLD PERSPECTIVE OF HOPE IN CHRIST

Three different prepositions are used to describe the relationship of our hope with regards to Christ The following has been gleaned from the Vine’s Expository Dictionary (p.311-312):

· The preposition eis is rendered “in” in 1 Pet. 3:5, “who hoped in God.” The “hope” referred to here is directed to and centered in the person of God.

· The preposition epi is typically rendered “on” or “upon.” E.g. Rom. 15:12, “Upon Him shall nations hope” (YLT). The “hope” referred to here expresses the ground upon which hope rests.

· The preposition en is rendered “in” or “within.” E.g. 1 Cor. 15:19, “we have hoped in Christ.” According to Vine’s “the preposition expresses that Christ is not simply the ground upon whom, but the sphere and element in whom, the hope is placed.” The form of the verb (perfect participle with the verb to be, lit., “are having hoped”) stresses the character of those who “hope,” more than the action; “hope” characterizes them, showing what sort of persons they are.”

Christ is the sole basis of our hope in every respect. Our hope is in Him (in His person). Our hope rests upon Him (in His work). Our hope is for Him (in His return). Our hope is Him (that we might be in His presence).

FIX YOUR HOPE

Four times in the NT the term “fix” or “fixed” is used to describe how we are to hope in the certain hope that has been established for us as believers:

· 1 Tim. 4:10, “Because we have fixed our hope on the living God.” The words “fixed your hope” translate the Greek “elpizo” (perfect, active, indicative).

· 1 Tim. 5:5, “Now she who is a widow indeed, and who has been left alone has fixed her hope on God.” The words “fixed her hope” translate the Greek “elpizo” (perfect, active, indicative).

· 1 Tim. 6:17, “Instruct those who are rich…not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty or riches, but on God.” The words “fix their hope” translate the Greek “elpizo” (perfect, active, infinitive).

· 1 Pet. 1:13, “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The words “fix your hope” translate the Greek “elpizo” (aorist, active, imperative).

The believer is one who has already fixed his hope on the living God. In view of this, he is to take care lest he mistakenly fix his hope on earthly possessions. Ultimately, his hope is to be fixed completely on the grace to be brought to him at the revelation of Christ.

SPIRIT-TAUGHT BELIEVERS

2010-08-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

There is a difference between "knowing about something" and "knowing something first hand." I like to fish for steelhead, I’ve been doing it for most of my life. But there was a time when I only “knew about” steelhead fishing. I had read books. I had gone steelhead fishing on a few occasions. I had heard what others had to say about it. Back then, however, I didn’t really “know” steelhead fishing because I hadn’t experienced it.

There are a lot of professing believers in the modern church who "know about" the Bible. They have heard sermons by Pastors, they have been to Sunday school classes and Bible studies and they know a lot about the Bible. They can repeat, as a Parrot would, whatever it is that they have heard. Sad to say, however, there are far too many who don’t “know” the Bible.

It is one thing to hear what a Bible teacher has to say about any given passage, it is another thing to study the Word of God for oneself. There is a need for teachers, numerous verses of Scripture speak to that (Eph. 4:11; James 3:1; 1 Cor. 12:29), but ultimately it is essential for believers in Christ to be “Spirit-taught.”

The Spirit-indwelt believer has been given all that is necessary to understand and apply the Bible to his or her life. 1 John 2:27, “And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” It is a ministry of the Spirit of God to apply the Word of God to the heart of the believer. In response to His ministry it is essential that we, as believers in Christ, endeavor always to “let the word of Christ richly dwell within” (Col. 3:16).

There is a great need for believers in our day to study the Word of God for themselves. In the “tickle-my-ears” climate of our day believers need to be challenged anew to think Biblically. I can still remember the day when Christian book stores sold mostly Bibles, commentaries, and such. Today they sell as much fiction as anything else. The serious study of God’s word by individuals within the church is becoming increasingly rare. The end result is that many are being “tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14).

Good teachers of God’s word don’t just teach God’s word they teach that their students might be equipped to study it for themselves. They encourage their students to examine all that they hear through the “What does the Bible say?” filter (1 Thess. 5:21). It is the task of the Bible teacher to inspire a “Berean-like” approach to the Word. Those “noble-minded” believers were commended inasmuch as they were with “great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

I remember one of our elders sharing with me the story of how he first came to understand the importance of studying the Word of God for himself. Years ago he had come across a difficult and much debated portion of Scripture. He went to his Pastor to get his opinion as to what it was saying. The Pastor response was that he could give an answer as to his opinion, but that it would be much better for our elder to search the Scriptures for himself and arrive at his own conclusion. That is the kind of “Spirit-taught” approach that is so needful in our day.

We’ve been given, as born-again believers; all that we need to study the Word of God for ourselves. To be sure, it is good for us to have Spirit-led teachers to help us. And, it is helpful for us to have a sound approach to hermeneutics. The four-step approach to Bible study--preparation; observation; interpretation; and application—serves us well. It is also helpful to have good tools such as Bible dictionaries, and commentaries, and other tools. But ultimately the Spirit of God is our teacher, and He “teaches us about all things.” If we have the Spirit for a teacher, then there is no limit to what we can learn of God’s truth. But there is, on the other hand, no amount of lesser teachers, books, or tools that can make up for His absence.

The believers in Corinth were admonished because they elevated earthly teachers (1 Cor. 3:4-6). Their ill-founded approach accomplished no growth in Christ (1 Cor. 3:4). Let us be careful to elevate the Spirit and the Word and the Christ we yearn to know through our Spirit-led instruction. Let us be careful to be good students of the Word who earnestly seek to know for ourselves what the Bible says about any particular matter of faith and practice. Let us endeavor to be “Spirit-taught” believers in Christ!

Pastor Jerry

THE NATURE AND TOLL OF MINISTRY

2010-08-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

The following quote is from William Attersol’s book “The Nature of Pastoral Ministry, and its Toll on the Man of God” (1630). Great quote on the breadth of the various aspects of pastoral ministry...

“We may see by experience, that to study with constantness, to instruct with diligence, to exhort with carefulness, to reprove with zeal, to comfort with cheerfulness, to convince with boldness, to watch over people with a godly oversight, as they that must give an account for their souls, to conceive godly anger and great sorrow for sin, to pray in public and private, to go in and out before the people of God in the doctrine of faith and in example of life, to prepare themselves to handle the Word and to deliver it with power and evidence of the Spirit and with earnest affection being thus prepared I say, to perform all these duties does more consume the inward parts, waste the body, impair nature, decay strength, spend the vital spirits and cause them to be subject to sundry infirmities, sicknesses and diseases than any of the strongest labour that is used among men.”

GOOD DIRECTIONS

2010-07-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

Modern technology has worked to make traveling by car both safer and easier. Remember the days when the only option available to lost drivers was to stop and ask for directions (Something a male driver would do reluctantly and only out of sheer desperation)? Now you can program your Auto GPS so that it might give to you audible and detailed directions to your ultimate destination. In large cities radio and television both give updates regarding traffic situations so that you can avoid traffic jams or hazards.

Traveling through life has its hazards too. Obstacles, breakdowns, and detours are all a part of the journey. The days in which we live are filled with perils. 2 Timothy 3:1, "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come." We live in a day in which "everyone (does) what is right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). The well traveled "broad path" is deceivingly attractive (Matt. 7:13). Apart from God's intervention we are all prone to follow that route (Prov. 14:12).

How are we to find our way? Paul counseled Timothy regarding the journey. "Continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of" he said (2 Tim. 3:14). He was speaking of the "sacred writings" (2 Tim. 3:15) which Timothy had first learned as a child and then later through the Apostle Paul Himself. The truth of God's Word is able "to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:15).

It is impossible to successfully find one's way through life apart from the truth that is found exclusively in God's Word. Despite this, warnings are frequently posted along the "broad path" regarding the Bible. One such warning was displayed recently in a Sacramento Public library where a painting depicted a large Bible with a label reading "Warning: May Impair Judgment." It is important to the enemy to keep "broad path" travelers on his route.

But through the ages the Scriptures have proven themselves to be the sole source of good judgment. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God's Word shows us the way, reproves us when we wander from it, corrects us that we might return to it, and works to keep us on it.

Distracted driving is dangerous. As travelers through life's journey we need to take care lest we be distracted--we need to pay attention to God's word. 2 Peter 1:18, "And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts." This world is a dark place, so we need a spiritual lamp to guide us. God's word is that lamp (Psalm 119:105).

You can have an Auto GPS in your car, but it won't do any good if you don't turn it on or if you pay no attention to it. The Bible is profitable to us personally only inasmuch as we endeavor to hear it, read it, memorize it, meditate upon it, and obey it. Without it we can never hope to travel safely on the "narrow path" that leads to life. "It is," as the Gideon Bible flyleaf points out, "the traveler's map, the Pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass"..."read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy."

Pastor Jerry

GOD, GOVERNMENT, AND THE GOSPEL, Part 2, "God is the Ruler Yet"

2010-07-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

REVIEW

1. It is natural for us, as believers, to be grieved by injustice and immorality.

2. How are we to respond? Fear, worry, and/or grumbling are not the answer. To what extent should we concern ourselves with politics and/or engage in political activism?

3. What is needful is a Biblical perspective leading to a God-honoring response that enhances, and does not undermine, our witnessing efforts.

INTRODUCTION

1. The four words, ”In God we trust,” are etched on US coins and printed on US bills.

2. To what extent do we, as believers, live by these four words?

3. What effect will an abiding trust in God’s sovereignty have on our thinking about, concern for, and involvement in political matters?

LESSON

1. God is sovereign over all:

Ÿ “Why should nations say, ‘Where, now, is their God?’ But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases” (Psa. 115:3).

Ÿ “He works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11).

2. God is sovereign over all the affairs of this world:

Ÿ He is sovereign over Satan and sin (Job 1:12; 2:5-6; Luke 22:31).

Ÿ Over governments and military powers (2 Chron. 20:6; Rom. 13:2).

Ÿ Over nature and natural disasters (Psa. 107:29; Nah. 1:3-6).

Ÿ Over sickness and disease (John 9:3; 11:4; Rev. 21:4).

Ÿ Over every human being (Acts 13:48; Rom. 9:17-18).

Ÿ Including, you and me (Prov. 16:9; 19:21; James 4:13-15).

3. God’s sovereignty does not negate human responsibility:

Ÿ Man is still responsible for his sin (Gen. 50:20; Acts 2:23).

Ÿ Believers are still exhorted to serve (Eph. 1:11 vs. Eph. 4:1f). Example: Nehemiah was confident of God’s purpose to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, but the people still had to do the work (Neh. 2:18).

4. In His sovereignty God appoints rulers:

Ÿ We have, in our country, the freedom to vote, but God is the one who ultimately appoints rulers (Dan. 2:21; 4:17). Note: Biblical Elders are appointed by men (Tit. 1:5), but ultimately are first made elders by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28).

Ÿ God providentially directs the affairs of nations (including ours) to accomplish His purpose (Dan. 2:36f; Jer. 27:5-6; Matt. 2:13-15).

Napoleon, at the height of his career, is reported to have given this cynical answer to someone who asked if God was on the side of France: “God is on the side that has the heaviest artillery.” Then came the battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon lost both the battle and his empire. Years later, in exile on the island of St. Helena, chastened and humbled, Napoleon is reported to have quoted the words of Thomas Kempis, “Man proposes, God disposes.”

5. The fact that God is in control should relieve us of anxiety and worry:

Ÿ Though we may not agree with our earthly leaders, we are still commanded to respect them (1 Pet. 2:17).

Ÿ They have no more power to do harm than that which is permitted to them by God (1 Pet. 2:13-17; 4:19).

Ÿ God is ultimately in control of the affairs of our lives (Matt. 5:25f; Phil. 4:6-7).

Margaret Clarkson, “The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no accident: they may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God...All evil is subject to Him, and evil cannot touch His children unless He permits it. God is the Lord of human history and of the personal history of every member of His redeemed family.”

CONCLUSION

1. How are we to reconcile the apparent dichotomy that exists between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility?

A. W. Tozer (in referring to the analogy of a ship headed in a certain unchangeable course, but with passengers on board having the freedom to walk about the ship and make decisions): “Both freedom and sovereignty are present here and they do not contradict each other. So it is, I believe, with man’s freedom and the sovereignty of God. The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history. God moves undisturbed and unhindered toward the fulfillment of those eternal purposes which He purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

2. Define “fatalism.” Distinguish between “fatalism” and a proper response to the doctrine of God’s sovereignty?

3. Distinguish between God’s determined will (God’s decree) and God’s permissive will. Is it possible to thwart God’s determined will?

4. Is it possible to stop the degradation of society through political activism or legislation? Why or why not?

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams, October 11, 1798

5. To what extent is it appropriate (or profitable) for us to involve ourselves, as believers, in political affairs? Is that in keeping with our mandate? What is our mandate?

6. NEXT WEEK: Lesson Three, “What is this World Coming To?”: Differentiating between a postmillennial and premillennial approach.

GOD, GOVERNMENT, AND THE GOSPEL

2010-07-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

LESSON ONE - INTRODUCTION

1. Presuppositions:

Ÿ America was founded by Christian men and on Christian principles.

Ÿ America, through its history, has been an unrivaled source for much good to its citizens and to the world.

Ÿ It is good and proper for a believer to be a good and active citizen--to be respectful of governing authorities, to obey the laws of the land, to be knowledgeable of political candidates and issues, to vote, etc.

Ÿ Many of us have served our country in the military (some have fought for our country).

Ÿ America, as a nation, is in decline. Immorality and injustice are increasingly . Much of what we witness and observe is contrary to the intent of our founding fathers, and more importantly, to God and to His Word. It is easy to believe that we will soon face a national crisis of some sort.

Ÿ The ever increasing immorality and injustice that exists in our nation grieves our hearts.

2. We should not be surprised by the immorality and injustice that exists in our world:

Ÿ Man is sinful by nature (Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:6,8,10; Col. 1:21).

Ÿ “The days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).

Ÿ Scripture warned that these last days would be “difficult times” (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

Ÿ We, as believers, exist in “the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Phil. 2:15; Cf. Acts 13:10; Isaiah 5:20).

3. It is natural (and beneficial) for us, as believers, to be grieved by injustice and immorality (wherever we find it):

Ÿ Habakkuk was grieved by the injustice he witnessed (Hab. 1:1-4).

Ÿ The Psalmist implored God to intervene (Psa. 94:1-7).

Ÿ Lot’s righteous soul was vexed by the lawless deeds of unprincipled men (2 Pet. 2:8).

Ÿ Paul was burdened by his own sin (Rom. 7:24).

4. The question is: “How do we direct our thoughts and activities in response?”

Ÿ Complaining is not the answer (Phil. 2:14; Col. 2:7).

Ÿ It will do us no good to worry (Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Pet. 5:6-7).

Ÿ We dare not take matters into our own hands (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

Ÿ Or make the lost our enemy (Matt. 5:44; 2 Tim. 2:24-26).

5. How does God want for us to respond to the current state of affairs that we find ourselves in? We need to be careful not to allow ourselves to be driven by the dictates of our flesh or the opinions of others. We need to formulate a Biblical response (2 Tim. 2:13-14; 2 Pet. 1:19):

Ÿ That reflects our dispensational and premillenial viewpoint.

Ÿ That takes into account the true nature of lost humanity.

Ÿ That trusts sincerely in the sovereignty of God over the affairs of men.

Ÿ That focuses on God’s mandate for His church.

Ÿ That understands the true nature of the warfare we are engaged in.

Ÿ That is not deterred from the clear and faithful proclamation of the gospel.

Ÿ That fixes its hope on heaven as the ultimate goal and object of salvation.

Ÿ That does not diminish our witness or unnecessarily limit opportunities to share the gospel with others.

CONCLUSION

1. What bothers you the most about the current direction of our country?

2. How are you prone to respond to political decisions or issues that are contrary to your own ideas?

3. To what extent are your responses governed by: the flesh? the opinions of others? the Scriptures?

4. What steps can you take to help ensure that your responses will honor and please God?

5. How might political discussions with others lead to opportunities to share the gospel? What kinds of attitudes and actions work to limit or undermine your witnessing efforts?

THORNS OF GRACE

2010-07-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

Follow this link to a great article by Steve Cornell on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 and Paul's "thorn in the flesh" experience:

http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/thorns-of-grace/

Pastor Jerry

WASHINGTON'S FORESIGHT RE: MAN'S DEPRAVITY VS. OUR CONSTITUTION

2010-07-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

From George Washington's proposed address to congress (April 1789):

"The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institutions may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances be made subservient to the vilest of purposes. Should, hereafter, those who are entrusted with the management of our government, incited by lust of power and prompted by the supineness or venality of their Constituents, overleap the known barriers of this Constitution and violate the unalienable rights of humanity; it will only serve to show, that no compact among men (however provident in its construction and sacred in its ratification) can be pronounced everlasting and inviolable, and if I may so express myself, that no Wall of words, that no mound of parchment, can be so formed as to stand against the sweeping torrent of boundless ambition on the one side, aided by the sapping current of corrupted morals on the other." Sacred Fire, Peter A. Lillback; p. 1015.

ASKED FOR NOTHING-RECEIVED A CROWN

2010-07-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

I'm reading the book "Sacred Fire," by Peter A. Lillback. The book includes many wonderful stories from George Washington's life as it gives clear testimony to the abundant evidence regarding his personal faith in Jesus Christ.

I appreciated this particular exerpt, from a speech made regarding George Washington, on the bicentennial of his birth by Noel Porter, Arch Deacon of Califorinia:

Finally Washington manifested the spirit of the cross of Jesus Christ--the spirit of self-sacrifice and unselfish service. During the time Washington lived there was another great general in the person of Napoleon. Napoleon was a great military genius, but Washington was a greater man. France can never repay Napoleon for rescuing her from the hands of the despoilers; yet while he waded through the seas of blood he thought only of a crown and a bauble for his son. Washington waded through blood and hunger and privation for his country's sake and when it was done he asked no reward save to be left alone in his Virginia farm. Napoleon asked for a crown and received nothing; Washington asked for nothing and received a crown."

Matthew 23:12, "And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."

Pastor Jerry

A SERMON ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF AMERICA

2010-07-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

Samuel Miller (1769–1850) was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in New York City in 1793 and eventually became pastor of the Wall Street congregation that later became the First Presbyterian Church. He preached a sermon, "A Sermon on the Anniversary of the Independence of America," on July 4th, 1793. The text of his sermon was 2 Corinthians 3:17, "And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

Here is a link to the sermon:

http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=817&chapter=69407&layout=html&Itemid=27

Here is an excerpt from his sermon. Though spoken some 200 years ago, his thoughts hold special and timely relevance to the day in which we live...

"Let us unite, then, in offering our grateful acknowledgments, to the Sovereign Dispenser of all blessings, that, while many nations are covered with the mantle of darkness and superstition; and in consequence of this, are groaning under the yoke of servitude; the Sun of righteousness hath risen upon us, with healing in his wings; and hath taught us, in a political view, to know, and to maintain our proper character. Let us bless his holy name, that, under the influence of this light, we have been led to assert the dignity of human nature—to throw off the chains of oppression—to think and act for ourselves, and to acknowledge no other king than the King of the universe. Let us bless his name, that, under the guidance of the same light, we have been led to frame a constitution, which recognizes the natural and unalienable rights of men; which renounces all limits to human liberty, but those which necessity and wisdom prescribe; and whose great object is, the general good. O give thanks unto the Lord! for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the oppressor, and delivered from all their destructions. O that men would praise the Lord, for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Again; if it be a solemn truth, that the prevalence of Christianity, has a natural and immediate tendency to promote political freedom, then, those are the truest and the wisest patriots, who study to encrease its influence in society. Hence it becomes every American citizen to consider this as the great palladium of our liberty, demanding our first and highest care.

The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places, yea, we have a goodly heritage. We possess an extensive, noble country. Fertility and beauty vie with each other, in favor of our ease, accommodation, and delight. Every avenue to national importance, and the felicity of individuals, is opened wide. Let it, then, in addition to all these advantages, and to complete its glory, let it be Immanuel’s land. This will refine, and inconceivably appreciate your freedom. This will render you at once the pattern, and the wonder of the world.

To each of you, then, my fellow citizens, on this anniversary of our independence, be the solemn address made! Do you wish to stand fast in that liberty, wherewith the Governor of the universe hath made you free? Do you desire the encreasing prosperity of your country? Do you wish to see the law respected—good order preserved, and universal peace to prevail? Are you convinced, that purity of morals is necessary for these important purposes? Do you believe, that the Christian religion is the firmest basis of morality? Fix its credit, then, by adopting it yourselves, and spread its glory by the lustre of your example! And while you tell to your children, and to your children’s children, the wonderful works of the Lord, and the great deliverance which he hath wrought out for us, teach them to remember the Author of these blesssings, and they will know how to estimate their value. Teach them to acknowledge the God of heaven as their King, and they will despise submission to earthly despots. Teach them to be Christians, and they will ever be free!

And O, thou exalted Source of liberty! not only grant and secure to us political freedom; but may we all, by the effectual working of thy mighty power, and through the mediation of Christ Jesus, be brought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God; that when this world, and all that is therein, shall be burnt up, we may become citizens of a better country, that is an heavenly."

WHAT NOT TO LOVE

2010-06-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

2 Timothy 3:1-5

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."

These last days in which we live--these difficult times--are characterized by love for all the wrong things. Two Greek words for love are used six times in these five verses--three times in speaking of things that should be loved, but are not, and three times in speaking of things that should not be loved, but are.

What should be loved? We should love God, but in these last days men are "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:4). According to Jesus’ own testimony the great commandment in the law is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). We were created to love God, but in sin love is misplaced.

We ought to love others. But in the last days men are "unloving." The Greek term translated "unloving" means "without natural affection or unsociable." The RSV translates it "inhuman." In these last days men are "inhumane" in their dealings with other men. Jesus said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:39). We were created to love others, but in sin love is misplaced.

We ought to love that which is good. But in the last days men are "haters of good" (2 Tim. 3:3). Instead of seeking "after that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:15), men are prone to "call evil good, and good evil" (Isa. 5:20). We were created to love good, but in sin love is misplaced.

What is loved instead? Instead of loving God, others, and what is good, men love self, money (KJV, "covetous"), and pleasure. We have terms to define these conditions. The love of self is narcissism. "Narcissism" is a term derived from Greek mythology. Narcissus was a handsome Greek youth who looked into a pool of water, saw his reflection for the first time, and was left there to pine away for love of his own reflection. Having forsaken love for God, our humanistic generation elevates self-worship in His place. Self-love and selfishness rule the day in which we live.

We ought not to love money. The love of money equates to materialism. Materialism has been defined as "a desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters"--an apt description of the days in which we live. "The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil" (1 Tim. 6:10), so "let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have" (Heb. 13:5).

We ought not to love pleasure ("lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God"). The word translated "pleasure" is a Greek word related to our English word "hedonism." Hedonism is, according to Webster’s, "the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the whole or chief good in life." The commonly used expression, "Whatever makes you happy," reflects a hedonistic attitude. Pleasure ought to be pursued instead in God. Psa. 16:11, "In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever."

This unholy trinity of misdirected loves--love for self, love of money, and love of pleasure--is reflected in the narcissistic, materialistic, and hedonistic tendencies of the world in which we live. Sadly, these pursuits are but "broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (Jer. 2:13). They offer mere "passing pleasures" (Heb.11:25) and represent a "futile way of life" (1 Pet. 1:18). They are consistent to the "way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Prov. 14:12).

God saves us, in part, to redirect our affections. We are born-again and "taught by God to love" (1 Thess. 4:9) and to love that which we ought to love. In loving God, loving good, and loving others we love the things that last. "And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17).

The misdirected love of this present generation gives ample opportunity for believers in Christ to "appear as lights in the world" "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation" (Phil. 2:15). As we walk in the narrow way that leads to life we need to pay careful attention lest we be drawn away by the multitudes who "spend their love in all the wrong places." Let love for Christ guide our steps as we learn how to love the things that last.

Pastor Jerry

WHAT HAS THIS CHRIST DONE FOR YOU?

2010-06-19T05:39:00.000-07:00

This is from J.C. Ryle's book on "Holiness," Chapter 15, "Do You Love Me?"

"Man," said a thoughtless, ungodly English traveler, to a North American Indian convert, "Man, what is the reason that you make so much of Christ, and talk so much about Him? What has this Christ done for you, that you should make so much ado about Him?"

The converted Indian did not answer him in words. He gathered together some dry leaves and moss and made a ring with them on the ground. He picked up a live worm and put it in the middle of the ring. He struck a light and set the moss and leaves on fire. The flame soon rose, and the heat scorched the worm. It writhed in agony, and after trying in vain to escape on every side, curled itself up in the middle, as if about to die in despair. At that moment the Indian reached forth his hand, took up the worm gently and placed it on his bosom. "Stranger," he said to the Englishman, "do you see that worm? I was that perishing creature. I was dying in my sins, hopeless, helpless and on the brink of eternal fire. It was Jesus Christ who put forth the arm of His power. It was Jesus Christ who delivered me with the hand of His grace, and plucked me from everlasting burnings. It was Jesus Christ who placed me, a poor sinful worm, near the heart of His love. Stranger, that is the reason why I talk of Jesus Christ, and make much of Him. I am not ashamed of it, because I love Him."

NO RESERVES - NO RETREATS - NO REGRETS

2010-06-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

In 1904 William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school. As heir to the Borden family fortune, he was already wealthy. For his high school graduation present, his parents gave 16-year-old Borden a trip around the world. As the young man traveled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he felt a growing burden for the world's hurting people. Finally, Bill Borden wrote home about his "desire to be a missionary."

One friend expressed disbelief that Bill was "throwing himself away as a missionary." In response, Borden wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "NO RESERVES."

Even though young Borden was wealthy, he arrived on the campus of Yale University in 1905 trying to look like just one more freshman. Very quickly, however, Borden's classmates noticed something unusual about him and it wasn't that he had lots of money. One of them wrote: "He came to college far ahead, spiritually, of any of us. He had already given his heart in full surrender to Christ and had really done it. We who were his classmates learned to lean on him and find in him a strength that was solid as a rock, just because of this settled purpose and consecration."

During his college years, Bill Borden made an entry in his personal journal that defined what his classmates were seeing in him. That entry said simply: "Say 'no' to self and 'yes' to Jesus every time."

During his first semester at Yale, Borden started something that would transform campus life. One of his friends described how it began: "It was well on in the first term when Bill and I began to pray together in the morning before breakfast. I cannot say positively whose suggestion it was, but I feel sure it must have originated with Bill. We had been meeting only a short time when a third student joined us and soon after a fourth. The time was spent in prayer after a brief reading of Scripture. Bill's handling of Scripture was helpful. . . . He would read to us from the Bible, show us something that God had promised and then proceed to claim the promise with assurance."

Borden's small morning prayer group gave birth to a movement that soon spread across the campus. By the end of his first year, 150 freshman were meeting weekly for Bible study and prayer. By the time Bill Borden was a senior, one thousand of Yale's 1,300 students were meeting in such groups.

Borden made it his habit to seek out the most "incorrigible" students and try to bring them to salvation. "In his sophomore year we organized Bible study groups and divided up the class of 300 or more, each man interested taking a certain number, so that all might, if possible, be reached. The names were gone over one by one, and the question asked, 'Who will take this person?' When it came to someone thought to be a hard proposition, there would be an ominous pause. Nobody wanted the responsibility. Then Bill's voice would be heard, 'Put him down to me.'

Borden's outreach ministry was not confined to the Yale campus. He cared about widows and orphans and the disabled. He rescued drunks from the streets of New Haven. To try to rehabilitate them, he founded the Yale Hope Mission. One of Bill Borden's friends wrote that he "might often be found in the lower parts of the city at night, on the street, in a cheap lodging house or some restaurant to which he had taken a poor hungry fellow to feed him, seeking to lead men to Christ."

Borden's missionary call narrowed to the Muslim Kansu people in China. Once he fixed his eyes on that goal, Borden never wavered. He also challenged his classmates to consider missionary service.

Although he was a millionaire, Bill seemed to "realize always that he must be about his Father's business, and not wasting time in the pursuit of amusement." Although Borden refused to join a fraternity, "he did more with his classmates in his senior year than ever before."

Upon graduation from Yale, Borden turned down some high-paying job offers. In his Bible, he wrote two more words: "NO RETREATS."

William Borden went on to do graduate work at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. When he finished his studies at Princeton, he sailed for China. Because he was hoping to work with Muslims, he stopped first in Egypt to study Arabic. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead.

When the news of William Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper. "A wave of sorrow went round the world . . . Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice." wrote Mary Taylor in her introduction to his biography.

Was Borden's untimely death a waste? Not in God's perspective. Prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words "NO RESERVES" and "NO RETREATS," he had written: "NO REGRETS."

CHARLES SPURGEON'S CONVERSION

2010-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

This is the wonderful account of Charles Spurgeon's conversion. God works in mysterious ways to bring about the salvation of His children...

"The 15 year old teenager headed off to church, as he normally did on Sunday mornings. But there was a blizzard that day and the heavy snow kept him from going to his usual place of worship. Instead he found himself in a Primitive Methodist Church.

As a young man, from a long lineage of Pastors, he knew all about Christianity, but he didn’t know Christ. Later he would write of those days, "It was my sad lot to feel the greatness of my sin without a discovery of the greatness of God’s mercy."

The Primitive Methodist Church almost didn’t open that morning, but the caretaker, thinking that a few people might show up, opened the doors and lit the stove. By 11:00 some 12-15 people had come inside, but not the Pastor. He had apparently been unable to get there because of the snow.

Finally one of the laymen of the congregation reluctantly took the pulpit. As he looked down, he could see the small congregation, hundreds of empty seats, and the young 15 year old boy seated under the gallery. The text for his sermon was "Look unto me, and be ye saved", and after about ten minutes of repeating himself, the man was about to step down from the pulpit. But before he did, he addressed the teenager. "Young man," he said, "you look very miserable, and you will always be miserable if you don’t obey my text. But if you do obey now, this moment, you will be saved." He paused again, then shouted at the young man with more animation, "Young man, look to Jesus! Look! Look! Look!"

That substitute preacher and his tentative sermon was what the Holy Spirit used to bring Charles Spurgeon to Christ. Later Spurgeon wrote of that experience, "There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness was rolled away."

MISS FOGARTY'S CHRISTMAS CAKE

2010-06-08T14:43:00.000-07:00

I was visiting the Estabrooks today. Doug and Laura recited this poem by heart--their Grandfather had taught it to them. It was quite funny--so I thought I'd share it...

MISS FOGARTY'S CHRISTMAS CAKE
C. Frank Horn
--: Shaw, W. F., 1883.

As I sat at my windy last evenin', the letter man brought unto me
A little gilt-edg'd invitation sayin', "Gilhooly, come over to tea."
Sure I knew that the Fogartys sent it, so I wint just for old friendship's sake,
And the first thing they gave me to tackle was a slice of Miss Fogarty's cake.

CHORUS: There was plums and prunes and cherries,
And citron and raisins and cinnymon, too.
There was nutmeg, cloves and berries.
And the crust it was nail'd on with glue.
There was carroway seeds in abundance.
Sure 'twould build up a fine stomach-ache.
You would kill a man twice after 'ating a slice
Of Miss Fogarty's Christmas cake.

Miss Mulligan wanted to taste it, but really there wasn't no use.
They work'd at it over an hour and they couldn't get none of it loose
Till Fogarty wint for the hatchet and Killy came in with a saw.
That cake was enough, by the powers, to paralyze any man's jaw.

Mrs. Fogarty, proud as a peacock, kep' smilin' and blinkin' away
Till she fell over Flanigan's brogans and spill'd a whole brewin' of tay.
"Oh, Gilhooly," she cried, "you're not 'atin'. Try a little bit more for my sake."
"No, thanks, Misses Fogarty," sez I, "but I'd like the resate of that cake."

Maloney was took with the colic. McNulty complain'd of his head.
McFadden laid down on the sofy, and swore that he wish'd he was dead.
Miss Daly fell down in hysterics and there she did wriggle and shake
While ev'ry man swore he was poison'd thro' 'atin' Miss Fogarty's cake.

["resate" = receipt = recipe]

YOU CAN'T ALWAYS TRUST A FIRST IMPRESSION

2010-05-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

I didn’t know quite what to think of Helen Leigh when I first came to pastor here. Helen had been at the church from its beginning. She was best friends with the pianist, Harriet Pollard. They had been close friends for years. Back in the late 50s the two of them were out on a walk. As they passed by the seed barn that was then located here on Seppa Road, Helen said, "Can't you just see this as a church?" They went inside and looked around. Helen remarked, "The pulpit would go over here." And so the seed of a thought of a building for the newly formed church was planted. Helen and her first husband, Arvo, deeded the seed barn to the church. That seed barn was then remodeled and became the meeting place for the church for quite a few years.

I didn’t know all of that when I first came to the church, I only knew what I saw. Helen seemed to me to be kind of stern and aloof. I wondered to myself if she had been a part of the undercurrent of discontent that had troubled the church for so many years. So when she invited me, the new Pastor, to her house for lunch, I was a little bit nervous.

Helen and Harold (her second husband) lived in the house across the road and to the west of the church. It was a quick walk to their home. I was warmly greeted by the both of them and we enjoyed lunch together, then she got down to business. She wanted to know what I was made of. I don’t remember all of the questions that she asked, but there were quite a few. Her interview was not to determine whether or not I would come to Pastor, that had already been decided. Her interview of me was to impress upon me some matters of importance.

She asked me what I thought was the most important virtue for a Pastor to possess. What a great question! I suppose that there are several possible answers, but I answered, “humility,” and went on to explain why. My thinking was that Pastors can sometimes be prone to be prideful and that pride works against spiritual dependence on the Lord, spiritual growth, and is contrary to Christlikeness. She appreciated my response, but suggested that integrity was the most important virtue. I thought that to be keen insight on her part. Her response no doubt arose from the practical experience of pastors who had failed to show integrity in the past. Integrity is an essential virtue for pastors and leaders--without integrity how can there be any trust? We ended our time together and I walked away with a new appreciation for the depths of Helen’s wisdom.

Sometimes first impressions are all wrong. My first impressions were that she was stern and aloof, the reality was that she was wary and needed some time to find out what the new Pastor was like. There had been too many failed situations in the past. Trust would have to be earned over time--which it was. You know what I found out about Helen Leigh?--she was an incredibly wise, caring, and delightful person. She so much enjoyed playing together with Harriet--Helen on the organ and Harriet on the piano. They did that for many many years. She was a retired school teacher and knew something about teaching--she paid attention to what was being taught. She looked after Laura and I. She bought Vitamin C tablets for me when I got a cold. She invited us to go out to dinner with her and Harold--they paid for dinner and for the babysitter also! She cared about us. She was a big help and became a good friend. But that was not my first impression.

I didn’t know it when I first came to the church, but Helen’s first husband, Arvo Seppa, had played a role in my ultimate calling to pastor the church. My uncle Bob had visited the church in the early 1970s. He had come to the church purposefully wearing his dirtiest clothes anticipating that the people would treat him poorly. It was Arvo who walked up to Bob and told him, “So glad to see you here, this is just where you need to be.” Arvo’s warm reception was in keeping with God’s invitation to Bob to trust in Christ--which he ultimately did. Bob was saved. He later prayed for me and I was saved. I was eventually prepared for ministry and called to pastor the church. Arvo greeted my uncle Bob as a visitor to the church, Helen would later welcome me as its Pastor. Her family had played a key role in the salvation of my uncle Bob, and later in my own. Sometimes there is more to a matter than what we see in our first impression.

Pastor Jerry

BURIED TREASURE

2010-05-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

When I first came to Lewis and Clark Bible Church the building and yards were in a pretty sad state. The parsonage had been used and abused--with little upkeep and no improvements done--for many years. There was cat urine stains in the ceiling, worn carpet in the rooms, and holes in the walls. The parsonage bedroom had a unique 1970s decor--red felt patterned wallpaper and thick pile hot pink carpeting. Needless to say, there was much need for improvements. The church building also had its problems. The upstairs bathrooms were not finished and were not usable. Lights hung from the ceiling in the play room. The kitchen was not finished--there were unfinished projects everywhere. The yards were none better. The front parking lot was a gravel/grass/muddle puddle mix. There were a few rhododendrons and roses in the front yard--but most of it was unkempt. Curiously, there was a big mound of dirt in the front yard, not far south of the mailboxes.

I asked about that mound of dirt. I asked Jim, Vic, and Larry Peterson about that dirt pile (Jim and Vic were our two Deacons at the time, Larry was one of the trustees). One of them told me it covered buried treasure. It would be some time before I found out what was really buried there.

There were also some buried secrets in the past of the church. It didn’t take much investigation on my part to find out about them. There had been a major church split back in the early 1980s. It had been one of those tragic church situations that you hear about from time to time. Issues with the Pastor had led to a vote of confidence. The church was evenly divided as to what to do. The situation was not well resolved. Many ended up leaving. Bitterness and hard feelings continued on. In my early days as Pastor I would often run into people who had once gone to Lewis and Clark Bible Church, but had since left. They had moved onto other churches in the community (or, in some cases, had stopped going to church altogether). Their fond memories of the church were clouded by the bitter wars that had ended in division and loss. I met regularly with the church treasurer, Harriet Pollard, she refrained from saying too much about those days, except to say to me that I would not have believed some of the things that had gone on.

How do you build on that? How can a church be rescued from a terrible reputation? That was the task to which God had called me. It would not have happened apart from the prayers of two men. They had witnessed the destruction, they turned to God for help in the rebuilding. Jim continually reminded me during those early days that it was going to take some time. We were determined. Oftentimes there were only a couple of us at prayer meeting--we prayed. Church services were not particularly well attended--we preached the Word. Our first month’s budget was only $600--we trusted God to provide. We believed that in order for the church to succeed it would need to focus on Christ and the preaching of His Word. We committed doing that. We brought a new “Bible-oriented” approach to the ministry. That led to the institution of an “elder-led” form of church government (the church had been congregational rule). We, Jim and Vic and I, determined to submit our decisions to the Lord and to His Word. Many tough decisions were made that way. God honored that.

There were some at the time who were afraid to attend quarterly meetings. They had experienced some real “Donnybrooks” in the past. Our meetings were not like that. We almost always had unanimous consent to any votes that were taken--a condition that exists to this day. We have held to the belief that it is Christ who builds His church. It is left to us then to believe in His ability to do that and our willingness to follow His instructions. Such an approach has served us well over the years. We continue to believe and affirm that the church is to be founded on the principles of God’s Word--and God will take care of the rest. If that means numerical growth--so be it. But the church must be careful to avoid man-centered approaches to doing that which God alone is capable of doing--”Building HIS Church.”

What about that mound of dirt? Some months after I arrived, Larry Peterson and I started work on some improvements to the landscaping in the front of the church. Larry borrowed a tractor from the dairy to do some excavating. We moved a lot of dirt around and we tackled that mound of dirt. What treasure would we find? Some buried Pastors from previous church wars? As he began to dig he hit something solid. I grabbed a shovel to uncover whatever it was. It was the buried pieces of the sidewalk from the old church building. Instead of disposing of them elsewhere, they had been piled up in the front yard and covered over with dirt. We found a better place to dispose of them.

God alone can deal with our past. Any church is made up of imperfect people and is therefore imperfect itself--but Our Lord is perfect. Buried secrets in our past are “open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). But the God who knows us, loves us. He has proven His love in the willing sacrifice of His own Son for our sins (1 John 3:16). He died to save us--to forgive us, transform us, and bring us safely home to heaven one day. Where there is pain, bitterness, and loss--He is able to bring comfort, restoration, and joy. He gives “a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting, so that they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3). The transformation of His people and His church is all to the praise of the glory of His grace! Praise the Lord!

Pastor Jerry

20 YEARS AT THE CHURCH THAT “GOBBLES UP” PASTORS

2010-05-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

June 1^st will mark my 20th year of ministry here at LCBC. I am so thankful that God has privileged me to serve in this place for these years! I thought I’d use my blog to share some stories from the past in celebration of this day.

Not everyone was in favor of my coming here to Lewis & Clark Bible Church. My co-workers thought I was extremely foolish to leave my good-paying job at Trojan Nuclear Plant. A family member wondered how I was going to be able to provide for the needs of my family. But the most surprising voice of opposition was that of a local Pastor. Soon after my first visit he called me and arranged for us to have lunch together. I traveled down from our home in Columbia City to meet him for lunch at a restaurant in Knappa.

He explained that he wanted to meet with me to warn me of what I would find at the church. The church had reputation for “eating up” Pastors. They had had a number of Pastors in the previous decade and they all had left under difficult circumstances. His thought was that I should carefully consider whether or not it was wise to take my family to such a place.

Needless to say—I was surprised. My response?—I told him that I was wholly committed to doing God’s will in the matter, whatever that was. “God’s will—nothing more, nothing less, nothing else” is an apt description of where my heart lie in the matter. I also told him that if God called me to Pastor the church then He would take care of us in whatever way He saw fit.

Obviously, I did not heed the Pastor’s advice-and God has provided. And though, I may have been bitten a few times, I have not been “eaten up.” To the contrary, God has blessed us with a wonderful Church family that loves the Lord and loves to serve.

I am reminded by that experience of the counsel given by one of the elderly ladies, Ethel Gustafson, to the congregation. She wrote from the experience of a church member of a church that could not retain a Pastor of the need to take good care of their Pastor. Her message was ultimately published in the Voice Magazine. This is what she wrote for my August 1^st Installation Service…

1. We have a challenge to overcome how we are regarded by those in the area:

a. Bad attitudes.

b. We’re a church that gobbles up pastors.

2. We can change if we:

a. Examine our own hearts.

b. Resolve differences as soon as possible.

c. Do not quibble over trivial matters.

d. Work together as a team with pastor, deacons, trustees, and others.

e. Remember our pastor is human (he’ll make mistakes, get tired, and be overworked).

g. Remember no good pastor is good at everything.

h. Remember he has physical needs, financial problems, family needs just like we do.

i. Remember he needs a living wage.

j. Remember he needs time to be left alone for devotions and Bible study and prayer.

k. Remember his children are no better or worse than ours.

l. Remember his wife has as many needs as any wife and can’t be expected to be at every meeting much less be in charge of all of them.

m. Remember he is a special target of Satan and needs our daily prayers.

n. Remember each of us needs to be available to do something and make it known we are.

3. Remember to get things into perspective and ask ourselves, “Why do we exist?”

a. To improve our own spiritual lives.

b. To worship together.

c. To be a corporate witness of Lewis and Clark Bible Church to the area (one bad apple will spoil the whole box).

d. We are a support group each for all and all for each.

Praise the Lord for Ethel's wise counsel to the church family!

Praise the Lord for 20 years of opportunity to serve!

Pastor Jerry

CREATOR VS. DOT DOT DOT

2010-05-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

Saw on the news the story of a school text book that had taken the liberty to rewrite the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. I'm not sure what gives them the right to do that, but this is what they changed:

THE ACTUAL WORDING

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

THE SECULAR HUMANIST REVISED VERSION

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed...with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I'm not sure who or what DOT DOT DOT is, but I'm not sure that we can count on him (or it) to see to the preservation of these rights. Far better to trust in the Creator of all things, than the DOT DOT DOT the secular humanists have created to take His place. Beyond that--they can delete the reference to Him from a school text book, that does not eliminate Him--"And there is no creature bidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).

Pastor Jerry