Let’s get out there and bring ‘em back alive

Frank Buck was a true adventurer. He lived in 1900’s and would travel all over the world bringing back all kinds of exotic animals. What set him apart from others in his profession was that he didn’t shoot the animals and bring back their stuffed skins. In Frank’s mind, anyone  could gun them down, but who would dare bring back a lion or a rhino—alive?

Frank Buck  probably didn’t know it, but he was very scriptural in his approach. Jesus sent us out to seek and to save the lost, not to destroy them. It seems as though some may have forgotten that key element. That infamous Wild West poster we see in movies reading, “WANTED! DEAD OR ALIVE” doesn’t fit the biblical model for evangelism.

Soul-winning is about leading others to Christ. It’s not about winning the argument or flexing our vast amounts of knowledge. It’s not about proving someone how ignorant and wrong they are. It’s not about showing others how impossible we are to defeat in the match of verbal fisticuffs. It’s about saving their souls. Jesus is looking for those gutsy followers. The ones who are willing to take action and get out there! The Greek word “ZOGREO” only appears twice in the New Testament, as far as I know. The word literally means, “to take alive.”

In Luke 5:10 the word is used to express one being taken alive for God. In 2 Timothy 2:26, Paul would used the word when talking about those who have been taken captive by the devil. These two verses remind us that all will be taken somehow. Some from life to death, others from death to life. Matthew 28 is the Great Commission, our permission to baptize people for the remission of their sins. You can be that gutsy follower since Jesus said He’s going to go out with us, “even to the end of the world.” Let’s get out there and bring ‘em back alive.

Dale Pollard

 

 

Learning Ministry From Jesus

In John’s Gospel, we see some insights into the ministry of Jesus that we do not see in the other three accounts. In particular, when we focus in on the last few chapters before His arrest, we see some principles that should be true of how we all minister to others.

  1. We should love individuals (11:3).
  2. We should be concerned with glorifying the Lord (11:4, 40-42; 12:28).
  3. We should love families (11:5).
  4. We should develop friendships (11:11).
  5. We should encourage others (11:23).
  6. We should sympathize and empathize with others (11:33).
  7. We should show our emotions (11:35).
  8. We should spend time with people (12:1-2).
  9. We should go back and visit again after the fact (12:1-2).
  10. We should allow others to minister to us (12:7-8).
  • We should be willing to do what the Lord expects of us (12:24-27, 30-33).
  1. We should be teaching (12:44-50).
  2. We should love other ministers (13:1).
  3. We should humble ourselves (13:4-5, 13-14).
  4. We should serve (13:5).
  5. We should help people try to understand (13:7, 12, 17).
  6. We should be real (13:21).
  7. We should serve all equally (13:22).
  8. We should encourage love (13:34-35).
  9. We should encourage (14:1).

Whether you are a preacher, an elder, a minister, a teacher, a deacon, or “just” a follower of Jesus, we all are called to minister to others. May we all do so with the love and purpose shown to us by the Master Teacher!

Corey Sawyers

Wrong Way

On July 21st, I will have had my learner’s permit for one year. As a new driver, I often end up taking the wrong turn along the road. Even on roads I’ve driven many times before, sometimes I will still make a mistake. Wrong turns often aren’t fun or planned, but they can always be fixed so you can get back on the right track.

God has given commands for us to follow a “path” to go down. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” The Bible is filled with directions, things we need to do as servants of God. As Christians, we choose to walk down this path, but sometimes we can stray from this path and begin to go our own way.

A good example of this is Jonah. Jonah was a man who went against God because of his own reservations and ends up following his own path. Because of Jonah’s arrogance, he is cast into the ocean and swallowed by a large fish. When Jonah chose to take a wrong turn, the consequences were not far behind. One of the most important things about Jonah’s story is when he decides to follow God’s commandment. “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:3-5).

Jonah had directly disobeyed God, and yet when he changed direction, many were saved because of his actions. Jonah is not the only example of this happening in the Bible. Noah, Moses, David, and many other figures we often consider role models all took a wrong turn along their path with God. Nevertheless, they were all able to get back on the right path and enact a large amount of good for God’s people in the long run. Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” These people sought the Lord and were reunited with Him, changing their ways no matter how largely they had messed up.

If you’ve ever taken a wrong turn when driving, where did you end up? Were you stuck on that road forever? Most likely, you found a place to turn around and continued on to your destination. Sometimes in our Christian walk, it seems like there’s a point of no return when we veer too far off the path, but with God’s grace, there is always a way back from wherever you’ve been. If you’ve found yourself today on the wrong path, one headed away from God and his people, find a place to turn around, because there’s always a way to get back to him.

Jackson Davidson

Long-Suffering

God is long-suffering. For this reason, He wants people to repent (Romans 2:4; Ezekiel 18:23, 32). He wants everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9, 15). He demonstrates His long-suffering by forgiving sins (Rom. 3:25).

Examples of the long-suffering of God: We see it in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20), to the Israelites (Psa. 78:38; Isa. 48:9), and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37), as well as towards Paul (1 Tim. 1:12-16).

God’s people should also be long-suffering, because God was and is long-suffering towards us (Matt. 18:21-35). As God’s elect, they put on long-suffering (Col. 3:12; Eph. 4:2). They must practice long-suffering (2 Tim. 3:10). Love suffers long (1 Cor. 13:4). It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

the late Wayne Holland
from a sermon preached in:
Hiawassee, GA (2/23/1986)
South Boston, VA (2/16/1992)
Roxboro, NC (9/22/2002)

The Bible is not a mysterious book of codes that can’t be cracked, though some might try and lead you to believe that. 

We know that the water can be metaphorically muddied rather quickly when there are countless faulty interpretations of books like Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and other prophetic or apocalyptic literature. Typology is another misunderstood, and often misapplied, method of Bible study. I’m convinced that if we can spend some time studying the different “types” found in scripture, we can see God’s message for mankind more clearly and have a more profound grasp of His Word. This also happens to be a great way to grow our knowledge of scripture more quickly!

So first, let’s try to clarify exactly what Typology is.

Summed up in one sentence it’s referring to Old Testament things which are prefigured or symbolized by events and characters of the New Testament.

This may sound a little confusing, but let’s look at a few examples.

  1. John 3:14 says that just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up (Num. 21:9). The Christ “type” is the bronze serpent. We know because of a specific New Testament reference.
  2. 1 Peter 3:20: “…God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built, only a few people, 8 in all were saved through water,” This illustrates how in the same way baptismal water saves those who submit to Christ today.

Typology is not some mystic Bible code where we are free to translate events and characters in scripture as we please because God tells us exactly what He intended to say.

1 Cor. 14:33 says that God is NOT the “author of confusion.” He has a message for us all— and it’s a message of hope.

Are you interested in learning more about typology? The perfect book for you to study would be the book of Hebrews as it makes more Old Testament references than any other New Testament book. By diving into Hebrews you will appreciate and understand both the Old Testament, and the Bible as a whole.

Dale Pollard

 

 

Trading Freedom for a Dorito By Adam Faughn

Doritos are a favorite of many people. These potato chips come in several strong flavors, and the crunchy snack is often eaten at  cookouts or on road trips. But can you imagine giving up your freedom for a bag of those tasty chips?

That’s what a huge pig in Highland, California recently did. The pig, which was described as being the same size as a mini-horse, got loose and was wandering the streets of that community. It seems that this pig has a way of doing that from time-to-time, so some of the local police are used to calls about this particular animal. Knowing that, one deputy had a bag of Doritos in her lunch bag, and  simply made a small trail of the crunchy snacks, which the pig followed right back to its pen, where it was secured again.

This pig was free but gave it all up for a crunchy snack. We can laugh at that, or we can see a deeper picture about ourselves. How often do  we trade so many great blessings in this life for things that are fun or enjoyable but of far less value to us? How many people trade a lifelong commitment with a spouse for a few moments of intimate pleasure with another? How many trade a reputation and  integrity for a night of drinking and partying?

The Bible makes it clear that sin has pleasure attached to it (see Hebrews 11:25), but that the pleasure is only passing; it is only “for a  season.” After the moments of enjoyment comes the entrapment of sin. The addictions. The damaged reputations. The harmed relationships. The wasted money. The time that is no longer available. Above all, the sting of a marred relationship with our heavenly Father.

When we think about it that way, that pig on the West Coast seems a little more like us. He got a few minutes of pleasure from those potato  chips but ended up right back in the pigpen where he started.

Maybe it is time we start looking past the temporary excitement that seems to accompany sin and start looking at where it will lead us in this life and, ultimately, in eternity. When we do, we will not trade our freedom in Christ for something insignificant.

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover – up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

– Adam Faughn

GOODNESS BEGINS AND FLOWS FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:

    God is, of course, the only Being in the universe who is, inherently, good.

    When the rich young ruler came to Jesus to ask Him about getting to heaven, Jesus commented that there is only One who is good (Matt. 19:17). In Mark’s account (10:18), Jesus says “No one is good except God alone.”

    Because God is light (1 John 1:5), He shows us the way to be good. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:9 that “the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” So, walking in the light of God’s nature, God’s love, God’s truth, is going to produce goodness in our lives: good behavior, good thoughts, good words.

    Do you remember the story of Mary and Martha having Jesus over to their house and Martha was fretting over getting the house cleaned and straightened up but Mary wanted to sit and listen to Jesus talk? The event is told at the end of Luke 10. When Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to get up and help her clean the house, rather than listening to Jesus teach, Jesus gave Martha a mild rebuke and said, “Mary has chosen the good part…” (10:42). The teachings of Jesus are “good” and that’s what produces goodness in our lives. The more we live with Jesus, the more we walk with Jesus, the more “gooder” we’re going to be. 

    When Paul tells Timothy that the Holy Spirit has given us the Bible by guiding its writers (2  Tim. 3:16-17), he says that this is done so that the “man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” In Hebrews 13:19-20, the writer tells us that Jesus our Lord will equip us in every good thing to do His will.

BE GOOD INDISCRIMINATELY:

    In Matthew 5:45, Jesus tells us that God, our Father in heaven, causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, He sends rain on the just and the unjust. When Paul was talking to the Jews in Lystra in Acts 14, he told them that “God did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave them rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying their hearts with food and gladness” (14:17).

    Look at all the goodness God showers on the evil, the atheists, the unbelieving. God does not discriminate in showing goodness to others and, of course, that is a revelation of God’s grace. So we need to do good to others indiscriminately. We don’t need to wait and see if they deserve for us to be good to them. If our hearts are good, in fact, then that goodness is going to flow and show in all of our actions toward everybody.

    Be indiscriminate in your goodness. Paul told the Christians in Galatia: “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal. 6:10). 

GOODNESS FLOWS FROM OUR HEARTS:

    Jesus said in Matthew 7:17-18 that “every good tree bears good fruit, and the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” 

    The good heart is going to produce good words. Jesus critiqued the religious leaders of His day, asking them: “How can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil” (Matt. 12:34-35). Ephesians 4:29: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” 

    So if our heart is good, the words we use are going to be good words. If the words we use are not good words, and we need to be listening to ourselves talk, if the words we use are not good words, that’s a clear indication that something is not right in our hearts. Our hearts are not good as they ought to be.

    Let us live by the Spirit, showing goodness indiscriminately in our lives toward others. Put our agape love into action!

Paul Holland

What is purloining?

Today I walked in on someone purloining. I was scared and confused because honestly…I don’t even know what purloining is.  Does this word confuse you? Well you’re in luck.  This article is dedicated to defining the word “purloin.” You may be thinking to yourself, “self, why would I read an article on the word purloin?” And to that I would say, “because there isn’t another article I’ve seen on this topic, and no one knows what it means.”

The Bible is our most valuable possession we have here on earth, so our goal should be to understand what it says. There have been times that I’ve read verses that have used some confusing words, and instead of trying to understand what it means, I just skipped over it and kept reading. But there are some valuable insights that we can gain from looking more in-depth at these words. Let’s define purloining as it is seen in scripture.

Titus 2:10 says, Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (KJV). Purloining here is the Greek word “nosphivo” which is only found 3 times in New Testament,  and only translated as purloining in one verse.  The Greek word is translated as, “to put aside for oneself, to keep back, to steal.” This word originally was used as a descriptor of what the Roman soldiers would do when they were looting. They would be tempted to hold back treasure for themselves as they plundered cities, rather than giving the full amount to the Roman Empire. They would steal and hold back, and that’s exactly how Paul uses this word in Titus 2:10.

Going back to this verse, how is this term used in context? Verse 10 is the launching point for the rest of Paul’s point in chapter one.  When he says “purloining” he’s referring to bondservants and their attitude towards their master.  Rather than pilfering and stealing, they should show faith in God to take care of them. In essence this verse is an appeal to live in accordance to the teachings of God in everything. Servants who were not Christians would steal and cheat from their masters any chance they could get. As Christians we are to have a faith in God to provide for us, not stealing and being dishonest.

In summary, if you were to use this in everyday conversation, you could say something like, “I have never purloined in my life, “Purloining is wrong” or, “I’m going to teach my kids to be honest and not run around purloining.” Or you could just say “steal” or “withhold” instead.  Although a few translations chose to use an interesting word to convey this idea of stealing, the point is still very valid for us today. I challenge each one of us to have faith in God to provide, to trust that His commands are in our best interest, and to rely on God to take care of our needs rather than purloining. I also challenge each one of us to use this word as many times as possible this year.

Carl Pollard

 

Do you know Jesus?

Have you ever heard of Jesus Christ? Some might call that a foolish question. It would be difficult if not impossible to have lived in the world for the last 2,000 years and not know that name.

Here’s another question: how well do you know Jesus Christ? Some people would immediately dismiss the question as absurd. Many insist they do. As to how well they know him is another question.

Do you think his disciples in 30 A.D. knew him? One might think they most certainly would have. Would it surprise you to find they didn’t know him well at all?

Just before Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” (John 14:6). To this statement, Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus looked at his disciple and told him that for all of the time he spent with Philip, “you have not known me.”

Yes. Many people think they know Jesus but, like Philip, they don’t know him very well at all. Even those who consider themselves his disciples don’t know him. They think they do but then they obey the false religions created by men. They refuse to obey Jesus’ word and yet they still think they know him.

Jesus told Philip, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds” (John 14:10). Jesus told Philip that if he didn’t believe him, he should believe the miraculous works Jesus had done.

This weakness of faith was something all of the disciples of Jesus shared. When the Lord was arrested by the Jews the disciples ran away (Mark 14:50).

So, do you know Jesus? If not, you should get to know him by studying the Bible. It will help give you the faith you need to obey the gospel and live your life dedicated to him. Why not obey him now?

John Henson

Who’s your daddy?

At my age, if someone said, “Who’s your daddy?” I’d probably reply with my father’s name. Now, it is a slang expression in the form of a rhetorical question. Mostly, it is a boast intended to dominate the listener and possibly elicit laughter.

In John chapter eight, the Pharisees initiated a contentious conversation with the Lord Jesus that could have the title, “Who’s your daddy?”

Jesus had just told his listeners, “If you continue in my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The Pharisees took issue with this statement claiming they were never enslaved to any person (John 8:33). What a short memory they had! They forgot their bondage to several nations during the days of the judges. They had forgotten they were in bondage to the Babylonians and others between the Old and New Testaments. And even at the time of this conversation, the Jews were subject to the Romans.

Still, they continued to claim they were the freed sons of Abraham. Jesus knew they were physically descended from Abraham but then told them that their conduct was inconsistent with Abraham’s behavior.

When examining our behavior, are we proving God is our father, or do the facts say otherwise? If God is our father, our behavior should attest. Is there a more important issue here? Yes, Jesus said.

The Jews didn’t realize the worst taskmaster they had was sin. They were in bondage to sin and Jesus was trying to free them. He said,

“If you are Abraham’s children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this!” (John 8:39-40).

Each person should examine themselves to see whether they are in bondage to sin or servants of God. Which father do we resemble? Who’s your daddy?

by John Henson

 

Thankful for a home to be confined to

I’m thankful to God to have a comfortable home to be confined to.

I’m thankful the Lord gave me a pleasant companion to be confined to home with.

I’m thankful he provides multiple means of communication to communicate with, pretty much anywhere across the world.

I’m thankful to take advantage of modern means of food distribution, and not have to go foraging or hunting to survive.

I’m thankful to have clean water piped into my home, instead of carrying a bucket for miles — or even from the backyard.

I’m thankful to be able to meet with the church, even under the lockdown, and be a present and active member of the Lord’s family.

I’m thankful to have ink-and-paper books to read and other digital reading material, most important of which is the Word of God to hold and meditate on.

I’m thankful for the option to ignore the fear-mongering news and to concentrate on the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I’m thankful to have work I can do in spite of present circumstances.

I’m thankful the Lord gives me a thankful spirit, because the natural man has none of this.

I’m thankful through and through!

by A. A. Neale

Dear High School Me

Dear High School Me,

It’s only been six years since being at Douglas County High School, but boy do I remember the flood of thoughts that encompass those days. I remember the anxiety of figuring out where to fit in. I can recall the panic of not knowing where I’m headed in the future. I can recollect the feeling of confusion and loneliness at times. Dear, high school me – it’ll be okay.

No one is going to remember the raggedy hand-me-down Broncos shirt and high-water jeans you’re wearing. No one cares that you don’t have your future perfectly lined out; most college students haven’t made it that far. Stop trying to fit in various cliques. I know the jocks are where the people gravitate to, the preppy kids are where the money’s at, and the brainiacs seem like they have life figured out.

Here’s the deal. Only a small percentage of the jocks will go on to play college ball while the rest settle back into the “normal” way of life. The preppy kids will get humbled by a thing called “tuition.” The brainiacs may seem like they have life figured out, but I’m convinced that’s relatively impossible for anyone. So where does that leave those who become successful? Any one of those categories has opportunity for success regardless of their background or persona. It all boils down to two principles – kindness and truth.

Solomon in all of his wisdom told his initial reader to keep these two characters bound around their neck and written on the tablet of their heart (Pr. 3:3 NASB). Why? Keep reading; “so you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” If you practice kindness and seek truth, you’re winning both parties; man and God. I don’t care where your career takes you, I don’t care what state you move to. As long as you are remaining in favor with man and God, you’re excelling more than you can imagine. People will remember you by what you practice daily.

Still, even six years later, you remember those kids who were kind to you. You’ve forgotten the kids who were mean and egotistical and the chances are likely that others have as well. Not only that, but you will come to greatly appreciate those who have given you pure truth – it’s a hard commodity to come by in the world. So here’s the takeaway. Forget about the worries and stresses of the future because you’ve got a God much bigger. Be kind and show love to those around you and you’ll be surprised at how many people will remember it in the future. Seek and speak Truth because it’s likely the most pure ambition we have in this world. Most importantly, just be you. God didn’t create you to be someone else, He had intentionality in crafting you and He could really use you.

I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t let the anxiety and stress of high school cloud you too much. Enjoy the rent-free life with the blessings of friends and family in one central geographic location. Compliment your mother’s cooking because it’s leagues better than the cereal you’re fixing to eat in the near future when you’re out on your own. Do what you can to preserve your close friends but don’t be afraid to detach from toxic friendships. Be consistent and prayerful and everything will be a-okay.

Tyler King

We Must Obey Truth

Truth is something that we cannot ignore and successfully escape. It is something we must search out — understand — obey — uphold. It is something that is worth losing all to find and yet, it is something that we have a tendency to let slip by as we busily engage in the time consuming work of ”making a living.”

Jesus told Pilate that he came to the world to bear witness unto the truth (John 18:37). He had earlier identified “truth” as being the word of the Father (John 17:17). There are things that are “truth” in many areas, but the truth of which I speak is that regarding man’s spiritual being, well-being and destiny.  One of the tests of true discipleship to the Lord Jesus Christ is one’s knowledge and continuing in truth (John8:31-32). Yet some men say that truth is unattainable and that there is no such thing as TRUTH. Could be we are trying to justify our refusal to search out truth and stand for it.

What is your attitude toward religious truth? How hard are you seeking to find it? How firmly do you stand in the defense of it? How earnestly do you oppose all that opposes truth? In 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Paul speaks of those who do not believe the truth and who do not love it. He points out that God will thus send them a strong delusion and that they will be damned because of this! They didn’t love it — They didn’t believe it!

In Romans 2:8 Paul points out that God will punish those who do not obey truth. This same thing is taught in Galatians 2:14 and 5:7. Thus the importance of knowing truth and obeying the same cannot be over emphasized.  God would have all men to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1) and be saved. Souls are purified when men obey truth (1 Peter 1:22). We should clearly see the need to search out, understand, obey, and uphold God’s word (TRUTH) in all things. Are you doing that?  – by J. F. Dancer

Wishful thinking?

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with persistence” (Romans 8:24-25 NKJV).

The apostle Paul listed as three abiding virtues, “faith, hope, love, these three” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Modern skeptics often dismiss one of these, hope, as nothing more than wishful thinking and at best a delusion. One hears the promise of eternal life derogatorily called “pie in the sky by and by.” The emphasis of the world is upon immediate gratification – obtaining what one needs or wants right now without delay.

What exactly is hope, and how is it different from faith? Both place trust in the unseen and expect future fulfillment of promises.

Faith, as used in the New Testament, refers primarily to trust in God. It is the assurance that God will provide whatever is necessary that man himself cannot do (Hebrews 11:6).

Hope is the confident anticipation of God’s future activity. Webster defines it in part as “desire accompanied by expectation.” That precisely fits Paul’s discussion in Romans 8:24-25, “Why does one hope for what he sees? … We eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

The final words of the Bible are significant: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21).

The entire Bible is the story of Jesus and the salvation which he brought to fallen humanity. First in prophecy, then in the record of his life and death, and finally in the ongoing history of his church, Jesus’ sacrificial story is proclaimed. An emphasis of that proclamation is that his story is not yet ended. He lives, he reigns, and he is coming again (Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26).

It is that return which empowers Christians to overcome sufferings and disappointments in this life (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Paul’s assertion that a resurrection is certain leads to the emphatic conclusion: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable.”

This is not a negative assessment of the life that Christian’s live. It is rather a tribute to the power of hope and the greatness of our eventual transformation to be with God and Christ. The early Christian’s confidence that life in eternity was certain and would be spectacular beyond comprehension gave them the ability to face derision, imprisonment and even death for the sake of their faith.

But how is that reflected in today’s church, almost 2,000 years after the ascension of Jesus into heaven? Do we still possess that “desire accompanied by expectation?” How often do we hear prayers that Jesus would “come quickly?”

Fifty years or more ago sermons on Heaven, Hell, and Judgment were frequently heard from our pulpits. How often is that the case today? I am not aware of any repudiation of the Biblical truths about those subjects among us, but neither do I hear or read much on the subject. How many modern Christians can be described as “eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body?”

For many of us, life here on earth is very good. We are in no hurry to depart; in fact we dread missing something good if we should die “prematurely.” However, almost any time would seem to be too quickly for us. Whenever our lives end there will be things unfinished which we will leave reluctantly.

Yet anticipating the return of Jesus is significantly different from a “death wish.” His return will be a glorious event which those alive at the time will be blessed to experience (1 Thessalonians 4:12-16). And there will be no continuation of life on earth after he comes – nothing for us to miss out on.

Jesus’ return will be the culmination of creation. Paul said, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). All the universe was made for the ultimate return of Christ. Let us join the inspired apostle in praying, “Come quickly!”

by Michael Brooks

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6.6 ESV).

Recently, the battery of our 2014 Chevrolet Impala died while I sat in the local hospital’s parking lot. Of course, we did not realize that it was “just” the battery at the time. The problem seemed worse. As my dad and I were in a difficult situation, stranded in the hospital parking lot, we had the car towed to our local mechanic. Luckily we thought to facilitate everything through our local auto insurance agent, including our car rental. That choice certainly made things smoother. While our mechanic repaired our Impala, we rented a 2020 Toyota Corolla. I will be honest. I really liked the Corolla. I was a little disappointed when the mechanic called to let us know we could pick up our car.

Isn’t that odd? There is nothing wrong with the 2014 Impala. Cosmetically, it looks good. It has low mileage. It is like one of those mythic cars that little old ladies only drove to church on Sunday. Yet, the Corolla had cool little bells and whistles. An alarm sounded if I drifted over the middle line or the line on the shoulder. (I heard that sound a lot, taking the many curves as I went over the mountain. It can be hard not to approach the middle or shoulder of the road when the road is curvier than it is straight.) The rental also had some driver-assist feature coupled with the cruise control that turned the wheel according to the road surface marking detected by its radar. Consequently, it handled curves well and had a good fuel economy. The only “negative’ was that road noise seemed more significant in this lighter automobile.

Here is the question. From whence did my sudden discontentment arise?  It is not as if there is a need for a new automobile. Yet, driving a new car for a few days made me feel like I was missing out on something. It may be, too, that I was subconsciously acknowledging my desire to change something (anything) in my life. However, the problem with that thinking is that it reflects a lack of gratitude for my current blessings. Were I to go and buy a 2021 Corolla tomorrow, my happiness would be short-lived. Those elated feelings might last a few months or a year, but the pleasure would fade. What’s worse is that I would end up making myself more miserable by saddling myself with new debt as I paid off the car over several years. Indeed, discontentment is not a problem solved by material gain.

Our emotions are complex. Indulging the lust of the eyes and flesh and the boastful pride of life may act as a placebo, obscuring the underlying problem. Still, there is no cure for discontentment besides gratitude and acceptance. As Paul reminds us, God supplies our every need (Philippians 4.19). Thus, we should be content with food and covering (1 Timothy 6.8). Should God bless us with more, it is a sign He expects more from us (Luke 12.48). And we are to be looking out for the interests of others (Philippians 2.4). Therefore, “while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6.10 NASB1995).

When you realize you are a citizen of another country and have your provisions as you make your way home, you, too, will feel contentment. It will certainly give you greater peace of mind. Then comes the realization that salvation and a loaf of bread are worth more than all the gold in Fort Knox. Yes, “godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Brent Pollard

 

 

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The Bible can be described in various ways. It is a light (Psa. 119.105), a seed (Lk. 8.11), and a sword (Eph. 6.17). It can also be viewed as a gift. In Jn. 17.14, Jesus said, “I have GIVEN them Your word. In 2 Tim. 3.16, Paul wrote, “All Scripture is GIVEN by inspiration of God.” In 2 Pet. 1.3, Peter wrote, “…His divine power has GIVEN to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Since this is the holiday season, let us consider how some of us might treat gifts that are given to us during this time. Let us notice six similarities between the Bible and a gift.

The gift must be opened to be used. A child knows that! The Bible is the same way. It must be opened to be used. To gain from its pages we must be like the godly man in Psalm 1. We must delight in it and meditate in it day and night!

Some like the gift’s pretty package, but they get upset when it is opened because it is not what they expected. Some react to the Bible in the same way. They are excited to study it and learn until they read something they are not willing to accept. In John 6.66, many of the disciples left Jesus. The context reveals that He was teaching them a hard saying and they would not accept it.

Some play with the packaging of the gift more than the contents. Some treat the Bible that way. They may purchase one with an attractive cover, carry it so others will see them with it, and even put it in obvious places around the house to be seen; yet, they do not practice opening it to get the benefit of reading and applying it to life. Jesus said, “If you KNOW these things, blessed are you if you DO them” (John 13.17).

Some use the gift briefly and then put it away. The Bible is often treated in much the same way. One is curious. He looks in the Word for what he wants. When he finds it he quits looking. He misses what God says in a multitude of other areas. James said, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (1.25).

Some gifts are given that make both the giver and the one who receives the gift happy. That has to do with the attitude of both the giver and the receiver! The Bible is just such a gift. The giver (God) certainly has the right attitude. The receivers (us) must have the right attitude in order to receive the happiness found therein. Psalm 144:15 says, “Happy are the people who God is the Lord!”

Some truly appreciate the gift, noting that it is the thought that counts and not the price. While many truly appreciate the Bible, it ought to be said that both the thought AND the price matter with God’s Word! The thought of the gift comes from a loving Father Who sacrificed His Son for us (John 3.16). The price of the gift comes from a loving Son Who shed His blood for the new covenant (Mat. 26.28).

Think about it!

Kevin Williams

PREPARATION

Some form of the word “prepare” is used 161 times in the Bible. Some form of the word “ready” is used 89 times (“be ready” – 13 times). Many times these phrases are used in what I would call an “incidental” fashion. In other words, the use is not theologically significant. Our focus in this study will be on a few of the important uses of this word, so that we can better understand the kind of readiness and preparedness that the Lord desires and requires of us.

PREPAREDNESS FOR JESUS AND HIS KINGDOM

From the outset of the New Testament, John’s mission was to prepare mankind for Jesus and His coming Kingdom (see Lk. 1:17). His message involved the necessity of turning to Jesus in repentance and baptism (see Mk. 1:4) in preparation for receiving the eternal kingdom (see Dan. 2:44). This kingdom is also referred to as the church (see Mt. 16:18-19).

Today, mankind must prepare for the kingdom through turning from sin and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). At this point, the Lord adds one to His glorious kingdom (see Acts 2:41, 47; Jn. 3:3, 5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27).

This is the beginning of preparedness!

PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK

The New Testament indicates multiple times that God’s children ought to be ready for good works. While some minimize the need for good works, James describes the Christian without good works as living by a dead faith (see James 2:14-26).

Instead, Paul said that Christians are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10). The word “for” here denotes that good works are the purpose of the Christian life. Thus, Paul told Titus to remind the brethren “to be ready for every good work” (Titus 1:3).

Christians, who are saved by the righteousness of God, strongly desire others to obtain that salvation, and are willing to engage in the work of the Lord toward that magnificent end (see Titus 3:4-5)! Ultimately the works of the Christian are toward an eternal end, or else they are no better than the good works of any other humanitarian organization. Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (Lk. 19:10). His mission is ours!

PREPARING FOR FUTURE SERVICE

While there are always things Christians can do in the Lord’s service, the Bible also speaks of preparation to make oneself more useful to the Master. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:1, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (or, a good work). Yet, as we read the qualifications that follow (along with those in Titus 1), we observe that this is a work that has been prepared for. The same may be said of the work of deacons. In fact, the text says in verse 10, that they are to “be tested first.” In other words, they have faithfully prepared themselves for this position and now meet the divine qualifications.

The truth is that every Christian ought to be in continual training for better and further service in the Lord’s kingdom. Growth in grace and knowledge (2 Pt. 3:18) ought never to be minimized, as it aids in one’s service in any and every area of God’s kingdom.

Hebrews 5:11-14 indicates that some Christians have had plenty of time to be teachers of God’s Word, but they are not because they are “dull of hearing” (v. 11). Sincerely feeding on the Word of God produces good Bible teachers (see 1 Pt. 2:1-2).

Next week we will conclude this brief study concerning our preparation as God’s servants. Let us remain prepared in the kingdom of our Lord by retaining penitent hearts, being ready now for good works, and exercising the discipline needed for greater service in His Kingdom.

Daren Schroeder

Spiritual Warfare

With about 620,000 fatalities, the American Civil War caused more American deaths than any other war. Thousands fell on battlefields under Union or Confederate rifle fire. The death toll eventually rose to about 2% of the American population, which would correspond to some six million out of America’s population today.

Only a fraction of those deaths resulted directly from battle wounds inflicted by the enemy, though. In fact, about two-thirds of Civil War deaths were attributed not to wounds but to infection and disease. You might not think of infection as a major war-time killer, but in the 1860s doctors and scientists were just beginning to understand the role microorganisms play in disease. It was only that very same decade that Louis Pasteur was conducting his ground-breaking microbiology experiments, and the germ theory of disease had not yet been developed.

So looking back from the vantage of modern science, we can see that the Union and Confederate forces were both fighting an invisible enemy: germs.  Unbeknownst to the human combatants, billions of microorganisms proliferated inside their bodies and spread unchecked to other humans. The pathogens caused life-threatening diseases like pneumonia, typhoid fever, dysentery, and malaria. Some of these diseases could have been reduced by practicing basic hygiene, but at that time people simply realize the nature of their invisible enemy or how to fight it.

As Christians, we too are fighting an invisible enemy. That enemy, the devil, is actively seeking to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8), but we never see him in physical form. Paul described our spiritual foe as “the rulers,… the powers,… the world forces of this darkness,… the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NASB). Thankfully, the apostle also gave some guidance on how we should engage in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10–17). God provides a set of armor perfectly designed to protect us in mortal spiritual combat. We are invulnerable to the attacks of the evil one when we have taken up truth, righteousness (v. 14), the gospel (v. 15), faith (v. 16), salvation, and God’s word (v. 17).

Today, most of us can hardly imagine being exposed to a deadly infection without taking deliberate steps to protect ourselves. How much more ought we take care to don our God-given armor to protect us from the devil’s deadly attacks against our souls? Let’s be always mindful of the spiritual war that rages around us, and let’s take full advantage of God’s armor so we “will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13).

Peter Yukich

Willie’s Wisdom?

The clear voiced country singer, Willie Nelson, was recently honored by his peers on his ninetieth birthday. Now I would not hold Willie up as a role model for anyone,  but I will confess to liking many of his songs. In a recent interview this Nashville rebel said, “Live everyday like it is your last, and some day you will be right.”

While I may like his voice and enjoy his songs, when the last day comes for the guitar strumming Texan, I would not want to be in his shoes. I know what Willie means in this statement, but it is not the right approach to life.  It is as Isaiah said of Israel’s lifestyle, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die” (Isa. 22:13). Both statements reflect the idea of enjoying the pleasures of the world to the max before you die, with no regard to what awaits you at death.

As Christians we say, “For to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phi. 1:21). We live our life “in the world, but not of the world.”  Our lifestyle is not to seek the pleasures of the world but to “seek first the Kingdom of God (Mt. 6:33). We do not follow the fatalistic view of Job that “Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil (Job 14:1), but that “This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psm. 118:24). We live everyday ready, if it is our last, to go home to be with the Lord, “which is far better.”

-Dennis Doughty

Saved By The Book

Rick Waggoner began driving his morning bus route just as he had for the last ten years. He was forced to pull over when his bus broke down. Three young men approached the bus and savagely proceeded to shoot Rick twice in the chest, once in the hip, and also stabbed him in the arm. Amazingly, the two bullets that hit his chest were stopped by none other than Rick’s Bible! He had a habit of keeping a Bible in his shirt pocket. Even though Rick said it felt like he had been hit with a sledgehammer in the chest, he was alive  Rick was then able to wrestle away the gun and knife from the young guys and chase them off.  Rick was saved, quite literally, by his Bible.

Even though this Bible saved Rick from physical death, this is not the main purpose of having a Bible, of course. The Bible provides other benefits which are exponentially more valuable. Billions of Bibles have been sold around the world. Billions of people own a Bible. And yet, how many of them actually know about the eternally saving power contained in this book? The number is tragically small.

The Bible tells us how to receive this eternally blessing from God, “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37-38).

Yes, apparently your Bible can stop a speeding bullet; maybe even two. However, the true benefits of the Bible reach well beyond this life and into eternity. Are we keeping our Bible close to our hearts or is our Bible dusty, forgotten, and perhaps even lost? Only when we study and apply the Bible to our lives can we be spiritually saved by this wonderful book.

Brett Petrillo