Busy Busy Busy

     It is that time of year. Yes, it’s back to school, but that’s not what I’m referring to. It is the time of year our little church starts to get busy preparing for Homecomings, Revivals and among other things it’s time to look towards preparing for holiday programs!

     2 Timothy 4:1-3 tells us: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

     We at the Church of God love to have fun times in the Lord, singing and preaching, laughing and talking (and EATING), but we always try to remember that it is about Jesus, the salvation of the lost and the edification of His Church.

     We remember that the “Church” is His saints and we try, even in our fun, to be reverent to God, to stay doctrinally correct and to not become worldly for the sake of drawing in people, knowing that the Word of God is sufficient to draw those whom He will.

     I have found a passion in my life for preaching about Jesus, and I have found I have become busier as more doors open. The Lord has drawn me into many different ways to reach people, such as this newsletter for one example. He also has given me a new lease on life by allowing me to become a Church of God minister, which I am humbled by.

     Busy is what we, the church must be. Always preparing for the next day, the next person that needs salvation, the next crisis and the next door God gives us to walk through.   

     Busy is what Jesus wants us to be, spreading the word, making disciples out of men, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being a good witness.

     Are we praying to get busier, or asking God to slow down? I think as we get older we look forward to retirement. If you’re a Christian, retirement from your earthly job is a good thing. But that should open up time for more of the witnessing and things of God.

     Jesus worked all the way to the Cross, and then continued working AFTER! Jesus is still at work, building His kingdom of witnesses “Until the fullness of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:25 KJV). Can a Christian ever retire from God’s busy work? I think never.

     So as the busy season begins, let all of us in our congregation remember we must remain busy, busy, busy and do so with joy and happiness knowing we are serving our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

 

 

    

For Such A Time As This

     With the Independence Day celebrations this month, do we really think of the birth of our country and what the celebration really means, or do we just cook out and do our normal ritual?

     Lately, The Lord has been working me over in my spiritual thinking. With the concern for family and friends, the loss of special people in my life and the turning away from Godly morals and principals I see our country taking, I am reminded of the verse in Esther 54:13, 14 ¹³Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.
¹⁴For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

     When Haman talked King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) into killing all the Jews in the land, Esther, who was a Jew but had not told her husband the king, was afraid to speak up. Her uncle Mordecai pleaded with her to speak to the king, to intercede on their behalf. But she was afraid.

     He told her to stop thinking about herself, this was bigger than she, and asked what if God placed her there at this time and in this place for this very reason? Can’t we ask this of ourselves in our Christian walk?

     Many people have come and gone in my life; many things have occurred to shape and form me into what I am today. God decided when I was to be born, and when I am to die, and so with you. Has he placed YOU in this time and space to make a difference according to His will? Are you to stand up and intercede in something? Are you His next Esther?

God’s Church

Acts 20 ²⁸Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
²⁹For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

 
     As I have been studying the history of the Church of God, I have a better understanding of the reasons why the early founders referred to us as a movement or a reformation. I see their understanding of the separation of the saints into named doctrines was not biblical and is detrimental to the body of Christ.
     Jesus has one bride, one church, and all those who are blood washed, proclaiming Christ Jesus as their savior and King, is his flock. Throughout the years man has put his laws and stamp of approval on different ideas or interpretations and separated themselves from others. God never intended this and warned against it.
     I, myself, have a history of a couple of different doctrine backgrounds. But with the Church of God, I have found a church with open arms to all those who are blood washed, or want salvation, and are seeking biblical truth.
     Now, I know the world will ask, ‘Whose truth, because truth is different between people?” Truth is fact and cannot be changed. grass is still grass, sunshine is still sunshine. We in the Church of God teach truth straight from the bible, not some manmade idea.
     Over the years, even the Church of God has had splits over manmade doctrines. But it doesn’t change the fact that Christ has only ONE church. Man can try to put his label, but Christ holds the keys.
     Though we may call ourselves the Anderson or Cleveland branch, or Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian or Pentecostal, we should remember we will ALL stand before our God one day to answer to Him. There will not be separate lines for each denomination, but separate lines for His Church and those who rejected Him.
     If we are a bible believing, professing believer of Jesus Christ, we are all the Church of God. In these end times, shouldn’t we shake off the bonds of manmade labels and join together, not under a set of manmade rules, but under the guidance of the Bible as set down by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?

     I extend my hand in fellowship to you. Will you extend yours in return?

It Is Finished!

John 19: ³⁰When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

     Three crosses on a hill, three men crucified; one innocent of all charges, one damned and one saved. This is the picture of an event one Friday almost two thousand years ago, the day our Lord and God in the flesh, Jesus of Nazareth, was to perish as an innocent sacrificial lamb because man had allowed sin and separation to enter the world.

     That scene speaks the Gospel in the most visual terms. Jesus as the Messiah just as the prophets had foretold. One thief mocks Him and the other asks Jesus to remember him when He goes to paradise, one statement of unbelief, the other of faith. Jesus says nothing to one, and gives a promise to the other.

     Today, there is a thief who hung on a cross in heaven, and a thief who mocked and rejected Him waiting for the Judgment Day. Jesus may have not responded to the mocker then, but there will come a day when the mocker will answer to Jesus and be judged.

     How do we know for sure? Jesus made a statement of three words that sealed everyone’s fate in the eyes of God. The plan was complete, the door was opened, the way was shown, and the promise kept. When Jesus said “It is finished” He had just put Satan, the world and all creation on notice that prophesy was fulfilled. Satan’s head was crushed and he couldn’t have those who turned to Christ.

     The death of Christ was just one of three things to happen, but the sacrifice had been achieved. The burial and resurrection was to come, final proof to those doubting Thomases.

     What about your salvation this Easter? Is it finished?

The World Spinning Out Of Control?

     Many today are asking the question, "What is going on in this world?" Well I want to tell you that this world is NOT out of control, because God is always in control. He is in control weather He directly causes the trials, or lifts His protection. Nothing happens without God's foreknowledge and nothing CAN happen unless God allows it. Now, that being said, why are these awful things happening in the world today?
     There are rumors of wars, drought, social and moral upheavals, natural disasters and so forth. My friends, Christians should not be caught unawares of why these things are happening. The bible explains very clearly that in the end times, all He spoke about will happen, and they will continue to grow in frequency and strength. We will also see false teachers, preachers and religions rise to the forefront. Matthew 24: 5-7 reads: "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
⁶And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
⁷For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
     Daniel tells us in Daniel 2:27:  ²¹And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: God is in charge my friends. Yes he set up both the just and the unjust rulers, and He removes those same rulers. His plan is very simple, to point to Jesus Christ and His saving Grace.
     God does not point to any man to save you. The Holy Spirit does not point to any man to save you. They point to Jesus Christ to save you. What are you being saved from? Your sins that can only be forgiven by God through the sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son. Nothing on this earth will last forever. But your soul will be eternal. The only question after that is where will you go after your death? There are only two places, Heaven or Hell. Jesus can save you from Hell, man cannot, nor you yourself cannot. Being good or doing good works will not get you to heaven. Dieing in some Jihad or meditating for hours will not get you to heaven. Only the door called Jesus Christ will allow you to enter heaven.
     I have stopped arguing with people about the validity of Jesus verses Mohammed or Buddha or Joseph Smith or any other religion's leader. I will, in love, tell you about Jesus answer to Thomas' question when he said in John 14: 5-7: ⁵Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
⁷If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him
      The question is settled. My job is to plant the seed, God gives you the free will to accept it or not. So what does all the problems in the world have to do with Jesus? They are birth pains beloved. They will increase until the day Jesus returns! But I must stress that we living today may or may not see Jesus return in the air, because we may die today or tomorrow. God does not promise us a certain amount of time. The time is now to decide your future. In the very near future, we Christians may very well see the same persecution in this country as  we see in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  But God always has a people in place to continue the word.
     Christians pray for those who need Christ. Pray for our leaders, those of other faiths and those who proclaim to be our enemies. Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, we have no choice. Pray for the Christian martyrs in Africa, the middle east and China. The Gospel has continued for 2000 years and it will continue until our Lord's return. Draw strength to continue knowing He promises to always be with us. Do not worry, but rejoice, for His coming draweth neigh!
     Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
    God Bless
  

The Power Of Scripture And A Ring

This Christmas, my wife gave me a ring as a gift. I’m not much of a jewelry person, but I have wanted one with a cross on it for some time now. When I received the ring, I noticed three words inscribed around the cross “JUSTICE MERCY HUMILITY” and the letters “MIC” on one side of the ring and the inscription “6:8” on the opposite. Lisa and I had not noticed this until we picked up the ring, as I had chosen it from several she showed me.

     Intrigued, I realized the “MIC” stood for the book of Micah in the Old Testament, and “6:”8 but I thought I was unfamiliar with it, so I went to my bible to look it up. Much to my surprise, at some time during my bible studies over the years, I had highlighted and underlined that very verse. It reads “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

     How amazing, that unknown to me, the one ring I chose would be bringing that question to my mind whenever I saw it or felt it’s weight on my finger. I never saw the inscription on it at the store, only when I finally received it and opened the box. So did I choose it or did the Holy Spirit? You think what you want, but I believe it was chosen for me, not by me.

     Throughout my life I have seen the good and the bad in this world, the beautiful and the ugly, and for some time I allowed the bad experiences and the ugly sights to make up my mindset. But when I came to Christ, I began to realize this world is not the one God created, but the fallen world Genesis speaks about. A world that needs salvation to set things right with the Creator. Sin came into the world, but God allowed enough of the good to continue to exist for us to see it if we would just stop to look.

     See, even though I’m no longer a public servant, I still serve the public. This time it’s not for a pay check. It’s because Jesus loved me enough to pay for me with His blood. Because He has shown me what is good, I need to know what God requires of me as His servant. It’s basically the same requirement as Jesus said, to love and treat others as you want for yourself and to love God with all your might and soul. My servitude is to tell others about what Christ did and the Gospel of His good news, to always treat everyone justly and mercifully (hence forgiveness) and to be humble to my Creator in all ways and all things.

     Being a new creature in Christ, I know what is right and wrong, what is merciful and what isn’t, and I know that I can do nothing without Christ. Being human in a fallen world, sometimes I fail the tests set before me. But because they are tests, I can ask for forgiveness and learn from those failures. Isn’t that what tests are for, to see what we know or don’t know and are capable to do or not to do?

    Tests show us our faults or lack of understanding so we can correct ourselves and move forward to the next set of instructions and tests. Where do we go for instruction? The Bible! Who is the author and instructor, God! Have I slept in class or not read my text book? Yes! Have I failed a test? Unfortunately many, but each is a learning experience and a message to go back to the Bible and find the answer.

     It’s funny how God will work through many different ways to get our attention and test us. Was I given a ring as a test, or to remind me of something? It took me back to a verse I once thought important enough to mark, which once again does what it’s supposed to do, point me straight to Him.

     What a wonderful gift a test can be!

Wipe The Slate Clean

 As we come into another New Tear, many once again are trying the News Years Resolution thing. Once again 90% will fail. Isn’t that the way it is when we try to become self righteous, instead of remembering Jesus paid the price, and Grace is given to us? We can’t save ourselves, no matter how hard we try, we will fail. We may resolute to never tell a lie again, gossip, pray every day, read our bible more, but if we could look back every December 31^st, we would see our failures time and time again.

     That is the wonderful thing about God’s grace through Jesus, for when we confess our sins and failures, He promises to forgive and forget. as far as the east is from the west. But I have a question for you, is there someone you haven’t forgiven this New Year? Someone who has hurt you, or broke a promise, or otherwise trespassed against you?

     This year, let’s just forget the resolutions and just forgive others fully, wiping the slate clean. Now would be a good time to just take a deep breath, and pray to God, thanking Him for His forgiveness and to release the burden of unforgiveness of others. Then just forgive those who He brings to mind and release them. Believe it or not, unforgiveness of someone holds YOU in bondage, not them.

     Forgiveness in your heart will brighten your day, your outlook, as well as your Christian walk. It is also a command from God that we must obey. Mt 6:14 says “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you:”

And Mk 11:25 tells us “and when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive your trespasses.”

     Throughout the New Testament it is stressed many times that we must forgive others, because God has forgiven us. Not only is it obedience to God, but it will also help relieve the stress of being angry or hurt, which can be a blessing to our health. Stress causes many ulcers and health problems. What a blessing it would be to not have anything against anyone! Through Jesus Christ, that blessing can be obtained.

     So this year, just make a resolution to forgive, release the bondages and holds that unforgiveness puts on you, and have a Happy and Inner Peaceful New Year!