From Gary... What is really important, anyway?

I like this picture because it sort of puts things in perspective for me.  Why? Because in life it is so easy to get side-tracked by the things that really do not matter. So, this begs the question: What then, really matters?  Here is one answer...

Philippians, Chapter 1

 12  Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned  out rather to the progress of the Good News;  13 so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ;  14 and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.  16 The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News. 

 18  What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

For the apostle Paul, the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ meant everything!!!  If that was accomplished, then his purpose in life was fulfilled.  In other words, if God's will was done, what else really matters? Nothing, absolutely nothing.

From Ben Fronczek... Precious Faith

Precious Faith

Precious Faith    By Ben Fronczek

2 Peter 1:1-2

“Simon Peter, a servant  and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness  of our God and Savior Jesus Christ  have received a faith as precious as ours:  ² Grace and peace be yours in abundance  through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

Introduction to 2 Peter:

Most scholar believe that this letter was sent to the same audience as his former letter; to those Christians, gentile or Jew spread throughout the evangelized Roman empire. In this letter Peter will refer to his imminent departure from this life in 1:13-15. This letter was composed just prior to his death just before he was martyred which would have been the year AD 67 or 68, Just a couple of years before Rome lay siege to Jerusalem and eventually destroyed the temple. Many believe that this letter bears some marks of a Last Will and Testament And the purpose of this letter is seen by many to call Christians to grow spiritually so that they can combat the coming apostasy as we look forward to the Lord’s return.

The Text:

To begin with Peter himself identifies himself as the author of this letter in the first verse. We also see who he was writing it to, and that was  

“to those who have received a faith as precious as ours.”

As I read and considered that first verse it stopped me in my own tracks. In this first verse I read that: Faith in Jesus is something very precious.

And as I thought about this I thought, “Precious to some and sadly not to others.”

For me, as a Christian I can understand why faith in Jesus is something precious to Peter and other Christians, then and now.

For me:

I know that Jesus is that part of God who came to earth and lived among us as a man. Like everyone of us He was born of a woman and got to experience what it feels like to be flesh and blood. But He would go on to teach us more about God than was ever taught before. He would go on to performed miracles, He lived a holy righteous life, He showed us how to love and serve others, and then died on that cross. These are not only Biblical facts, they are historical facts as well.

Can you imagine that God the Creator, God the Word, God the life giver, God the Sustainer, the eternal all powerful, all knowing one sitting by your side cracking a joke? Peter had that opportunity to hang out with Him for over three years. He walked with Him, talked with Him, ate with Him, camped out with Him, learned from Him, and so much more.

One day Peter along with James and John  even got to see a glimpse of Jesus’ true nature, Hi s glory on the Mt of Transfiguration, (Matt. 17:1-5) There we read that Jesus’ face became a bright as the sun (Have you ever tried to look directly at the sun for very long? You know that you can’t; it’s so bright that it will destroy your eyes.)  Yet here that how bright Jesus’ face was. And his clothes also became as bright as light. After this happened Peter James and John also heard the voice of God Almighty say,  

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Peter also witnessed His arrest and I’m sure His beating and crucifixion with horror. He himself probably felt the stabbing pain of shame and guilt because like a coward he disowned his friend and Lord not once but three times and ran and hid like frightened mouse. He with others then mourned His death.

He was also there to witness one of the greatest and most important event ever to take place – Jesus’ resurrection after He rose from the grave. He saw Jesus, he touched Jesus, he ate with Jesus. Jesus had proved Himself to be both lord of all, including lord over life and death and He also proved He was the Savior for all those who would accept and believe in Him.

Before ascending into Heaven itself to return to His rightful place, Peter heard with his own ears the Great Commission which Jesus gave before He left. And that was to 

“go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

How Precious these memories, these facts must have been to Peter as he wrote this letter. His faith was based on those precious events and memories.  And how precious are those facts for those of us who have learned them and believe; facts that were not only provided by Peter but by other Biblical writers as well.

Our faith, which is based on these facts help us to know for certain that there is a God and that we have a God who really loves and cares for us. John. 3:16 Says  

“For God so loved   the world that he gave   his one and only Son,   that whoever believes   in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This faith is also precious because we know that based on all these facts which we read about here in our Bible, and believe, we know that we have something to live for; – that this life is just a stepping stone to a glorious heavenly existence where we can be with, and live with our Lord and our God, with all His angels and with all the saved for a long, long time in that place of peace and glory. (That is if we accept the Father’s wonderful gift of salvation from our sins)

This faith is precious to us because we know that in Christ, we are no longer alone. We are part of a collective larger than ourselves – the church – a vast now eternal body of fellow believers you have something in common with and who can be a comfort and a support to you when you need it. And likewise it is a place you can find ways to develop and use your talent and abilities to help others as we all do our best to serve God and one another together.

We also  believe and know believe that God also shares another part of Himself with us, and is in us. His Spirit helps us, He teaches us, He convicts us, He comforts us, and even relays our deepest prayers to the Father in ways most of us do not understand.  We are never really alone.

Because of that Precious faith we also believe that there are those waiting for us who have gone on ahead of us; mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, all the saints who have obeyed Him all the way back to Adam. They’ll be there to welcome us into glory. What a reunion that will be.

And because of that precious faith we also know that even now, God is still in control, 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,whohave been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Peter said that our faith is precious, but how sad is the fact that for many, for most, these facts, what we believe is nothing more than religious mumbo-jumbo, or just a diluted fantasy made up by people a long time ago. How sad for whatever reasons that most refuse to believe these facts after hearing them.  I know that these are the ones that Jesus  calls us to preach the Good News to, but He also said,  

 “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Here’s a question for you; How precious are these facts, this faith to you?

Not too long ago sweet members of our church let my wife and I pick some sweet corn on their farm. Being organic and haven’t taken the as much time to cultivate the field as they probably would have liked to, there were certain parts we had to battle with weeds as thick and almost as tall as the corn itself. I am sure that some of those corn plants were stressed and had to fight to survive. I’m sure some did not fare too well where the weeds were thicker.

I could not help but think of the parable of the soils, where seed was spread on different soils. Some seed produced well, while others did not.  I was reminded of the seed that fell into the soil, started out real well, but then was later choked out by the weeds around it. Jesus told the disciples that the weeds choking those plants are like the worries of this life, and the deceitfulness of wealth which makes a person unfruitful.

Here in our text Peter goes on to say in the next verse,  

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

I believe what he is saying here is, because of what we know and believe about God and Jesus we should be enjoying an ABUNDANTANCE of GRACE     and    PEACE      as we live our Christian life?

Isn’t that what he says here?  But I have to admit I have not met too many truly happy, overly tranquil, or people at peace as of late. And I have to admit I am not without guilt in this matter.

God saved the Israelites from cruel Egyptian slavery. He fed them and took care of them and promised to bring them into a land of milk and honey; and what did they do? It wasn’t too long before they were all complaining and bellyaching to Moses.  Where was their faith?

Where is our faith?

Is it being choke out by our contemporary society? Are you letting the stress of this world and pressure and lust of materialism get to you. Is there something that is choking this precious faith out of you; maybe the people you hang out with, or your job, your business, your farm? Are your hobbies or how your entertain yourself weakening your faith, preventing you from enjoying what you know? Are they robbing you of the peace that Peter said we should have?  Don’t let anything rob you of something so precious.

I would imagine for Peter the saddest and darkest time in his life is when he turned his back on that faith and denied even knowing Jesus. But you know, like us Jesus gave him a second chance, and now we read here that Peter expected to die for that that faith. Tradition states that when he was about to be crucified, not feeling worthy of being crucified like his Lord, Peter asked to be crucified up-side-down. That faith was precious to him even worth giving his life for.

What about you? If it’s worth dying for then it’s worth living for. And when we learn really to appreciate this faith and who and what we have faith in, Ibelieve that GRACE and PEACE will be ours.

Challenge: 

Weed the thing out of your life that is choking this precious faith out of you.  Nurture that faith and draw closer to Jesus.

What helps me is to practice His presence and talk to Him through the day. His Spirit is in you, why can’t we talk to Him. And if He is in us, why can’t He talk to us and communicate with us through our conscious? I challenge you to try this. You just may be surprised how much peace it gives you and the blessings that come with drawing closer to Jesus provides.

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

From Jim McGuiggan... Did GOD send the famine and troops?

Did GOD send the famine and troops?

It isn’t hard to find prophetic passages that expressly say God is the one responsible for the foreign military invasion that would engulf the land. We sit in our churches nodding approval at this when it’s read and taught but as soon as someone claims he does the same thing today we get all exercised.

Finding scores of passages that say God is responsible for the famine or the drought or pestilence is as easy as opening any prophetic book. We sit in our churches and nod approval but should someone say he does that today we start twisting and turning.

Why is that? When God said he was doing it, the prophets hated it (almost always—there are one or two exceptions), and they wanted to debate the why and wherefore of it but they never denied that God was doing it!

Why do we jump up irritated at such talk and tell the world God wouldn’t do such a thing? Is the God of Amos, Micah, Habakkuk, Nahum the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Why do we think he wouldn’t do such things? He did them in the days of the prophets and Moses.

What if God told us that he was doing it as he told, say, Habakkuk? Would we believe it? We might hate it (Habakkuk wasn’t too keen on it—3:16) but would we deny it is God doing it?  But what if we fully believed it and some poor hurting Judean woman came sobbing, complaining about the famine and angry at God, what would we say to her? Would we tell her God is only "allowing" it? Would we tell her it was "bad luck"? Would we tell her it was the Devil doing it? Judging by what we hear today we’d tell her anything but what God said! But why won’t we tell her what God expressly said? Part of the answer is that we don’t want her to think badly of God. But she already thinks badly of God for "allowing" it. [You must have noticed that even when we say we think God didn't do it we still turn in God in prayer and protest that it happened as if he should have seen to it that it didn't happen. Our practice is truer that what we profess.] And should we even try to make her think better of God by denying what he himself insists on? Part of our trouble is that we don’t think it’s right of God to do such a thing. But if he does it and says he does it then while it’s perfectly understandable that we might sob protests there’s no point in denying it.

What if—just what if—we told her that God indeed had purposely brought about these awful conditions but that out of holy love he was doing it for a redeeming purpose, would that be faithful to the prophetic word?

What do you tell yourself when you read such texts (and there are literally scores of  them—extended sections)?

©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... Our Duty To Those In Need (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)

               "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                  Our Duty To Those In Need (5:14-15)

INTRODUCTION

1. We have noted earlier in our study of 1st Thessalonians that Paul
   describes Christians as:
   a. "the children of light"
   b. "the children of the day" - 1Th 5:5

2. As such, we have various responsibilities and duties...
   a. To watch and be sober - 1Th 5:6
   b. To put on the breastplate of faith and love, with hope as a helmet
      - 1Th 5:8
   c. To comfort and edify one another - 1Th 5:11

3. In our previous study we noted "Our Duty To Those Who Serve"...
   a. To recognize them - 1Th 5:12
   b. To esteem them highly in love - 1Th 5:13

[Our responsibilities as "children of light" and "children of the day"
continue as we now notice "Our Duty To Those In Need" (1Th 5:14-15).
Both in the church and out, there are those in need of help from
Christians.  Some may not even be aware of their need, yet our duty
remains.  For example, we have the duty to...]

I. WARN THE UNRULY (14)

   A. IDENTIFYING THE UNRULY...
      1. The Greek word (ataktos) means "disorderly, out of ranks"
         a. Used often of soldiers who fall out of line
         b. Deviating from the prescribed order of rule
      2. The unruly Christian is one who does not abide by the teachings
         of the apostles
         a. From the beginning, faithful Christians "continued
            steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" - Ac 2:42
         b. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to do the same - 1 Th 4:1,2; 2Th 2:15

   B. WARNING THE UNRULY...
      1. Warning brethren is a crucial component of preaching Christ
         - cf. Col 1:28
         a. Paul warned the brethren at Ephesus - Ac 20:31
         b. He encouraged Timothy to do the same - 2Ti 4:1-2
      2. Unruly brethren who do not heed the warning are to be marked
         and fellowship withdrawn - e.g., 2Th 3:6-15
         a. In an effort to save the unruly
         b. Also an effort to keep the church pure - cf. 1Co 5:1-13

[For those who are unruly, their need is to be warned.  We should never
fault those brethren who fulfill their duty to "warn the unruly", but be
thankful they have the concern and the courage to do so!  Next we learn
of the duty to...]

II. COMFORT THE FAINTHEARTED (14)

   A. IDENTIFYING THE FAINTHEARTED...
      1. The Greek word (oligopsuchos) literally means "small-souled,
         little-souled"
         a. Translated "feebleminded" (KJV), "timid" (NIV)
         b. It describes those who lose heart, prone to dropping out, be
            quitters
      2. Various conditions might lead some to lose heart; for example:
         a. Persecutions, tribulation - Ep 3:13
         b. Lack of immediate results - Ga 6:9

   B. COMFORTING THE FAINTHEARTED...
      1. Such brethren are to be encouraged, consoled
         a. Paul had done this while at Thessalonica - 1Th 2:11-12
         b. He did it earlier in this epistle - 1Th 4:13-18
      2. Thus we see need to make a distinction
         a. Some brethren (the unruly) need to be warned, admonished
         b. While others (the fainthearted) may need a more tender
            touch, to be encouraged

[Another duty similar to comforting the fainthearted is to...]

III. UPHOLD THE WEAK (14)

   A. IDENTIFYING THE WEAK...
      1. The weak could be those in need - cf. Ac 20:35
      2. But more likely it refers to those whose faith is weak
         a. Who are likely to violate their weak consciences - e.g.,
            1Co 8:7-13
         b. Who are tempted to sin

   B. UPHOLDING THE WEAK...
      1. We uphold the weak by receiving them - cf. Ro 14:1-3
         a. Not to argue over things in which they have doubts
         b. Nor to despise them because of their weak faith
      2. We uphold the weak by bearing with their scruples - cf. Ro 15:
         1-2
         a. Making an effort not to put stumbling blocks in their way
            - Ro 14:13
         b. Determining not to destroy our brother through the use of
            our liberties - Ro 14:14-23; Ga 5:13

[Brethren who are weak in faith need time to grow, for their consciences
to become strong.  Our duty is for "each of us to please his neighbor
for his good, leading to edification" (Ro 15:2).  Finally, we notice
several sundry duties...]

IV. TOWARD ALL MEN (14-15)

   A. BE PATIENT WITH ALL...
      1. Certainly we are to be patient with the fainthearted and the
         weak
      2. We are also to be patient with those we teach
         a. Even when it is time to rebuke (warn the unruly) - cf. 2 Ti 4:2 
         b. Even when we are dealing with those who oppose us - cf. 2 Ti 2:24-26

   B. RENDER NOT EVIL FOR EVIL TO ANYONE...
      1. A principle taught by our Lord - Mt 5:44-45
      2. Expounded upon by Paul in his epistle to the Romans - Ro 12:
         17-21
      3. Repeated by Peter in his epistle - 1Pe 3:9

   C. PURSUE WHAT IS GOOD...
      1. For yourselves (i.e., Christians)
         a. Such as things that make for peace and edify one another
            - Ro 14:19
         b. Such as righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
            gentleness - 1Ti 6:11
         c. Such as holiness - He 12:14
      2. For all (including non-Christians)
         a. Such as things honorable, and honor itself - Ro 12:17; 1 Pe 2:17
         b. Such as things that are good - Ga 6:10
         c. Such as civil obedience, kind words, gentleness and meekness
            - Tit 3:1-2
         d. Such as prayers in their behalf, and a knowledge of the
            truth leading to their salvation - 1Ti 2:1-4

CONCLUSION

1. Such is "Our Duty To Those In Need"...
   a. To warn the unruly
   b. To comfort the fainthearted
   c. To uphold the weak
   d. To be patient with all
   e. To render no evil for evil with anyone
   f. To pursue what is good for us and for all

2. In a world filled with much evil and moral depravity, those who do
   such things are truly...
   a. "children of light"
   b. "children of the day"

Is this true of us?  If not, then we need to heed another exhortation
from Paul:

   For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
   Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in
   all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is
   acceptable to the Lord.

   And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
   but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of
   those things which are done by them in secret. But all things
   that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever
   makes manifest is light.

   Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead,
   And Christ will give you light."
                                                     - Ep 5:8-14

Brethren, are we sleeping?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... The value of "Retro"

Old-school is the term that seems best applicable to this picture. Old ways of doing things give way to newer ideas, many of them very good!!!  I remember typing letters on a manual typewriter (no electricity) and having to do mathematics with a pencil and paper (sometimes even WITHOUT THE PAPER). Rotary telephones, party lines, mimeograph machines and wringer washers have all gone the way of the dodo bird.  Today, life is all about productivity.  We expect everything to make us succeed; even our spouse.  Something doesn't do this- goodbye.  But some things simply do not change.  We grow up, have children, grow old and eventually die.  What then?  Well, then comes the judgment.  If we have listened and obeyed, fine; if not, along comes the consequences for our attitude towards God and HIS WORD!!!  Jeremiah puts it this way...

Jeremiah, Chapter 6

  16  Thus says Yahweh, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’  17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’ 18 Therefore hear, you nations, and know, congregation, what is among them.  19 Hear, earth! Behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.  20 To what purpose comes there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.”

But, I like new things, new ways of doing things, you might say.  That is fine for this world because it is changing.  However, God does NOT CHANGE!!!  Don't like the idea of being told what to do?  That happens to us all, each and every day. Your spouse, the police officer, your boss, your teacher, your girlfriend (boyfriend) and many others give instructions you had better listen to.  So, why not listen to God????  In ten thousand years times ten thousand, HE will still be there and WE will still have to answer for what we do!!!  Why not make it easy on ourselves and just listen?  Old ways of doing things (including how we live our lives) will get us you to heaven; why would anyone want to do something different??????

From Ben Fronczek... How to become lion alert and not lion desert

How to become lion alert and not lion desert

What Makes You Lion Alert and Not Lion Dessert?

1 Peter 5:6-11   

Do your remember this song?
 

“In the jungle, the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight. In the jungle, the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight…”  

Do you recognize that once popular song? While it is true that most lions sleep from time to time, in our sermon text the Apostle Peter speaks of a lion that never snoozes. This lion has been devouring unsuspecting prey from the beginning of time and remains on the prowl. Even today this lion which is the Devil is still on the prowl and his aim is to take as many of us to hell with him as he can. Therefore if Peter had written that popular song his opening lyrics would have gone something like this.  

“In the jungle, the mighty jungle this lion never sleeps. In the jungle, the mighty jungle we are this lions prey.”

Since the Devil is out to get us it would be good to know WHAT MAKES US LION ALERT AND NOT LION DESSERT. The Apostle Peter knew what it was like to mess up and sin grievously. He was one who denied even knowing Jesus, not once but three times. Here in 1 Peter 5 he shows us that there are a few things that keep us lion alert: 

humility, self-control, and grace.

Peter continues to give good advice to Christians in Chapter 5 after giving advice about church elders and how young men should act:

#1.Then he begins his lion taming advice in verse 6 where he says,

 “Humble yourselves therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

How does humbling yourself before God make you lion alert?  I can’t help but believe that the devil loves to see us become proud, arrogant, puffed up and self righteous. What are some signs of this kind of pride which the devil likes to see in us?

- How about when we are the one who always knows it all, who always think we are the one who knows what’s best, what’s better

- Or the person who just won’t listen to another’s opinion, advice or recommendations

- It is hard to teach these people anything new because they all ready know it all and have to have things their way.

- These people even like boss other’s around or do their best to make others feel guilty because they think they know more, and others should meet their expectations.

- It’s their way or the highway.  In their mind you can’t drive as good as they can, you can’t work as hard as they do, Their ideas are always better than yours and you can’t do anything as good as they can.

I would imagine that the devil likes it when people become like this because in all reality people like this have a false assumption about themselves, and without knowing it they make themselves more vulnerable to the lions attack and may even be doing his bidding. Why? Because without realizing it their hearts close and become hard and there is no room for Christ or His Spirit to work.

I believe that’s what happened to the Pharisees and Sadducees in the NT. They were the teachers, they thought they knew it all and could not accept the truth about Jesus. The lion had them in his grip!

 #2. In the next verse Peter said,

 “Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you” (v.7). (Him being God)

If we humble our self before God and surrender all our cares, worries, and concerns over to Him it helps us become more lion alert because we are not as overwhelmed and distracted or caught off guard by these concerns.

In fact the Greek word here for “anxiety” carries the idea of “diversion or distraction” and is used in the story of Mary and Martha. As Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, Martha fussed about the kitchen, worrying about food preparations and who knows what else. Her cares and concerns diverted or distracted her attention from the one thing she needed most, and that was to listen to Jesus. She was so overwhelmed and distracted she even complained to Jesus that Mary wasn’t doing anything to help her.

In Matthew 12 Jesus told the Parable of the farmer sowing the seed on different kinds of soils, and how some seed produced a good crop and why others produced nothing at all. Then in verses 18-23 He explains the parable to his disciples making application to people who receive the Word of God.    In the parable what caused some to become ineffective and unfruitful? Jesus said that people had received the word and at first accepted it but were eventually distracted because of the pressures in life, persecution, and worries of this age, and the seduction of wealth.

The devil continues to plant diversions, and distractions to ambush us.

- Maybe it’s someone at work who needles you, – maybe gossip or a rumor you are going to lose your job, or insurance or some special privilege. - Maybe you can’t find the work that you want to do,- or maybe you are forced to work too much. The list is endless.

The devil wants to distract and divert you from God and His will. He wants you angry, or upset, sad, or even envious of others. Don’t let him do this to you. In Ephesians 4:27 Paul told them not to give the devil a foothold.

Trust in God. Don’t become lion dessert but remain alert by humbling yourself under God’s mighty hand. There is no better place to take your concerns than to God.  God loves you and me and has promised to take care for us.

Peter said, 

“Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you” (v.7). 

 Therefore do what the Greek verb “cast” implies. Take every care and concern and pack them one by one into a bag and then give to God to carry. God will take care of our problems better than we ever could.

Does that sound too easy? Whether you realize it or not we do it all the time. For example, does paying the bill really stress you out? If it does what do you do? You give that responsibility, that thing which causes you stress and anxiety to someone else, maybe your spouse if they can handle the pressure better. Ladies if taking care of and maintaining your car is beyond your ability and stresses you out, what do you do? Pass the responsibility on to another, either your husband, a friend, or you pay a mechanic to take care of that problem.

Peter said put take up those cares and concerns that distract you and give them to God. He will take care of them one way or the other. One problem we have is that there are certain things we simply don’t want to totally let go of but we really need to.

If we do make it that far and throw all of our cares on God it is important that we don’t become lulled into a false sense of security thinking that the danger of attack has passed. The Devil won’t give up so easily therefore we need to remain lion alert;

#3. Peter tells us in vs. 8, 9.  

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

To be “self-controlled” means to have a clear head. We realize that danger and realize that temptations are all around. We are more on the alert when we remove things that may hamper our good judgment.

We also exercise self-control when we don’t leave our weaknesses exposed to the Devil’s temptations. It was Luther who said that the ‘Devil climbs over the fence where it is the lowest.’

For example: – If our mind is cluttered with lustful thoughts we won’t be prepared to flee from temptation as Joseph did when Potiphar’s wife asked him to sleep with her.  – If our mind is muddled with materialism it will be hard to offer our first fruits to God.

- If our mind is packed with pride it will be hard to keep from putting other people down so we look good.

-If stealing is a weakness don’t stay in a room where someone else’s money is lying around unattended.    

- If gossiping is a weakness stop hanging out with those friends who are quick to spread the latest rumors.

 – If you continue to let yourself be influenced by these temptations you only put yourself in the lion’s den and it will only be a matter of time before you are devoured.

It’s important to remove the clutter from our lives which hampers good judgment, and then shore up our weakness so you stand firm in the faith.

We especially can stand firm in the faith when we stand firm in God’s Word. Jesus proved that God’s Word could topple the Devil when He was tempted out in the wilderness. Therefore it is important to arm yourself with God’s Word. It is one of our most powerful weapons to protect us when the lion attacks. Memorize as many Bible verses as you can so that you can make quick use of it like Jesus did when Satan tempted Him.

While humility and self-control will prepare us against attacks by the Devil ultimately it’s only God’s grace that will bring us through these attacks.         We need God’s grace because even though we know we should cast our anxieties on Him we often fail to. Although we know that we should stay out of the lion’s cage, time and time again we put ourselves in harm’s way. Thank God that he is a God of undeserved love and that he picks us up when we fall.

Listen to the promise that Peter extends to us.  

“And the God of grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

When you fall, turn to Jesus for forgiveness because He has defeated the Devil by refusing to fall for any of his tricks and He undid the Devil’s handiwork by taking the punishment of hell we deserved.

Can you imagine how disappointed the Devil must have been at Jesus’ resurrection? He thought that he had us all because we all sin. He thought he destroyed the Son of God and no more would turn and pledge their allegiance to the Father. He thought he had defeated God’s Son but in reality, at the cross he was the one that was totally defeated.

Since the Devil could not and cannot defeat Jesus, he has gone to plan “B” – attacking us, the crown of God’s creation. Luther said that where God builds a cathedral there Satan builds a chapel.

Be ready for those attacks. The Devil does not want you to believe that Jesus won forgiveness for you. He will bring up past sins and shake them in your face and asks how a just God could love anyone so filthy, anyone like you?

And the answer is the one that always topples Satan plan, He loves us because of Jesus and what He did for us.

- Through Christ the victory is ours. Through Christ, God will restore us to the glory He intended people to have before sin entered the world.

-Through Christ God has made us strong so we can carry out works that please God.

Yes, God loves us because of Jesus. If we remain in Christ then the lion’s roar will sound more like an annoying yelp from a little dog.

It’s true that “In the jungle, the mighty jungle the lion is waiting to nab us tonight…”              

so stay alert lest you become desert.

But don’t be afraid because after all it’s God’s jungle and He will keep you safe in Christ Jesus.

Therefore as you walk through the jungle, humble yourself under God’s mighty hand by casting all of your cares on Him. Trust that he is in control no matter what quicksand you run into. Remain watchful standing firm in the faith, armed with the Word. And the God of grace who has called us to eternal glory will keep you safe. Amen.

Based on a sermon by Daniel Habben

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

From Jim McGuiggan... Can we get rid of punishment?

Can we get rid of punishment?

Some sensitive and caring people think the very notion of "punishment" is spiteful and vengeful and they’d like to be rid of the concept altogether. More than the concept, they’d like society to be rid of the practice. There should be no punishment for anyone.

Hmmm. But what are we to do with people who are viciously disruptive and who inflict pain and loss on the innocent? What of those we have solid reasons to believe will continue to inflict injury on the defenseless? These caring people insist we should deal with such people but that it shouldn’t be by punishing them. We should cure them by changing them and this would be a long-term deterrent but in the meantime, if we must, we will isolate them from society and that will deter them in the short-term. But while we have them isolated from society as a short term deterrent we should work with them in various ways to understand them and condition them so as to change them and thus rehabilitate them.

It doesn’t matter much to these fine people how we phrase the notion of punishment—as soon as we speak of someone "deserving" some administered unpleasantness (whatever form it takes) we’re on the wrong track. Whatever it takes, however we express it or reflect on it the notion of punishment is to be got rid of. The word itself derives, finally, from penalty and so rightly understood someone has offended (in some form) and in response to that offense some authorized personnel have intentionally inflicted some unpleasantness on the offender as retribution.

The two concepts that matter to these people in dealing with offenders are that society be protected and that the offender be personally helped to leave his/her socially unacceptable behavior behind. These people don’t say the behavior is good or that it doesn’t matter, and it’s untrue to say they are without sympathy toward the victims; they simply claim that inflicting pain or loss on an offender is spite and vengefulness baptized by society and made to look good.

But thoughtful people, just as caring as these, have continued to tell us for many years that it is immoral to dispense with the notion of "desert" and forcibly deprive people of their liberty against their will. If they have done nothing to "deserve" our putting them in a place that will subject them to our "healing" they should not be there. If we say to some innocent bystander, "We are going to put you in a (sort of) hospital to help free you from your socially unacceptable behavior" we won’t be surprised if he/she objects. If we use barely enough (but enough) restraint to take him to that place—this perfectly innocent bystander—it won’t matter to him/her that it will have nice accommodation, food, personnel and surroundings. When they strenuously insist that they have done nothing wrong and should not be shanghaied into such a place they will make sense to every thinking person in the world except those that have abducted them.

Enforced remedial treatment can only be remedial if first it is warranted! It cannot possibly be remedial if it isn’t warranted or "earned". We can only morally attempt to cure "the sick" if we know him to be sick. We can only forcibly attempt to rehabilitate a known offender. To forcibly "treat" a non-offender is not only illegal and immoral it’s also absurd. And we forcibly treat the offender precisely because he/she has offended. Whatever our motives (and they may be the purest under heaven) the forcible treatment in response to wrongdoing (whether wrongdoing is defined in legal, social or moral terms) has the nature of penalty. "You did this and in light of that and as a response to that we are compelled to do what we are about to do."

And if we’re so sensitive that we must absolutely jettison all idea of penalty or desert then we are enforcing society’s will on an unwilling person. A person who, according to our own claim, does not deserve what is happening to him. "No one in the world can deserve what we’re about to do to you but we’re going to do it without your consent." A "treatment" can’t be remedial unless the offender believes it is "deserved" otherwise he/she will see it as unjust. And if the offender smarts under the injustice of it all then it’s no remedy.

And it really doesn’t help if we say that the enforced "cure" is not punishment or penalty. It robs the individual of all that makes life pleasant to him/her. If he asks, "Are you depriving me of freedom and family because I did this or that?" the answer would have to be yes. So while we wish to avoid the word "punishment" we are doing to that man or woman what philosopher Anthony Flew has judiciously defined as punishment. See Penal Substitution.

So we subject this person against his/her will to what is unpleasant to them because they have offended all the while insisting that they don’t deserve what we’re doing; all the while we tell them, "If we were to punish you we would be barbarians."

And if the offender were to ask, "Are you doing this as a deterrent to others?" and we were to say yes, that would only make matters worse. This is being enforced on him/her against their wills even though it isn’t merited (for no one in the world merits "punishment"). And now they’re told it’s to keep others from doing the same kinds of things. Now, though "deserving" nothing they are used as a means to an end. Hmmm.

©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.