Pastor Bill - A Changed Life

A Bloodless Coup

2012-02-14T09:55:00.000-05:00

Hebrews12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud ofwitnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnaresus, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 lookingunto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was setbefore Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at theright hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lestyou become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving againstsin. 5 And you haveforgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do notdespise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked byHim; 6 For whom the Lordloves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what sonis there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have becomepartakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had humanfathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much morereadily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few dayschastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may bepartakers of His holiness. 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless,afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have beentrained by it. 12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for yourfeet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, andholiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace ofGod; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this manybecome defiled; 16 lestthere be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of foodsold his birthright.

The great question about the doctrine of grace is: Can grace change or even modify behavior?Since there is so much uncertainty on that score, most – if not all – churches addbehavioral directives to their doctrine because you cannot implicitly trustgrace alone to do the job of reforming man.

After all, it is the flesh that longs for “no rules.” The reason the flesh desires “no rules” is because the flesh longs to satisfy lust, and lust is, “against the rules.”

This was the great strength of the sacrificial system. It not onlyhad rules against sin, it also had sacrifices for sin that were visible. Therewas a lot of blood in the sanctuary, (which may seem an odd place to findblood.) But since remission of sin ONLY took place by the shedding of blood,and those in the sanctuary were dealing with sin, there was a lot of bloodthere. It was a powerful reminder of sin and for sin.

What happens when you take that away and move to the bloodlesssystem of grace? You know – the once-for-allsacrifice? Can you still trust in God’s direction even without a visible correction? The answer is: YES!

Pastor Bill

Blood Bank

2012-01-31T10:20:00.000-05:00

Heb 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come,and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices,which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not haveceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no moreconsciousness of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the bloodof bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have preparedfor Me. 6 In burntofferings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come--In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God.' "8Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offeringsfor sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offeredaccording to the law), 9then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have beensanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministeringdaily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take awaysins. 12 But this Man,after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right handof God, 13 from that timewaiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those whoare being sanctified.

When you donate blood, you must notonly submit to a screening process for blood-type - but also for quality.

Especially in this day and age,the blood you receive could literally mean life and death.

If the blood is tainted, it willbe ineffective, and will eventually cause more harm than good, even if itprovides a momentary benefit and gets you out of the hospital in the short-term.

If you are fooled into thinkingyou have what you need, only to find out later that the blood you received willactually kill you, then you know what the author of Hebrews is talking about inchapter 10.

The blood of bulls and goatscannot make you perfect. The continual effort of making an offering of animalsacrifice cannot make you perfect either. Logically, this should have set in asa concept long ago, since those offerings had to be made continually.

And now to find people stilltrusting more in what does NOT save over and above what DOES is mystifying, andyet we see it every day. All around us. In every walk of life. It is called ‘religiouspractice.’

People would rather trust in whatthey can see with their eyes over what they must trust by faith – even if theymust suspend logic in order to do so. How couldthe blood of a goat save you, especially since it must be offered continually?

Only the blood of Jesus saves.You can take that to the bank.

- Pastor Bill

Perfect Sacrifice

2012-01-24T10:08:00.000-05:00

Heb9:11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, withthe greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not ofthis creation. 12 Not withthe blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most HolyPlace once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goatsand the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifyingof the flesh, 14 how muchmore shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himselfwithout spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve theliving God? 15 And forthis reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for theredemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who arecalled may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a testament,there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force aftermen are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the firstcovenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the peopleaccording to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water,scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all thepeople, 20 saying,"This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you." 21 Thenlikewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of theministry. 22 And accordingto the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding ofblood there is no remission. 23Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens shouldbe purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with bettersacrifices than these. 24For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies ofthe true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himselfoften, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood ofanother-- 26 He then wouldhave had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once atthe end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice ofHimself. 27 And as it isappointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bearthe sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a secondtime, apart from sin, for salvation.

Ina close, hard-fought game, with a runner on first base in the late innings, (afterit has become apparent the pitcher is not very hittable,) the coach calls for a“sacrifice.” In baseball, it is anintentional out. You lay down a bunt and get yourself out in order to do onething – and that one thing is to advance the runner into scoring position. Ifthe bunt is good enough, it is judged to be a, “perfect sacrifice.”

Themotif of the sacrifice does not come from baseball, it comes from Jesus Christ.I suspect the baseball play may have had another name entirely had it not beenfor Jesus Christ, as He set the example for all to follow.

Strangely,human beings, (even those of the ‘survival of the fittest’ evolutionarytheology,) seem to place a higher value on an act of sacrifice above any otherthing any human being may ever do. Where does that sort of thinking come from –if – as they say, survival of the fittest has gotten us where we are?

- Pastor Bill

Nobody’s Perfect

2012-01-19T12:26:00.000-05:00

Heb8:1Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a HighPriest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in theheavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which theLord erected, and not man. 3For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices.Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would notbe a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of theheavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make thetabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to thepattern shown you on the mountain." 6 But now He has obtained a moreexcellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, whichwas established on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no placewould have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, thedays are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the houseof Israel and with the house of Judah-- 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathersin the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says theLord. 10 For this is thecovenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says theLord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and Iwill be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother,saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to thegreatest of them. 12 For Iwill be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawlessdeeds I will remember no more." 13 In that He says, "A newcovenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsoleteand growing old is ready to vanish away.

Did you ever break anything by your own stupidity? Reaching for aglass, instead you knock it over and it falls to the tile floor and breaks intoa thousand shards. You think, “Man, what an idiot I am…how could my judgment havebeen so bad?!”

Did you ever say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and set off awar? You think, “Man, what an idiot I am…and I wish I had never said what Isaid…why am I so stupid?!”

Two characteristics common to man: 1) We are bad, and 2) We arestupid. Consistently.

And yet, we seem to think of ourselves as somehow worthy of entryinto the kingdom of Heaven because we are a, “pretty good person.” Wouldn’t that be yet another thing we mightclassify as being stupid – given what we know about ourselves?

Here’s what we say (quite often) to excuse ourselves: “Nobody’sperfect!” (We agreed with God’s Word even before we knew God’s Word.) God says,“No one is righteous, no, not one.” Thereis no way any of us deserve anything other than hell.

How fantastically wonderful Christ has made a way for us into HisKingdom by His blood - the blood of the New Covenant.

- Pastor Bill

Which Order?

2012-01-10T10:04:00.001-05:00

Hebrews7:1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who metAbraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 towhom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "kingof righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king ofpeace," 3 withoutfather, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days norend of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was,to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sonsof Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes fromthe people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they havecome from the loins of Abraham; 6but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abrahamand blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by thebetter. 8 Here mortal menreceive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that helives. 9 Even Levi, whoreceives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of hisfather when Melchizedek met him. 11Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under itthe people received the law), what further need was there that another priestshould rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called accordingto the order of Aaron? 12For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of thelaw. 13 For He of whomthese things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man hasofficiated at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spokenothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness ofMelchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshlycommandment, but according to the power of an endless life.

Followingorders.

Youknow the phrase. “I was just followingorders.” This seems to excuse our actions, no matter how heinous. Many ofthose who testified in the Nuremburg trials following WWII had exactly that tosay. They were not terrible men at all. They were just, “following orders.” Who would not do the same, in the samecircumstance?

Thereis a great degree of truth in that statement. We are all following some sort oforder in this world, and the order we choose to follow will have great import.In fact, the order we choose to follow willdetermine our eternal destiny.

Thisis the point the author of Hebrews is making here. To the Jews, who have alwaysplaced such a priority on the office of the priest, and especially the HighPriest, this would be a profoundly new way of thinking. Instead of followingthe old order of the priesthood, follow the New.There is, he says, a New Priestly Order which supersedes the old one. The main pointof the old order - in fact - was only to lead us to the New One. Continuing tofollow the old order now will get you nowhere.

Whatis being plainly stated here is Jesus Christ, of the tribe of Judah and notLevi, has replaced everything we have ever known of priests and priestlyorders. Follow Him.

- Pastor Bill

Lost and Found

2012-01-03T10:32:00.000-05:00

Hebrews6:1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, letus go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from deadworks and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, oflaying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will doif God permits. 4 For it isimpossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenlygift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of Godand the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again torepentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Himto an open shame. 7 For theearth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs usefulfor those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briars, itis rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are confident ofbetter things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though wespeak in this manner. 10For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of lovewhich you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to thesaints, and do minister. 11And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the fullassurance of hope until the end, 12that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith andpatience inherit the promises.

A promise is a promise.

All promises, however, are worthless unless the one making thepromise has direct control over the outcome of the events in question.Therefore, the only worthwhile promises are those made by God.

God’s Word is filled with promises. In essence, ALL of God’s Word IS a promise. From beginning to end, Godpromises to redeem all those who will be. On the other hand, His implicitpromise is also not to redeem those who won’t be. He promises to let you be theone to determine your eternal destiny. You will be condemned unless you choosenot to be, because you are born in a condemned state. Unless you make adetermination to be redeemed by God in Christ, you remain in that condition.You remain ‘lost’ unless you choose to be ‘found.’ God lovingly woos all to befound. He gave His only Son as prime evidence of His love…for you.

The most curious case involves those who by every appearancereceive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord – and then choose to repent of theirrepentance. Were they never saved? Or – were they saved - and then chose towalk away from salvation? This is one of the most controversial questions ofBiblical Christianity.

But a greater question should be: Where are you right now? Is your life bearing good fruit, andcontinuing to bear good fruit – or is your life bearing briars and thorns?

Unfortunately, when these questions are posed, those affected mostdeeply are often the ones who need not be. Those who seem unconcerned overtheir eternal condition in spite of their life conduct evidence because theymade a prayer to “receive Christ,” at a point in time often are those leastconcerned by these thoughts. There is much to be learned. Can the author ofHebrews arrest your attention?

- Pastor Bill

Our High Priest

2011-12-28T10:33:00.000-05:00

Hebrews5:1For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in thingspertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 Hecan have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since hehimself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so alsofor himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is calledby God, just as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He whosaid to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You." 6 As He also saysin another place: "You are a priest forever According to the order ofMelchizedek"; 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered upprayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able tosave Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learnedobedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternalsalvation to all who obey Him, 10called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"11 of whom we have much tosay, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought tobe teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of theoracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only ofmilk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those whoare of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their sensesexercised to discern both good and evil.

Thegreat sign God cares for us is His provision. We think of how He feeds us, orhow He provides us with water, or of warmth, or of family or occupation. Thelist of the things God provides us by His goodness is vast and probablyendless, (if we were to seek to name them all from a human perspective.) Who,for example, knows where their next heartbeat is coming from? Or how about life itself?

Ofall the things God has provided us, however, the greatest is His provision of aHigh Priest.

Inorder to fully understand the nature of the importance of the position of HighPriest, you have to go back to the Torah, to discover what God had in mind forhow He would relate to His people. God related to the Israelites through theoffice of the High Priest. It was the High Priest who would go into the Holy ofHolies once per year to make atonement for the people. It was the High Priestwho would hear from God and speak to the people about God’s desire for them.

Inshort, the position of High Priest existed to allow people to know andunderstand the love God had for His people, and that He desired to be in lovingrelationship with His people – rather than being followed by those undercoercion in some sort of religious fanaticism.

Theposition of High Priest indicates to us how it is Holiness can relate tolowliness. The High Priest stands between God and man. Of course, our HighPriest is Jesus Christ.

- Pastor Bill

Immanuel

2011-12-20T09:40:00.005-05:00

Luke2:1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustusthat all the world should be registered. 2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyoneto his own city. 4 Josephalso went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the cityof David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage ofDavid, 5 to be registeredwith Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there,the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him inswaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for themin the inn. 8 Now there werein the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch overtheir flock by night. 9 Andbehold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and theglory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Donot be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will beto all people. 11 For thereis born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: Youwill find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angela multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest,And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" 15 So it was, when the angels hadgone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another,"Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass,which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and theBabe lying in a manger. 17Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known thesaying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things whichwere told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

A question: If you were God,and your plan was to enter the world, how would you accomplish that?

When you think of the crush of celebrity - and everything thattakes place when the public is aware of the presence of a huge celebrity - wouldit be like that? Could it be like that? Would that work? Would it not be thegreatest event in the history of the world? Would it not draw the greatestcrowd in the history of the world? Wouldn’t it be great to draw a huge crowd –so all could know at once that God had entered into His creation?

God chose an alternate path of entry. Fascinating. It had always beenplanned this way, and now it was accomplished. At Bethlehem, a wide spot in theroad. In a stable, apart from themaddening crowds. The very antithesis of what may have been expected.

It must have been very troubling for Mary to know that she wasgiving birth to the Son of God in such a mean estate. Can you imagine? We wantthe very best circumstances and environments for the birth of our children.

But God’s plan was to come into the world to a world unawares.Rather than appearing in grandiosity, God would depend on men to get the word out about His birth. He still does.

- Pastor Bill

Heeeeeeere’s John!

2011-12-13T10:25:00.000-05:00

Luke 1:57 Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered,and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard howthe Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 59 So it was, on the eighth day, thatthey came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the nameof his father, Zacharias. 60His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John." 61 But they said to her, "There isno one among your relatives who is called by this name." 62 So they made signs to hisfather--what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying,"His name is John." So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened andhis tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all thesesayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them keptthem in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?" Andthe hand of the Lord was with him.

It is amazing what a year canhold. It was just a year ago that Zacharias and Elizabeth were serving outtheir elderly years, faithfully accomplishing God’s plan for their lives.Perhaps nothing much more to look forward to than the proverbial, “death andtaxes.” In a word, their lives could probably be characterized as ‘uneventful.’

After all, what can a seniorcitizen expect from life that may bring about any sort of change - let alone aradical one?

It was in the midst of faithfulhumble service that the Lord arrested Zacharias’ life, and it is important tonote all that happened in this ‘no-longer-normal-at-all’ life that he andElizabeth lived together before the Lord.

His prayer (for a son) had been heard, (by God) and it was the angel Gabrielwho told him so.

But his question about how hecould know this had been silenced andhis ears deafened since he last heardanything at all. (And the last thing he heard was that his wife would bear hima son!) I suppose if you were immediately deaf and dumb at the mere pronouncementof an angel you may also sense and trust God’s power to design conception evenin those far too old to conceive.

And then, indeed, there WAS a conception. Elizabeth was pregnant. I’m pretty sure that inthe midst of his imposed silence Zacharias was now living a life of awe in additionto the life of reverence he had previously lived.

Nine months is a long time tospend in silence, but isn’t it wonderful we don’t have to be able to audiblyspeak, or physically hear in order to speak to or listen to God?

And now, a son is born. What adifference THIS year had made. Whatwould his name be? Would it be to theglory of his father – a little Zacharias junior? Or would it be to the glory ofhis father’s Father? Yes! His name would be JOHN!

- Pastor Bill

Let It Be?

2011-12-06T09:30:00.001-05:00

Luke1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to acity of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a manwhose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said toher, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are youamong women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubledat his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Donot be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in yourwomb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be calledthe Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His fatherDavid. 33 And He will reignover the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."34 Then Mary said to theangel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said toher, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highestwill overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will becalled the Son of God. 36Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age;and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will beimpossible." 38 ThenMary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me accordingto your word." And the angel departed from her.

Inthe words of rock-poet Paul McCartney, “WhenI find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me…”

Iam so glad that isn’t true.

Wehave a greater than Mary who DOES come to us in times of trouble, and His nameis Jesus.

Thinkthough, of the investment God hasmade in Mary…His only begotten Son, the One Who is to come, born of woman, bornof a virgin, born of this teenagedwoman, Mary.

Totruly consider all that has been entrusted to Mary is pretty incredible, and itspeaks of the wonder of God’s trust in man, even though man has a history ofcompletely disregarding and breaking that trust.

Butthere could be no other way. For The Sonof God to be The Son of Man, Hemust be born of woman.

Hername was Mary. We can thank God for her, but not worship her. What of herparents who raised her and prepared her for this role? What of her grandparentsand all of the community that prepared her for this?

Mary,the one who would hold the Savior of the World as her very own child – all thewhile knowing He was the child who belonged to the ages…

Letit be…Jesus!

- Pastor Bill

Progressive Revelation

2011-11-29T09:53:00.001-05:00

Luke1:1Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those thingswhich have been fulfilled among us, 2 justas those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the worddelivered them to us, 3 itseemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from thevery first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty ofthose things in which you were instructed. 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certainpriest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of thedaughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all thecommandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, becauseElizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8 So it was, that while he was serving aspriest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell toburn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the peoplewas praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on theright side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fellupon him. 13 But the angelsaid to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; andyour wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

You awake in a darkened room and stagger groggily into thebathroom. You flip on the light switch – and – youch! Severe eye pain. It’s more than your eyes can stand…

The way God has designed our eyes is amazing. The pupil opens andcloses depending on the brightness of the light source. Natural light providedby God has a gradual brightening and darkening. (We call those ‘morning’ and ‘evening.’)God understands the need for our exposure to light to be gradual rather thansudden.

John the Baptist IS “Elijahwho is to come.” He is the graduallightening to come before the Lightof the World.

John the Baptist is key for the ministry of Christ for tworeasons. 1.) He would be the fulfillment of prophecy spoken by Isaiah, (40:3-5,) and Malachi, (3:1 & 4:5.) 2.) He would be God’s emissary whose mission would be toprepare the ‘eyes’ of man for the Light of the World - Who is Christ the LORD.

God is gentle with His revelation before man. He knows oursensitivity to His Divine Light, and so the ground is well-prepared long beforethe light switch is flipped. (A mixed-metaphor for sure!) But you get the drift…2,000years of prophecy followed by the birth of John the Baptist, followed byChrist. Do you see God’s prep work?

Who is the person who was your own personal, ‘John the Baptist?’Whose personal ‘John the Baptist’ will you be? How fascinating God uses man tointroduce men to God. We are not that Light, but we are those who bring others gradually to it.

- Pastor Bill

Only You Know and He Knows

2011-11-22T10:26:00.001-05:00

Heb4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than anytwo-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and ofjoints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all thingsare naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

If we were to carefully examine ourselves we might be surprised bywhat we would find. (Especially if we were left with nothing but self-interestto examine ourselves by.)

There are so many things I cannot know about myself. I can’t seethe back of my head, and I never would without the aid of a mirror. Can it bepossible my soul has blind spots as well?

That would be a, “Yes!” Again, imagine if the only perspective ofself-examination was self-interest. Where would that leave us? There are somany things we cannot see about ourselves, (blind spots,) and the things we cansee that we don’t like can be covered up. (Camouflaged.)

The problem with the effectiveness of camouflage, (and it doeswork,) is that in deceiving others about our weaknesses we also deceiveourselves. Take our eternal condition for example. It is VERY easy to look the part of a Christian. Go tochurch. Smile. Carry a Bible. Call yourself one. Done.

The worst part is by doing those things I may even convince myselfI am a Christian. Millions upon millions of people are in that exact position.Look the part. Be the part. I am thepart.

The Word of God teaches otherwise. In 2 Corinthians 13, Paul writes in verse 5: Examineyourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not knowyourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

But here’s the deal – what am I touse to examine myself by? (Knowing my blind spots, self-interest and extensive knowledgeof camo.)

Answer: The Word of God is theONLY impartial tool of examination known to man. Note: ALL other religious treatises deal with the actions of theflesh. ONLY God’s Word deals with the attitudes of the heart. You know…the part way down inside that cannot be seen byanyone…the part we may even hide from ourselves for as long as we choose…

When Jesus taught me to love myenemies, I knew I was guilty as sin. Here I was thinking I was a pretty goodperson, and along comes The Word slicing me open and showing me my heart in away I had never seen before – or even desired to. The blessing is with therevelation of Truth comes the application of forgiveness and salvation. Unlessyou would rather not look. The choiceis yours.

- Pastor Bill

Resting Place

2011-11-15T09:27:00.001-05:00

Heb4:1Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest anyof you seem to have come short of it. 2For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word whichthey heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faithin those who heard it. 3For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I sworein My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " althoughthe works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain placeof the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day fromall His works"; 5 and again in this place: "They shall not enter Myrest." 6Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it wasfirst preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day,saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has beensaid: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts."8 For ifJoshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of anotherday. 9 There remainstherefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceasedfrom his works as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lestanyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

“Resting”is an interesting concept. Obviously, everyone needs it. You can’t go for toolong without it.

Thereally curious part is how ‘resting’ recharges our batteries? Renews ourstrength. How does that work? How is that all I have to do is lay down for abit – say 8 hours – and all of the sudden I’m as good a new?

WhenI was in college, part of my fraternity initiation was to be kept awake for 5straight days, from Monday through Friday. The guy who designed our initiationhad been a POW in Viet Nam, and he designed our initiation to incorporate sleepdeprivation because he saw how powerful an influence it was. Being kept fromsleep for an extended period of time makes you real loopy, and your brain stopsfunctioning properly. It gets hard to think straight, and your body gets fuzzyand weak.

Whenyou’ve been away from physical rest for a long enough period of time, you findyourself absolutely craving it, imagining it, practically dying for it. “I need rest!”

Thesame is true in the spiritual realm. God has designed us to require rest, bothphysically and spiritually.

Inthe same way physical rest is only found in sleep, spiritual rest is only foundin Jesus. There is no other name under heaven which is given by which men mayhave rest. Don’t harden your heart tothis fact – delight in it!

Howwonderful it is at the end of a long exhausting day to climb into bed and justdrift away! Equally wonderful is how at the end of a life-long tiresome searchwe can open our hearts to Christ and receive the eternal rest we have beenseeking.

- Pastor Bill

The Rest is His Story

2011-11-08T10:06:00.003-05:00

Hebrews3:1Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider theApostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in allHis house. 3 For this Onehas been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built thehouse has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built allthings is God. 5 And Mosesindeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of thosethings which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we areif we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. 7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in therebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My worksforty years. 10 ThereforeI was angry with that generation, And said, 'They always go astray in theirheart, And they have not known My ways.' 11 So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" 12Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief indeparting from the living God…

God is inviting everyone everywhere to enter His “rest.”

There are lots of ways we could probably think about exactly whatthat “rest” is.

It could be a certainty of God’s power always present in the lifeof the believer so they know they have no need to strive to accomplish anythingfor the Lord. It could be a confidence in His creation power capable of bringinghealing in physical sickness and in relationships. It could be His ability todirect the heart of the king like rivers of water so we no longer have to worryabout government being anything more than an extension of God’s will.

It can be all of those things and more. It starts at the beginning: “In the beginning God createdthe heavens and the earth.” Believe that and the “rest” is easy.

I can rest in theknowledge of how good God is becauseI see how good His use of power has always been.His power has always been used for good in the midst of an evil world in whichSatan has been provided latitude for degradation to bring us all to the placewhere we are allowed to make an obvious choice: Good? Or evil?

That people choose evil is undeniable. The question is: Why? An even greater question may be: Why would anyone choose evil after havingseen how good God is? And this isthe question the author of Hebrews poses in chapter 3.

The answer to both those questions is the loss of long-term focusbrought about by the distraction of an immediate situation. Facing impossibleodds. Hunger for present reward. Fear of failure. Any of those. All of those.Satan is a master of distraction. We so easily forget God’s story. For God so LOVED the world…

We choose what we seethat will be lost over what we cannot see that cannot be lost. And so we refuseto enter His rest, because we forget how good God is.

- Pastor Bill

Know Your Enemy? Know Your Friend!

2011-11-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

Matt28:18 And Jesus came andspoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven andon earth. 19 Go therefore andmake disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father andof the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them toobserve all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,even to the end of the age." Amen.

It has always been an important strategy to “know your enemy.” After all, if you are to defend yourself from anattack, it is wise to know your enemy well enough to be able to anticipate whenthe attack may come, and also where it may come from.

Our enemy, THE enemy of all, walks about like a roaring lion,looking for those whom he may devour. It’s good to know that about Satan, so weare not caught off-guard by his attacks and accusations.

One of the attacks Satan likes to launch has to do with how wethink about others. If it can be shown we have a physical enemy, then weunderstand the need to be at war with them until they are no longer a physicalthreat. We can take that further into the Spiritual realm, especially whenthose we perceive to be our physical enemies also espouse a religiousphilosophy which poses a threat to Biblical Christianity, and to Christians andJews.

The Muslim world has been portrayed as such, and we have begun tounderstand the need to “know our enemy,” and to be wise about how to defendourselves from a people group who seek to destroy us and our way of life.

But more important than knowing our enemy is to know our Friend. What a friend we havein Jesus! How important it is to know Hisheart, and to know His ways, and toknow His love for all – including those we have commonlythought of only as enemies.

It is the love of Christ that, “binds the strong man.” Howimportant for us to understand what Jesus had to say about our enemies. We arenot free to hate them, we are called to love them and to pray for them. Afterall, Jesus died for their sins as well…

Our guest speaker this morning is Samy Tanagho. Samy was born andraised in Egypt where he worked as an attorney before he came to the UnitedStates in 1980. He studied Islamic Law and Islamic Religion at Ain ShamsUniversity, School of Law, Cairo, Egypt. Samy serves as the Director ofMinistry to Muslims “Good Shepherd World Evangelism - Ministry to Muslims.” Hehas been involved in the Ministry to Muslims since 1976. You can visit them atwww.muslimministry.com.

He is the author of the book, “Glad News! God Loves You My MuslimFriend.” He is currently a frequent guest speaker at various Bible Colleges. Heteaches on the topic, “How to Communicate the Good News of the ChristianScripture Effectively to the Muslim People.” He has given seminars inconferences and churches throughout the United States and other countries onthis subject.

- Pastor Bill

A Great Salvation Plan

2011-10-25T10:40:00.002-04:00

Hebrews2:1Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lestwe drift away. 2 For if the word spoken throughangels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received ajust reward, 3 how shall weescape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to bespoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both withsigns and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit,according to His own will? 5For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection toangels. 6 But one testifiedin a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Orthe son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You havecrowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the worksof Your hands. 8 You haveput all things in subjection under his feet." For inthat He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put underhim. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made alittle lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory andhonor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Imagine being presented with the truth of eternal life and walkingaway from it. Probably wouldn’t happen, because KNOWING the truth, you’d have ahard time turning your back on it.

“Drifting away” is the problem. Drifting away is a much morecommon issue. Not a whole-sale sell-out, but a bit-by-bit incrementalletting-of-the-sand-slip-through-the-fingers kind of event. An event thatcannot really be seen. An event even the one allowing it to happen may not beaware of.

The author of Hebrews, (Paul, I think,) says, “Don’t let that happen!” That it does happen - even among those whoare completely convinced of the truth is inarguable. Jesus’ warning to thechurch at Ephesus in Rev 2 is succinct: “Return to your first love!”

How could you leave your first love – especially when your firstlove is the guarantor of your salvation? It happens in various times in variousways…the drifting away…

The danger comes with a creeping emphasis of the creation over theCreator. What I can do becomes (in time) more important than Who I do it for. I drift back toestablishing a personal sense of righteousness based upon the righteousness Iperform rather than Who I am accounted righteous by. (Especially in comparisonto others.)

Since grace is superior to the Law, (which is “the word spoken through the angels,”) werevel in the simplicity of grace and, well, the grace of grace. But there is noexternal framework for grace, which is its greatest power while at the sametime its potential for an excuse to “wander”away. Grace takes hold only from the inside, which is the basis of its greatsuperiority. The problem of a loss of love is this: it is invisible, it is odorless,and it is tasteless. No one else knows…and perhaps not you…that you have drifted. After all, you are still inchurch, and you are still serving the Lord. We must CONSTANTLY remind ourselveshow GREAT our salvation is.

- Pastor Bill

King of Kings

2011-10-18T09:48:00.000-04:00

Hebrews1:1God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathersby the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken tous by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also Hemade the worlds; 3 whobeing the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, andupholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right handof the Majesty on high, 4having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtaineda more excellent name than they. 5For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I havebegotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him aFather, And He shall be to Me a Son"? 6 But when He again brings thefirstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worshipHim." 7And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministersa flame of fire." 8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is foreverand ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hatedlawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladnessmore than Your companions." 10 And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundationof the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

You have had an audience with TheKing. Have you ever wondered what it might be like to speak with a king –not knowing he was a king?

It might be like going to a foreign country and meeting someonewho is a celebrity in that culture - but you have no idea who that person is - andso you pay them no mind. Without knowing who they are, you cannot relate to theimportance of meeting them. How strange it may seem to see people surrounding thatsame person to seek an autograph – or to just be near them, when that personmeans nothing to you…

Jesus appeared to have this problem. As He ventured out fromGalilee, teaching and healing, He had a difficult time convincing some,(especially the religious leaders,) of Who He was. Certainly, Jesus could haveeasily overcome this problem, but He chose not to. On several occasions Heinstructed those whom He had healed to, “nottell anyone.”

The reason, as Jesus’ life in ministry demonstrated, was that Hewould be found by those who were looking for Him by the Word of God. The witnessof His miraculous works would confirmwhat had been announced beforehand in the Word. His works would be a confirmationfor those who knew what they were looking for…

Which is why so many people missed Him. His own people, the Jews,missed Him almost entirely. He was crucified not by the Romans, but by His ownpeople. Tragic.

But was this a totally lost cause? Would the Jews have a secondchance to recognize their own Messiah?

This is the Book of Hebrews. The book to the Hebrews. This is their second chance to recognize theirking. And not just their king, but TheKing of Kings.

- Pastor Bill

Slavery and Freedom

2011-10-11T10:44:00.004-04:00

Philemon8Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what isfitting, 9 yet for love'ssake I rather appeal to you--being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also aprisoner of Jesus Christ-- 10I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you,but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. You thereforereceive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf hemight minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that yourgood deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a whilefor this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than aslave--a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both inthe flesh and in the Lord. 17If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owesanything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay--not tomention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy fromyou in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you,knowing that you will do even more than I say.

How would you go about advising someone to give up something veryvaluable in this world for the sake of Jesus Christ?

In Philemon’s case, he “possessed” another human being, by somesort of contract. (He was a slave-owner.)

In Onesimus’ case, he “possessed” freedom. His own.

Which of those is more valuable is beyond debate, but it does notlessen the point – especially for Philemon.

In order to gain his freedom,Onesimus had to “steal” it. He was a runaway slave. He was a fugitive ofjustice. I guess the question is: Was Onesimus really free?

Somewhere along the way, Onesimus, in his runaway state, ran intothe apostle Paul. Paul evidently led Onesimus to Christ, and then an amazingtransformation began to take place.

You have to wonder how long it may have taken Onesimus to confessto Paul he was actually a runaway slave. You can imagine some time had passed,as Onesimus had become a trusted ministry associate of Paul, and enough time had passed that he hadbecome beloved and valuable to Paul – so much so Paul regretted having to partcompany with Onesimus.

Paul was sending Onesimus back to his owner, Philemon. He couldnot be certain how Philemon may respond. Would he have Onesimus jailed? (Thatwould have been his right under the law.) If Onesimus had also stolen fromPhilemon before running away, Philemon could have possibly had Onesimus put todeath. How Philemon would respond was uncertain.

Even without making any judgments about slavery, this is still a remarkablestory of difficult moral choices Christians – and not the world – are faced with. Both Onesimus and Philemon arebeing forced to give up something very valuable to receive something muchgreater…

It always amazes me the changes Christ brings about in others, letalone myself. Onesimus became so concerned over his relationship with Christ hewas willing to face loss of freedom and punishment to maintain it. How wouldPhilemon respond to his former slave – but now brother in Christ?

- Pastor Bill

How Can I Be Saved?

2011-10-04T10:32:00.000-04:00

Titus3: 3 For we ourselves were also oncefoolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living inmalice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior towardman appeared, 5 not byworks of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He savedus, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantlythrough Jesus Christ our Savior, 7that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to thehope of eternal life.

“Howdid I get here?” might be a reasonable question. Or, “How can I get there?”

Our notion of what it means to be ‘saved’ began with Jesus’late-night discussion with Jewish religious leader and scholar, Nicodemus.(Some refer to their discussion as, ‘Nickat Night.’)

Nicodemus came to visit with Jesus because he had seen and heardof the works Jesus was doing. This was an incredibly humbling action forNicodemus to take, because, by all rights, and according to religious statusand culture, Jesus should have been coming to him. After all, Jesus was the commoner, and Nicodemus was thereligious leader.

But, in deference to the works,of which Nicodemus said, “no one can do these works unless God is with him,”Jesus answered and said, “I tell you thetruth, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.”

To which Nicodemus responded, “How can a man be born again?”

This is THE question ofsalvation. Entry into heaven can be had onlyby being born again, and by being born again, a person is prevented from – or saved from – going to hell.

Being saved is a ‘from – to’arrangement. I am saved from hell,and saved to heaven. Therefore, beingsaved is THE most important thing about my life, or any life.

But, how can a person be born again?

The Bible does a great job of answering all the questions itpresents. The question of HOW aperson is born again is answered right here in Paul’s letter to Titus.

We read it is NOT BY WORKS, but by MERCY, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the HolySpirit.

I am fascinated by the process of regeneration. I was generated once, but now I have been re-generated through the mercy of theGod of heaven. I am saved by believing on the Lord Jesus, and asking Him tosave me according to His mercy. I am aware of His answer to my request forsalvation by the new life He creates in me. I am saved!

Nowmy justification – (or my ability togain entry to heaven, and to be saved from hell) - is not provided by my works,but by His grace. This is how a person is born again.

- Pastor Bill

Pass It On

2011-09-27T10:41:00.002-04:00

Titus2:1But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, inpatience; 3 the older womenlikewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to muchwine, teachers of good things-- 4that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love theirchildren, 5 to be discreet,chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of Godmay not be blasphemed. 6Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of goodworks; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speechthat cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, havingnothing evil to say of you.

There are two primary influences in every life. One is the world,and the other is The Lord God Almighty and His Word.

We have to resist one to have the other.

Some propose man has no say-so in the choice of influence. I sayexperience teaches us otherwise.

The question is: How are we to learn which influence is in ourbest interest, given that we are literally made of the world – and that our default position is to follow after theworld?

This, in essence, is the role of the church. (The true church.) Itis the duty of the church to provide guidance for the young in the choices theymake. This is to take place everywhere, in all phases of life.

We sometimes think of the church as a place we go. At its best, we may imagine thechurch to be the place we go to learn God’s Word and God’s ways. It is theresponsibility of the pastor to teach us about how God’s Word fits our lives,and it is our responsibility to listen and determine whether or not what thepastor is saying applies to us.

When God’s Word is being taught plainly, it is good that we listenand consider – but there is so much more to the ‘life’ of the church thanlistening and, perhaps, doing what the Word of God says…

Here Paul teaches us we are to pass along what we have learned tothe younger generation coming up next, and perhaps even to the generationcoming up after them.

How helpful it is when those who have experienced the tragedy ofworldly influence take the time and loving energy to pass along to the youngermen and younger women exactly how beneficial it can be to follow ONLY God’s influence in this world.

There is SUCH a gravitational pull against the Christian tide,perhaps never more so than right now. How we need the older experienced folksto teach the younger inexperienced folks. The Word is life. The world is death.Pass it on…

- Pastor Bill

Who Do You Trust?

2011-09-20T10:51:00.000-04:00

Titus1:1Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to thefaith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords withgodliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promisedbefore time began, 3 buthas in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed tome according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, a true son in our commonfaith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. 5For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the thingsthat are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you-- 6 if a man is blameless, the husband ofone wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation orinsubordination.

How many people do you trust with your most important possessions?

I have always been amazed Jesus trusted the growth and expansionof the church to men, especially since the men He chose had not exactlydemonstrated competence in the time Jesus spent with them. One betrayed Him,one denied Him, and one of them was very forthright in his doubt.

Of those gathered as Jesus pronounced His great commission in Matthew28, the gospel writer even notes, “somedoubted.”

This is the history of the church.

Jesus knew His example coupled with man’s weakness would be apowerful combination - even if men were dubious about that being true.

Now comes Paul, following that same program. Invest and divest.Distribute. Share leadership roles. Allow others to run things too.

The Book of Titus is yet another example of how Paul followed andimplemented Jesus’ example. In Titus, Paul saw a young man with a desire equalto his own. Titus had been a traveling companion of Paul’s for several years,and now Paul turns over to him his most priceless and crucial possession: Jesus’ church.

Paul was a church planter. Of that we are certain. There isprobably no greater example of church planting than what we see of Paul’s lifeas a missionary in the Book of Acts. But Paul did not just preach the gospel - heplanted churches.

First, Jesus trusted Paul to plant churches, and now Paul trustsTitus to manage the churches which have been planted at Crete. This is awonderful distribution of command and giftedness which is founded in the trustof the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer who has shown himself faithful.

The Lord can do a whole lot with a faithful man, and Titus is anotherwonderful example. That the Lord trusts men with His most priceless possessionon earth is amazing enough – but even more amazing is the kind of man in whom He places His trust. Never discount faithfulness in comparison to ability.

- Pastor Bill

Well-Done

2011-09-13T12:37:00.002-04:00

2Tim 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, whowill judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke,exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sounddoctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears,they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and beturned aside to fables. 5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of anevangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, andthe time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, Ihave kept the faith. 8Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but alsoto all who have loved His appearing.

Incentive. We work for incentive. We are motivated by incentive.

Paul, if nothing else, is a man with GREAT and GOOD incentive.He super-blesses me by his example. It is hard for me to imagine a betterexample among men to follow.

I know that when I work, I desire some kind of reward. Some kindof fairly immediate reward. The more I work, the greater I desire that rewardto be. Now.

Paul’s reward, on the other hand, was prison. A Roman dungeon.Worse, he was abandoned by all of his friends except Luke - as a direct resultof the trouble he found himself in.

For Paul’s leadership in the church, he was arrested and falselycharged. Sentenced to death. Rather than be identified with Paul, his friendsabandoned him.

Now there’s a reward for you, eh?Paul finds himself in about as backwards a situation as you could possiblyexpect considering his strong moral courage and conviction.

Yet, in his last extant communication prior to his beheading, allPaul speaks of is his reward. He hasallowed himself to be poured out as a drink offering before God, he has run hisrace - it is finished! – Now hefinally looks up to his reward.

Of which he is certain.

Sometimes it really bothers people that Christians are SO certainof their reward. They think it arrogant to make this kind of “presumption.”They sort of extrapolate their own uncertainty upon everyone else, and chafe atthe one who “thinks he knows.”

But hey, Paul does knowfor certain. Paul does KNOW his reward – the crown of righteousness – which theLord of Righteousness will give. The reason he knows is because he never soughtreward in this world.

- Pastor Bill

End-Times Church

2011-09-06T10:19:00.001-04:00

2Tim 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure ratherthan lovers of God, 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turnaway! 6 For of this sortare those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loadeddown with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge ofthe truth. 8 Now as Jannesand Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corruptminds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will bemanifest to all, as theirs also was.

Tenyears ago this morning we had a clear view of what the end of the world will looklike. When those 2 planes flew into the Twin Towers in New York City, theyshook, they staggered, and then they fell. It was as if the whole world wasexemplified by what happened to those buildings.

Majesticallythey stood. They were the symbols of everything we trust in this world.Capital. Power. Strength. Steel. Concrete.

Itbecomes difficult to look at buildings such as those, in all their majesty, tosee the humanity housed inside. The life inside becomes invisible, until…

Churcheswere flooded with people in the days immediately following 9-11. People wereseeking certainty in what had suddenly been revealed to be a very uncertainworld. Why was church the automatic destination for those seeking a safeharbor?

Itdidn’t last. Churches emptied back out, and eventually became even smaller inattendance than they had been before.

NowGround Zero is re-born. The Freedom Tower is rising daily, and the MemorialPlaza and the new Grand Central Transit Station are rising – once again allvery majestically. The sense is about the power of architectural design, andhow the soaring open-span spaces can lift the spirit of man.

Weare unquestionably in the last days of mankind, and of the church.

Itis remarkable the Bible can so reliably predict the physical and historicalevents which take place during the end-times. We can read the Bible these dayslike a road map or history book of the events transpiring before our eyes…

Moreremarkable is how the Bible predicts the condition of the heart of man during the end times. Could there be a better, moreconcise description of the condition of mankind during the last days? Doesn’t it look like today?

- Pastor Bill

Opposing Sides

2011-08-30T09:44:00.000-04:00

2 Tim 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

From his dungeon location, Paul continues to urge Timothy to protect the delivery of God’s Word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Having established how important it is for each generation to share the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and how He has impacted their lives, Paul now turns to the subject of truth – and protecting the essence of truth.

Do not be taken in by “foolish and ignorant disputes,” Paul writes, recognizing the danger which may come from divisions of opinion about how to apply truth, and how avoiding the whole of God’s Word can and will cause great differences of opinion about a statement from God’s Word.

We often say that, “a text without context is the basis for pretext,” and this seems to be what Paul is arguing here. To Timothy: “Never allow God’s Word to be used as a weapon to deceive or to confuse.”

Who would do such a thing?

Satan, working through people, even people in the ‘church.’ Paul names them without reservation. “Hymenaeus and Philetus – and – this sort.” This will not be a singular instance, but a recurring theme in the history of the church. Hymenaeus and Philetus are only mentioned as types of those who will follow, and they are mentioned as types to be avoided at all cost – because of the cost – for the real harm they do to those who are in the process of making a decision for Christ, or walking by faith following Christ.

The strange doctrines which have entered the church without Biblical support have done harm because they always appeal to the flesh. The flesh is the LAST thing which needs to be exalted in the church.

- Pastor Bill

Carry It Forward

2011-08-23T12:50:00.000-04:00

2 Tim 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

It has been well-said that Biblical Christianity is one generation away from completely disappearing. It has always been this way.

The world is passing away, its inhabitants are dying, and there is one thin line standing between humanity and eternal life in hell.

This is the calling of the generation of Christians alive on the earth right now. Unless we carry the Gospel forward, it will die out completely from the face of the earth. That is an amazing responsibility.

It is also a wonderful opportunity – especially since we know it is Jesus Who has entrusted us with this amazing work!

The question is: How are we doing? Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ being carried forward in this world? How is the church doing? How is the family doing? How are you doing?

If you were left as the ONLY one upon whom the entire future of the Gospel of Jesus depended – what would that look like? Would the Gospel be carried forward?

This may sound awesome and terrifying, but in a sense, it is true. How the Gospel is carried forward DOES depend upon me, (and Christ alive in me of course - as He is the One accomplishing the work.)

For the Gospel to be carried forward in my family, I am chiefly responsible. For the Gospel to be carried forward with my classmates, I am chiefly responsible. For the Gospel to be carried forward in my workplace, I am chiefly responsible. I am that thin line between those I have relationship with and eternity

Isn’t it both amazing and wonderful that with all the resources and power available to Jesus, He has specifically chosen me for this work? Paul says, “Remember Jesus died for you and has been raised from the dead.” This memory will propel you always.

- Pastor Bill

Unashamed

2011-08-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

2 Timothy 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day--and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

Glory is always difficult to achieve, and requires learning, diligence, and faithfulness.

Sometimes people are willing and able to learn, and sometimes people can be very diligent for a period of time. But faithfulness can flee when shame becomes involved.

Any time you make yourself different you make yourself visible, because people notice what is different more than they notice what is common.

Anyone who has been walking in and with the world, and then suddenly receives Jesus Christ will stand out. Paul stood out. Timothy stood out. If you have received Christ, YOU stand out.

Paul is saying, “Once you stand out, stand up!” And that’s the hardest part - to stand out, and to stand up - and to be unashamed about it. Embarrassment is a powerful weapon in our enemy’s hand, and he wields it against anyone willing to take a stand for Jesus Christ.

Fortunately, we have a powerful example to follow after. Can you imagine the shame Jesus felt as He was tried, and judged, and stripped, and beaten, and spit upon, and killed? The Bible tells us Jesus despised that shame. (The same way I would have.) But in spite of the shame, Jesus went to the cross – looking beyond the cross to see me. And, in spite of that shame Jesus stood up for God’s Word and God’s plan – for my life.

In this world, some will fall away. Maybe even most will. Denial comes much easier than standing up in the midst of shame. But when you choose to stand for Christ, you no longer are the one who bears that shame because Jesus already has.

- Pastor Bill

Fear Not

2011-08-09T09:26:00.000-04:00

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

You can almost feel Paul’s aching heart as he writes Timothy this second letter. It is now a few years following his first letter to Timothy, and we see much has changed.

When Paul was first at Rome, he was held under house arrest, and he had many opportunities to visit and share the Gospel with all those who came to see him. (He was allowed to see visitors freely.) The newly-presented “good news” was being investigated and received, and Paul’s ministry had life, even if in a vastly different form than he may have had as a traveling missionary. But he was making the best of a bad situation. (Some even believe Paul witnessed to Emperor Nero, as he would certainly have appeared before him for trial, and it is difficult to imagine Paul not sharing the gospel.)

At some point Paul was released from prison, but then as Nero went mad, Paul was re-arrested, and this time he was held alone, chained in a dank dungeon. This is where Paul writes Timothy from, and it is important to understand this as we study this letter. Here is the great evangelist of the world at the end of his service, and at the end of his life. This would be his last recorded word.

It is in this environment Paul’s faith receives its final test, as he is abandoned by all his friends save for Onesiphorus. Paul’s last words to Timothy are meant as encouragement. “Fear not,” he writes. “In Christ, we have no need to fear, because no matter where we are…perfect love casts out fear.”

The promise of immortality from life-giving Christ is more than the sentence of death from death-giving man. Fear not indeed!

- Pastor Bill

Contentment

2011-08-02T10:20:00.000-04:00

1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul writes, (Phil 4:11,) …”I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”

When we speak of contentment, what are we talking about? More importantly - what is Paul talking about?

If you were to ask the “man on the street” about contentment, they would most likely link their ‘contentment’ to a sense of personal happiness based upon fulfillment provided by external forces, be it finances and personal possessions or relationships. In other words, my contentment is based on the status of my stuff, or how much I enjoy my job, or how satisfied I am with my current relationships. We might also add the peace of the nation and the health of our nation’s economy to the list.

All these are fluctuating factors we really have no control over. Thus, most people, and maybe more than most, lack contentment. It is elusive. You may have it for a moment – but it always seems to escape our grasp.

Paul teaches contentment as a “learned” blessing. But, can contentment be learned?

The simple answer is: Yes, contentment can be learned. But how? How can we ‘learn’ to hang on to something so elusive? The whole world seeks happiness, and none have it.

True contentment BEGINS with fulfillment. Fulfillment is the end of emptiness to such an extent we are never empty again. And when we are fully filled, the thought of emptiness never enters our hearts again.

There is an emptiness in the human heart which can only be filled with Jesus Christ. This is God’s design. It cannot be contradicted no matter how hard or how often we try. Only Jesus can fill the human heart with eternal gladness and peace. When I learn of Jesus, I learn and know contentment from the inside-out, and nothing from the outside can take that away. All it takes to learn of this contentment is to believe.

- Pastor Bill

Investment

2011-07-26T09:14:00.000-04:00

1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. 21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure. 23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. 24 Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

When we think about retirement, we do a lot of research to attempt to determine where to place our money, and the goal is the greatest growth in the shortest period of time.

Obviously, (judging by the ads on TV about retirement funds,) there are a lot of differing opinions about where that investment may be best.

We could only wish people would do as much research into their eternal destination as they do in their earthly retirement…

Paul encourages Timothy to place his resources (and his church’s resources,) in the kingdom of Heaven. Send it on ahead!

Obviously, again, there may be many ways to do that. (Send the money ahead.) What Paul emphasizes here is the investment we make in the presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in the delivery of sound doctrine.

After teaching us about charity toward widows in verses 3 thru 16, Paul now turns his attention to the investment we are to make in those who teach us how to get to heaven in the first case, and how to stay on that narrow path in the second case.

Both of those are critically important to the church and for the church. They are well-worth investing in.

How often, upon seeing a person give their heart to Christ, do we connect that moment of salvation to our cheerful contribution to the tithe box? How often do we see our prayers for the elders, and the denial of rumors we may hear about them as being tied directly to the salvation of lost sinners?

Those things are inextricably and undeniably connected. For the elder, pastor, or teacher, the ability to spend time researching the Word of God unencumbered by worldly concerns is critical to the kingdom of Heaven. Is that worthy of investment?

- Pastor Bill

Charity

2011-07-19T09:43:00.000-04:00

1 Tim 5:3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. 11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Our heart always goes out to those who cannot help themselves. This is evidence of God’s creation. God cares for other people through our care for them.

Think about it; IF survival of the fittest was truly the rule of life – and if it was it would have to be the ONLY rule because any other thing would clash violently with that rule – than charity would never happen. It would never have occurred to anyone. All life focus would be only on one’s self-interest.

But we do sense another rule in our members. It IS a part of creation to have compassion and love for one another. Inviting Christ to be our Savior greatly intensifies by His power what is already found within our members. (Even the wicked know how to give good gifts to their sons.)

And so, even if we are not actively looking for it, we will notice those around us who are less fortunate than ourselves. We can’t help but notice, even if we try not to. In that notice, we will sense a kind of inexplicable sorrow for that condition judged to be less fortunate than our own. Occasionally, we will also notice those who are not only less fortunate than ourselves, but also completely unable to do anything about it.

These are the ones Paul instructs Timothy to focus upon with the material resources of the church. In this case, widows. True widows. Not just a woman whose husband has passed away, but one who no longer is in ANY position to provide food and shelter through her own family’s support, or through her ability to work.

Throughout God’s Word the LORD has expressed a great desire for His people to be known for how they care for the ‘widows’ in their midst. In this age of social-consciousness, the government has usurped this role to all of our harm. One of the great purposes of His Church and His love has been denied and abandoned.

- Pastor Bill

In a Family Way

2011-07-12T11:30:00.000-04:00

1 Tim 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger as sisters, with all purity.

We often refer to the church as a ‘family.’

There is a good reason for this. The church more closely resembles a family than any other type of social unit.

Or, at least it should.

Among the things Paul encourages Timothy to as a pastor is to treat the church placed in his trust by the Lord as his very own family. Not just any old family – but as his very own.

As such, he is encouraged to build up rather than tear down.

Sometimes it is easier for us to deal with strangers than it is to deal with family members. Friends, likewise. Sometimes we are too hard on strangers – and we may well be too easy with friends. (Or perhaps vice-versa.)

Paul cautions against either condition. These people the Lord has brought to you – He is bringing for a purpose. He is bringing them for your tender loving care. Paul’s direction speaks to the degree of care.

“Timothy, the Lord REALLY cares for these people - they are the sheep of His pasture. Do you?”

And so, in what may seem like a sort of cast-off little grouping of instructions, Paul hands down powerful direction for living with others - and they have everything to do with loving Jesus and expressing His love to whosoever. How important is that?

For me as pastor, or as a church member for that matter, the instruction is to exhort every older man as if every older man was my father.

I have never in my life rebuked my father. I am for my father. The words I reserve for my father are words of exhortation. “You go daddy!” Especially in the areas where my father may fall short, the last thing I desire to do is to cut him down. I would much rather choose words which may build him up.

In the same way, if I had an earthly brother, (which I do not,) I cannot imagine wanting to cut him to pieces with an unfeeling rebuke. No, I would much rather caringly choose words which would encourage – as Jesus would.

Older women, as mothers…younger women, as sisters…the instruction is basically all the same, and with the same heart. This is the heart of Jesus for the FAMILY of God. His family. It’s His way – and He IS the way.

- Pastor Bill

What’s Next?

2011-06-28T10:57:00.000-04:00

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Fail to plan…plan to fail…?

You know the saying. But what exactly is it that I am to plan for? Am I to plan on being here sixty more years, or 30, or am I to be planning for Christ to come at any moment?

Paul here deals with how we, (the church,) are to live our lives. You know, day by day.

And we are to live with expectancy. For the imminent return of Jesus Christ for His church. This will immediately set us apart from the world.

Just imagine what your life might look like if it was lived with the CERTAINTY that the return of Jesus Christ for His church, (The Rapture,) was imminent. Any moment. Unfortunately - by observation - we note most Christians actually live their lives as if the return of Jesus Christ was imaginary, not imminent. And so, when The Rapture comes it will catch most unsuspecting and unprepared.

“Okay then, if these are in fact the last days, how may we recognize them?” Glad you asked, because Paul lays it out for us. Exactly.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith… CHECK… giving heed to deceiving spirits…CHECK… and doctrines of demons… CHECK… speaking lies in hypocrisy…CHECK… having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…CHECK… forbidding to marry…CHECK… and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth… and CHECK.

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ. Time’s a wastin’ - Pastor Bill

Leadership

2011-06-28T09:24:00.000-04:00

1 Tim 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

Now we turn our attention to those who will lead, teach, and serve.

Others.

Let them first have led and taught themselves. Paul is not emphasizing the need for perfection as much as he is perspective.

To be perfect, as we are encouraged by Jesus to be, “perfect, just as our Father in heaven is perfect,” we must first have an abiding awareness we are not. Not even close.

In fact, I’ve never met ANYONE who could live up to the standard Paul describes for elders and deacons. Does that mean we shouldn’t have any?

It certainly means we shouldn’t have many. It also means those who are elders and deacons are those God has called rather than those who have achieved. And this is where the church once again differs from the world when it comes to leadership. It is only for those God calls. The church is to not choose elders and deacons. God does. This is not a process open to popular election. (Unfortunately, this is the process most-often employed by the church in the modern age.)

There is something about the call of God that brings completion. This is because God honors the position, not the person.

How is that honor received by the individual - and then perceived by others? It comes in the arena of motive. When my motivation is to be the things an elder or deacon is described as being by the Word of God, then I am making myself available to God should He choose to make others aware of the motivation He has first placed, and then begun to complete in my life. You see, an elder is an elder and a deacon is a deacon whether they have the title or not. - Pastor Bill

Form and Function

2011-06-21T10:09:00.000-04:00

1 Timothy 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

I spent just about my entire pre-pastoral career involved in electronics design of one sort or another, most of it involving audio engineering and sound reinforcement.

There is a saying in design which has a lot to do with efficiency, and that saying is: “Form follows function.”

The reason ‘form follows function’ is because you are trying to be as efficient as possible in the design realm, both to save cost and to increase function. To build a product with the most features at the lowest cost is how you compete. You don’t have a lot of extraneous stuff in there.

So, you can look at a well-designed product and begin to determine what its true function is designed to be by observing its form.

God designed the universe and everything in it. His design is amazing, wonderful, staggering in scope, and brilliantly conceived…far beyond our ability to comprehend. How smart we must be to even begin to comprehend His power and wonder as revealed in His creation. (And we like to think of ourselves being VERY smart.)

Just as the products we design demonstrate their intended function by their form, (think of the hammer, for example,) God has demonstrated His concept of how we are to function by His design of us.

The problem is we strive to take what He has designed and use it for purposes which are not intended, and then blame God for poor results. We see modern society blaming “Christians” for their narrow-mindedness about social and cultural function while watching society fail in just about every way. Who really is to blame for the consequences of breaking with God’s clearly indicated purpose for our lives? Are we making things better when we think ourselves smarter than God – and begin to go against the rules of His creation – or make up our own rules along the way?

If I desire to know the proper use of any product, I need to consult the owner’s manual.

- Pastor Bill

A Father’s Love

2011-06-14T09:54:00.001-04:00

Mark 9:14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?" 17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not." 19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. 21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

Jesus has just come down from the mount of transfiguration to discover the turmoil of the world, and all the worst of what that entails. As Jesus approached, Satan had everything working in his favor. He had incited the religious fervor, (which is always in his favor,) by making sure the disciples were too distracted to bring a healing touch to the boy who was in need. (His need was, incidentally, to have a demon planted by Satan driven out.) So Satan was working all sides of the deal. He had the scribes stirred up from the beginning with religious principle, the disciples distracted, anxious, and unable to drive out the demon in the boy, and a father distraught – all in the presence of a great crowd.

While we can never know exactly when Satan will attack, we can say for certain it will always be in a time when we consider ourselves “separated” from Christ. (A time when our ‘perception’ is that He is away from us.) This was the disciples’ perception…after all, Jesus was up on the mountain. And here were the scribes…and then the crowd all stirred up…and then - in the midst of it all - a father in need of healing for his son. What a set-up for failure! What a grand public failure it was!

One thing Satan did not count on. When the disciples failed to heal his son, the father did not leave. His love for his son was too desperate for that. He waited for Jesus. He had brought his son to see Jesus, and he would not leave without Jesus’ personal touch for his son. What a lesson for us as fathers. - Pastor Bill

A Heart for Learning

2011-06-07T09:31:00.002-04:00

1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

I read a report by an expert on education a couple years back, (I don’t remember the author’s name,) who stated a startling conclusion – and it was that the TV show ‘Sesame Street’ had done serious harm to an entire generation of American children. The harm done? According to the author of the report it was that ‘Sesame Street’ had demonstrated to an entire generation that learning must be fun.

It was this author’s contention that learning – real learning – is almost never fun. And when a child is presented with a hard concept that takes real work to grasp, they will turn away because it is ‘no fun.’ Check out the education statistics in this country and see whether you think the author of the story has a point.

Learning takes diligence, faithfulness, and hard work. It also takes time and investment. Rather than judging the act of learning by how fun it is to learn, perhaps we should judge learning by whether it is a thing worth knowing. If it is worth knowing, it is worth learning about– no matter how much hard work may be involved.

There is no question this type of attitude has infected the church. We are increasingly finding that the audience must be ‘entertained’ into learning, and a lack of ‘entertainment value’ will cause the sheep to look elsewhere.

We see here Paul advocating for a serious and solemn learning environment, and the preparation of the heart is as much a part of that as anything else.

- Pastor Bill

A Grand Testimony

2011-05-31T15:10:00.001-04:00

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

When it comes to testimonials, this is one of the best. Of course, one of the strengths of Paul’s ministry life was his ability to succinctly share what the Lord has done for him.

One of the weaknesses of some of the testimonials I have heard in my life is that the person sharing speaks more about what they have done for God rather than of what God has done for them.

Paul has it right. He had it wrong - but now he has it right. A Damascus Road experience will do that for anyone. And see, it lasts a lifetime, and it helps others into new life of their own.

The main point is the Lord Jesus has done it all. We should never forget that part of our own testimonies. There is nothing you have to offer, except of course your giant heaping pile of sin. It is really quite a trade if you think of it. We give Jesus all the sin we have ever committed, and He gives us eternal life and fellowship with Him. How then can we take any pride whatsoever in our decision to simply receive what He offers us in trade?

But let us not lose heart! The main thing Paul is saying is the main thing any of us might say, and that is, “In spite of everything I have done - and it is worse than anything you could possibly imagine - Jesus has not only received me, he has placed me in ministry!” The excitement of that thought pattern is beyond comprehension. If God can and will use “the chief of sinners,” how will He use you and me if we only allow Him to?

- Pastor Bill

The Need for Grace

2011-05-24T11:34:00.001-04:00

1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. 12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

One of the big problems for the atheist is to explain the notion of ‘goodness.’ An atheist may declare the inherent nature of man’s goodness, but from whence does this notion of ‘goodness’ come? Goodness according to whom?

While morality is a sliding-scale, (see the debate and votes on gay marriage in CA,) ethics never are – and there does seem to be an agreed-upon standard of ethical conduct among human beings since man has existed in human history. The question is: where did that standard of ethics originate?

The atheist says mankind is “inherently good,” and it is from that “goodness” that a code of ethics emerged. The problem is observation proves this is not the case at all. Man is not inherently good, man is inherently evil, and requires a code of ethics to bind his wicked nature. (This is easily proven by observing the conduct of a newborn baby. Are they good – or do they have to be instructed how to be good? (You already know the answer to that one if you have children.) Children are born into this world as accomplished sinners with wicked, selfish hearts, and must be instructed to be good. We call that “discipline.”)

And so, this “law,” (or ethical standard,) is good only if one uses it “lawfully,” as Paul explains. (This is because man is so inherently evil our first inclination is to use the law unlawfully – and to pound people over the head with it.)

Who better to present the standard of righteousness than one who is condemned under the law? (In reality we all are, but somehow we (being evil) are inclined to totally excuse ourselves. Along comes this preacher Paul who was so wicked, so evil, so guilty under the law, that he has become TOTALLY dependent upon the grace of God alone to survive. Who would preach grace while clinging to it so fanatically as the apostle Paul?

- Pastor Bill

Making Disciples

2011-05-17T10:54:00.001-04:00

2 Thess 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Jesus’ last command to His church, found in Matthew 28:19-20, is to: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and of The Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

If we break down what Jesus has commanded, (to ALL Christians, by the way – not just those who are gifted evangelists,) we see Jesus is telling us to “make” disciples.

How can you make disciples? I mean, it is easier to think about how to teach disciples or to lead disciples than it is to think about making them.

Hmmm…Where can we go with this? Well, thankfully Paul shows us the way through the ministry of the letters he has written to the church, and some primary instruction is found here in 2 Thess 3.

In essence, making disciples will always come under the heading of being totally dependent on the power of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We have no ability whatsoever to create new life in an unbeliever, but God does. Paul teaches us when it comes to making disciples it is not what we do, but what God does. The Lord is FAITHFUL, and so we can depend upon Him to do what He says He will do in the process of making disciples.

In essence: Let Him do it. Our job, so to speak, is simply to bring them to Jesus…and trust Jesus to do the rest. While this sounds simple - and is – it still places us in a place of total dependence upon God’s faithfulness with our lives – in order to possess the attractiveness to draw others to Him - so they may be made disciples. Will an unbeliever be attracted to Jesus by my life if my life is filled with hypocrisy? Probably not. Will an unbeliever see the power of God’s Word when God’s Word has no place in my life? Probably not. You see, I have to allow God’s faithfulness in my life first, before others can see God’s faithfulness for themselves.

God is faithful. Have YOU noticed? How important this is in making disciples.

- Pastor Bill

Don’t Be Confused

2011-05-10T10:03:00.001-04:00

2 Thess 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Down through the ages, there has been much confusion on the subject of the coming of the “lawless one,” the “son of perdition,” the “man of sin.”

Paul, for one, is constantly dealing with this confusion, because confusion on this simple subject always seems to abound. Paul is reminding those at the church at Thessalonica what he had spent so much time teaching them about when he had been with them. The Rapture of the Church is imminent, but it has not happened yet. Paul says, “Remember the things I taught you about this subject?”

It certainly appears the church at Thessalonica has been troubled by those who have come along after Paul, teaching them the Rapture has already taken place – and they have missed out. Alternately, perhaps they have been told, “There is no such thing as the Rapture of the Church.”

Essentially, they have been told whatever it takes to confuse the issue – prompting this note of clarification from Paul.

Bluntly put, Paul says you can know the Rapture has not yet taken place, because the anti-Christ has not yet been revealed. He WILL be revealed after the Rapture of the Church.

The Holy Spirit, present within the Church, is restraining the spirit of anti-Christ until the Church is removed – and then the spirit of anti-Christ will be revealed. This is easily pictured since we can imagine how evil a place the earth would be if the Church were not present. We are talking about unrestrained evil to a degree we can only begin to imagine – which is yet one more reason to desire to be taken out of here with the Church – when the Church is taken out of here. Paul says to stay ready, because it has not happened. Yet.

- Pastor Bill

His Mother’s Day

2011-05-03T10:16:00.000-04:00

John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

The scene of the crucifixion is fraught with all kinds of imagery and pain. There is the imagery of the world closing in in its wickedness, the light giving way to darkness, the torn veil, and the intentional slaughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is the pain of His suffering which goes beyond our ability to properly portray in word or art, because the true pain is the suffering of bearing every bit of the world’s sin – and having to see it, and taste it, and be it. A true curse. No person has ever been cursed to such an extent.

And yet, in the midst of all of this, (the culmination, the epitome of physical, psychological, and Spiritual pain,) there is a beautiful little flower which is formed and takes root.

Looking down from the cross, Jesus sees two of the ones He loves dearly. Since His love is unconditional, infinite, and eternal, we cannot say Jesus loved these two more than the others - but we can say He loved them, and that is more than enough for any of us. He loves us.

Need proof?

Here, in the moment of such intensity I don’t think any of us can even begin to relate to, Jesus’ concern is for His mother’s day. He knows what God has declared from the beginning, and that is that those who possess the love of God should care for widows. A widow’s plight could be quite harrowing in the day before welfare and social-safety nets. A widow would be alone and without means of support.

A motherless child is missing the love and concern and care so necessary for well-being, but also has support to offer.

So Jesus lovingly looks down from the cross of His suffering and declares this to be a day of adoption. Right in the midst of this very public judicial courtroom of Satan’s demise, Jesus says, “Woman, behold your son!” And then He says to John, “Behold your mother!” Jesus left no stone unturned in the final expression of His love for others. See how He loved them.

- Pastor Bill

Church Growth

2011-04-26T13:54:00.001-04:00

2 Thess 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Much has been written down through the ages about church growth. Church growth is and should be important to all of us, but not necessarily in the way it is commonly presented.

Most of the flyers and conference invitations I receive in the mail have to do with the numbers of people in the seats. This is certainly the modern concept of church growth. It has everything to do with demographics in the community you serve, informative mail-outs, advertising, and slick presentation which can attract and “hold” a crowd.

Paul has nothing to do with any of this. While I am certain he was concerned with church growth, (after all, he gave his life to plant churches, and it was his fierce passion,) I am likewise certain Paul was not concerned at all about the kind of church growth the modern marketing experts speak of.

Numbers are a concern, because numbers can translate into people being born again and being on their way to heaven – but the number of people in attendance is never to be the focus of church growth.

Paul teaches us the focus of church growth is to be the heart of the individual – not the number of bodies in the seats. He teaches us that growth of faith and love for one another in each heart is the key to church growth. Always has been, always should be. Anything else is vanity.

- Pastor Bill

Rejoice!

2011-04-19T11:30:00.000-04:00

Matt 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!"

Before we know Jesus the worst thing that can happen to a person is death. To die. To be dead.

This is because we have no perception of what death is, other than what it seems to be: death. (Loss of life.)

But, what if ‘death’ is really life - and life as it has never been experienced in any other way except our most fanciful dreams? And what if death is really life - and life even better than our most fanciful dreams may lead us to believe?

There is one description of me that will never be true: and that will be in the day when people will say, “He has died.”

In Christ, there is no death – there is only a better life in a better body in a better place. How much better will that better body be? I don’t know exactly, but I know it will be “new,” and “perfect,” and it will be “incorruptible,” (which means it will always be new and perfect.) How much better will the place be? I don’t know exactly, but I do know it will be indescribably beautiful, and that the streets will be paved with gold. How much better will this life be? Well, I don’t know exactly, but I know it will be lived in a body that is no longer tempted to sin, in an environment of unconditional love, and in the eternal presence of the love of Christ.

This is worthy of rejoicing, and it is exactly what Jesus says we should do with this understanding made plain by His resurrection. We serve a Lord Who has power over death and dying – to the extent that for those who believe, there is no death or dying - only the passing from an earthy-type of body into a heavenly-type of body.

This morning of mornings, we come face-to-face with The risen Savior, Who was dead and is now alive forevermore! The Bible says when we see Him we shall be like Him – and in His likeness we shall never die. Do you believe this? His resurrection declares it for one and all to see for themselves.

- Pastor Bill

The Narrowing Road

2011-04-12T11:02:00.000-04:00

Luke 19:28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.' " 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." 45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " 47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

Matt 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

At the end of His life on earth, Jesus accomplished what He came to do. In a sense, He had to take Himself through the eye of a needle.

The path got extremely narrow on the approach to Jerusalem, and though it widened slightly (in terms of acceptance) upon the exact moment of His arrival, by the end of this week, He would die virtually alone. These stones would indeed cry out.

Jesus went through the narrow gate first. He considered it, and the dread of it. He went to it. He opened it. He knew the cost. And now He stands forever just on the other side to welcome me. Hallelujah! Hosanna!

- Pastor Bill

Life as a Thank You Note

2011-04-05T13:30:00.000-04:00

1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The question is asked often enough: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

The implication is ambition and maturity, responsibility and control. These are the known parts of our lives we have some control over.

How will I educate myself to be what I want to be? What conduct do I wish for my life? What will I do about it? Who will I choose to follow to get where I want to be? What will the outcome of that resemblance be?

Paul is advocating much thought and activity in all of these areas. One of his chief aims is who and what we will be when we grow up. (This is the concern of any loving father.)

To the church Paul advocates tender care for both the head and the body - and then careful attention to the part we play within the body. When all of these things are in place, the body grows up into maturity and strength without deformity.

Much of this has to do with letting go of things we cannot control, while taking much concern for the things we can.

And it has everything to do with what I want to be when I grow up – because the direction I am headed determines my present conduct - and conduct is very important for the Christian life. In fact, we will be defined by our conduct. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” Paul is saying the same thing. “Rejoice always. Give thanks in all things. Test all things. Avoid even the appearance of evil. Do not quench the Spirit of the Living God.” It truly comes down to making our very life a ‘thank-you note’ to God.

- Pastor Bill

Get Carried Away

2011-03-29T11:28:00.000-04:00

1 Thessalonians 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

These should be very comforting words: “Get carried away,” and yet, often the caution is exactly the opposite: “Hey, don’t get TOO carried away there!”

The admonition is to avoid becoming too fanatic, as if your fanaticism about a certain subject may be off-putting to those around you – especially whoever it may be who would instruct you to, “not get too carried away.”

Our relationship with Christ is one of the things the world teaches us we are not allowed to express outwardly, and this can range from friendly “advice” to outright persecution depending upon whose presence you may be in. An outwardly expressed, visible demonstration of a personal relationship with Christ is convicting to all those who see it, because it reminds them of things they do not wish to think about, namely eternity, eternal things, and eternal life.

Since every human being comes pre-wired with the ability to perceive and think about eternal things, (even without being taught anything on the subject,) a visible, outward love relationship with Christ is equally convicting in every culture. Jesus said it this way, “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (In essence, we are hated without cause, simply for having a visible love for Jesus.)

But one day, perhaps very soon and certainly without warning, it is that very visible, demonstrable love for Christ which will save you from the wrath of God to come upon the world. God is about to bring the world into judgment according to its sin. Only those who love Jesus and are born again by that love will be spared – and that means of separation from God’s judgment will be very sudden, in the “twinkling of an eye,” and, “like a thief in the night.” Now is the time to ‘get carried away’ by the love of Christ, so when He comes for His church, you will also be carried away to meet Jesus in the clouds. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, come!

- Pastor Bill

When the Music Stops

2011-03-22T10:39:00.000-04:00

1 Thessalonians4:1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. 9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all

Macedonia

. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

When I was a kid, we used to play a game called ‘musical chairs’ at birthday parties and such. I’m sure you probably remember it also, but just in case – here’s the deal: Music would be played, and the kids would circle around a grouping of chairs. There would be one less chair than the number of kids in the game. The music would suddenly be stopped and the kids would rush to sit down. Since there was one less chair than the number of kids, the one kid left standing would be out.

The excitement was that as you circled the chairs, you knew the music was going to stop – but you never knew when. You didn’t want to be left standing, so you had to really pay attention at all times.

Paul is saying we need to pay attention to our lives because the music is going to stop. To pretend otherwise is just plain foolish. One of two scenarios is going to play out: Either Jesus is going to come back for His church and take us out of this world, (the Rapture,) or we are going to breathe our last on this earth. In either case, we have no prior knowledge of when the event will take place. The question is: When you meet Jesus, what will you be found doing?

- Pastor Bill

Represent

2011-03-15T11:05:00.000-04:00

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

In the

U.S.

we are used to the principle of representation, if for no other reason than our government structure. In its pure form, we elect a person to represent thousands of others. They ‘represent’ our views and our concerns to the totality of the governing body, and when they stop doing that we un-elect them.

This has not been true of the world for very much of its history, and was certainly not rue during the time of Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica. Throughout world history, despots have ruled in one form or another, either through power, (which has been true most of the time,) or through a form of benevolence, which has only been true in rare instances.

Imagine how blown away the Thessalonians must have been upon hearing their calling - now that they had become disciples of Jesus Christ. The Thessalonians lived in a world of Roman despotism, under Emperor Claudius, and then Nero. All they knew of governance was complete, total, silent submission. Anything else would result in death or severe persecution.

There was no participation in government. None.

Along comes Paul, the presenter of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Who is The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. King of Claudius even. Lord of Nero. And now Paul says, “I want you to represent The King of Kings to the world - to your world.” This gospel will so change your life, that when people look at you they will see Jesus Christ. He will be here in person in you. What a promotion this would have been to the life of the simple man. To represent Jesus to a lost and dying world. How could this be?

- Pastor Bill

The Good Life

2011-03-08T09:53:00.000-05:00

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

When people talk about living a “good life,” I suppose they may have differing views about exactly what a ‘good life’ might entail.

But Paul has no doubt about the subject, and he tells one and all how ‘the good life’ may be attained.

Do people really want a good life? If so, beyond question, here is how it may be had: Allow the love of Christ to flow through you.

This sounds really simple, and it is, but we sometimes struggle with implementation. One of the simplest descriptions I have heard of this life is, “to do the best you can.”

Oh, well now we’re back at what our parents used to tell us. “Try hard. Do your best. That’s all I ask.”

But that’s not it. It really has nothing to do with what you do or what you say. It is total dependency on something far greater. To be at our best we need to be at our least, to allow Christ to be at His most.

To be tenderly merciful is not possible in every case, unless you are in Christ – because He is ALWAYS tenderly merciful. When you are NOT tenderly merciful, you are not at your best. You see it, and so do others. Something is lacking – and that something is the mercy of Christ.

While I (me, myself, and I) may not like being that merciful, I am certainly glad He was that merciful to me. And tenderly so. Apart from that I probably wouldn’t be here, and I certainly wouldn’t be a pastor. Jesus says, in effect, “Pass it on.” To be a Christian who truly reflects Christ, I must be about the business of doing the very best thing I can do for a person in a given situation. This is the definition of Christian love. Christian love is not a feeling, it is action. Try putting that on. You can’t have a better life than that.

- Pastor Bill

The Broken Body

2011-03-01T10:12:00.000-05:00

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

When Jesus met with His disciples in the upper room, following the Passover supper He took the bread and He held it before them. He then blessed the bread, broke it and gave it to the disciples while saying, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

What exactly did He mean by that – and why did He say it?

Of course we know, looking back over the centuries to the events that transpired after Jesus said what He said. We know the very next day Jesus’ body was indeed broken. We know His description of the bread matched what would take place in His life.

Spiritually, Jesus was foretelling the price required to pay for my sin. (The wages of sin is death. (Rom 6:23))

Isn’t it fascinating the price to pay for my broken body is His broken body? You see, when I sin, I break something. I don’t just break the natural law or the spiritual law, or break my conscience, I literally break my body. The adage is: “Sin kills,” and there is a reason for it: Sin does literally kill. Me. Eventually.

If I keep sinning, parts of me will die, and parts of those in my vicinity will die, and eventually I will die eternally – damned by my own sin. I have no one else to blame.

This is why Jesus’ message was a message of repentance. From the first time He spoke publicly to the end of His ministry Jesus preached repentance. Strictly put, to repent means to “turn around.” I was going one way, (a way of death,) and Christ urges me to turn around and head in the way of life. Only His way is the way to eternal life. His broken body palpably demonstrates the cost of the direction I am presently headed. I need to put that off, and put that away. Now.

- Pastor Bill

He Nailed It

2011-02-22T14:07:00.000-05:00

Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Nails have a way of settling the issue. (Whatever the issue may be.)

When it comes to construction, nails hold everything together, and they are the deciding factor in what something will look like. An architect can dream, a builder can organize, carpenters can read blueprints, but apart from nails, ain’t much happening. Just sayin’.

And Paul is just saying as well, that the postulating can stop now. For thousands of years the discussion had been ripe. How can a man be saved? Which law is the most important? Must all the laws be kept? Is there any way for someone who is not aware of the law to have a chance at eternal life? Is there eternal life?

Jesus cuts off the debate, if you’re paying attention. If you’re not paying attention, you need to. Jesus did all that by nails.

A lot of people can say a lot of things when it comes to religious topics. They have fancy degrees and expertise in debate. They have written books, and they have directed marvelous philosophical discourses in their time.

But none were nailed to a cross.

Jesus, in effect, says, “Peace, be still!” (And He says it without a word.) Only His hands and feet were nailed. Only He took that position. And only He can save you. He nailed it. All the debate and philosophical argument is finished.

- Pastor Bill

Where Are You From?

2011-02-15T13:21:00.000-05:00

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

In a land where not many people are from, the question is often asked: “Where are you from?”

It makes perfect sense to ask the question, and as more than just a conversation starter, (though it is often used in that regard.) Where a person is from has a lot to do with where they are now, and it also has a lot to do with how they are now.

Our church, for example, is filled with people from all over the

United States

, (and even some foreign locations on occasion.) I have observed some notable differences in how people from New York City may respond to a question, as opposed to how people from Alabama may answer that same question. Example: “What’s your favorite food?”

And you know it is more than just the sound of the voice. (The New York ‘thang’ and the Alabama ‘twang.’) It has to do with perspective and upbringing. Where you are from has everything to do with how you are who you are. Someone who grew up in a concrete jungle has an entirely different view of life than someone who grew up on a dairy farm. In part, this explains some of the deep divides which exist presently in our country, and why one group is pitted against another. They simply have a different perspective.

What if the answer to the question of “Where are you from?” was, “I am from Jesus.”? What kind of difference would that make? Well, we see the difference it makes, and probably more so in the church than anywhere else. The church is the one place the kind of differences the world focuses upon as identifiers can be set aside, and the reason is again: perspective.

You see, once I know I am from Christ, where I am from on earth matters a whole lot less. I don’t see the kind of differences I used to see because what I have in common with someone else who is also from Christ matters a lot more than their human birth location - even though that may color the sound of their voice and how they view political and social events. Because once you know you are from Christ, (created by Him,) and for Christ, (created for His pleasure,) you share the love of and for Christ which overcomes human heritage.

- Pastor Bill

Never You Mind

2011-02-08T13:49:00.000-05:00

Philippians 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Considering where you are right now, what would you have to say about yourself?

Considering where you will be in the future, what would you have to say about yourself?

If your answer about your future is that it rests in the kingdom of Heaven, where you are right now doesn’t matter much, and it won’t matter for long.

There is a lot that can have a negative affect on who, what, and where we are right now. Our attitude can be greatly affected by our present state and ALL the things we have to be concerned with and to worry about. What will the president do? What will the congress do? What will happen in the Middle East? What will my boss say? How will my health be affected? Where is next month’s house payment going to come from? Does my hair look funny?

The potential for worry is immeasurable. The reason to worry is real. There are so many things in our lives which greatly affect our lives which we have NO control over. And then, at the end of all of that worry is death.

Paul speaks of the ultimate peace and fulfillment which rests beyond the grave, and how it affects his present state of affairs. It is why he can say with such confidence (and encouragement,) that in whatever state he is in, he has learned to be content. Whether he is in Florida or New York, or Pennsylvania or Michigan, Paul says it does not matter – and the reason is because he is glory bound.

Once you are glory bound, you simply traverse from glory to a greater glory – even while here on this earth. God will inhabit your poverty with the riches of His glory and fellowship. God will inhabit your great wealth with the glorious humility of His lowliness. God IS content with Who He is, and as He is content WITH me, I can also be content WITH God, and with God alive in me, no matter where I am. His contentment is enough for me. In fact, it is more than enough.

The struggle lasts only as far as our determination to prevent His place and His peace. Once we let go and let Jesus rule, rest and contentment will always and forever follow.

- Pastor Bill

What is True?

2011-02-01T11:16:00.000-05:00

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

To meditate on “what is true,” you have to know what the truth is.

Some people say there is “no absolute truth,” deferring to our “perception of truth” as being the only standard we can hold to. “Four blindfolded men,” they say, “stand surrounding an elephant. One grabs hold of the elephant’s tail, one touches his side, one grabs a tusk, and one holds on to the trunk. Each one,” they say, “has a different perspective of an elephant, and each would say something different about what an elephant is, based on their own experience.”

The fallacy of this argument, (though colorful,) is obvious. The men are purposely blind to the truth. Remove the blindfold, and the elephant becomes clear. The elephant is the truth, not man’s blindfolded perception from individual perspective of what the elephant is. It is a position of ignorance which says, “the elephant is a swishing tail, or the elephant is a cool, smooth, bone.”

Only a fool would stand on those findings, and be pleased to remain blindfolded.

Psalm 14:1 says, The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” The fool, according to the Bible, is the blindfolded man who refuses to remove the blindfold because he is comfortable with the information he has and will look no further.

But when the blindfolded man also proclaims this is all he is capable of knowing, then we must see his foolhardiness for what it is – which is self-satisfaction and lack of intellectual curiosity. I refuse to listen to a proclamation of “truth” from a blindfolded man.

I was skeptical when I came to Christ because I could not see Him. But that did not stop me from looking to see what I could see. I could see radically-changed lives all around me. I could see very smart, even brilliant men down through history who believed in Jesus. I could see God’s unchanging Word versus man’s constantly changing assessment of scientific knowledge. I could see man attempting to explain how something came from nothing. All of this seemed like foolishness to me so I kept looking.

At what I thought was great risk, I asked Jesus to come into my heart. Then the blindfold was removed and I saw the Truth for myself. Now I can meditate safely.

- Pastor Bill