11/9/13

From Ben Fronczek.... Jesus Said, “Don't Worry”







Jesus Said, “Don't Worry”


Jesus Discusses Worry



I read something about worry this week that I thought was interesting. It made a lot of sense. Someone wrote this. “Worry is a thin stream of fear that trickles through the mind. If encouraged it cuts a wide channel that drains away all other thoughts.” Isn’t that so true? If you allow that worry to linger and if you encourage that worry in your heart, then all other constructive thoughts are taken out of your mind. So, the Lord tells us not to worry. Even though the Lord says we are not to worry the fact of the matter is we do a whole lot of worrying, don’t we?

But then there is another side: I heard this story: A young boy was driving a hayrack down the road when the wagon fell over in front of a farmer’s house. The farmer came out, saw the young boy crying and said, “Son, don’t worry about this, we can fix it. Right now dinner’s ready. Why don’t you come in and eat with us and then I’ll help you put the hay back on the rack.”
The boy said, “No, I can’t. My father is going to be very angry with me.” The farmer said, “Now don’t worry, just come in and have some lunch and you’ll feel better.” The boy said, “I’m just afraid my father is going to be very angry with me.”
The farmer and the young boy went inside and had dinner. Afterwards, as they walked outside to the hayrack, the farmer said, “Now, son, don’t you feel better after that great meal?”
The boy said, “Yes but I just know that my father will be very angry with me.” The farmer said, “Nonsense. Where is your father anyway?” The boy said, “He’s under that wagon.”

I guess some things are worth worrying about. Surveys have been taken and they reveals that only 8 out of a hundred thing that we worry about are really worth our concern. But people in our society today are worried about everything. Fear has gripped people’s hearts and paralyzed them.   

People are anxious about:
 
- How they look – What they are wearing 
– How much money they have in the bank 
– Rising gas prices 
– Falling stock prices 
– falling home values 
– Foreclosures 
–Job security 
– Even, Are their children going to turn out right

They worry about:
- The government 
-Their Health 
– Who they will marry 
– If they are married, how long it will last 
– even the end of the world.

This has led to all sorts of health issues:
Sleeplessness 
– Tension headaches 
– Frustration 
– Irritability 
– High blood pressure 
– Ulcers 
– Heart disease
– Inability to relax.

How unfortunate that Christians have joined the ranks of those who worry and fret about everything. We have taken our cue from the world around us.
We have allowed Satan to defeat us and cause us to stumble. Instead of trusting in the power, provision and protection of our sovereign God we have grown use to living anxiety plagued lives. In our text, Jesus’ command is meant to keep his followers from getting hurt. Worry hurts. It affects people and their relationship. It strangles us. It chokes us.  It destroys faith. It leads to a lot of trouble.

In Matthew 6:25 Jesus said,  

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

The Lord Jesus is emphatic in trying to get this point across to His children. Throughout this section of Scripture He commands that we are not to be anxious. Over and over He says, DO NOT WORRY {OR BE ANXIOUS}
Medical doctors will tell you that worry inflicts both physical and psychological damage. What’s far worse than both of those outcomes is the fact that worry is sin. When we worry we are displaying unbelief in our Heavenly Father’s ability to care for us. Jesus is saying, “Stop Worrying!”  Literally: “Do not even start!”
In our text, what does Jesus tell us not to worry about?  Food, or what we will drink, What we will wear, how long we are going to live, our future. In out text Jesus provides three suggestions for a worry-free life. Notice that these  suggestions require attitude, life, and value adjustments. It requires repentance, seeking divine help, and an honest to goodness evaluation of our lives.

1. So first of all one needs to MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. WHO YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE
The “therefore” in verse 25 refers back to what Jesus said in the previous text. 
In verse 24 He said
, 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

So first of all we need to make a decision who we are going to serve. Ultimately, who we serve will determine whether we turn out to be worriers or worshippers.  A worry-free life is first of all the result of making the right decision as to who and what is going to be the most important and primary focus in my life. If you trust in your material possessions and money you are going to have a life full of worry and concern because there is no stability when you build your life on things that are here today and can be gone tomorrow.

2. WE NEED TO TRUST IN THE FATHER (6:26, 32)  Someone once wrote, wrote, “Worry is the warning light that God is really not first in my life.”
Twice in the text, Jesus points to the heavenly Father as reason for not worrying. God and His love and ability far exceed our ability and understanding and offers security.  

Prov. 3:5-6  
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

If you think about it having Father in Heaven who is God of the universe, and always being worried sick about everything is silly. Why should we worry when our heavenly Father owns all and controls all? Jesus points out the obvious, “worry is useless.” It is a futile exercise, a total waste of time, of effort, of energy. What does he say in verse 27? He said you can’t add a single hour to your life by worrying. We need to believe God’s Word and trust His promises He has given us:
 
In Phil. 4:19 Paul writes,
 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Do you believe that?  I think that there are many followers of Christ who need to re-discover Father God. He is not like some of our earthly fathers who were flawed, uncaring, unable, maybe even undependable. Our Father in Heaven is not like that. He know you and loves you and promises to work all things out for the benefit of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)  In this text Jesus lets us know that He knows exactly what we need. He said ‘Don’t you think that if the Father cares for the birds of the air and the plants of the field that He not going to take care you and me; His sons, and daughters who are created in His very image?’  We need to wake up to the reality that we really have a God and Father in Heaven who cares for us and our needs.

#3. And then WE NEED TO GET OUR OWN PRIOERITIES RIGHT (6:33)
In vs. 6:33 Jesus tells us that instead of worrying about food, water, clothes and the like, we should seek out God’s kingdom and righteousness. This is not a new theme that Jesus introduces here, rather we find this throughout the Sermon on the Mount. To care for God’s business and understand His ways will assure us that God will take care for you. So again, Jesus raises the bar. He said,  ‘People who do not know God run after and worry about these other things, but you are different. Pursue God’s kingdom, make it a priority, make it your ambition, make it your goal..’  

So what does it mean to seek His kingdom above all?
I think first of all we need to wake up to the reality of God’s kingdom. That there is more to life than what we can hears, see, touch, taste, and smell. There is a whole spiritual realm that is infinitely more broad and complex than our little world. And our God and Father is lord over it all and wants us to enjoy it’s blessings; if we will only open our eyes and seek Him. And He made it all available to us thru Jesus and what He did on the cross. We can become a active part of that Kingdom if we accept Jesus sacrifice for us, allow Him to remove our sin in the waters of baptism, and continue to trust Him as Lord. To seek God’s righteousness involves wanting God’s righteousness. It is a gift He offers us. As a Christian we should want it. We should want it to please God and help ourselves become what we were meant to be. We should want to see God’s righteousness demonstrated in our own life as we ministering to the poor, the weak, those sick.  I should desire that every department of my life be placed under His care, direction, and plan; my home, my marriage, my family, in my work, my relationships, my finances, future, and so on.

Conclusion:
Worry is attitude unbecoming of the child of God. Worship is better. To fret is a useless endeavor. To believe is better. If you have lived in worry, it is time to make some important changes. Make the right decision. “When you take care of God’s business you can rest assured God will take care of your personal business.”

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Jim McGuiggan... Paul's Use of the Term "Israel"

Paul's Use of the Term "Israel"

Does Paul use the word Jew or Israel to speak of non-Jews? I don't think he does. Let's take a look at the book of Romans. "Jew" occurs eleven times, "Israel" occurs eleven times and "Israelite" occurs twice. Out of these twenty-four occurrences only two are disputed. They're in 2:28-29 and 11:26. There is 9:6, of course, which has a varied history in the dispute.

I'm of the opinion that when Paul uses either word he means a physical descendant of Abraham through Jacob. But there are some Jews (as just defined) who have the faith of Abraham and have faith in Jesus Christ and some that have neither. A Messianic Jew is a physical Jew that has faith in Jesus Christ. He is an Israelite. The non-believing Jew is also an Israelite.

9:6 says that not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. There are some that have descended from Israel (Jacob) who are not Israel. He doesn't say, "physical Israel isn't Israel." He says, "not all physical Israelites are Israel." But notice that he is speaking of physical Jews!

The word "Israel" is understood by many to mean "true Israel" by which they mean the non-ethnic, cosmopolitan Christian church. But this is out of touch with Paul's aim in chapters 9—11, which is to vindicate God's faithfulness. The claim is that God made promises to physical Israel and if Paul's gospel is true then God has been faithless. And why is that? Because according to Paul the mass of Israel is unsaved. Part of Paul's response is 9:6. He insists that not all physical Jews are part of Israel because it takes more than Jacob's flesh to constitute (true) Israel. Not all Abraham's descendants were his children (9:7-8). A true Israelite is a descendant of Abraham through Jacob that has the faith of Abraham. Acts 3:22-23 says that Jews who reject the Messiah will be "cut off from among his people."

Paul agreed with his Master (John 8:31-44) that there are Jews and Jews, Abraham's children and Abraham's children. Christ said he knew his critics were Abraham's children and then he goes on to deny that they are Abraham's children and that someone else was their father. Gentiles are nowhere near either John 8 or Romans 9:6-7.

This lays the groundwork for Romans 2:28-29. The real Jew, Paul insists, is the Jew that lives out the meaning of circumcision. We need to remember what Paul is doing in this section of Romans. He has shown that the Gentiles are under condemnation for sin and now he is bringing Israel under judgement. In this section he is showing that Israel, physical Jews, have bragged on possessing the Torah, the Sabbath and circumcision but it was all external to them because they didn't have the torah written on their hearts. In this section when Paul implicitly denies their Jewish status it's on moral and spiritual grounds. The prophet Ezekiel insisted that his Jewish peers were Amorites and Hittites (16:45). They were Israel but they weren't "true" Israelites. Neither the prophet nor Paul was saying that others were Israelites. They were denying that external Israellites were (true) Israelites.

The other text in dispute is Romans 11:26. In 11:2 Elijah appeals against Israel and in 11:7 what Israel sought she failed to get. In 11:11 God brings in Gentiles to make Israel jealous and Paul calls them his "own people" in contrast to Gentiles (11:14). Gentiles are warned not to dismiss Israel because God hasn't jettisoned them. He would do the same to Gentiles if they turned to unbelief and he will save Israel if they come to faith (11:13-24). And how does he explain in 11:25-26 the Jewish rejection of the Messiah and the consequences that flowed from it? "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved." (See 11:7 on the hardening of Israel.) 11:28-31 continues to contrast Gentiles with "them".

To accept that "Israel" all the way through this section speaks of physical Israelites and then to make 11:26 a figurative, non-ethnic and cosmopolitan church is too difficult to swallow. And when we remember that "all Israel will be saved" is part of Paul's defense of God's faithfulness to his promises to Israel (see 9:1-6) we must allow "Israel" to be "Israel".

For Paul "Israel" was divided into two. Those who were Israel after the flesh and who rejected the Messiah and those who were Israel and had the faith of Abraham who believed that God could give life to the dead (see Romans 4:18-25). The non-believing and believing Israel were both Israel as you can see simply by reading the texts.

So what does he mean when he says, "all Israel will be saved"? Scholars like N.T. Wright say that "Israel" in that text is the New Covenant people regardless of ethnic background. I don't think that's correct. The Gentiles are tempted to arrogance, believing that God has dumped the people he made promises to (Israel—9:1-5) just to let them in (11:19). Paul insists that God has never been faithless to Israel and that not a single Israelite would be lost because the Messiah came from them to save them (11:26-29). But the true Israelite was an Israelite that was not only physically kin to the patriarchs but one who had their faith (see 9:5). All of these—without exception—will be saved. More on this later with a brief look at Galatians 6:16. See All Israel will be saved (1).


©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... Spiritual Maturity In Christ (Colossians 2:1-8)


                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS"

                  Spiritual Maturity In Christ (2:1-8)

INTRODUCTION

1. In Col 1:28-29, we saw that Paul's primary goal in his labors was to
   "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."  That is, that they be
   "spiritually mature in Christ."

2. This being the case, we are not surprised to find Paul now writing to
   the Colossians of:
   a. His great concern for them - Col 2:1-3
   b. The reason for this concern - Col 2:4-5
   c. Some exhortations in light of his concern - Col 2:6-8

3. From these eight verses, there are a couple of things we can glean
   concerning the subject of "Spiritual Maturity In Christ"

[First, from verses 1-5 we can take note of several...]

I. INDICATIONS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY (1-5)

   A. A DEEP CONCERN FOR OUR BRETHREN IN CHRIST (1)
      1. Remember that Paul is an example of spiritual maturity and thus
         worthy of our emulation - 1Co 11:1
      2. We see that he had a concern for his brethren (notice 2Co 11:
         28-29 also), even for those he personally had not seen!
      3. Epaphras likewise demonstrated this "mark" of maturity - Col 4:
         12-13
      4. Do we have such concern for our brethren?

   B. A HEART THAT IS ENCOURAGED (2)
      1. The KJV uses the word "comforted"
      2. It is the Will of God that we serve Him with hearts that are
         full of comfort and encouragement
         a. Such was the concern of Jesus - Lk 21:34; Jn 14:1,27
         b. Such was the frequent prayer of Paul - 2Th 2:16-17
      3. A "troubled, anxious heart" is not the mark of a mature
         Christian!
      4. Consider the example of Paul in facing impending death - 2 Ti4:6-8,17-18

   C. A HEART KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS (2)
      1. I.e., a love similar to that experienced by David and Jonathan 
         - 1 Sa 18:1
      2. The brethren at Colosse were well on their way in this regard 
         - Col 1:4
      3. How about us?  Are we developing hearts "knit together in
         love"?

   D. A FULL ASSURANCE OF UNDERSTANDING (2)
      1. Similar to having hearts that are encouraged, we need to have a
         strong assurance concerning ourselves and our salvation!
      2. Of course, this assurance comes as we increase our
         "understanding" concerning the basis of our salvation
      3. Indeed, the Word of God was so written to increase that
         understanding, and provide the assurance of our salvation 
         - 1Jn 5:13; 3:19; note also Ro 15:4
      4. As one matures in Christ, this "assurance" will increase, and
         it is indeed one of the "riches" we have in Christ!

   E. A KNOWLEDGE OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD (2)
      1. I.e., an understanding of the gospel, which once was hidden,
         but has now been revealed - cf. Ep 3:3-6; Ro 16:25-26
      2. Thus, a good knowledge of the gospel of Christ is essential to
         maturity in Christ
      3. Are we increasing in this knowledge?

   F. GOOD ORDER AND STEADFASTNESS OF FAITH (5)
      1. The word "order"...
         a. From taxis {tax'-is}, a military term, suggestive of men
            marching in proper order and precision, as in a drilling
            exercise
         b. This suggests that a mature Christian is one whose walk as a
            disciple is in proper line with what is expected
      2. The word "steadfastness" is a word which goes right along with
         this idea of marching in a straight line
      3. What is our "life of faith" like?
         a. Are we progressing in order, steadfast in our progress?
         b. Or are we wavering constantly?

[These are but a few indications of spiritual maturity.  If they are 
found in our lives, it is a good sign that progress is being made!

From verses 6-8, we can also learn of some...]

II. STEPS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY (6-8)

   A. RECEIVE CHRIST AS "LORD" (6)
      1. This the Colossians had done
      2. Today, many seem to want Jesus just as a "Savior," but not as
         "Lord"
      3. That is, they profess to want Him as "their personal Savior,"
         but then do not obey Him in what He commands them
      4. Yet God has made Him both! - cf. Ac 2:36
      5. Until we enthrone Christ as Lord in our lives, we cannot hope
         to become "perfect" (complete, mature) in Christ
      6. Again, Paul provides a good example - e.g., Ga 2:20

   B. WALK IN CHRIST (6-7)
      1. Having received Christ as Lord, we must now "walk" (or live)
         in Him
      2. Verse 7 explains what it means to "walk in Christ"
         a. "rooted" - Christ must be the FOUNDATION and SOURCE OF
            NUTRITION in our lives (like tree depends upon its roots)
         b. "built up in Him" - allowing ourselves to become the kind of
            building He would have us to be
         c. "established in the faith" - well taught and grounded in the
            teachings of Christ, and living by them
         d. "abounding in it with thanksgiving" - ever overflowing with
            an attitude of gratitude

   C. BEWARE... (8)
      1. To grow spiritually, we must beware of dangers which would
         hinder our spiritual growth
      2. Otherwise, in our zeal to grow we can easily be misled by false
         doctrines which promise an easy route to spiritual maturity,
         but do not deliver on that promise!
      3. Thus the need for "negative preaching" as the occasion may call
         for it

CONCLUSION

1. Our next lesson will look at some of those false doctrines those at
   Colosse were facing which promised much, but gave nothing of true
   value

2. For the moment, let's close by asking two questions:
   a. Why should we even be concerned with growing in spiritual maturity
      in Christ?
      1) Because in Him "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and
         knowledge" - Col 2:3
      2) Because He has warned of what will occur if we do not mature
         and "bear fruit" - Jn 15:1-2
   b. How does one initially receive Christ as Lord?
      1) By doing what He says, i.e., the Father's will - Lk 6:46; Mt 7:21
      2) This includes the command to repent and be baptized, for in so
         doing one receives the remission of sins as they also "put on
         Christ" (i.e., "receive Christ") - Ac 2:36-38; Ga 3:26-27

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Sometimes you win and other times....

























Yesterday was a bad day for the munchies.  As we watched TV, Linda decided that she was going to have a snack, and then another one and when she brought a third one in the living room, I asked for some of it (popcorn, that is).  Now, I try my best, but, OH, HOW GOOD THOSE LITTLE WHITE POPPED THINGS SMELLED!!!!  Fell off the wagon yesterday, but today is another day!!!  I guess that I will have to be more careful today and anticipate her snack needs.  Perhaps I will just have to watch HER, so that I can anticipate HER needs, so that they don't become MY NEEDS!!!  So, we come to the picture.  Bad news!!!   If I wanted to continue to attend weight watchers, I think I would find another meeting to go to.  This one just has too much temptation associated with it.  Face it, we all have things that are harder to resist than others, but we must do the best we can.  Consider this 1st Peter passage for a moment...

1 Peter, Chapter 2
1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,  2 as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,  3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:  4 coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.  5 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  6 Because it is contained in Scripture, 
“Behold,*n1 I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious:
He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

  7  For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, 
“The stone which the builders rejected,
has become the chief cornerstone,”

  8  and, 
“a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”

For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.  9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:  10 who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  12 having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

Look, we all screw up!!!  I did, just yesterday!!!  The thing is... not to keep doing it; not to follow a pattern of weakness, but to do the right thing!!!  Like the situation in the picture, find a way out (another meeting place)... do something different and do not blow it again.  Today, I am going to have that extra piece of fruit for my second breakfast, and enjoy an extra large bowl of cabbage soup AFTER I have used up my points.  And I hope to do it late enough in the day to avoid the "treats" of the evening.  Anyway, THAT IS THE PLAN!!!