From Ben Fronczek... Every Day Offers us a Second Chance

Every Day Offers us a Second Chance

Every Day Offers us a Second Chance

Now that the year is coming to an end, many of us have a tendency to think back over the past 12 months and reflect on the good times and the bad, our successes and failures, our personal times of growth, and unfortunately our  shortcomings or times of personal failure. And as we do this we may even experience an array of feeling and emotions; from a feeling of thanksgiving, and satisfaction, to feelings of disappointment in our self knowing that we probably could and should have done better. And today I want to address these feelings of personal disappointment in our self.

If we are honest with our self, even the best of us realize that somewhere along the line, we fail now and then in our relationship to God. And I don’t know about you but this bothers me more than anything else. And it’s probably not the best way to start a New Year, all down and depressed.

If we are honest and have a humble spirit you may even have a list of personal failures and you may be very disappointed in yourself knowing that you should have done better as a Christian. There seem to be so many ways for us to mess up. (List some examples) Read Ephesians 4:17-5:5

Its one thing to think back over the year and second guess things that you did at you job, in your business, whether you should have bought something or not, whether you should have spoke up about something or not. There may be a hundred other things we did, or decisions we made over the past year that we now question, but nothing pulls at the heart string of a Christian like knowing that he or she failed our Lord in some way.

I am not sure where some of us got the image of God being an old angry man with a long beard ready to zap us from out of existence for each error we make, but it did not come from the Bible.

If anything the Bible lets us know that our God is one who will forgive those who are humble and repent. He took a murderer by the name of Moses, and turned him into a great national and spiritual leader. He took an adulterer and murderer like David, and used him to write many of the Psalms to strengthen and encourage the people of God. He took a woman who had been married and divorced five times and was now living with a sixth man and turned her into the first evangelist to go into Samaria. He took a guy who was determined to eradicate and destroy His church and turned him into one of the greatest evangelists and church builders of all time. He even took some of us, and turned our whole life around compared to what we once were. Our God is a God who will forgive humble ones who know that they have messed up and asked for His forgiveness and favor. 

Today I would like to read a story from the Old Testament that shows just how forgiving and merciful our God can be if we truly repent.

Read: 2 Chronicles 33:1-11 

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. ² He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” ⁵ In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. ⁶ He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

⁷ He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple, of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. ⁸ I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.” ⁹ But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. ¹¹ So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.”

Here in our reading, we read about King Manasseh, who had the opportunity to be a great king and have the greatest impact because he was the longest reigning king. He ruled for 55 years. His father had been a king who loved the Lord and did a lot in leading the nation back to serving God.

But as soon as Manasseh got the opportunity, he undid everything his father had spiritually tried to do for the nation. Manasseh spent most of his 55 years doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He worshiped idols, tried talking to dead people through witches and sorcerers, he sacrificed his sons as human offerings to idols, he put to death innocent people who challenged what he was doing.

The account of Manasseh in 2 Kings tells us he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. Tradition tells us he had the prophet Isaiah sawn in half.

Manasseh was full of pride. He did not have to answer to anyone. He did not apologize to anyone for anything he did. He could care less about God. But one day, God decided enough was enough. God sent the King of Assyria to invade Jerusalem. Manasseh was captured, and they put a hook in his nose and chains on his hands and feet and led him away as though he was some wild animal.

This former king was thrown into some Assyrian prison. All the riches and power of which he had boasted now meant absolutely nothing. None of the many idols he had made and created could do much to help him. His situation was hopeless, and he was helpless. Talk about someone who messed up.

It was probably in the dark of the prison, where Manasseh remembered, that the God of Israel, was a second chance God. And now look at what happens in this story;

Read 33:12-17 

“¹² In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. ¹³ And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

¹⁴ Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah.

¹⁵ He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. ¹⁶ Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁷ The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.”

This murderous, lying, abuser of people, finally humbled himself  before our God and then prayed. There are a lot of people who do not understand how big the heart of God is. Maybe even some of us actually believe it’s possible, if we have done something so bad, God may not love or forgive us. The encouraging news I have for you and me today is that when this evil man humbled himself before God, God was willing to forgive him and had a new plan for his Life, and likewise even though you may have messed up some this year, if you have the right heart God will forgive you put His plan to work in your life this up and coming year.

Manasseh, whose life was a complete moral and spiritual disaster, got a second chance from a loving God who gives 2^nd chances. And then he spent the rest of his life trying to lead his people back to God. There’s not a soul here who can go back into the past and change what was said or what was done, but all of us have the opportunity in God to make a positive difference in what takes place from here on out. So what if you’ve blown it for the past year, or two, or even for the past twenty years, or past 40 years. You don’t have to end up a failure in God’s eyes or even your own. I know its hard to live a perfectly sinless life. Even the strongest believer has weaknesses and occasionally fails. Sin is a reality we must all face. It seems that no amount of faith or love for Jesus can make us immune to failure or guarantee that we will not sin. The apostle Paul understood and said it this way in Romans 7:21-25

  “So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

The only hope that we have is because of grace and mercy Jesus our Lord is willing to show us.  He will give even the worst failures a 2^nd chance., but we have to have the right attitude. John wrote in 1 John. 1:9 

“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Isn’t that what you want?  I therefore encourage you to take life one day at a time. And when your feel tempted, seek God’s help. And if you do fail, learn from those people of old, like David, and Manasseh, Samson, Paul and so many others. Humble yourself before our Lord, leave the past in the past, trust in our awesome God, and He will lift you up.

Partly based on a sermon by Rick Gillespie- Mobley

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

From Jim McGuiggan... AIDS and just suppose

AIDS and just suppose

Here’s a piece of wonderful news. Cheap antibiotics may cut the deaths of children in poorer countries by as much as 50%.

If 100 doctors from Mars came to help Africa they could laugh in derision at the HIV=AIDS theory and still cut 50% of the deaths of children in Africa simply by giving them the common antibiotic co-trimoxazole as prophylaxis (prevention).

Here are two Zambian children, one is HIV antibody positive and the other is not, but both are in reasonable health and fortunate enough to have "adequate" necessities. Co-trimoxazole will take care of their infections. HIV is irrelevant! They both got similar infections and the same antibiotic cures both. If they don’t already have it the same antibiotic prevents it in both.

The World Health Organization announced on the BBC news today (19/11/04) that co-trimoxazole has been so effective that they called a halt to tests in Zambia because they’d seen enough and there’s no point in proving it further. That this common antibiotic has been effective when used as preventative medicine against pneumonia and serious infections has been known for years.

But it was only this morning that WHO announced that they’re now advising a change in treatment of children with HIV antibodies. No more poison chemicals— cheap antibiotics. Well, well, what do you suppose has led to that revelation and revolution? Why are they in such a hurry now to change their drug advice?

This means, of course that WHO is not going to treat HIV in these children (since antibiotics don’t treat viruses). They going to treat old diseases with old medicine and continue to pretend that they’re battling the HIV/AIDS plague. Oh well, at least the kids will get the benefit.

In future days some historian will write this entire HIV=AIDS thing up as a combination of greed, ambition, self-serving research, gullibility and a flat refusal by the leading AIDS advocates to admit they got it wrong!

Suppose I jumped up and claimed that I knew what was causing some bizarre deaths from infection in the homosexual and recreational drug-taking community (suppose I called the deaths AIDS). Suppose I said it was a virus that caused AIDS and I gave it a name (HIV).

Suppose after twenty years and multiplied millions of dollars invested in research I still haven’t established a physical connection between the virus that I’d picked on and the condition that I said it caused.

Suppose in the meantime I started selling very expensive drugs that were extremely toxic, drugs that I admitted were no cure for the condition that I had proposed. Just suppose I called them AZT or some such thing.

And suppose that these chemicals were ruining the health of those that were taking them. 

Suppose that the chemicals I was selling to millions was so destructive that I had to put a warning on the "bottle" saying that this stuff could maim or kill you but that it would at least have crippling side effects.

And suppose a growing and significant body of leading scientists had been telling me for years that the virus I claimed was causing the entire problem still wasn’t known to be a threat to anyone’s life or health.

And suppose I was faced with the dilemma that those taking my chemotherapy were dying, right, left and center while thousands with the virus (but well-fed and cared for) were living full lives without any health problems whatever.

What might I do? I might weaken my toxic cocktail and the result would be that the patients aren’t killed as quickly as the stronger stuff killed them. That way my patients would live longer and I could claim, "See, we’re getting better at treating this ‘disease’ because the people we’re giving these chemicals to are not dying as quickly." That way the gullible would think I was finally getting to grips with this "disease" when in fact I was only killing my patients more slowly.

Suppose to make my case for the viral plague theory I picked on countries where people had been dying for half of forever with a whole swarm of old diseases and infections resulting from severe malnutrition, lack of good sanitation, lack of antibiotics and lack of devoted expert nursing and medical teams. Suppose they had been dying of these "old" diseases long before I dreamed up my viral plague theory and suppose they continue now to die of the same "old" diseases except that I have given them a new name and claimed a phony cause.

Suppose one day documents were leaked that showed that my expert advisors (scientists on my payroll or in my "club") had been expressing serious doubts about my claims about the virus and the condition I insisted it led to and about the useless compounding of the problem with poison. And suppose a large number of families decided to sue me.

But suppose that over a number of years I had the gut feeling that litigation might be a real possibility and suppose that I was no nearer proving any connection between the virus I’d picked on and the "plague" I said it caused. I might shrewdly make a couple more moves. I might shred and wipe out every memo that proved that such warnings were given. Still, I’d worry because it’s hard to totally cover anything up. (I’d sneer when people mentioned this kind of thing and mutter "more conspiracy theories." You remember, the way the tobacco people did before they were exposed.)

My second move might be to take the toxic chemicals (AZT and its kin) off the market. Yes, the chemical poisons that I sold to many millions, the poison packs that I’d hounded governments into buying to give to their people.

But why would I want to do that? The answer’s obvious. The quicker I stop dispensing this killing poison the fewer people I’ll kill. And—and this is critically important—people will eventually forget that I’d been selling that killing stuff. When the matter is raised I’ll say, "Oh, that, we haven’t used that in years. That’s in the past. Just look at how much good we’re doing now."

But how could I all of a sudden take these poisons off the market without people smelling a stink? I would need a way to cover my tracks. I’ll become a hero by "discovering" that antibiotics do a "better" job than the poisonous chemicals that I have been selling; poison chemicals that may well lead to litigation that would cost me billions of dollars. (Of course I’d laugh if someone suggested that possibility; you remember, the way the tobacco companies laughed at litigation before the courts made them pay till they bled.)

I’d be careful how I phrased my public announcements. I would say that the antibiotics would "buy more time" for those with HIV antibodies. The truth is the antibiotics would buy more time for those suffering with old diseases that were around since forever; diseases that I have never shown are caused by HIV. But I’ll be careful to say the antibiotics will buy them "more time" against HIV and AIDS.

I’ll even be able to say, "We have learned how to cut AIDS deaths by 50%." People will look at me with awe and gratitude (in that frame of mind they’re less likely to think of litigation).

When I say we have learned to cut "AIDS" deaths by 50% (in places like Africa) with a simple antibiotic, people will somehow think that we’re really dealing with the alleged AIDS virus when everyone knows that antibiotics don’t deal with viruses. (But people keep forgetting these things so it’s a shrewd move just the same. Keep their thinking wooly.)

When I say we’re cutting "AIDS" by 50% that hides the fact that I still haven’t shown that what I call HIV hurts the immune system or causes what I call AIDS.

The huge 50% cut will he hailed as wondrous and people will be so pleased that "AIDS is finally being beaten" that they’ll not notice that I could have cut the deaths (in places like Africa) by 50% all along if I hadn’t been selling my poison chemicals and doing research on my pet theory that HIV=AIDS.

They won’t notice that we could have cut 50% of these deaths without ever having spent a penny on research into the HIV virus.

They won’t notice that we could have cut 50% of African and other deaths if the "words" HIV and AIDS had never been invented and the half-baked theory had never been spawned.

They won’t notice that the common antibiotic that we’re now hailing to the skies has been around for years and that it’s prescribed for opportunistic infections, pneumonia, toxoplasmosis and the like whether or not people have HIV antibodies.

They won’t notice that if the world woke up tomorrow and humanity had lost all memory of the existence of the HIV=AIDS theory that we could still cut 50% of the deaths in areas like Africa with antibiotics.

And this will really put the icing on the cake. I will tell them that the main advantage of the antibiotic treatment is that it is a fraction of the cost of present poisonous treatments. See what I will do for all the poor, suffering millions?

Most people will be so relieved with the fantastic news that they won’t ask why I hadn’t been using cheap antibiotics for years. (Besides, if they bring those questions up I’ll talk my way around them by throwing statistics and epidemiological studies at them. That’ll shut them up.)

And while I keep their minds on the battle with a viral plague that I’ve invented the nations will not be able to see that the greedy stockpiling of resources like food and medicine and equipment and seed is what’s killing these poor people. And while I keep their minds on the battle with a viral plague that I’ve invented the nations will not be able to see that war lords and warmongers are the real cause of the bulk of all the deaths in these impoverished countries. And while I keep their minds on the battle with a viral plague that I’ve invented the nations will not be able to see that their sick colonialism in earlier years that used the locals as menial laborers and didn’t help them to become capable and self-governing has generated the poverty, disease and desperation that devastates these poor.

©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... Two Kinds Of Teaching (1 Timothy 1:3-7)

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                     Two Kinds Of Teaching (1:3-7)

INTRODUCTION

1. Paul wrote First Timothy to guide one's conduct in the house of God
   - 1Ti 3:14-15
   a. Note that the church serves as "the pillar and ground of the
      truth"
   b. It is imperative our teaching reflects that responsibility

2. Now let's read from 1Ti 1:3-7...
   a. Paul reminded Timothy of the charge given him
   b. Concerning some who evidently were not teaching as they should!

3. In our text we note "Two Kinds Of Teaching"...
   a. There is that which causes disputes
   b. There is that which produces godly edification

4. What makes the difference?  This question should concern...
   a. All those who teach or preach God's Word
   b. All Christians, who as students by their personal study or
      comments in classes:
      1) Can contribute to the rise of disputes
      2) Or develop thoughts which result in godly edification

[Let's note the difference between the two, beginning with...]

I. TEACHING THAT CAUSES DISPUTES

   A. WHEN WE ARE DRIVEN BY THE DESIRE FOR NOVELTY...
      1. Not content with the simple gospel and doctrine of Jesus Christ
         - cf. Ga 1:8-9
      2. Ignoring the charge that we "teach no other doctrine" - 1 Ti 1:3
      3. Delving into that which is "new"
         a. New in the sense of new revelation, not supported by the
            Scriptures
         b. For old truth may be often be new to us who are still
            learning

   B. WHEN WE STRESS THE TALK AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WALK...
      1. It is easy to become interested only in intellectual arguments
         a. Focusing more on argument rather than action
         b. Failing to make application of what we teach or study
      2. In such case our teaching and study become 'idle talk' - 1 Ti 1:6
         a. Against which Paul also warned Titus - Tit 1:10; 3:9
         b. Which James described as 'useless religion' - Jm 1:22-27

   C. WHEN WE ARE MOVED BY PRIDE RATHER THAN HUMILITY...
      1. Disputes are easily caused by those who:
         a. "desire to be teachers of the law" - 1Ti 1:7
         b. Seek to impress others with their 'knowledge' of the Word
            - contra Jm 3:13-18
      2. Knowledge is not without its dangers
         a. We can be motivated more by pride than a sincere desire to
            serve God
         b. Without love, knowledge simply puffs up rather than truly
            builds up - 1Co 8:1-2

   D. WHEN WE DISPLAY DOGMATISM WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE...
      1. Often the most dogmatic are the most misinformed!
      2. Like those "understanding neither what they say nor the things
         which they affirm" - 1Ti 3:7
      3. Yes, we must stand fast in the defense of the truth...
         a. But "a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing"
         b. Let's be sure that we truly know and understand what is
            truth!

[Such are the attitudes and motives that contribute to disputes among
brethren.  Now let's consider...]

II. TEACHING THAT PRODUCES GODLY EDIFICATION

   A. WHEN IT IS BASED ON FAITH...
      1. Godly edification is that "which is in faith" - 1Ti 1:4
      2. Of course, faith comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17
         a. Godly teaching that edifies (builds up) comes from God's
            Word
         b. We must let the Word of God be the basis of our thoughts and
            comments

   B. WHEN IT SEEKS TO PRODUCE LOVE...
      1. Paul wrote "the purpose of the commandment is love" - 1Ti 1:5
         a. A love for truth certainly
         b. But also a love for God and man! - cf. 1Jn 4:20-21
      2. The desire should not be to just win arguments
         a. Our approach will therefore be different - 2Ti 2:24-25
         b. Because we are trying to win souls from the snare of Satan!
            - 2Ti 2:26

   C. WHEN IT SEEKS TO CREATE A PURE HEART...
      1. Paul wrote that our goal should be love "from a pure heart"
         - 1Ti 1:5
      2. The goals of our teaching and study must be pure and not
         defiled by:
         a. Trying to show how clever we are
         b. Seeking to show what great debaters we are
         c. Wanting to embarrass the ignorance of our opponents
      3. Our desire must be pure, seeking to lead people closer to God

   D. WHEN IT SEEKS TO DEVELOP A GOOD CONSCIENCE...
      1. Our goal should be love "from a good conscience" - 1Ti 1:5
         a. Which comes from first applying the Word to ourselves
         b. Like Ezra the priest sought to do - cf. Ezr 7:10
      2. Yet one can easily stray - 1Ti 1:6; cf. 1:19,20
         a. Especially when they do not practice what they preach
         b. And when they expect others to do what they themselves do
            not

   E. WHEN IT SEEKS TO BEGET A SINCERE FAITH...
      1. Our goal should be love "from a sincere faith" - 1Ti 1:5
         a. Where we really believe what we teach or say
         b. Not simply engaging in an intellectual exercise
      2. Where what we are seeking is a living faith:
         a. To which we commit our lives
         b. And produces works of love to the glory of God  - cf. Ga 5:6

CONCLUSION

1. So what kind of teachers or students are we...?
   a. Those constantly engaged in disputes, wrangling over words?
   b. Or those engaged in godly edification?

2. Let's be sure that our teaching and Bible study is always that which
   produces...
   a. Love
   b. A pure heart
   c. A good conscience
   d. A sincere faith

Of course, this is not possible without Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
in our lives.  Have you accepted Him as Savior and obeyed Him as your
Lord by responding to the gospel of Christ...? - Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38;
22:16

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Transforming the illogical to clarity

Question: What part of making yourself at home includes cleaning the kitchen??? 

 The two concepts seem not to go together, but if you are at home- do you clean your kitchen?  Now, this 1950's lady is speaking to guests of course and is either playing with them or being sarcastic. But sometimes unlikely thoughts do go together.  Suppose the person to whom she is speaking really DOES LOVE TO CLEAN?  Then, this would make sense.  Or, if she is speaking to a relative, who just moved in- again, this would make sense!  But, this is probably just sarcasm; designed to "zing".  Oh, how I know about that one- I am married to the queen of zingers!!!  She loves the "got ya" and honestly- SO DO I.  It adds spice to our relationship and keeps our marriage from ever being boring.  But, I wonder, what if there is a serious situation going on when this is said, what then?

Consider the following:

2 Corinthians, Chapter 12

  14  Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.  15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?  16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.  17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?  18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?  19 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.  20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;  21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.

The apostle Paul had to do something difficult- reprove, rebuke and exhort the Corinthian Christians to repent.  He does a bit of word-playing with them in vss. 15 and 16 (like happens in the picture) but addresses the seriousness of the situation later on (vss. 20ff.)  Paul has shown them his love (vs.15) and now they need to show him repentance.  Or else they would cause him more suffering and humility by their stubbornness.  Sounds complicated, doesn't it?  Well, human relationships are!!!  Bottom line is... Corinthians, clean up your kitchen!!!  I wonder who else this might apply to???  OK, put down your cup of coffee and ---  THINK ABOUT IT!!!

From Ben Fronczek... #1 On Their Bucket List

#1 On Their Bucket List

#1 On Their Bucket List
 

Matthew 2:1-12 

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,     are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler     who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

As you see, the world is still here…I guess according to the Mayan calendar I need to be wishing you a happy Mayan New Year. I guess the next long count calendar won’t be ending until the year 7137 A.D. or something like that.  All kidding aside, what I do find interesting about the Mayans is for being a somewhat primitive people living in a jungle, it is reported that they had a vast knowledge of Mathematics and astronomy. But…What is often called Mayan ‘astronomy’ was actually what we call ‘astrology’, and this is something the Bible condemns. So what is astrology?  

According to the — The New Columbia Encyclopedia

Astrology is a… form of divination based on the theory that the movement of the celestial bodies—the stars, the planets, the sun and the moon—influence human affairs and determine the course of events.”

In contrast, when the Bible refers to the celestial objects, sometimes it refers to them as showing us signs from God Almighty. But the Bible likewise prohibits worshipping the stars, planets, moons, comets or anything like that.

For example, we read in the Book of Job,  

“ if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendour, 27 so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, 28 then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.”— Job 31:26–28

The Old Testament even decrees the death penalty for star worship in

 (Deut. 17:2-7)

Yet the Bible does make a surprising number of references to signs in the heavens in both the Old and New Testament. Even Jesus Himself made mention of the fact in Luke 21:25 that there would be signs given in the sun, moon, and stars before certain events occurred.

And that brings me to our lesson today. The Magi, in our opening story, were they practicing Astrology? A quick answer is simply, NO!

Astrology holds the stars exert forces on men and our affairs and that’s not what happened here. This story of the star which appeared is only seen here in Matthew, chapter 2. We’re told that “Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked 

‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’” Matthew 2:1-2

And that “… 

the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.” Matthew 2:9

I believe this is an example of the Bible giving us a sign in the heavens, from God, that something special had taken place. .

Now, scholars disagree about what type of star the magi saw. Some claim it was something supernatural from God. Others claim that the star was result of 3 or more heavenly bodies, probably  Jupiter, a bright star named Regulus, and maybe more celestial bodies all lining up to form one bright light. I guess this happens about every 1000 years, and would likely have happened around the time of the birth of Christ. Their collective brightness would have lit up the night. And their apparent movement and alignment would have even answered the problem of a “star” appearing to move and then stop. 

The text says that it 

“stopped over the place where the child was.”

 

Now I’m not a great theologian or star gazer, and I really don’t care what that star was. But this much I know: There was a star, or at least something unnatural and bright. And it led those men to the place where Jesus was.

And I also know that this star was unlike any that the wise men had ever seen before. These men were men who studied the stars. They knew the stars by names and they knew which constellations had what stars.

But this star was different. This star didn’t belong. This star had a radiance all of its own and the Magi knew it had to be something special and it signified  something special. There was something about this star that drew them… to worship a new and special king. Somehow they knew that’s why it appeared.

Who are these magi? The word, ‘magi,’ which is sometimes translated ‘wise men,’ is the root from which we get our word ‘magic.’ This doesn’t make them all magicians, in the present sense of the word.

Some of them were very educated and learned men who studied the physical world and were knowledgeable about many things, including the stars.      Magi were often court astronomers who were consulted by the rulers of the day for guidance in affairs of state. This was also true in much earlier times. For example, during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, some 500 years earlier, King Nebuchadnezzar kept a stable of court magi. Nebuchadnezzar made the Jewish prophet Daniel Chief Magus of his court when Daniel was able to interpret a dream the other magi could not.

There were also different schools of magi as well, and some were more respected than others. We know something of one particularly prestigious school of magi from the writings of Philo. Philo was a Jewish philosopher and contemporary of Jesus who lived in the large Jewish community of Alexandria, Egypt.  In his writings Philo praised an Eastern school of magi for their great learning and understanding of the natural world. This school may have descended from the Babylonian magi of Daniel’s day. Matthew does report that the Wise Men were from the East, and Babylon is east of Judea. It was at one time part of the Persian Empire, which ties in with Philo. So it is possible the Wise Men were from this prestigious Eastern school. This would account for Herod giving them an audience, and for his strong reaction to the news they brought. 

Especially whey they asked, 

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews” 2:2a

The motive of the Magi in coming to Jerusalem tells us a great deal more about them. They wanted to worship a new Jewish king. It can’t be proven from the text, but it is quite possible that some of the Magi were of Jewish descent, perhaps a Jewish remnant from Daniel’s day. This would help explain why the Jewish philosopher, Philo, admired them, and why they were watching the sky for things Jewish, and why they wanted to worship a Jewish king, and why they were taken so seriously by Herod and Jewish chief priests.

In my heart of hearts, I can’t help but believe that this was a lifelong dreams for these men. This past year my wife and I watched the movie, The Bucket List.  In it couple of old guys made up a list of things they really, really wanted to do before they died, or kicked the bucket.

I can’t help but believe that finding and meeting the new king of the Jews, the King of kings, the much foretold Messiah, was on the top of their list for these men as well as a few which we read about in the NT. Those guys spared no time, expense or hardship to find and worship Him…… But there were others who had also waited to see this special one who was to be born.

Read:  Luke 2:25-30 (click on the verse to read)   The account of Simeon

Read:  Luke 2:36-38 Anna

Have you ever wanted something so bad that it didn’t matter what it cost, or what you had to do if you only get the chance to see or get it. Maybe not.

But that’s how these people felt about wanting to meet baby Jesus.  These magi traveled a great distance over land and mountains, deserts and rivers just to lay eyes on Jesus and have an up front personal opportunity to worship Him.

And I also can’t help but believe that they had a real skip in their step as they walked away knowing that their dream had been fulfilled.

Why, because I believe they knew who He really was and what He meant to the world, for them and for us. Just as Simeon and Anna said, they recognized baby Jesus as ‘the Messiah’, our salvation, our redeemer, the one who would bring light unto this dark world.

Without Him there would be no hope of heaven for anyone, anyone! Jesus is the greatest gift God has ever given to mankind.

I don’t believe that Jesus was literally born on December 25^th, actually I don’t believe anyone living today knows the exact date He was born on. But December 25^th has been the day that was been set aside for generation to remember and celebrate His birth. Just like it was for those Wise men, Simeon, and Anna who honored and worshipped Him that day and were filled with joy, I pray that you can find the same feelings of peace and joy knowing who came into the world to save us. God Himself took on flesh to live among us, and then died to save us. And so I say, may the peace of God fill your heart …

For, as the song goes… “Why did my Savior come to earth and to the humble go. Why did He choose a lowly birth? Because He loved me so.”

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

From Jim McGuiggan... MARSH HENS & GLORIOUS PEOPLE

MARSH HENS & GLORIOUS PEOPLE

Sidney Lanier, the poet, tells us he used to be afraid of and depressed by the marshes of Glynn that lay right on the edge of the sea. At one stage in his life their length was fatigue and their breadth was bitterness to him. But as he grew older and wiser he came to see them differently—they were no longer places of doom and gloom. They were still marshes mind you, but there was a new way to look at them now that his eyes were opened; there were wonders and mysteries that could be entered into without terror and unnamable pain.

There were creatures of mystery and joy swimming beneath the surface, there were walks for lovers and places for those who hunger for silence.

When the sun was in the right place the marshes were sheets of burnished copper or thirty million moving and laughing lights.

There were old oaks that knew more than they were telling and then there was the marsh hen who loved the place, raised her family there and would have clucked to the burdened boy. "Now that’s just silly. This place? Frightening and depressing? Never." And Lanier, now assured and at peace in believing, became firm friends with the marsh hen and tells us this:

As the marsh hen secretly builds on the watery sod,
Behold I will build me a nest on the greatness of God:
I will fly in the greatness of God as the marsh hens flies
In the freedom that fills all the space ‘twixt the marsh and the skies

Ask those who’ve come through times of doubt or trouble and they’ll tell you it’s true. Once the eyes are opened in faith, the places that before were only darkness become the "darkness where God is" (see Exodus 20:21) and they take on them an added assurance of peace. Before the fires or the marshes or the endless dark corridors of limitless space test your faith you may worry and fret about its reliability—will it hold? But once you’ve been there, in that place, under that pressure, once you’ve had it out in a face to face confrontation you recognize these experiences as friends. Or if not friends, at least places of safety where no threat can harm. "I thought if I lost her it would be the end." "I just knew my life would shatter into a million useless fragments if he went away." "I was convinced that...but then..." And here you are, watching the marsh hen going about her business.

In Romans 8:31-39 someone who had seen the marshes of life up close and personal said that nothing—not pain, hunger, loneliness, beatings, past, present, future, life or death—nothing! could persuade him that God doesn’t love us.

Build your nest on the greatness and faithfulness of God who came to us in and as Jesus Christ, who lived in the marshes of life along with us. He didn't pretend "the marsh" was a manicured park but he lived in it with the full assurance of faith that LIFE was possible there and he demonstrated it by a life of glory and beauty and gallantry, beginning in Bethlehem's manger. And for this cause he has a special place in his heart for those realists who trust in God and live gallant lives in the marshes. 

There IS a great day coming!

©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... Jesus Christ, Our Hope (1 Timothy 1:1)

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                      Jesus Christ, Our Hope (1:1)

INTRODUCTION

1. In reference to Jesus Christ, Paul uses a title which is very unique
   in the NT...
   a. He calls Jesus "our hope" - 1Ti 1:1
   b. Nowhere else is Jesus so described, other than in Col 1:27

2. Yet it came to be a precious title used by some in the early
   church...
   a. "Be of good cheer in God the Father and in Jesus Christ our common
      hope" - Ignatius, To The Ephesians 21:2
   b. "Let us therefore persevere in our hope and the earnest of our
      righteousness, who is Jesus Christ." - Epistle of Polycarp 8

3. The word 'hope' (Gr., elpis)...
   a. Means "a confident desire and expectation"
   b. Is closely aligned with the word 'faith' - cf. He 11:1

[In what way is Jesus 'our hope', our basis for 'confident expectation'?
Jesus is 'our hope'...]

I. FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS

   A. MAN HAS A PROBLEM WITH SIN...
      1. All have sinned - Ro 3:23; cf. 1Jn 1:8,10
      2. The consequences are grave - Ro 6:23
      3. People deal with this guilt of sin differently
         a. Some try to ignore it
         b. Others seek to compensate for it by doing good works
         c. Many look to different 'saviors' or teachers (the Law,
            Buddha, Mohammed, Mary)

   B. JESUS IS OUR ONLY 'HOPE'...
      1. He is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"
         - Jn 1:29
      2. In Him we have "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
         of sins" - Ep 1:7
      3. Christians place their hope in Jesus' blood as the atonement
         for their sins
         a. By believing and being baptized into Christ - Mk 16:16; Ac2:38; 22:16; Ro 6:3-6
         b. By continuing to repent, confess, and pray - Ac 8:22; 1Jn 1:7,9

[Is Jesus your 'hope' for salvation from the guilt of sin?  Unless you
believe in Him, you will die in your sins (Jn 8:24).  Jesus is also our
'hope'...]

II. FOR RECONCILIATION WITH GOD

   A. MAN HAS A LONGING FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD...
      1. It is something put in man by His Creator - Ac 17:26-28
      2. Many seek to fulfill this longing with the wrong things
         a. Trying to satisfy it with material things
         b. But such things only leave an emptiness - Ec 5:10
      3. Many seek to fulfill this longing in the wrong way
         a. On their own
         b. Through some man or man-made religion

   B. JESUS IS OUR ONLY 'HOPE'...
      1. He is the only 'way' to the Father - Jn 14:6
      2. Only in Him can we really come to know God - Jn 14:7-9; cf. Jn 1:18
      3. In Him we are reconciled to God - 2Co 5:18-20

[Is Jesus your 'hope' for fellowship with God?  Without Jesus, you
cannot have a close relationship with God (1Jn 2:23; 4:15).  Jesus is
also our 'hope'...]

III. FOR POWER IN HOLY LIVING

   A. PEOPLE HAVE LONG REALIZED THE NEED TO LIVE GOOD LIVES...
      1. Yet the ancient world admitted their inability to do so
         a. "We hate our vices and love them at the same time." - Seneca
         b. "We have not stood bravely enough by our good resolutions;
            despite our will and resistance we have lost our innocence.
            Nor is it only that we have acted amiss; we shall do so to
            the end." - Seneca
      2. Even the apostles described the difficulty of living godly
         lives
         a. Paul described what it was like under the Law - Ro 7:21-24
         b. He reminded Christians of the conflict between the flesh and
            the Spirit - Ga 5:16-17
         c. Peter wrote of the warfare between fleshly lusts and the
            soul - 1Pe 2:11

   B. JESUS IS OUR ONLY 'HOPE'...
      1. In Christ we are freed from the law of sin and death - Ro 8:2
      2. In Christ we have strength to do that which is good, and turn
         away from evil
         a. Because of the Spirit of God - cf. Ro 8:11-13
         b. The means by which God strengthens the inner man - Ep 3:16,
            20

[Is Jesus your 'hope' for power in holiness?  In Jesus there is strength
to do God's will (Php 4:13). Jesus is also our 'hope...]

IV. FOR PROVISION IN DAILY LIVING

   A. PEOPLE OFTEN WORRY ABOUT THE NECESSITIES OF LIVE...
      1. They worry about their food and clothing
      2. They desire basic contentment, with true joy and peace
      3. Jesus acknowledged this concern was common among men - Mt 6:
         31-32

   B. JESUS IS OUR ONLY 'HOPE'...
      1. His Father knows our needs - Mt 6:32
      2. Jesus provides the secret to God's care - Mt 6:33; Mk 10:28-30
      3. He also is the source to true joy and peace - cf. Php 4:4,6-7
      4. In Him there is contentment, knowing that God will supply our
         needs - cf. Php 4:11-12,19

[Is Jesus your 'hope' for God's providential care in your life?  If you
trust in your own riches, you cannot please God (Lk 16:13).  Finally,
Jesus is our 'hope'...]

V. FOR VICTORY OVER DEATH

   A. THE FEAR OF DEATH IS COMMON TO MANKIND...
      1. People try to avoid it, delay it
      2. Some try to ignore, even refusing to speak of the dead

   B. JESUS IS OUR ONLY 'HOPE'...
      1. He came to deliver us from the fear of death - He 2:14-15
      2. This He did by His own resurrection, and continues to do
         through the promise of His coming again - cf. 1Th 4:13-18

CONCLUSION

1. Jesus is many things to those who love Him; let's make sure that He
   is 'our hope'!

2. Have you made Jesus your 'hope'?  If not, then you are still...
   a. In your sins
   b. Alienated from God
   c. Unable to live a truly righteous life
   d. Going through life without God's providential care
   e. Unprepared for death, not ready for the Judgment to follow

Why not let Jesus become your 'hope' today...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011