10/19/13

From Ben Fronczek... Acts 26:1-8 Our Hope in God

Acts 26:1-8 Our Hope in God

Acts 26:1-8   Our Hope in God

Opening:  One of the greatest chapter in the NT is recorded in 1 Corinthians 13. Many refer it at to as Paul’s discourse on love. Now if one takes the time to look a little further into the text, Paul’s discussion there goes deeper than just love. Actually he is writing to those in the Corinthian church who seem to think that people who were blessed with certain miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit were more important than others in the church. Paul goes on to teach them that we are all important, and that love for one another is the most perfect way. As a matter of fact he goes on to tell them that some of those gifts will disappear while others  will always remain true and will never fail.

Read 1 Cor. 13:8-10 & 13  “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.” And then Vs. 13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

So Paul tells the Corinthians that those miraculous gifts of that time were only temporary, but the 3 gifts that would remain, is faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of course would be love… why?  Because it is the one virtue that would endure forever, even beyond this life.

Where would we be without our Christian faith, hope, and Love?
I cannot imagine. Those things that  we have faith in, and things that we hope for, and loving others, gives our Christian life meaning and purpose. These virtues define who we are as Christians. In today text we will read where the Apostle Paul talks about one of these virtues – his hope, as a matter of fact the hope that all believers have.

Background to our text:  Before Paul is shipped off to Rome where he would stand trial before Caesar, the new governor of Caesarea, Festus, the man who replaced the evil Felix asks King Agrippa, who was visiting Festus to sit and listen to Paul. Before sending Paul to Caesar, Festus wanted King Agrippa to help him come up with something he can put in a letter regarding why Paul was being sent to him in the first place. So in chapter 26 we have a copy of what Paul had to say as he addressed this king and his wife.   


There is a lot in this chapter we could talk about this morning, but today I would like to focus on something Paul says as he begins his defense; the very reason why he felt he was on trial. 

Paul said, “it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today…  (He said) King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.”

And what hope is he referring to? In the very next verse (26:8) he lets us know; “That God will raise the dead.”   And then in verses 22-23 he says, “God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—  that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

The very hope of every Christian is, that one day… just as Jesus rose from the grave, we shall also rise to be with Him. Some had doubts during that time, even in the church, so Paul addressed this issue to encourage us and give us hope. 


Jesus came to give us life eternal, abundant life. And part of that comes from knowing and believing and having hope, in what is to come. Because Christ died and was then resurrected, together we share in that hope of resurrection as well !
The Apostle Peter also wrote of this hope    Read:  1 Peter  1:3-9  
“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Peter said that we have been given a new birth into a living hope. It is a living hope because Jesus was resurrected and is NOW (present tense) now alive in heaven. And that hope should be alive in you! Today we see too many people in despair because they count on, or build their lives on the wrong things.  They put their faith in and hope in things that won’t last: wood hay and stubble; the things of this world. Jesus once said, “What good will it be if you gain the whole world yet loose your soul.” 

A philosopher in the early 1900’s, Bertrand Russell was an outspoken atheist. He even wrote a book called Why I Am Not A Christian. When Russell was 81 years old, he was interviewed on a BBC radio talk show. The interviewer asked him what he had to hang onto when death was obviously so close. Russell responded, “I have nothing to hang onto but grim, unyielding despair.” What an honest yet hopeless response. You see, when you live only for this life, and only for what it has to offer, and when you think that this is all there is, you can’t help but eventually fall into despair. But for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, there is hope. A living hope, because we anticipate a time when death and decay will no longer exist.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:18-19
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.”

In verse 19, that phrase “eager expectation” is a picturesque word that means “to stretch the neck in anticipation.” Have you ever waited for someone to come home on a plane? As the people come off the ramp you stretch and strain to see them as soon as possible. Paul says creation is in that type of existence, longing to see what God is going to do.

And the next thing that Paul goes on to say in that text is. (vv. 22-24)
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all.”

Have you been there? When you ache or groan in this world of materialism, and pain, and frustration knowing what God has waiting for us in Glory?   If you are in Christ, you have this promise that there is something better. So as we groan, we remember our hope. Some day things will be better. That is our hope! And that hope can and should affect our present disposition. You see, this Biblical view points us to a hope that is greater than the world we live in. And, if we are in Christ, we have been infused with an eternal sense of hopefulness. So for the Christian, there is no such thing as a hopeless life. We may not like a particular situation we are in, or what’s going on in our life right now, but you should never be hopeless or without hope. 

Paul expands on this idea a little more in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. He writes,
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

So why does Paul and others talk about our hope in Christ?
1. Because we need to be encourages and reminded that this world is not our home..

2. Because I believe he knows that this hope will keep us from settling for the things of this world.

Scott Dudley put it this way: “Never in history have so many had so much for so long and been so depressed about it.”  Fulfilment doesn’t come from that stuff.  But when we adopt an eternal mindset, stuff looses its significance. When we recognize that the things of this world aren’t going to last forever, we realize that there is no complete sense of fulfillment in collecting stuff. When we place our hope in God and what He has to offer, we don’t try to satisfy our groanings with the things of this world. In hope, we anticipate that God will satisfy us in ways that cannot be understood in this lifetime.
3. I believe Paul knew that our hope can turn our eyes away from our present pain, or hardships to God’s glory.
The good news is that, in Christ, we live knowing that the pain of this world will give way to the painless reality of heaven. The promise from the Bible is that in that time Christ will take away our pain and will dry all our tears.  That hope can and should infuses us now with the ability to turn our eyes away from our pain to God’s glory.

The hope that we have in Christ is a great power. It will sustain us. It will comfort us and give us peace. It give the Christian a sense of purpose  and a reason to live for and serve God. As Paul found out some may even laugh at us and even try to persecute us for our belief. But be assured of this, those who know that they are in Christ Jesus will always have hope.

So hang in there everyone, and never forget the hope you have in Jesus!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... Settling For Less

 Settling For Less


Paul was a strange character. He careered off across half the world preaching ceaselessly about peace and freedom and seemed to have neither. Was there ever a man more driven? Was there ever a man who made himself a servant to so many? The truth is we know or know about thousands of men, women, boys and girls who were driven and joyfully discontent. They saw things and were seized by them and for love of them their whole lives were brought to heel in a holy obedience. The magic about such people is that their peace and freedom so out-strips our own that we don't recognise it as freedom and peace.
But in our more lucid moments we remember that true lovers find full freedom in their refusal to be free and that the most contented people are those who sell everything they have for a pearl of great price. Edmund Gosse got it right when he told about a swan that grew tired of the murky water and the narrow boundaries of the local pond, tired of the crumbs thrown to it and tired of the clinging reeds and the cramped space. (I've watched such swans in Ward Park, in a little pond not too far from where I lived for years.) Gosse's swan headed out for distant places where the waters were cold, where the wind was often a gale and where many of its free bothers and sisters already were. And having done that, Gosse says, it never regretted what it tossed away. It refused to settle for less. And so it is, he thought, with all those glad, mad people who are a vision to behold and about whom we write songs and poetry.
So sails the soul, and cannot rest,
Inglorious in the marsh of peace;
But leaves the good, to seek the best,
Though all its calms and comforts cease,—

Though what it seem'd to hold be lost,
Though that grow far which once was nigh—
By torturing hope in anguish tossed,
The awakened soul must sail or die.

It just isn't possible for all of us to be Pauls; we have neither the temperament nor the specific calling for it; but it's certainly possible by God's grace to have the mind of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5) that so shapes our hearts and minds that we can't be satisfied with cheaper and lesser views of life and what it's all about.
Having found [because he had been found by] Jesus Christ Paul took a new view of all the good and wonderful things in his life—they took on a new complexion. Though they remained fine things that others might well enjoy he now saw them as so much rubbish (Philippians 3:4-8). But that is only a relative or comparative remark and he says it only because he compares those things with Jesus Christ. And as Jesus looked at his own status of equality with God and didn't see it as something to be exploited (2:5-7, NRSV) and so emptied himself Paul saw his giftedness and privilege in the same way. He gladly suffered the loss of those things because he wanted to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:4-14).
Let me say it again: it isn't possible for each one of us to live out his or her life as Paul lived his out but within the parameters of a gloriously "ordinary" life there is a way of seeing life, a way of fleshing out the gospel of Jesus Christ; there's a spirit that defies the world spirit that says we're to be all belly and pelvis and no head or heart. Life can be lived in the spirit of Jesus in truth and vision and adventure—and it should be. Anything other and anything less is settling for less.

©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 Mind Of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11) 

                    "THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS"

                       The Mind Of Christ (2:5-11)

INTRODUCTION

1. In verses 1-4 of this second chapter, Paul wrote about "The Unity
   That Produces Joy", in which he described:
   a. The MOTIVATION for having this unity
   b. The NATURE of this unity
   c. The ATTITUDES necessary to have this unity

2. In describing the latter, he called upon the Philippians to:
   a. Do nothing through selfish ambition or conceit
   b. Have lowliness of mind in which they esteem others better than
      themselves
   c. Look out for the interests of others, and not only those of their
      own

3. In verse 5, Paul continues to exhort them to have "this mind" (the
   attitudes of verses 3-4), pointing out that this is also the "mind of
   Christ"

4. In the following verses (6-11), Paul elaborates on the "mind of
   Christ" (or the attitude of Christ), which will serve as the focus of
   this particular study...

[First, note that "The Mind Of Christ"...]

I. LACKED SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT (6)

   A. PRIOR TO HIS INCARNATION...
      1. Jesus was "in the form of God"
         a. That is, "He existed as essentially one with God" (Vincent's
            Word Studies)
         b. This is in accord with what we read in Jn 1:1-3
      2. He was also "equal with God"
         a. Again notice Jn 1:1
         b. He certainly shared similar glory with the Father (Jn 17:5),
            something the Father refused to share with any created being
            (cf. Isa 42:8)

   B. YET CHRIST DID NOT CONSIDER SUCH EQUALITY "ROBBERY"...
      1. Literally, "a thing to be grasped"; that is, something to be
         laid hold of, and retained jealously
      2. The "glory" of equality with God which Christ enjoyed from
         eternity was not something He felt like He HAD to cling on to
      3. A true demonstration of a lack of selfish ambition and conceit
         on the part of our Lord!

   C. DO WE HAVE "THE MIND OF CHRIST"?
      1. Do we consider our "standing" before others (whatever that may
         be) something to be held on to?
      2. Do we consider ourselves more important than others, and
         consider that distinction something to be preserved at all
         costs?
      -- IF SO, THEN WE LACK "THE MIND OF CHRIST"!

[As we continue to read on in our text, we see also that "The Mind Of 
Christ"...]

II. LOOKED OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS (7-8)

   A. WHEN CHRIST BECAME FLESH...
      1. He "made Himself of no reputation"
         a. Some versions say "emptied Himself"
         b. He divested Himself of the "glory" He had with the Father 
            - cf. Jn 17:5
      2. He took upon Himself "the form of a servant"
         a. He did not come as a "king", "nobleman", etc.
         b. But as the lowly son of a simple carpenter
      3. He came "in the likeness of men"
         a. As such, He could experience their temptations and
            sufferings - He 2:14,17-18; 4:15; 5:7
         b. In other words, though deity, He was truly "man" (not some
            sort of "superman")
      4. He "humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
         even the death of the cross"
         a. Consider He 5:8
         b. Though in every way a man like you or me (while still the
            Son of God), He humbled Himself and obediently suffered and
            died on the cross!
      -- WHY DID JESUS DO ALL THIS?

   B. HE DID IT ALL FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS!
      1. He became man, humbled himself as a man, was obedient, and then
         died on the cross...because it was in our own best interest!
      2. He did it, to bear OUR reproach - cf. Ro 15:1-3; Isa 53:4-6
      3. Yes, He was looking out for OUR interests!

   C. DO WE HAVE "THE MIND OF CHRIST"?
      1. We do, if we are looking out for the interests of others
      2. We do, if we are willing to humble ourselves, even sacrifice
         ourselves if it be in the best interests of others - cf. 1Jn 3:16

[Such is "The Mind Of Christ", one of humility and service to others; 
but it is also one that is...]

III. HIGHLY EXALTED BY GOD (9-11)

   A. IN THE CASE OF JESUS...
      1. He is a good example of the Scriptural maxim:  "He that humbles
         himself shall be exalted"
      2. For God has highly exalted Jesus in two ways:
         a. In the PRESENT - by giving Him "the name which is above
            every name" (the name by which men must be saved - Ac 4:12)
         b. In the FUTURE - that at His name "every knee should bow...
            that every tongue should confess" He is Lord! - Re 5:11-14

   B. BUT ALSO IN OUR CASE...
      1. Those who possess "The Mind Of Christ" will participate in that
         great future exaltation of Christ! - Ro 8:16-18; 2Th 1:10-12
      2. Isn't this a wonderful motivator for us to have "The Mind Of
         Christ"?

CONCLUSION

1. We have seen in this passage that "The Mind Of Christ" involves...
   a. Humility
   b. Obedience
   c. Sacrifice
   d. Great Reward

2. Do we possess "The Mind Of Christ"?  We should, for it is the "key"
   to:
   a. The unity that produces joy!
   b. One day sharing in "glory" together with Christ!

3. As Christians, let's be diligent to manifest "The Mind Of Christ" in
   our relationship to God and to each other

If you are not a Christian, why not begin possessing "The Mind of
Christ" by following His example of humble obedience to the Will of God?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011


10/18/13

From Gary.... Old friends



If you are over 55, there is a pretty good chance that you will know who these people are.  If not, then you probably will recognize Walt Disney (in the center of the picture).  As a youngster, I remember coming home from school, playing a bit and then putting on "The Mickey Mouse Club".  They were entertaining and it wasn't long before I viewed them as my "friends".  Of course, that was a little presumptuous on my part, but when you are 7 or 8, you take a lot of things for granted.  Still, I loved the show, and couldn't wait to see it.  I especially liked "Annette" and had the biggest crush on her you could possibly imagine.  Decades have passed and my youthful look at the world has changed considerably, but one question remains valid whatever my age is: How do I define a friend?  Jesus puts it this way...

John, Chapter 15
 12  “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.   13  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.   14  You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.   15  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.   16  You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Seeking the highest good for another, being willing to really sacrifice for them is the hallmark of true love.  In reference to the Almighty, this means obedience.  Not just a plain "I believe", but a constant trust; AN OBEDIENT TRUST!!!  Frankly, my wish for everyone out there is to find as many friends as possible and to attempt to be the best friend you can be yourself.  Begin by making Jesus your friend first, learn from him and go from there.  Now, I know that I will probably never, ever even meet one of the people in the picture, but I still consider them my friends because of the joy they have brought into my life.  I hope that my life will bring joy to God and that yours will as well. 


From Ben Fronczek... Acts 24 “Not Today!”

Acts 24 “Not Today!”

Acts 24  “Not Today!”
Have you ever thought about doing something, maybe something you really wanted or something you really needed to do, but then you put it off never getting around to doing it at all? We call that procrastination.  And today as we look at Acts chapter 24, we see a man who does just that.

A Little Background:
After Paul returned to Jerusalem and was arrested in Chapter 23 we read about the plot of some 40 radical Jews who plan to kill Paul. After learning about this plot the Roman commander there in Jerusalem puts together a small army of men to protect and escort Paul out of Jerusalem to Caesarea and into the hand of Governor Felix. In chapter 24, we read that the Jews come down to Caesarea and lobby their charges against Paul before Felix. And after they lobby their charges, Paul has an opportunity to give his defense. Felix then told them that he was going to put off his decision until the Commander Lysias  arrived. But what I find interesting in this story is the fact that Felix, who was said to be well acquainted with the Way, (that is familiar with Christianity) decides to meet with Paul on another occasion.

Read Acts 24:24-26 “Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. 27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.”

Have you ever had an experience that left you a bit shaken? Like losing a loved one? Or being involved in or seeing a terrible accident? How about when someone close to you has been diagnosed with a life threatening illness? — all of these experiences can shake us up. How about when God’s word shakes you up, like when He uses His word to speak to us directly. 

In Isaiah 55:11 God spoke thru Isaiah saying, “So will My word which goes forth from My mouth;  It will not return to Me empty,  Without accomplishing what I desire,  And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (NAS)

God’s word is powerful and always has a purpose, and as a result, we can be left shaken (or convicted) . 

Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” 

God’s word is powerful. Never underestimate it effect. Many times in the Bible God, used those “Shaking Experiences” to get someone’s attention, and as a result lives were changed. For example: The Apostle Paul himself. His life was changed after he was shaken up on the road to Damascus, when he saw the light of God flash around him and when he heard the Lord speak to him.  Paul was shaken up, and we read that after he was led blind into Damascus blind, he did not eat or drink for 3 days. If that isn’t being shook up I don’t know what is. As a result, he was saved (Acts 9).

The Philippian jailer was left shaken after the jailhouse was rocked by an earthquake (Acts 16) We read that Paul and his companions were in his jail; and knowing Paul he was probably sharing the good news about Jesus and singing songs of praise to Him. After the earthquake and all the prison doors open, the jailor having been shook up fell at Paul’s feet and asked what he needed to do to be saved.

In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, we read that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were poured out on the believers and they started doing miraculous things like prophesying and speaking in different languages, and more. When the Jews came to inquire as to what was going on, Peter told them that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. He also told them that they had murdered the One who was to come, their Messiah, Jesus. When they heard this they were shaken to the core and asked Peter they needed to do. God’s word stirred and convicted their hearts.
However, not all the life shaking experiences in the Bible led to salvation, for example, Felix , who we will look at today. He was shaken, but not saved!
Who is Felix? – He was a cruel ruler whose name brought terror to his people. Historians tell us that his cruelty knew no bounds, crucifying 100’s of Jews accusing them of being thieves. the Roman goverment even took away his job as governor and brought his back to Rome and charged him with excessive cruelty on his subjects.  He was also known for taking bribes which led to the downfall of morality in Jerusalem. Drusilla became his wife having left her husband for Felix when she was 16. She was about 22 years of age when she came with her husband Felix to hear Paul. I have no doubt she was somewhat acquainted with the teachings of Christ. Her father was king Herod Agrippa I, who killed the apostle James in Acts 12. Her great-uncle, Herod Antipas, had killed John the Baptist at the request of his wife’s daughter. Her great-grandfather, Herod the Great, killed many innocent children of Bethlehem in his unsuccessful attempt to destroy the baby Jesus.

Felix and Drusilla would do anything to gain power and maintain their lifestyle. They were unjust, irreligious, and immoral—unafraid of God and man.
Why did Felix want to meet with Paul? No one knows for sure…            
                                                  
1. It may have been out of curiosity. Vs 22 indicates that he knew of the gospel. Many people in our day visit a Bible based church out of curiosity. They see the life of one of its members; they notice a change in the life of a family member or old friend. They want to know what’s going on.

2. It may have been out of boredom (to get the latest news about the Christian movement).

3. It may have been for material gain. Verse 26 seems to indicate this possibility. He was looking for a bribe.  Felix may have thought the early church would pay to get Paul released.

4. Or was it because of a hungry heart? They may have longed in their soul for a better way of life, they may have been burdened for the way they were living their life and had thoughts of God, eternity, and judgment. Some people search for the answers. They know that there is something more than this life.

Paul’s Message
Here is Paul, who is innocent coming before the man who had the power to release him. Paul could have easily been tempted to argue or plea for his release, but he wasted no time at all. As a matter of fact, I think Paul chose to stay there so that he could talk more with Felix.  At every opportunity he preached Christ. The latter part of verse 24 says that he spoke about faith in Christ. And in Verse 25 it says that he talked about righteousness, self control, and the judgment to come. Felix must have been affected by what Paul told him, because the text goes on to tell us that he was afraid. The original Greek word mean: ‘thrown into fear, terrified.’ What Paul told him shook this hard man to the core. As I see it, Felix had two choices just like the rest of us when we hear the truth of the Gospel, either accept it and change, or reject it. Felix didn’t do either, rather he just put it off. He didn’t do anything,                                                                        - he procrastinated.  He didn’t deny what Paul preached, neither did he outright reject it. He did not laugh, he didnot sneer, he didn’t cry. He trembled and he trembled with conviction.Felix knew that everything Paul was saying was true. Here was a man, who was married to another man’s wife, whose very name means pleasure. He was living his life with the attitude of eat, drink and be merry. He was a lost sinner who had the opportunity to listen to Paul preach and the effect of God’s word made him tremble.Felix did not deny Gods word or outwardly reject it. All he did was put the decision off until later. Why did he put it off? No reason is given in the text. This was a bad move. It’s like ignoring the oil light when it comes on in your car.  Ignored that light too long and it cost you a new engine. If you ignore the warning light of Jesus Christ it will cost you your soul and an eternity in hell.

Someone once said, “A vast majority of the time the things that God wants to do with us and in us will come at the most inconvenient times of life.
(He goes on to say) A high charge, a noble calling, a holy resolution visits us. It stands at the door and knocks. But we reason, this is going to wreck my schedule, this will disturb my comfort, this will be a great hindrance to my selfishness.    Procrastination is the mother of failure.”
So we dismiss the convicting pull of the Spirit to turn from a sinful practice and convert, to grow spiritually, to nurture our relationship with God . . .to a more convenient time.  We think, or say:   • Tomorrow, I will pray.   • Tomorrow, I will stop doing this or that , and fast.  • Tomorrow, I will find a talent to devote to God.    • Tomorrow, I will allow God to use my life in the way that He wants.     • Tomorrow I will tell so and so aboutJesus   • Tomorrow, when I am older and more mature, I will find time for God. • Tomorrow, Tomorrow… We hear a sermon that convict us to pray, or to lift the burdens of others, or to hunger and thirst for God, and desire for spiritual maturity. . . . but we we put those things off because it just isn’t a convenient time in our life to peruse those things. Or we put off a brother or sisters advice, or push aside a scripture verse that speaks to us. How many spiritual blessings have been lost and or silenced because it just wasn’t a convenient time in our life? My encouragement this morning is not to become like Felix. Don’t procrastinate when it comes to spiritual things; when that warning light comes on in your heart! In closing I would like to share with you a story that reminded me of Felix.

The Danger Of Delay
A German farmer settled in Guatemala and became very prosperous. After a while he decided he would go back to visit his family in Germany. So he saved his money and got on a ship. After a few days at sea he noticed he had an infection in his toe and realized that a small tropical flea was under the nail and had laid its eggs. This caused him terrible itching and inflammation. The cure was to take a needle and bore through the nail and remove it. The German farmer decided to do that. So he got a needle and sat down. Then he thought, “My uncle and his family in Hamburg have never seen one of these tropical flees.” So he decided to leave it under the nail and after he had shown them he would remove it. By the time he reached Hamburg his toe was swollen and his foot was hurting terribly. He showed it to his Uncle Otto who looked and said, “Aw, the whole family would like to see this.” So he left it in until all the family could see it. But the difficulty was that the infection got out of control and got into the blood and he died.. (Adapted from The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, Charles Swindoll, p. 471) The German farmer procrastinated and lost his life. Jesus taught parables about not putting off what you should do today till tomorrow, because you don’t know if tomorrow will come.

What about you?

From Jim McGuiggan... Rubbish & Vision

Rubbish & Vision 

 

What kind of vision must Paul have had to look at all the things we treasure and call them "rubbish"? What did he see to make him look at them in this way? What feelings surged through him to leave him feeling this way about them? What did he know that led him to understand them to be rubbish?Get the sense of what he has said. Imagine yourself walking into your brand new house and seeing a pile of dirt and trash on your living room floor. You wouldn't leave it there to be admired would you? You wouldn't hesitate to get rid of it. There'd be no inner debate. Without regret and without a moment's hesitation you'd dump it.
Without denying their essential goodness this is what Paul thought of the all the good things in his life's experience. In comparison to what he had found and what was there to be uncovered he saw the goods of this phase of life to be just so much clutter, so much needless baggage. But one can't see, feel and understand this way just by wishing it were so. You can't simply will yourself into this way of seeing life. Nor is it simply a matter of character. Men and women of character as grand as Paul's didn't see life's worldly goods in the way Paul did.
The explanation for his Philippians 3 is that he saw something. No, he met someone and having seen him the whole universe was changed, nothing ever looked the same. G.K. Chesterton said, "A man came into my world more than eighteen hundred years ago and since he has come I can't look at a tree without thinking of him" To the degree that we see what Paul saw we too will judge this world's goods as trivial at best.
But the vision doesn't come by grunting and sweating and wishing and worrying. And saying we judge life's precious things as comparative rubbish is not the same as feeling it and acting on it. It's that deeper level sense of things we're in need of.
Now, where's my map so I can find the place marked "the Damascus Road"? Maybe if...

©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 Unity That Produces Joy (Philippians 2:1-4) 

                    "THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS"

                   The Unity That Produces Joy (2:1-4)

INTRODUCTION

1. At this point in his epistle to the Philippians, Paul is exhorting
   his brethren in regards to Christian living

2. In the previous section, we noticed that he encouraged them to
   manifest "Conduct Worthy Of The Gospel" (1:27-30)

3. In our text for this study, Paul exhorts them to manifest "The Unity
   That Produces Joy" (2:1-4)

4. In doing so, Paul describes three aspects of such unity:
   a. The MOTIVATION for having unity that produces joy (1)
   b. The NATURE of unity that produces joy (2)
   c. The ATTITUDES required for unity that produces joy (3,4)

[As we begin, let's carefully consider Paul's description of...]

I. THE "MOTIVATION" FOR HAVING UNITY THAT PRODUCES JOY (1)

   A. DO WE NOT HAVE ANY "CONSOLATION IN CHRIST"?
      1. When Paul says "if there is any consolation...", he is not
         doubting that there is
         a.  This is a common use of the conditional "if...then" where
             given the reality of the "if" clause, "then" a point should
             naturally follow
         b. For example, consider Ga 3:29...
            1) Where Paul wrote "If you are Christ's, then..."
            2) The "if" does not suggest doubt that they could be
               Christ's for in the previous verse he said that they
               were!
         c. In such cases, the "if" means the same thing as "since"
      2. Indeed, there is MUCH consolation (comfort) to be found in
         Christ!
         a. As expressed to the brethren at Thessalonica, there is
            consolation from Christ in "every good word and work"
            - 2Th 2:16-17
         b. And as written to the Corinthians, such consolation abounds
            even in the midst of tribulation - 2Co 1:3-5

   B. DO WE NOT HAVE ANY "COMFORT OF LOVE"?
      1. Do we not enjoy any comfort that comes from love?
      2. Does not the love that comes from God, Christ, the Holy Spirit,
         and even our brethren provide any comfort? - again, cf. 2 Co 1:3-5
      3. Indeed, it does to those who will receive it!

   C. DO WE NOT HAVE ANY "FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT"?
      1. Indeed, all who have been baptized into Christ has received the
         gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38-39; 5:32
      2. As the church (the temple of God), the Spirit dwells in us 
         - 1Co 3:16
      3. Even our individual bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit 
         - 1Co 6:19
      4. Not only by the Spirit have we all been baptized into one body,
         but have all been made to drink of the one Spirit - 1Co 12:13
         cf. Jn 7:37-39
      5. Indeed there is a true "communion of the Holy Spirit" available
         for Christians - 2Co 13:14

   D. DO WE NOT HAVE ANY "AFFECTION AND MERCY"?
      1. There is the "affection" that comes from Jesus and from other
         brethren - e.g., Php 1:8
      2. There is the "mercy" that comes from our loving Father in
         heaven - Ep 2:4-7

[Enjoying all these benefits, should they not serve to encourage us to 
have "The Unity That Produces Joy"?  It certainly moved Paul to write 
and encourage the Philippians toward this "unity"!

But exactly what kind of unity is it that produces joy...?]

II. THE "NATURE" OF THE UNITY THAT PRODUCES JOY (2)
 
   A. IT INVOLVES "BEING LIKE-MINDED"...
      1. Which means to "think the same thing"
      2. That this is a necessary quality of unity is evident from
         Paul's comments in 1Co 1:10

   B. IT INVOLVES "HAVING THE SAME LOVE"...
      1. This is a natural consequence if we are first "like-minded"
      2. Having the same love, we will love:
         a. The same things, in matters pertaining to Christ and His
            church!
         b. One another with the same kind of love
            1) Our love for one another will be of the same kind: 
               sincere, fervert, and from a pure heart - 1Pe 1:23
            2) Our love for one another will be mutual, not one-sided,
               as is often the case

   C. IT INVOLVES "BEING OF ONE ACCORD"...
      1. Literally, "of one soul; having your souls joined together"
      2. It suggests acting together as if ONE soul is driving them
      3. Therefore, working together in complete harmony, not as
         separate entities going our separate ways

   D. IT INVOLVES BEING "OF ONE MIND"...
      1. The NASV says "intent on one purpose"
      2. Not only working together outwardly, but inwardly, having the
         same purpose and intentions

[When such conditions exist in a local congregation, then "The Unity 
That Produces Joy" will be fully experienced!

But what are the attitudes required for having such unity?]

III. THE "ATTITUDES" REQUIRED FOR THE UNITY THAT PRODUCES JOY (3,4)
         
   A. "LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT"...
      1. First, it is necessary to point out those attitudes we should
         NOT have!
      2. Possessing these attitudes will destroy unity
         a. For both involve "self-centered" attitude
         b. Rather than a "Christ-centered" attitude
      3. Therefore, it is required that we rid ourselves of:
         a. The DESIRE FOR EXALTING SELF ("selfish ambition")
         b. The IMPROPER ESTIMATION OF SELF ("conceit")
      4. In place of these, we should substitute...

   B. "LOWLINESS OF MIND"...
      1. In other words, humility
      2. This will effectively replace the problem of "conceit"
      3. Humility should be easy to maintain if we remember our own
         faults

   C. "LET EACH ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN HIMSELF"...
      1. This should be easy for us to do...
         a. For we are aware of our own defects, but we do not have the
            same clear view of the defects of others
         b. We can only see their OUTWARD conduct; in our case,  we can
            look WITHIN
         c. We see our own hearts, with all its faults; we cannot so
            look into the hearts of others
      2. In writing to the brethren at Rome, Paul exhorted them to outdo
         one another in this regard - "in honor giving preference to one
         another" - Ro 12:10b

   D. "LOOK OUT...FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS"...
      1. This attitude eliminates the problem of "selfish ambition"
      2. It is the attitude of MATURITY, and was the attitude of Christ!
         - Ro 15:1-3
      3. So it should be the attitude of every Christian!

CONCLUSION

1. These attitudes are essential if we are going to have "The Unity That
   Produces Joy"!

2. This is not to suggest that these attitudes ALONE will bring about
   such unity...
   a. For "The Unity That Produces Joy" comes only when it it is unity
      based upon the truths Jesus taught
   b. These attitudes without that truth will only produce a false sense
      of joy
   c. But without these attitudes, holding to the truth itself will not
      give us the joy we seek!

Therefore, let us "fulfill our joy" by making sure that we manifest
these attitudes as we attempt to live according to the truth that is in
Jesus!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011


Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)