When the Music Stops

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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