Turmoil, Anxiety, Comfort, Patience

The Comfort of God

Who has not in their lifetime had those dark and trying periods when hope was almost gone? What congregation has not experienced anxiety as turmoil developed between brethren? Evidently, the church at Rome was dealing with all kinds of problems—there were false teachers seeking to Judaize the Gentiles by demanding that they must be circumcised to enter heaven. There was also strife between brothers where the stronger brothers had little compassion for those who were weaker.

Turmoil? Strong vs. weak? Little compassion? What to do?

Turmoil? Strong vs. weak? Little compassion? What to do?

How did God address such turmoil? When Paul gets to the fifteen chapter of Romans he utters this prayer. “May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like minded toward one another…that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (15:5-6). How did Paul see that turmoil coming to an end? He turned to God—the One who gives both comfort and patient endurance.

This is where true comfort is found. Paul described God as the God of all comfort, and then said that He “…comforts us in all our troubles (2 Cor. 1:5-6). Pay special attention to that three letter word in this passage. God is not just the One who sometimes comforts us in certain situations—He is the God of all comfort in all our trials.

How does God give us comfort? Look again at Romans chapter fifteen. It is in verse five where God is described as the God of comfort and patience. Look at verse four. “For whatsoever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

To whom do we turn for comfort? It is to God. To where do we turn? It is the Scriptures the God of comfort has given us. You have experienced this in those dark times when you walked through deep valleys, like the valley of the shadow of death. Your soul found relief at such times, and you sang the song given by David. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me” (Psa. 23:3). You sang the psalm and the words from the God of all comfort lifted your soul.

It is not just in those Old Testament passages where comfort is found. When those in Thessalonica were concerned about those brethren who had died, the God of comfort gave His word to them and then added, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18).

So the next time clouds arise and darkness prevails, pick up your Bible. Read the comforting words from the God of all comfort. Meditate on what He says to you, and these words of comfort will bring hope in the midst of the deepest despair.

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Do You Smell Good?

Do You Smell Good?

It’s always fun to travel, at least, I enjoy it, and you never know what is going to happen.  As we were driving on Interstate 30 from Texarkana to New Boston late in the evening (it was around 11:30), we hit a skunk!  Of course, it smelled awful after we first hit it, but then the smell gradually faded, but we must have hit him pretty good because the smell lingered on the car through the weekend, and every time we walked behind the car, we could smell skunk. The skunk has a powerful influence. Yuck!

What is the influence of your fragrance?

What is the influence of your fragrance?

This reminds me of something Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. I’m quoting from the English Standard Version: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,  to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?”

As Christians, we give off a fragrance, or aroma.  That aroma comes from the triumph of Christ on the cross, but other people can smell it on us who are Christians. To those who are being saved, it is a sweet smell bringing life, but for those who are perishing it is an awful smell like death.  Unlike that old smelly skunk, we want others smelling Christ on us, seeing our good influence, so that they can glorify God by coming to Christ for salvation.  Let’s give due consideration to our influence and let Christ’s goodness abound in our lives.

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Sitting in a Church Pew

Sitting in a Church Pew

There’s a popular saying which goes, “Sitting in a church pew doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car.”

If you don't assemble you won't grow. If you don't grow, you won't go.

If you don’t assemble you won’t grow. If you don’t grow, you won’t go.

There’s a lot of truth to that statement, and Jesus Himself would have agreed with it. In a way, Jesus did agree with it when He taught His disciples the Parable of the Tares.

Jesus said that the Kingdom, that is, His church, would be like a sower going out to sow seeds in his field. After the sower sowed good wheat seeds, an enemy came by and sowed tare seeds. The weeds were of a sort that at first looked like the wheat, and so the owner of the field forbade his workers from tearing them up, lest they harm the wheat also. But at the harvest, telling the two apart would easy and the tares could then be tossed in the fire. (cf. Matthew 13:24-30)

In explaining the Parable, Jesus identified Himself as the sower, and the good seed, the wheat, as the sons of the Kingdom, that is, Christians. (cf. Matthew 13:37-38) These good seeds would be gathered up at the harvest and would thereafter shine as the sun in the Kingdom of their father. (Matthew 13:43) That is to say, the righteous in God’s Kingdom on earth will be blessed and will enter into a heavenly reward.

The tares were not so blessed. These were sons of the wicked one (cf. Matthew 13:38) and would be gathered out of the kingdom and thrown in a furnace of fire were there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (cf. Matthew 13:42) Jesus further identifies these lost souls as those that offend and practice lawlessness. (cf. Matthew 13:41)

The point of the parable of the tares was that not all who appear to be, or claim to be, followers of Christ and members of His church were ever and truly sons of God. Some are mere pretenders.

So Jesus would have very much agreed that sitting in a church pew doesn’t make you a good Christian.

Of course, skipping the activities of the church doesn’t make one a good Christian either. God very much wants you to be an active part of the Body of Christ. Thus, the Bible speaks about how the church is to function, effectively working, with every part doing its share, thereby causing growth in the church for the edifying of itself in love. (cf. Ephesians 4:16) It is for this reason that God commands us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some. (cf. Hebrews 10:25)

As the apostles preached Christ, the early church was marked by their adherence to the doctrine of the apostles, but also by the regular way in which they interacted with one another in love, prayer and fellowship. (cf. Acts 2:42)

We miss the point of the parable of the tares if we think Jesus was trying to say that you don’t need the church. In fact, Jesus was making just the opposite point. The tares were gathered out of the Kingdom to be burned. They were pretending to be part of the church, not disdaining the church altogether. The wheat, which represents the saved, was likewise, already in the Kingdom before the judgment, and continued in the Kingdom after the judgment.

Just as Noah was saved in the ark, so too, men are saved in the Kingdom of God. Thus, when you are saved, you are added to the Kingdom (cf. Acts 2:47; Colossians 1:13) At the last day, it is the Kingdom which Jesus will hand over to God. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24) There’s no safety outside the Kingdom. (cf. Revelation 22:15; 21:8)

What we want to be is wheat in the Kingdom. We don’t want to be tares. The tares, as Jesus said, were those who gave lip-service to Him, but didn’t actually do anything He taught them to do. Instead they practiced sin and immorality, hoping that words claiming to believe in Jesus would be enough in the end. But it was Jesus who warned that not everyone who claimed Him as Lord would be saved. We need to also do the things he teaches. (cf. Matthew 7:21, Luke 6:46)

Lip service and self-identification as a Christian is not enough. It has never been enough. What has always been needed is that the followers of Christ bear the actual fruits of obedience. (cf. Matthew 13:23; John 15:8).

by Jonathan McAnulty

 

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¿ES DIOS JUSTO EN CASTIGAR AL INJUSTO?

¿ES DIOS JUSTO EN CASTIGAR AL INJUSTO?

La pregunta demanda una respuesta inmediata. ¿Es Dios justo en Castigar al injusto? Si si lo es, y aquí termina esta lección, sin embargo trabajemos el tema un tanto más. Sin duda alguna la naturaleza de Dios es sublime y especial, el profeta Isaias en 55:8-9 afirmó hace mucho que los pensamientos de Dios son más altos que nuestros pensamientos. Cuando estudiamos a Dios usted y yo necesitamos deshacernos de nuestra propia manera de pensar y y aceptar lo que la Biblia enseña, libro capítulo y versículo. La pregunta anterior contiene dos partes, 1) la declaración de que Dios es justo y 2) la recompensa del injusto. Analicemos más de cerca…

¿ES DIOS JUSTO EN CASTIGAR AL INJUSTO?

¿ES DIOS JUSTO EN CASTIGAR AL INJUSTO?

A. LA JUSTICIA DE DIOS OBEDECE A SU NATURALEZA: Su naturaleza es limpia. Por esa razón Dios no puede ser testigo de pecado y pasarlo por alto. Dios no puede ni siquiera ver el mal (Habacub 1:13).  Por otro lado su naturaleza no cambia. Desde Génesis hasta Apocalipsis la naturaleza de Dios no ha cambiado (Heb 13:9). El Dios del Antiguo Pacto es el mismo del Nuevo pacto.

  1. Nínive entendió esto a la mala. Año 623 a.C Observe usted lo que dice el profeta Nahum: “Jehová es Dios celoso y vengador; Jehová es vengador y lleno de indignación; se venga de sus adversarios, y guarda enojo para sus enemigos.Jehová es tardo para la ira y grande en poder, y no tendrá por inocente al culpable. Jehová marcha en la tempestad y el torbellino, y las nubes son el polvo de sus pies”. (Nahum 1:2-3). También puede notar C3:5, 6, 19.
  2. Juicio implacable contra Babilonia (Is 13).
  3. Juicio contra Damasco (Isa 17).
  4. Juicio contra Egipto (Is 19).
  5. Juicio contra Arabia (Is 22).
  6. Juicio contra Tiro (Is 23).
  7. Y finalmente Juicio contra Israel (Is 28).Hay personas que pretenden esconder su pecado diciendo que Dios es todo amor siempre. Otras muchas oran a Dios afirmando que el los escucha y por tal razón gozan de comunión con él, pero la realidad es que no puede haber una comunión con Dios si hay pecado, Dios no escucha, no responde a nadie que no anda conforme a su voluntad. (Is 1:15 ).

Su naturaleza es reveladora.  En la gran mayoría de universidades bíblicas, seminarios teológicos y aun instituciones de la Iglesia ha ganado terreno el escepticismo. Aún muchos buenos hermanos han caminado por este sombrío camino. El escepticismo  duda de que la Biblia sea real, duda de Dios, duda y duda de todo el sistema de fe. La frase favorita es “esque no sabemos y no hay manera de estar seguros ¿usted que sabe? tal vez esa persona se salvó”. Dios en su naturaleza es un Dios revelador, no podemos saber todo referente a  Dios pero si podemos saber y estar seguros de lo que el YA ha revelado. Analice por un momento como Romanos 1:19-21 y 1Juan 5:13 destrozan esta ideología.

B. LA JUSTICIA DE DIOS OBEDECE A SU PLAN: Dios es justo en castigar al injusto por que ha diseñado un plan para salvarle. Con cornelio. Usted lee en Hechos 10:4  que las oraciones han subido(Tenga en mente el caso único y especial en este capitulo, ya que es como los gentiles iban a entrar al plan redentívo por primera vez).  Cornelio oraba fervientemente pero había una pared que hacia y hace hasta el día de hoy que Dios escuche en oración Is 59:1-2. Esa pared es el Pecado. El v35 es sobre el mismo caso, dice que Dios se agrada de los que le temen y hacen justicia. El hecho de que cornelio orara y que hiciera limosnas no le hacia aceptable delante de Dios y los carismáticas odian el siguiente pasaje… Hechos 11:14 Cornelio con todas sus oraciones y limosnas no era acepto delante de Dios, estaba perdido, pero la obediencia a la justicia (5 pasaos de salvación) es lo que le hizo salvo.Dios es Justo al establecer la Iglesia, este ha sido el plan de Dios por todas las edades  (leer Efesios 1:5-10). En la Iglesia Dios le da la oportunidad a todos pero no todos toman esa oportunidad.

  1. La Iglesia y solo la Iglesia de Cristo tiene el privilegio de adorar a Dios por medio de 5 actos de adoración (Ef 3:20-21). Nadie más.
  2. La Iglesia  y solo la Iglesia de Cristo satisface la ira de Dios. El mira con enojo y con venganza a todos los pecadores pero al ver lo que su hijo hizo en la cruz  su enojo se aplaca y nos declara justos, hay una satisfacción por parte de Dios y por eso tenemos esperanza de ir al cielo. Pregunta, pero  y ¿que de los demás que no son parte de la iglesia? 1Pe 4:17.
  3. La Iglesia y solo iglesia de Cristo está compuesta por los fieles y santos para Dios (Ef 1:1-2).  De acuerdo a los ecuménicos, Dios es injusto. Solo vea: Dios no condena a nadie por eso, usted se esfuerza  en todo; en ser integro y todo lo demás pero al final, “porque Dios no condena a nadie” entonces todos vamos al cielo. ¿Le parece a usted eso justo? Si todos vamos al cielo entonces, Cristo murió en vano, y fue mentiroso porque el habló del infierno. Un hermano recientemente decía “¿Por quién vino Cristo? ¿no fue por los pecadores?” algunos simplemente no les interesa respetar la autoridad absoluta de las escrituras (Heb 5:9) Cristo vino a morir por los pecadores si, pero el es autor de salvación para aquellos que le obedecen. “Vosotros sois mis amigos si hacéis lo que yo os digo (Juan 15:14), ¿y sino Señor? que soy? Yo espero sea honesto en encontrar la respuesta a la pregunta anterior, recuerde solamente la verdad da libertad.
  4. ¿CUAL ES LA IMPLICACION DE QUE DIOS SEA JUSTO AL CASTIGAR AL INJUSTO?: La primera implicación de que Dios es justo en castigar al injusto  es que la iglesia no escapa de ello. Y En su Iglesia Dios sigue siendo justo en castigar incluso a cualquier hermano que sea y practique la injusticia. Romas 11:21-22 Pablo recuerda a los cristianos Gentiles las consecuencias de ser injustos aún cuando Dios mostró su justicia para con ellos. La segunda implicación es que la iglesia debe de ser justa al igual que Dios es justo. Mat 13:43. Los justos resplandecerán como el sol. Debemos de saber muy bien que significa esto y aquí está su definición bíblica para Justicia  Salmos 119:172 “Todos tus mandamientos son Justicia”. Cuando una congregación se práctica injusticia para cualquiera de sus miembros Dios evidentemente no se complace. La tercera implicación  es que de hecho Dios si ejecutará un castigo y será eterno. El lo ha advertido, lo ha prescrito y no razón para dudar que tal castigo que no tendrá final va a llegar y que de hecho Dios sostendrá su palabra… es parte de su justa naturaleza.

Estimado amigo lector, no sea usted injusto en criticar a Dios por cosas que parecen no estar claras a veces. Recientemente conocí el caso de un grupo de personas que cometieron un grave error juzgando y condenando a alguien sin conocer todos los detalles. En el caso de Dios, estudiemos juntos lo que el nos ha revelado y seguramente llegará a usted a la misma conclusión a la que este servidor llegó: Mi Dios es justo en castigar al injusto. Que Dios le bendiga.

 

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Want to Fix Hollywood

Want to Fix Hollywood

Yesterday, I was talking with an elder about all of the individuals in Hollywood who are now being accused of immoral behavior. He mentioned that now would be a good time for pulpits to remind members how a man should treat a woman. I agreed and added that it would be a good time to also teach families about sexual immorality.

Oh the immoral behavior of Hollywood.

Oh the immoral behavior of Hollywood.

Think about the following scenarios and ask yourself: Where are young men learning these simple behaviors?:

  1. How to open doors for young ladies.
  2. How to be courteous to young ladies.
  3. How to speak to young ladies without using vulgar terms or talking to them in a disrespectful manner.
  4. How to talk to young ladies parents.
  5. How to hold an umbrella for a young lady.
  6. How to give your coat up if a young lady is cold.
  7. How to give a compliment in the proper way.
  8. How to stand up and protect a young lady who is being threatened or bullied.

The reality is most of these chivalrous behaviors are never learned because they are not taught in school and they are often neglected in the home. The concept of growing young boys into strong knights has been kicked aside in our world of gender equality.

I know it is not popular today in our politically correct climate, but I am not concerned with political correctness—God made men and women differently. Peter wrote, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). Our young men need to be taught how to treat a lady!

Right now thousands of Christians are horrified and angered by all of the sexual misconduct that is being reported in Hollywood. Yet, one wonders how many of those same Christians are horrified at what goes on Prom Night at their local high school? How many of those parents are outraged that their children are messing around or having premarital sex with someone they are not married to? One wonders how angered parents are at the immoral behavior that goes on beneath their very roof?

Right about now many Christians are reading this thinking, “It’s not the same thing.” I will grant you that is true that two teens in the backseat of a car is not the same as someone in power using his/her position to sexually abuse someone else. However, in the eyes of God sin is sin. Sexual immorality—whether it be at the hands of a manipulative Hollywood producer or an unmarried high school senior—is sin.

Do you want to “fix” Hollywood? You want to stop all of the sexual immorality that is being reported on the news? Then start at home. Teach your children what a healthy relationship is supposed to look like. Demonstrate a happy marriage that they can use as a blueprint. Teach them purity—and don’t compromise just because the world accepts it from teens. Don’t embrace the attitude that all teens are going to mess around—because Christians are called to be different from the world.

We can’t teach the world about God and what He has to offer if our families look just like the world. Before we can “fix” Hollywood with the saving blood of Jesus Christ we must first make sure that our own children have put away the old man. Moms and Dads, spend some time this week training up your boys to be men—real men, who know how to treat young ladies.

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