9/15/13

From Gary... Imagination, Firebirds and serendipity


To me, my granddaughter's picture (The Photo Girl) looks like a bird about to take wing, but, that is just my thinking.  It could be a wishbone, a divining rod (for finding water) or any one of a thousand things, I suppose.  I like the thought of a bird, and to be a tad more specific- a THUNDERBIRD!!!  I freely admit that I have an active imagination, as the above comments reveal, but I guess that is just from reading to many Science Fiction Books as a pre-teen.  So, I can imagine the wildest things and therefore writing this blog is an exercise in creativity for me.  However, I have to ask the question: Is there anything that I can't imagine?  The following passage from the book of 1st Corinthians answers that very plainly....

1 Corinthians, Chapter 2
 1 When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  2 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  4 My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  5 that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  6 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.  7 But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,  8 which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.  
9 But as it is written, 
“Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear,
which didn’t enter into the heart of man,
these God has prepared for those who love him.”

Have you ever received a gift that simply blew you away?  I have; when I was 11 my maternal grandmother gave me a brand new bike.  It was a beautiful thing and I rode it for many years.  Later, I learned that she refrained from clothing purchases for a whole year, just so that she could give me what she knew I really wanted!!!  Her self-sacrifice was love in action and when I saw that bike- WOW!!!!  I can only imagine the wonders of heaven and the blessings that await there, but I am very sure that "WOW" will be entirely inadequate!!!!

P.S. In case you are wondering- The picture that Lizzie took is of A SPARKLER ON THE 4TH OF JULY!!!!!

P.S.S.  I wonder if there will be birthdays in Heaven???

From Jim McGuiggan... Matthew 18:18-19, Where two or three

Matthew 18:18-19, Where two or three

Matthew 18:18-19 says: "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (18:18-20)
The entire chapter hangs together and these three verses should be understood in light of its grand drift.
The disciples repeatedly argue about "greatness" and which of them should be the head man. They construed greatness in terms of who and how many people they could get under them and Jesus kept insisting that leadership was about how many people you could get under to serve (Matthew 18:1, Mark 9:33, Luke 9:46; 22:24-27 and compare John 13:1-17). Children were vulnerable and so were weak Christians and whoever took that into account and chose from a position of strength to become weak imitated God as he showed himself in Jesus Christ as he revealed the kingdom (reign) of God. Be sure to hear Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and 2 Corinthians 11:28-29. "Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?"
In Matthew the kingdom (reign) of God is God coming to serve (Matthew 20:28) and by serving to redeem the weak and sinful. To live that spirit out is to make earth like heaven (Matthew 6:10).
To become one with the weak and sinful, to view them as in need of protection and deliverance and to act on that—that is greatness in the kingdom of heaven.
Everyone counts with God! Everyone, without exception. The weak and vulnerable (18:10) as well as the serious transgressor (18:15-17). All the lost sheep are counted as precious and should be sought for and when found, rejoiced over (18:12-14 and compare Luke 15, the entire chapter in light of 15:1-2). But because everyone counts with God those that are sinned against count with God and the transgressor’s sin is taken seriously (18:6-9). To proclaim or practice forgiveness of serious offences as a "let bygones be bygones and say nothing about it" matter is not God’s approach (see the later scary section, concluded by18:35).
In the case of the transgressor (serious offences are in view—to reduce the teaching to trivial concerns is to miss the point) he is to be pursued by the offended one (alone!). If that brings no repentance then witnesses are to be brought and if that doesn’t work the congregation is to be called in. We can argue about how rigid we are to follow this section (18:15-17) and that makes some sense—all isn’t clear. But to pretend to take it seriously without even an honest approach to its terms is shameful! And sin!
The pursuit of the transgressor is not to get rid of him. If this were carried out with the spirit of the reign of God it would be carried out because we think the transgressor precious. To the degree that we fall short of that, to that degree we fall short of the heart of the kingdom of God.
With all that as background we have 18:18-20. The verses deal with the restoration of sinners from sin, they deal with the finding of lost sheep, they deal with hopeful surgery if it comes to that. What the disciples do, what the church does (it isn’t only Peter—see 16:19 and leaders here) when it functions in the way outlined is to echo on earth the will of God in heaven. When they do that they have the Holy Father’s approval because they have the Holy Son in their presence, approving of what they do and expressing his own search through them.
In stark contrast to all that, there is 18:21-35. It’s an ugly picture! And is there a more solemn word of Christ in the gospels addressed to his people than 18:35?

©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... The Proper Use Of Our Liberty (Galatians 5:13-15)


                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                The Proper Use Of Our Liberty (5:13-15)

INTRODUCTION

1. In Ga 5:1, Paul mentioned our liberty in Christ...

2. An earlier study summarized what this liberty entails...
   a. Christ has delivered the Jews from their obligation to keep the
      Law of Moses
   b. Christ has delivered all men from the guilt and power of sin
   c. Christ has delivered us from the need to keep human traditions
   d. Christ offers deliverance from the deeds of the flesh which
      endanger our salvation
   -- See the lesson "Standing Fast In The Liberty Of Christ" (Ga 5:1)

3. In Ga 5:13-15, Paul returns to the theme of liberty...
   a. With an admonition regarding its proper use in Christ
   b. Which we do well to give close attention

[His concerns are simple yet significant.  In the exercise of liberty,
we must...]

I. NOT TO SERVE THE FLESH

   A. THE WORKS OF THE FLESH THREATEN OUR SPIRITUALITY...
      1. As Jesus warned during His earthly ministry - Mk 7:20-23
      2. The works of the flesh include hatred, contentions, jealousies,
         outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions - cf. Ga 5:20
      3. If not careful, through such actions we may consume one
         another! - Ga 5:15
      -- Liberty in Christ does not mean license to do whatever we want

   B. THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ENDANGER OUR SALVATION...
      1. By being contrary to the desire of the Spirit - Ga 5:16-17
      2. By forfeiting our inheritance in the kingdom of God - Ga 5:
         19-21; cf. 1Co 6:9-11
      3. By reaping corruption for those who sow to the flesh - Ga 6:8
      -- We should take the danger of the works of the flesh seriously

   C. THE WORKS OF THE FLESH MUST BE CRUCIFIED...
      1. Because of the wrath of God which is coming - Col 3:5-8
      2. With the aid of the Spirit - Ro 8:12-13
      3. Otherwise, we are not truly Christ's - Ga 5:24-26
      -- We have been set free from bondage of sin that we might serve
         God (Ro 6:11-19)

[How the Christian is able to able to do this, Paul will discuss later
(Ga 5:16-18).  In our text, though, we find the other side of the coin
regarding our liberty in Christ.  We are not to serve the flesh...]

II. BUT TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER

   A. WE ARE TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER...
      1. The Lord has blessed each of us with different abilities - Ro 12:3-8
      2. We are to minister such gifts to one another - 1Pe 4:10-11
      3. The strong bearing with the infirmities of the weak - Ro 15:1
      4. Each of us focused on edifying our brethren - Ro 15:2-3; 14:19
      -- Liberty in Christ means to be free to serve one another!

   B. SERVING ONE ANOTHER THROUGH LOVE...
      1. Loving one another fulfills the Law - Ga 5:14; Ro 13:8-10
      2. Love enables one to serve others with sacrifice - Php 2:17; 1Jn 3:16
      3. Love will serve others, even when it is not reciprocal - 2 Co 12:15
      -- Love, not begrudging obligation, should motivate our service to
         one another!

CONCLUSION

1. Our liberty in Christ is a wonderful blessing...
   a. Deliverance from the guilt and power of sin
   b. Deliverance from the works of the flesh which endanger our
      salvation

2. Our liberty in Christ should produce the right response...
   a. Gratitude in our hearts to God
   b. Loving service in our lives to one another

Until we are serving one another through love, we have yet to properly
exercise the liberty that we have in Christ...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

eXTReMe Tracker