6/30/13

From Gary... Danger from the most unexpected places


Just another day; filled with fun at the water's edge. But, wait- there is danger afoot!!!  It can creep up on you unexpectedly!!!  How easy it is to fixate on unimportant things and ignore problems right in front of you!!!  There is danger out there and it must be handled carefully (which is why someone put the word on the box in the first place).  However, the box won't hurt them- something else just might.  When we think of "danger", most of the time we worry about things happening to us "out of the blue"- like the new party to the game above.  But, what about our brethren? How do we treat our fellow Christians?  Listen to the words of Jesus...

Matthew, Chapter 5
 21  “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.’   22  But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. 


  23  “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,   24  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 

Be careful to treat your brother (for whom Christ died) with respect.  If you don't- the last part of verse 22 could become a major problem for you.  Right here and now, it could hinder your worship (vs. 23f.), so make peace- and do it now.  Have fun, enjoy life- it is far too short!!! But-- think about what you do, BEFORE YOU DO IT. Problems may sneak up on you if you don't!!!


PS.  I have never heard anyone use the word "Raca" outside of a Bible reference, but be careful anyway!!!

From Bill and Laura Dayton... Today


Today

Today is here. I will start with a smile, and resolve to be agreeable. I will not criticize. I refuse to waste my valuable time. Today has one thing in which I know I am equal with others--time. All of us draw the same salary in seconds, minutes, and hours. Today I will not waste my time, because the minutes I wasted yesterday are as lost as a vanished thought. Today I refuse to spend time worrying about what might happen. I am going to spend my time making things happen. Today I am determined to do things I should do. I firmly determine to stop doing the things I should not do. Today I begin by doing, and not wasting my time. In one week I will be miles beyond the person I am today. Today I will not imagine what I would do if things were different. They are not different. I will make success with what material I have. Today I will stop saying, "If I had time," for I will never "find time" for anything--if I want it, I must make it. Today I will act towards other people as though this might be my last day on Earth. I will not wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes.

Dear friends, today is here. We are not promised any more time beyond this present moment. My next breath could be my last, and such is the case with you also. Seize today--for the Lord!


"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:33,34).


This is today. What will you make of it? 

From Jim McGuiggan... The good news of Judgement

The good news of Judgement

Paul never ceased to preach the gospel and when he arrived in Athens that's what he did—he preached the gospel. The good news is that the one true God is the God who has come to us in and as Jesus Christ in whom the kingdom of God is revealed (see Acts 17:7).
It isn't only that one day the kingdom of God will be revealed—it's that in Jesus Christ it is revealed. The world in which the will of God will be done as it is in heaven is the world that embraces Jesus as the rightful King and Lord of all. These Athenians with all their interest in "the supreme good" could only debate and guess what the ideal world would look like but Paul knew exactly what the ideal world would look like—it would be a world that took Jesus as King, a world that embraced him as the embodiment of the will of God for creation.
The life and death of Jesus Christ was the judgement of the world in which these Athenians lived. In exalting him God had put his stamp of approval on how Jesus fleshed out the heart and will of God. "Therefore," God highly exalted him, Paul explained in Philippians 2:9, and gave him the name "Lord" over all.  
Because this is true—because God saw Jesus Christ as the flawless image of himself and made him Lord of all—it's no surprise, then, that God has appointed a day when he will judge the entire creation in righteousness by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30-31). Jesus is the judgement of the world (compare John 12:31 and Galatians 5:14 which refer to the cross on which the world hung him and on which it died). So when the time comes for judgement, the standard by which it will be judged is not some "general moral law" or some set of unknown ground rules—the world will be judged by Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
And how can that be anything other than good news? Could the Athenians have been glad to hear that one of the Caesars would finally judge all? Could 21st century people be glad to hear that an American President or a UK Prime Minister (or anyone else) was their hope for the righting of all wrongs? Can you imagine humanity's hope that all wrongs will be righted resting on any one of the various segments of Christendom?
And until Jesus comes, what do you suppose is the business of those who are truly "the body of Jesus Christ"?

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Jim McGuiggan... Jerusalem first!

Jerusalem first!

The first wave of Christians was Jewish. In their thousands they came to take on them the name of Jesus in repentance and baptism and before long James was able to say there were hosts of Torah-observant Jews that had trusted in Jesus as the Messiah (Acts 2:36-41 and elsewhere with Acts 21:20). 
Christ’s command to the apostolic group was that they were to begin preaching in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8 and compare Luke 24:46-47 with Acts 2:1-40). It wasn’t long either before we hear that Phillip had gone to Samaria to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Saviour (Acts 8:5, 12-17) and then he careered down to meet a high-ranking official of the Egyptian court—a God-fearer after the Jewish style—returning from worship at Jerusalem and on his way back to Egypt (8:26-40). From there Philip preached his way up the coast to Caesarea, which at some point he made his home (8:40 and 21:8). 
But since the gospel was to go out from Jerusalem, move through Judea and Samaria and then to the other parts of the earth—what are we to say of those righteous people (Jews as well as Gentiles) that the gospel had not yet reached?  
Imagine this: a godly and faithful Jewess is present on Pentecost when Peter first proclaimed the gospel about Jesus Christ. She now believes in God’s new work in Jesus Christ and gladly receives the gospel and is baptized, taking Christ’s name on her (Acts 2:37-41). She has now experienced forgiveness in Jesus Christ. She usually comes with her godly and faithful widowed mother but this year the mother was ill and couldn’t make the trip. The daughter has heard and become obedient to the gospel but the mother has neither heard it nor has she taken on her the name of Jesus. What are we to say? One is “saved” and the other damned? 
Before Peter got up to speak the good news both mother and daughter were at peace with God and now one is right with God and the other is not? Both were right with God before Peter spoke and now one is “lost” though she has not changed in heart toward God? That makes no biblical or moral sense. The mother has not obeyed the gospel as her daughter has done but it is not that she rejected it—it simply hasn’t yet been offered to her!  
Had the mother been a decadent non-lover of God we would rightly call her lost. But this Jewish mother reveres, cherishes and serves God with her heart. As yet she hasn’t been offered the gospel which others far away in Jerusalem were offered just a few hours earlier. Should we conclude that as soon as Peter spoke Acts 2:38 that the absent mother (and a host like her) automatically became damned? Did God at that moment consider this mother (and a host like her) “disobedient to the gospel”? Would he have described her as one who has “not obeyed the gospel”? 
Keep in mind that the gospel had not yet gone to the regions beyond Palestine because that was the will of God. “Begin at Jerusalem!” But what of the God-fearing and righteous people who lived half a world away while the apostles worked in Jerusalem
It doesn’t really help to say, “Well, all I know is: salvation comes to people only through Jesus Christ!” I believe that is true but it doesn’t help us with the questions generated above about those righteous and God-fearing people who hadn’t yet heard.   

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Worship In Spirit And Truth (Jn.4:20-24)


                          "THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"

                 Worship In Spirit And Truth (4:20-24)

INTRODUCTION

1. At Jacob's well, Jesus and the Samaritan woman discussed the matter
   of worship...
   a. Samaritans and Jews differed as to where one should worship - Jn 4:20
      1) Samaritans believed they should worship on Mt. Gerazim
      2) Jews understood that it should be in Jerusalem
   b. Jesus said the time was coming for a different kind of worship
      - Jn 4:21-24
      1) Where worship would not be defined by its location (though Jews
         had been right)
      2) Where true worshippers would worship the Father in spirit and
         truth

2. What does it mean to worship the Father in spirit and truth?  Many
   say it means...
   a. To worship God from the heart ("in spirit")
   b. To worship God as He directs in His Word ("and truth")

3. Yet note the contrast made by Jesus...
   a. The Jews had worshipped correctly by going to Jerusalem
   b. But the time was coming when place would not be important
   -- A contrast is being made between OT worship and NT worship

4. Somehow Old Testament (OT) worship had not been "in spirit and
   truth"...
   a. Yet God required worship from the heart from the Jews - cf. Deu
      6:4-7; Isa 1:10-18
   b. And God required worship as directed by His Word - cf. Deut 5:32-33

[If "in spirit and truth" does not mean "from the heart and in harmony
with God's Word", then what does it mean?  Let's first consider...]

I. WORSHIPPING GOD IN SPIRIT

   A. MEANS TO OFFER "SPIRITUAL" WORSHIP...
      1. In contrast to that which is mostly physical
      2. This explanation is in keeping with the context - cf. Jn 4:24
         a. Jesus began by saying "God is Spirit..."
         b. The worship of God is to be "in spirit" (i.e., spiritual)
      3. Note these comments:
         a. "...men must offer a worship corresponding with the nature
            and attributes of God." - J. W. McGarvey
         b. "Since he is Spirit, he must receive spiritual worship..."
            - B.W. Johnson
         c. "A pure, a holy, a spiritual worship, therefore, is such as
            he seeks the offering of the soul rather than the formal
            offering of the body - the homage of the heart rather than
            that of the lips." - Albert Barnes
      -- A worship was coming that was more in keeping with God's
         nature!

   B. AS OPPOSED TO "CARNAL" ORDINANCES...
      1. OT worship consisted of carnal (fleshly) ordinances - cf. He 9:1-10
         a. A physical structure (tabernacle)
         b. Special priesthood, clothing for priests
         c. Lamp stands, burning incense
         d. Instruments of music
         e. Feast days
         f. Animal and meal sacrifices
         -- All which appealed to the carnal or physical senses of man
      2. NT worship is geared more toward the spiritual side of man:
         a. God's temple is now spiritual, made up of Christians - 
            1Co 3:16; Ep 2:19-22
         b. All Christians are priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices
            - 1Pe 2:5,9
         c. Our prayers are as sweet incense - Re 5:8
         d. Our music is making melody with the heart, not the harp - Ep 5:19
         e. The Lord's Supper - Ac 20:7; 1Co 10:16-17; 11:17-34
         f. Spiritual sacrifices of praise and service - He 13:15; Ro 12:1-2
         -- The emphasis is on the spirit of man, not his physical
            senses!

[Physical ordinances of the Old Covenant were until "the time of
reformation" (He 9:9-10), which occurred with the coming of the New
Covenant.  As Jesus proclaimed, the new worship is more in keeping with
the nature of God ("God is Spirit..."), designed to relate more to the
spiritual side of man.  Now let's examine...]

II. WORSHIPPING GOD IN TRUTH

   A. MEANS TO OFFER "TRUE (REAL)" WORSHIP...
      1. To worship according to the commands of God?
         a. Certainly we should do this
         b. But this is no contrast to what God expected in the OT - cf.
            Deut 5:32-33
         c. Jesus admitted that the Jews were right in their worship
            - Jn 4:22
      2. What then is the contrast between worship that was and that
         which "now is"?
         a. Not between true and false worship
         b. But between that which is true (real) and that which had
            been a shadow
      -- A worship was coming that was more in keeping with truth and
         reality

   B. AS OPPOSED TO "SHADOW (SYMBOL)" WORSHIP...
      1. Many elements of worship in the OT were simply a shadow or
         figure of that to come
         a. The Tabernacle was a symbol - He 9:8-9
         b. The Law with its worship was only a shadow of that to come
            - He 10:1
      2. Christ is now in the true tabernacle (heaven)- He 9:11-12,24
         a. We should expect the worship of the true to be different
            from that of the shadow
         b. We have already seen that to be the case:
            1) Old Covenant worship, which was but a shadow, was
               physical in nature
            2) New Covenant worship is according to the true realities
               (God is Spirit, Christ in heaven) and is therefore more
               spiritual in nature
      -- The emphasis is on that which is true (real), not which was a
         shadowy symbol of things to come

[This explanation of worshipping God "in spirit and truth" is more in
keeping with the immediate context. Since God is seeking "true
worshippers" who worship Him accordingly (Jn 4:23), some thoughts about
our worship today may be appropriate...]

III. WORSHIPPING GOD TODAY

   A. NOT ALL WORSHIP IS ACCEPTABLE...
      1. There is vain worship - Mt 15:7-9
         a. Based on traditions of men, while ignoring the commands of
            God
         b. Offered without involving our "hearts" (spirits)
      2. There is ignorant worship - Ac 17:22-23
         a. Ignorant of the true nature of God
         b. Ignorant of the worship He desires
      3. There is will worship - Col 2:20-23 (KJV)
         a. Self-imposed, not God-directed
         b. What we like, what we think is good
      -- Just because we worship God, does not mean He is pleased with
         our worship!

   B. MANY OFFER CARNAL WORSHIP...
      1. When they appeal to the OT for their authority for how they
         worship
         a. For instrumental music, burning incense, clapping, etc.
         b. They seek to justify that which appeals to the flesh
            (senses), not the spirit
      2. When they offer that which appeals to their fleshly nature
         a. Preferring what is based on how it sounds
         b. Preferring what is based on how it feels
      -- Striving to be more spiritual, some revert to becoming more
         carnal, a reason to be concerned (cf. Ga 4:9-11)!

   C. GOD SEEKS TRUE WORSHIPPERS...
      1. Who worship God "...with their spirits" - Matthew Poole
         a. Seeking to engage the spirit (mind) more than the organs of
            the body
         b. Content with the simplicity of worship that stresses the
            spiritual side of man
      2. Who worship God "...according to the rule that he hath
         prescribed, in truth and reality." - ibid.
         a. Not desiring to return to the carnal ordinances imposed
            until a time of reformation
         b. Content with the worship ordained in the New Covenant
      3. Who can worship God anywhere, anytime, with true spiritual
         worship - e.g., Ac 16:25
      -- God seeks such worshippers, who seek to worship Him in spirit
         and truth!

CONCLUSION

1. Matthew Poole offered this explanation of our text in his
   commentary...

   "God...is a spiritual Being, the Father of spirits, and requires
   a spiritual service proportioned to His being; and therefore those
   that pay a religious homage to him, must do it with their spirits,
   and according to the rule that he hath prescribed, in truth and
   reality."

2. How can we be sure to offer spiritual and true worship acceptable to
   God...?
   a. Look to the New Testament for our authority in worship!
   b. Worship in ways ordained by Christ and His apostles! - cf. Ac 2:42

3. As God is Spirit...
   a. Our worship should be spiritual and not limited to special places
   b. The emphasis should be on the spiritual (e.g., meaning of the
      words), and not the physical (e.g., how it looks, sounds, feels)

Remember...

   "...the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will
   worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking
   such to worship Him."
                   (Jn 4:23)


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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From Mark Copeland... The Gift Of Living Water (Jn.4:10-14)


                          "THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"

                   The Gift Of Living Water (4:10-14)

INTRODUCTION

1. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He spoke of "living
   water"...
   a. He approached her for a drink on His way to Galilee - Jn 4:3-8
   b. She was amazed that He, a Jew, would speak to her, a Samaritan
      woman - Jn 4:9
   -- Jesus used the opportunity to tell her about "living water" - Jn 4:10-14

2. Questions abound about "the gift of God" and "living water" in this
   passage...
   a. What is "the gift of God"?
      1) Many say it refers to Jesus
      2) Others believe it refers to the salvation He offers
   b. What is the "living water" Jesus offers?
      1) Many say it is a figure for salvation or eternal life
      2) Others apply it to the Holy Spirit, because of Jn 7:37-39
   -- Are they two different things, or one and the same?

3. Like others, I  believe "the gift of God" and "living water" are one
   and the same...
   a. "Now it is quite clear that our Lord means the same thing,
      whatever it may be, by the two expressions, 'the gift of God' and
      'the living water.'" - Maclaren
   b. "When Jesus spoke about 'the gift of God,' He meant 'living
      water.'" - Hendriksen
   -- Though I can appreciate why many believe "the gift of God" is
      Jesus - cf. Jn 3:16

4. Like others, I tend to think "living water" in this passage may refer
   to the Holy Spirit...
   a. "By this living water is meant the Spirit..." - Matthew Henry
   b. "From [Jn 7:37-39] it is plain, that our Savior here by the living
      water he speaks of understood the Holy Spirit." - Poole

[That "living water" in Jn 4:10-14 may be an allusion to the gift of the
Holy Spirit comes from examining the nature of this "living water"
described by Jesus both here and in Jn 7.  For example...]

I. THE LIVING WATER MUST BE DRUNK

   A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
      1. "...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will
         never thirst" - Jn 4:14
      2. "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" - Jn 7:37

   B. DO WE "DRINK" THE HOLY SPIRIT...?
      1. Yes, upon our conversion
         a. Those who repent and are baptized receive the gift of the
            Spirit - Ac 2:38-39
         b. Those who are baptized are made to "drink" of the Spirit 
            - 1Co 12:13
      2. Yes, as we continue to seek to be filled with the Spirit
         a. We are not to be drunk with wine, but filled with the Spirit
            - Ep 5:18-19
         b. The implication may be that filling comes through "drinking"
         c. How do we continue to drink of the Spirit?  I would suggest
            in these ways:
            1) Singing and making melody in our heart - Ep 5:18-19
            2) Feeding upon the Word of God, which is the sword of the
               Spirit - Ep 6:17
            3) Praying for strength through the Spirit - Ep 3:16; cf. Lk 11:13

[Thus we see a similarity between the "living water" of Jesus and what
is said concerning the Spirit and the Christian.  The similarity
continues...]

II. THE LIVING WATER QUENCHES THIRST

   A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
      1. "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will
         never thirst." - Jn 4:14
      2. "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." - Jn 7:37

   B. DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT "QUENCH THIRST"...?
      1. Yes, as prophesied by Isaiah - cf. Isa 44:3
      2. Yes, if by quenching our thirst one means meeting our spiritual
         needs
         a. Such as our need for the love of God - cf. Ro 5:5
         b. Such as our need for our love for God - cf. Ro 8:15; Ga 4:6
         c. Such as our need to mortify the flesh - cf. Ro 8:12-13
         d. Such as our need to abound in hope - cf. Ro 15:13
         e. Such as our need for inner strength - cf. Ep 3:16

[In many ways the Spirit quenches our spiritual thirst!  As we continue
to note the similarity between "living water" and the Spirit in the life
of the Christian, we next observe...]

III. THE LIVING WATER IS IN YOU

   A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
      1. "the water that I shall give him will become in him..." - Jn 4:14
      2. "out of his heart..." - Jn 7:38

   B. IS THE HOLY SPIRIT "IN" US...?
      1. Yes, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit - 1Co 6:19
      2. Yes, for the Spirit dwells in us if we are Christ's - Ro 8:9,11

[How the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian may be a mystery; that He
does, there is no doubt.  Note another similarity between "living water"
and the Spirit in the life of the Christian...]

IV. THE LIVING WATER SPRINGS UP

   A.  AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
      1. "a fountain of water springing up" - Jn 4:14
      2. "will flow rivers of living water" - Jn 7:38

   B. DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT "SPRING UP"...?
      1. Yes, by moving the Christian to "cry out" Abba, Father - 
         Ro 8:15; Ga 4:6
      2. Yes, by helping the Christian to "abound" in hope - Ro 15:13
      3. Yes, by producing "fruit" in the life of the Christian - Ga 5:
         22-23

[The fruit of the Spirit truly refreshes the soul of the Christian as
"living water" does the thirsty soul.  Finally, note one more similarity
between "living water" and the Spirit in the life of the Christian...]

V. THE LIVING WATER RESULTS IN ETERNAL LIFE

   A. AS EXPRESSED BY JESUS...
      1. "a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." - Jn 4:14
      2. Note:  the "living water" is not everlasting life itself,
         rather it results in everlasting life

   B. DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT "RESULT IN ETERNAL LIFE"...?
      1. Yes, for through the Spirit we wait for the hope of
         righteousness - Ga 5:5
      2. That hope, of course, is eternal life - Tit 1:2
      3. By the Spirit whom God poured out on us abundantly through
         Jesus...
         a. We are renewed and justified by God's grace - Tit 3:5-6
         b. Thus made heirs according to the hope of eternal life - Ti
            3:5-7
      4. And sowing to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting
         life - Ga 6:8
         
CONCLUSION

1. While the "living water" in Jn 4:10-14 may pertain to salvation, I
   believe it has particular reference to the gift of the Spirit in the
   life of the Christian...
   a. Salvation involves both justification and sanctification
   b. The Holy Spirit certainly plays a role in both - cf. 1Co 6:11; Ti
      3:4-7
   c. And the Spirit is given to those who become Christians - Ac 2:
      38-39; 5:32; Ga 4:6
   -- It certainly has such reference in Jn 7:37-39

2. If so, then we might understand Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman
   as follows...
   a. "If you knew the gift of God" - If you knew what God is willing to
      give you (i.e., the Spirit)
   b. "...and who it is who says to you..." - That He is the Messiah,
      the one who will pour out the Spirit on all flesh - cf. Jn 1:33;
      Ac 2:33
   c. "...He would have given you living water..." - i.e., the Holy
      Spirit
      1) The same promise made to all believers in Jn 7:37-39
      2) Though not fully given until He was glorified (after His
         resurrection and ascension)

3. Are we enjoying the benefits of "The Gift Of Living Water" that Jesus
   offers...?
   a. It begins by responding to Christ in baptism - cf. Ac 2:38; 1Co 12:13
   b. It continues by being careful not to "quench" the Spirit - cf.
      1Th 5:19; e.g., Ac 7:51

May our attitude be like that of the Samaritan woman:  "Sir, give me
this water..." - Jn 4:15


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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