Month: April 2012

And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
Act 28:15 15

We sometimes make the mistake of thinking that those who are in leadership roles within the church have some kind of super-spiritual strength that makes them immune to the temptations of the average Christian.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  The prophet Elijah prayed so powerfully that God kept the heavens from raining for three and a half years, yet Jms 5:17 describes him as “a man with a nature like ours”.  Our text reveals that even the apostle Paul needed encouragement.  I promise you, if he needed it, those that labor among you today need it as well!

I preached a sermon recently that, from the pulpit, seemed to be well received.  I was confident I had presented to the people what the Lord gave me to say, but one little comment in passing from a brother after the message was used by Satan to tempt me to be discouraged.  Immediately, the Holy Spirit came to my rescue through the members of the body of Christ!  I had multiple people approach me in the sanctuary who shared what the Lord had shown them through the preached word.  Still, I was being hard on myself, so the next day, a brother uncharacteristicly called me to say he was still meditating on the message and wanted me to know what the Lord had impressed on his mind.  I received a similar text message later in the day, followed by a few emails over the next couple of days.  When it was all said and done, the discouragement was gone, and I had only an overwhelming peace that God was using me for His glory.

Now, no one knew about the original comment that had gotten me down, so why was there such an outpouring of love and encouragement upon me?  These individuals were sensitive to the prodding of the Holy Spirit that directed them to contact me at a time when I desparately needed a confirmation of God working through the ministry He had given me.  The fact is, we must be obedient to the promptings of the Spirit of God, not overlooking even the smallest opportunities that He brings our way.  “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal 6:9-10)

Sometimes, a thought crosses our mind to send a certain person an email or drop a card in the mail.  Don’t ignore it!  At times, we notice something no one else seems to see–maybe a distraught woman in the checkout line or a co-worker that is unusually quiet.  We may feel an urge just to ask someone if everything is okay.  Go for it!  We never know how much the smallest act of kindness may mean to someone.  “…a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (Pr 15:23) When we’re led by the Holy Ghost, the smallest word may speak volumes!

Don’t overlook opportunities to encourage, especially when it comes to the brethren.  Even the Apostle Paul needed it.  We don’t know much about Onesiphorus, but we do know that when Paul was tempted to be discouraged, this man was greatly used of the Lord to lift the apostle’s spirits and encourage him to press on.  “…for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day…” (2 Tim 1:16-18) May we be as sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  Don’t hesitate when the instruction comes.  You never know what the Lord may do!

Jamie

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Rom 16:17-18

Avoid them?  This attitude may be contrary to the way many think Christians should behave, but here it is in black and white.  If a person is divisive and always stirring up trouble, avoid (literally “shun”) that individual.  They say they serve God when in fact they are serving their own appetite, that is, they are self-centered instead of Christ-centered.  Preaching today so overly emphasizes communication with others for the sake of evangelism that the idea of avoiding anyone is foreign; however, this text is not the only place we’re told to leave people alone.

2 Tim 3:5 says that the latter days would be marked by a people “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”  So, we need to rescue those poor souls through continual interaction with them, right?  You’ll never believe the rest of the verse: “And from such people turn away!”  They are enemies to the kingdom of God, hypocrites that claim Christ in name but deny Him in their actions.  But, how will we know these people?  We certainly need wisdom from the Lord to recognize when we’re dealing with such a person, but He does tell us that you’ll know the tree by the fruit it bears.  Their fruit is listed in the previous verses as we read they are “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”. (2 Tim 3:2-4) What a strong contrast to the fruits of the Spirit! (Gal 5:22-23)

But isn’t it judgmental of us to pick out people we’re going to avoid?  It’s actually dangerous to not recognize such individuals!  Jesus said in Mat 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”  A wolf will eat you up if you don’t realize you’re dealing with one!  What’s the best advice for a sheep.  Run away bleating for the Shepherd to rescue you, i.e. avoid them and tell the Lord about it!  Who are these wolves?  V. 17 says they will “scourge you in their synagogues”.  In other words, the wolf is a religious person!  We find that to be true of all these people we are told to avoid.  They profess God but deny him in their actions.

Did you know that Christ turned away from people as well?  He even instructed His disciples to do the same.  After Jesus’ disciples informed Him that He had offended the Pharisees, His instruction on how to handle this delicate matter was, “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Mt 5:14) Christ did always those things that pleased the Father.  The Father had revealed His will in the Proverbs hundreds of years before: “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.” (Pr 14:7)

The fact is that a religionist who will not bow to God in his daily walk can be of great detriment to the church.  Such individuals bring division among a people that God has called to unity.  They will lead others astray by their sinful example which is why Paul says in 1 Cor 5:11, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.”  A lost religionist needs the shock that accompanies being shunned by believers so that he will not continue to think everything is spiritually okay!  It’s the best thing for his soul, and the hope is that the result will be that which occurred among the Corinthians–you will be able to later receive that person as a brother in Christ because he was brought to repentance!!  “This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.  Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.” (2 Cor 2:6-8)

Jamie

“…I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”
Rom 15:19

O that God would send more among us to fully preach the gospel!  When Paul considered his ministry, he knew for certain that he had held nothing back in proclaiming the truth.  When he says “fully preached” in our text, that phrase conveys the idea of cramming something like a net completely full.  It is the same word translated “it was full” in the parable that compares the preaching of the gospel to a dragnet being cast into the sea and pulled in only when it could hold no more.  So Paul preached in such a way that he crammed every bit of the revelation of Jesus Christ that he had into his preaching.  To borrow a phrase that we’re familiar with, he preached the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

As Paul addressed the Ephesians in Ac 20:26-27, he made a similar statement: “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”  He had a clear conscience concerning his declaration of the gospel.  No man’s blood was upon his hands because Paul had not held back any truth in his preaching!   You see, the preacher has no right to pick and choose what he preaches.  418 times in the Old Testament we read, “Thus says the Lord…”  That’s the preacher’s job!  He is not to simply declare to the people his opinion, but he is to fully preach to them what the Lord has said!  If he’s not sure what God is saying, then he should keep his mouth shut!

The professed church today is filled with all kinds of doctrines that are nothing more than inventions of men.  The worship that goes on in these places is the same kind of worship that our Lord condemns in Mt 15:6-9.  God hates such empty religion!  Just listen to the strength of Christ’s rebuke.  “…you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”  This effect is the expected result when men fail to “fully preach” the gospel.  Worship becomes pointless and vain because it is no longer founded upon the word of God but on the opinions of men.  God only accepts the worship of those that do so “in spirit and in truth“! (Jn 4:24)

I am reminded of the words of our Lord in Lk 10:2: “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  Would you pray with me this day, dear soul, for faithful laborers?  We need those that would declare God in His entirety, not a god of their own invention!  Where are the ones that would preach, not so that men would know their names, but that would preach so that God alone would be glorified?  How many are not leaning on their own understanding but are seeking a word from God on their knees so that they might declare to the people, “Thus says the Lord…”?!!  Would you be such a faithful servant to the souls of men?  O that God would send more among us to fully preach the gospel!

Jamie