The Church of the Lord

As we look back over the history of the church nearly 20 Centuries has passed since the Lord stated to those in Caesarea Philippi that he would build his church (cf. Matt 16:13-18).  We know that Christ’s Church came into existence shortly after He made this prediction to those assembled (cf. Acts 12:1-47). As we read through the 2nd chapter of the Book of Acts we are impressed with the power of events that transpired on the birthday of the church of Christ.

One of the impressive things about the Lord’s Church is the number of Jews that heard, obeyed, and became the part of the church that day, some 3,000 (cf. Acts 2:36-42). The number of the disciples multiplied quickly as we are told in the early chapters of the Book of Acts (cf. Acts 2L41; 4:4). Today we wish to imitate this great growth against such great obstacles, yet, we must proceed with all the strength that we can muster to reach out to the lost and undone in this world and help them to see the right of the Lord’s church and her message. The first century disciples were busy, filled with zeal for God, and untiring in their efforts. It was stated about the early disciples that they “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).

There are people today who believe that the Church of the Lord is withering and dying. To this philosophy I say :ridiculous”, the church is growing in many places and the only reason that it is not growing everywhere is that there are many disciples that are lazy and will not do their share of the work needed to keep sowing the good seed (i.e. getting our and evangelizing the lost all over the community). Indeed, the congregation will grow only if the elders, the preacher, and every member will do the personal work needed in the community (See Luke 8:11 – 1 Cor 3:6-7).

REMEMBER THIS: We are the sowers, are we sowing the good seed? Each of us should, to the extent of our ability go about our lives sowing the good seed.

Whenever a congregation is at peace, whenever the members of the congregation show love and concern about one another and their neighbors, whenever a congregation is busy doing the works of God (i.e. that which is revealed in the Bible). The church will grow and the congregation will be influential in the community in which it exists. Let us therefore involve ourselves in the effort to sow the good seed (i.e. spread the gospel message) Let us each do what we can! (NOTE – Matthew 5:13-16).

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Are You Stressed? (part 2)

Of course, getting enough rest, a proper diet, regular exercise and keeping a balanced life between work and family are always important. But, I believe the Bible gives Christians, from a spiritual point, three more basic disciplines. First, there is prayer. Consider the words of Peter, “ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:6–‐7). Instead of worrying over our problems, turn those problems over to God. Let Him be in your corner to not only comfort you, but to relieve your anxiety and stress. Paul mentions to us to, “ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–‐7). This is such a wonderful and comforting promise in that, as we pray, our minds are protected by a peace that goes beyond our ability to understand. In our life, we ought to be praying often.

Second, meditating on the Word of God can call to your remembrance all the promises that God has given man throughout the years. In addition, Paul said, “. . . brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). The way to protect ourselves from the world is to focus on God’s Word, the Bible. For, His word is magnified above His name (Psalm 138:2). It is His special revelation (Psalm 19) and we are told how to obey it (Acts 15:7–‐11) because it instructs, corrects, rebukes, and teaches us (2 Timothy 3:16–‐17). Therefore, if we want to be sanctified or set apart from the world and dedicated to the Lord, we will reflect deeply and at great length, the Bible. We ought to be reflecting on the comforting words of Jesus, such as in Matthew 11:28–‐30, “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus offers a comfort that only He can offer. That of knowing our sins are forgiven and how comforting it is to know that the eternal glory of Heaven awaits the faithful child of God at the end of the world. However, without reading the Bible, we would not know any of this. So, read your Bible.

(To Be Continued – Part 3)

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Labor Day

According to the United States Department of Labor’s website Labor Day, “is a creation
of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of
American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers
have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” Simply put it is
intended to be a day of rest and recognition to the American workforce.

The Christian too has a Labor Day. One in which we will receive a rest and recognition
for the faithful work we have done. When God completed his grand creation (Genesis
1-2) he rested on the seventh day and blessed and sanctified it as a day of rest. The
Hebrew writer says that there remains a rest for the children of God. “For he who has
entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us
therefore be diligent to enter that rest…” (Hebrews 4.10-11a).

Jesus calls us to this rest! “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11.28-29). But the ultimate rest here has reference to the eternal “Labor Day” of God’s children in his home. Sure Jesus took time to rest and relax while here on earth, but never was it for a protracted period. No in fact he said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).

Notice what the voice from heaven said unto John, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their
labors, and their works follow them” (Revelation 14.13). But also pay close attention to
qualifying statement here “…who die in the Lord…” Those outside of Christ when death
comes will not enter His rest nor will they ever know rest, no not for eternity!

So just how is this to be accomplished? You must hear the word of God for “faith
comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10.17). For we know that
without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11.6). We must be willing to
repent of a sinful life because God “…now commands all men everywhere to repent
(Acts 17:30). We must be willing to confess that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son
of God (Matthew 10.32-33). But none of these things have yet to say, nor do they ever
say, that they put us into Christ. So how is it that we get into Christ so that we may “die
in the Lord?” Notice carefully the inspired scripture of Galatians 3.27, “For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

If you’ve not yet done these things, will you not do it now? God loves you and sent His
Son to die for you so that you might have this opportunity. He wants you to rest with
Him. And for those of us who are in Christ and long for that day of rest…Be Faithful!

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Lord Teach Us to Pray

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples (Luke 11:1).

“How is your prayer life?” is a question that many would just rather not answer. I am a praying man, but I don’t pray enough. I do not believe that I am out of the ordinary in that regard. Jesus, our model for Christian living, prayed hours on end at times. Sometimes, it seems as if I barely have time to utter a brief “thank you” for the day’s blessings. I am grateful that we have those public periods of worship when we may collectively stop and offer prayer. It causes me to reflect upon my own prayer life and the need I have to engage the Father in prayer more often. Public prayer feeds private prayer, and vice versa. All of it tends to the glory of God. “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Men ought always to pray. It is encouraging to know that God wants me to pray. Jesus gave the parable of the unjust judge to teach us that “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The parable tells of a widow who continued to plead her case so unceasingly that the judge, though he was unrighteous, finally granted her request simply because of her persistence. I, like Jacob, need to wrestle with the “Angel” until I receive a blessing (Gen. 32:24-32). Unlike the unrighteous judge, God is righteous, longs to hear the prayers of his children, and is ready to give liberally (James 1:5). He simply wants us to take the time and ask (Matt. 7:11). “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Prayer is something that may be taught. Jesus taught his disciples to pray. The disciples then passed along his teaching to others concerning prayer. We also must realize that the next generation will pray as we have taught them to pray. We need to be serious about prayer. There are prayers in the Bible that are available for our study and contemplation. We must examine these prayers, analyze them, and seek to improve both our private and public prayers. Jacob’s prayer in Genesis 32:9-12 is a great prayer of humility and serves as a wonderful example for a private prayer of supplication on behalf of one’s family. Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 10:4- 19 is a wonderfully composed prayer of intercession on behalf of God’s people, the children of Israel. It was a prayer intended for public display. Unlike the mantras of eastern philosophies, biblical prayer is verbal, expresses a personal relationship to the Divine, and must be taken seriously as an avenue of communication and worship with God, Almighty. “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Prayer is an act that moves us out of the physical and into the spiritual. As an act of worship, Christian prayer focuses upon God the Father. Jesus taught us to say, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name.” Prayer time ought to be a time of reverence, somber reflection, and holy gratitude. It should be taken as seriously as bringing a formal request before a magistrate, judge, or elected official. In the moment of prayer, we ought to exorcise all things common and profane that we might honor the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Psa. 29:2). There are many common concerns that plague our thoughts on a more or less constant basis. Removing our minds from such temporal concerns brings us to a higher plane where we leave behind the temporal, carnal, and feeble to engage the eternal, spiritual, and powerful. In the final equation, prayer is an act of faith. “Lord, teach us to pray.”

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Warfare

Onward Christian Soldiers!

It is surprising to me that many people cannot distinguish between carnal warfare and spiritual warfare. To understand the difference I dedicate the contents of this article.

Now, carnal warfare is the kind of physical battles that is taking place in Afganastinan between the terrorist (i.e. those responsible for the bombing of the world trade center towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the crashing of a jumbo jet in Pennsylvania),. Carnal warfare is the physical affront of an opposing force with the hope and expectation of conquering them and beating them into physical surrender, at which point the war ends perhaps with thousands of physical casualties (i.e. dead & injured).

Secondly, spiritual warfare is the warfare that is taking place between Satan and God. The conflict is not physical in nature but is waged with words and with manner of life (i.e. “salt of the earth” – “light of the world”). The weapons of this warfare are described in Scripture, note the following references:

Ephesians 6:10-18: Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual (hosts) of wickedness in the heavenly (places). Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil (one). And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,” ASV

CONSIDER THIS: Apparently, each person is involved in the spiritual conflict. The alien and the faithful Christian alike are struggling with the forces of evil, The Devil (i.e. Satan) desires to confuse and confound the alien so that he/she will never turn to God and seek salvation from sin, the alien is bombarded with the sensual, the glitter of the world by the Devil, this is how the Devil distracts the sinner so that they are blinded to the truth. The Devil also lies or has others lie about the truth so that the alien is suspicious of true religion having heard only lies about it from Satan’s agents, cf.,

John 8:44, “Ye are of (your) father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.” (ASV)

Romans 3:3-4, “3 For what if some were without faith? Shall their want of faith make of none affect the faithfulness of God? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.” (ASV)

NEVER RESORT TO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IN DEFENSE OF SPIRITUAL TRUTH

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