Month: December 2012

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Acts 3:6

This time of the year is characterized by giving, but as our text above teaches, the Lord’s people should be known as cheerful givers all the time! (2 Cor 9:7) What an example the apostles are for us in this passage regarding the manner in which we ought to give!  As the scene in Acts 3 begins, we see that they didn’t let the affairs of this world distract them from that which was spiritually important. (Ac 3:1) It was the hour of prayer, and so they were headed to the temple to pray.  While they were busy about their Father’s business, a lame man at the temple gate begged them for a charitable donation.  Their pockets were empty, but that didn’t stop them from doing what they could.  They gave what they had!

This text reminds me of the account of the woman who anointed the head of Christ with a very costly ointment in Mk 14.  Some were indignant at such extravagance and criticized her for wasting what might have been sold for a great sum (nearly a year’s wages) and used to aid the poor.  But their criticism was quickly followed by the Lord’s rebuke!  Her motives were pure for she had anointed him out of love for Him and with a view toward his burial.  Jesus summed up her great work by saying, “She has done what she could.” (v. 8)

Children, that’s exactly what we’re called to do!  The Lord expects nothing more AND nothing less.  He would have us do what we can.  Do you feel your efforts to be insignificant in comparison to others?  Remember, one small boy offered his lunch of a few loaves and fishes, and Jesus fed thousands! (Jn 6:9) It’s not the size of the gift or the greatness of the effort, but it’s the heart behind the gift and the greatness of the God who uses it!  The Lord exalted the widow’s tithe of two mites though, by the world’s standard, it was of no value compared to the abundance cast in the treasury by the rich men. (Lk 21:1-4) God accepted her gift while rejecting theirs because she in her poverty “cast in all the living that she had.”  She did what she could!  May we at this and every season be determined to give as we can for the glory of our worthy Lord.

Jamie

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2 Tim 3:12

As we began chapter 2 of our study guide last week, we were asked the following question: “Have you ever been disliked or laughed at for being a Christian?”  This question is perhaps weightier than we realize in light of our verse above.  If we answer, “No…not really,” what does that say about how righteously we live before others?  Our text is clear.  If you live godly, you will at times be mistreated, but cheer up, Christian!  There are great blessings associated with suffering for Christ’s sake!  Let’s consider a few key verses along these lines.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Mt 5:10-12)

Jesus said you are blessed if you suffer for doing right!  This attack on the godly is nothing new.  The Old Testament prophets experienced it, the New Testament apostles endured it, and the church in this present age will also be subjected to it.  What should your response be in it?  Christ says, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad!”  There is great reward reserved for those that suffer for His sake!

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…” (Php 1:29)

According to Strong’s Concordance, the phrase “it has been granted” actually means “to grant as a favor”.  The point is that it is a great privilege to suffer for Christ’s sake.  That’s why we read in Ac 5:41 that after being imprisoned and then beaten before being released, the disciples departed “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”  After all that Christ has suffered for us–bearing ridicule, shame, torture, and ultimately death for our sakes–are we not happy to suffer in any and every way for Him?  Remember, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Is 53:5) Yes, it is a great honor to suffer for Jesus’ name!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” (2 Cor 1:3-5)

Do you want to minister to others?  Do you want to be able to sympathize with them in their trials and, instead of empty words, be able to offer them words of comfort and peace?  It is through our sufferings for Christ’s sake and the resulting comfort that God gives us that we then learn to be able to comfort others in their sufferings.  When my wife went through breast cancer treatment six years ago, she became uniquely able to support others that are more recently going through the same thing.  Likewise, there is great blessing in suffering for by it we are equipped to offer consolation to fellow saints who are being persecuted for their faith.

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “AND DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. (1 Pet 3:14-16)

Finally, experiencing persecution and responding to it in meekness and love may have an eternally beneficial effect upon those that observe us.  In the context of this text, it gives us an opportunity to share the gospel with those who marvel that we can patiently endure such mistreatment.  It has the potential to convict those by whose hands we are afflicted.  When the Roman centurion saw Christ dying upon the cross while praying to His Father to forgive those that had mocked and ridiculed Him, he knew Christ was a righteous man. (Lk 23:34, 47) It wasn’t simply how Jesus lived that convinced the soldier He was the Son of God, but it was how He suffered and died!  When the Philippian jailer experienced the care that Paul and Silas had for his soul even though they had “laid many stripes on them”, he and his family were brought to faith in Christ. (Ac 16:22-34) Souls have often been saved when men suffer for Christ’s sake and yet deal with their persecutors in love.  “…that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Pet 2:12) No wonder those that suffer for righteousness’ sake are called “blessed”!

Jamie

“…you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Ac 2:38

Our text above reveals a simple truth about all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  They ALL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!  Eph 1:13-14 says that it is by our receiving of the gift of the Spirit that we are assured we will receive all the blessings we have in Christ: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”  The parable of the ten virgins in Mt 25, however, teaches a very sobering thought regarding the gift of the Spirit–not all who think they possess the Spirit actually do!  Five of the virgins are identified as foolish, and when they say, “Lord, Lord, open to us,” the Bridegroom replies, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.”  Since it is possible then to be very religious and yet not know the Lord, we must examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. (2 Cor 13:5) The list below identifies twelve clear characteristics of those in whom the Holy Spirit lives.  Note, this list is not a checklist to make sure you possess four or five of these qualities.  Everyone born of Spirit has ALL of these traits!

1)    You continually cry Abba, Father!
Rom 8:15-16, Gal 4:6—we have access to the Father now and cry for Him (Eph 2:17-18) You don’t have to teach a baby to cry out for mama or daddy!

2)    You are a witness unto Christ
No one has to teach you to testify of Christ–the Spirit prompts you to do so! (Jn 15:26, 1 Jn 4:13-15, Ac 1:8)

3)    You bear the fruit of the Spirit
These are the inner qualities common to all believers. (Gal 5:22-25, Jn 15:2,5,16)

4)    Your life is one of general obedience to the Lord; He is Lord by your confession with your mouth AND your actions
The inner fruits of the Spirit manifest themselves outwardly!  (1 Cor 12:3, Rom 8:4-5, 13-14, 1 Jn 3:9-10, 21-24)

5)    You are sick of sin
1 Jn 5:18 says that which is born of Spirit sins not, but experientially, we know the flesh still sins.  Our response to sin in Rom 7:18-24 is thatwe hate it and kill it out, Rom 8:13

6)    You are growing and maturing in the Lord
You didn’t stop at one doctrine if you’re in Christ (2 Cor 3:17-18), the unspiritual or carnal remain babes (1 Cor 2:14-3:3, Eph 2:19-22, 2 Th 2:13)

7)    Similarly, you have an understanding in the Lord, not the confusion once experienced as you heard the truth
The word of God now makes sense! (1 Cor 2:9-16, 1 Jn 2:20) It’s like the light coming on for disciples in Jn 2:22 and12:15-16 because Jn 14:26 is true.

8)    Because you’re growing, you’re getting stronger by the Spirit
The things that used to crush you no longer do! (Eph 3:16)  To have the Spirit is to have power in Ac 1:8. In Eph 6:10-12, we’re told to be strong because we now can be!  Now we possess God’s strength! (2 Cor 12:9-10) Compare the before and after state of the believer in 2 Tim 2:26 and Jm 4:7.

9)    You love God’s children and desire communion with them
This love is not simply someone attending the same church as believers!  You have a sincere care and affection for the people of God. (1 Th 4:8-9, 1 Pet 1:22-23, 1 Jn 3:10-14, 4:7-8, 12-13)

10) You are equipped by the Spirit with gifts to serve His people
We see a sample of these gifts in Rom 12:4-6.  Who gives these gifts as appropriate where needed? (1 Cor 12:4-12; 14:12) Note, the gifts are for the good of the whole church.

11) You suffer AND endure that suffering for Christ’s sake
Because point 4 was true, 2 Tim 3:12 is the result, and these persecutions for Christ’s sake evidence the Spirit! (1 Pet 4:12-14) Jesus warned this would happen in Jn 15:18-20.  In Ph 1:29, “it is given” = “to grant as a favor”, in other words, it’s our privilege!  In Rom 8:16-17, notice the “if” which must be there to prove we have the Spirit and are not like stony ground hearers in Mk 4:17 who have no root in themselves, i.e. Christ is not in them!

12) You anxiously look for the Lord’s return and your full deliverance
These two things go together per 1 Jn 3:2.  Rom 8:18-23 ties this fact to the indwelling Spirit.  Paul lusted (which is what “a desire” means) for this in Ph 1:23 and so does all the church in 2 Cor 5:1-8 (“groan” = “intensely craving” in v. 2).  In 2 Tim 4:8, we love to see Jesus NOW and look forward to seeing Him then.  You assemble with the saints because where two or three are gathered in His name, Christ is there! (Mt 18:20) In Rev 22:7, 12, Jesus says, “I come quickly”, so the church’s response in v. 20 is, “Come!”

Jamie