“Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),”finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’”

– Ephesians 5:7-14 NKJV

The deacons of a small southern church were voting on the purchase of a new chandelier for the auditorium. One of the board members came in late, and arrived just as the vote was beginning. “Hold on!”, he said. “I don’t know what no ‘chandelier’ is. I can’t spell it. We can’t afford it. What we really need is mo’ light!”

So does our generation! Listen (and weep) to two recent area headlines:Children overdose on prescription muscle relaxers are now fighting for their lives, and their parents thought they were going to a harmless school function.A mother in Syracuse (NY) gets killed because her son is a witness to a murder, and then the boy must have police protection in order to go to her funeral.What we need is “mo’ light”!

And where does that light come from?

A special vision from the Lord, as in “I saw the light!”?

A retreat, a boost in the spiritual arm, where we all come back determined to be what we ought to be?

No! Our text says the light comes from GOD’S PEOPLE living the lives God has called them to be! (Verse 8) The Amplified Version reads this way:

“Walk as children of light – lead the lives of those native born to the Light”.

The battle isn’t between going to church or not going to church, although some think that is the battle.

The battle is between LIGHT and DARKNESS – the heart of the battle is the battle for the heart. Have you read John 3:19-21 lately? We know John 3:16! Listen to these verses which are shortly after one of our favorite verses:

“19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

So how are God’s people to walk in light that we can make a difference in the areas of ministry God has called us? What lessons about LIGHT does our text teach us?

FIRST, THE LIGHT PRODUCES FRUIT (verses 9-10)

How many of you have had gardens this year? We have! We live in a small apartment, but our landlord allowed us to put “garden pods” outside – small (about 5 feet across) enclosed meshed material in which we can put dirt and seeds. And then we wait for fruit! Why we have tomatoes (OH! The cherry tomatoes have been DELICIOUS!). We have potatoes. We have squash and carrots. And…WEEDS. And I met the other morning a pesky…SKUNK! I had my garden hose in hand, water on. I was ready for him. Fortunately, he was more interested in what a neighbor’s cat was doing!

The “Garden of Light” produces the fruits of “goodness, righteousness, and truth” (verse 9):

• “GOODNESS”: “an active and positive display of kindness towards others”. The world advocates “RANDOM acts of kindness”, right? But the Bible advocates that these are to be ACTIVE not random, DAILY not occasional, exhibitions of SONSHIP not parts of a cause.
• “RIGHTEOUSNESS”: “moral integrity that is without reproach”. It means in action to live with a clear conscience. It does NOT mean to have a SINLESS conscience, which is impossible.
• “TRUTH”: We are all familiar with 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS”. When we do that, then we live with integrity.

I encourage you to re-read the familiar words found in Psalm 119:9-11, 105. Perhaps some of these words are on plaques in your home or in your church. The issue is not religion or church. The issue is TRUTH: I see myself as God sees me, and I desire to conform myself to His ways.

Which leads to the TEST of verse 10: “let your lives be constant proofs of what is acceptable to Him”. In action, it says “I live this way because I have learned this of Christ!”.

SECOND, THE LIGHT PRODUCES DISCERNMENT (verses 11-13)

Notice that there is a difference between “fellowship” and “exposure”. The word “fellowship” here is loosely used in our English. The correct word would be better as “communion”, that which is centered on the CROSS! I encourage you to read 1 John 1:3-7.

The exposure is bBy Semi-Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopfordy living godly lives that show what is light and what is darkness. Allow me to illustrate:

For many years one of my jobs was to collect all the money out of the parking meters of our local city. I would get to work early that day, before businesses were open and before there was much traffic downtown. Then I would take my coin holder and wheel it from parking meter to parking meter, emptying each meter into the holder. At last, I would arrive at the bank where the nice clerks would escort me to the back room where a coin sorter was already on a table. I would then empty the coin sorter on to the table, and all those coins now looked like an huge mountain ready to climb!

Here’s where the fun began! All the coins had to be hand checked. In that pile would be found items that were not “legal tender”, from slugs to beer can tabs to coins that were in poor shape. Now mind you, there was on average during the “season” (April through September) about $2000 (that’s TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS) in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters each week – all now making up that mountain before me. How did I sort them all?

How DID I sort them all? By looking for the slugs, beer tabs, and damaged coins? NO! I looked for the GOOD COINS, the ones that I would be able to deposit into the city account. When I looked for the UNDAMAGED coins, the DAMAGED, the NON-DEPOSITABLE were quite evident.

The light always shows the opposite of darkness.

Did you notice from verse 12 the word “shameful”? This is a word lost in our culture! When Adam and Eve sinned, they KNEW they were naked! Immediately it produced – do you remember? – why, it produced SHAME! Our culture needs to bring back SHAME!

And we also need to be vessels of CONVICTION (as per verse 13), another word lost in our culture. We need to be able to determine what is DARKNESS and what is LIGHT. Then, as the verses well say, we need to live accordingly.

THIRDLY, THE LIGHT PRODUCES LIFE! (Verse 14)

John 10:10 reads, “I am come the they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

Who is rising from the dead, according to this verse? Christians!

And WHEN are we rising from the dead – in some future time? True, but we are also rising from the dead…NOW!

THE INVITATION IS TO SEE GOD WORK IN A LIFE THAT IS LIVED GOD’S WAY.

THE ISSUE IS A CHOICE!

ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE THAT CHOICE?

YOU WHO SAY YOU BELIEVE IN THE RISEN LORD JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR, ARE YOU WILLING TO LIVE A LIFE THAT IS LIVED GOD’S WAY?

ARE YOU REALLY WILLING TO MAKE THAT CHOICE?

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”

Ephesians 5:1-7 NKJV

The young preacher was flattered when someone described him as the “model” preacher. His pride vanished when he looked in his dictionary and found the definition of “model” = “a small imitation of the real thing.”

So when someone later described him as a “warm” preacher, he was a little more cautious. He checked his dictionary once again, and it read: “warm” = “not so hot.”

There is a wonderful word in our text today, and I guarantee if we understand and apply it to our lives, our world will never be the same.

In verse 1, the word in the King James Version is “followers” and in the New King James Version it is translated “imitators”.

The word in the Greek is “mimetai” which means “mimic, parrot”, and is best translated as in our NKJV, “imitator”.

It might be helpful to our study today to look at 3 other instances in the Pauline letters where the Apostle Paul uses this same word.

First, a COMPARISON, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 2:12-14:

“12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

14 For you, brethren, became IMITATORS [“mimetai”] of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans…”

The brethren in the church in Thessalonica were being compared with the brethren in the churches of Judea. They were walking worthy of God. They were obedient to the Word of God. And because of those two character traits that were major parts of their Christian living, they were suffering for the Lord Jesus.

The brethren of the church in Thessalonica, in their imitation of Christ, were able to follow/IMITATE the wonderful example of the brethren of the churches in Judea.

Second, an EXAMPLE, as seen in 2 Thessalonians 3:5-10, especially verses 7-8:

“7 For you yourselves know how you ought to FOLLOW [“mimetai”] us, for we were not disorderly among you;

8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you…”

The Apostle Paul and his co-workers were walking so close to the Lord Jesus that they were setting an example for the brethren of the church in Thessalonica. Apparently there were some in the church – and this might seem “hard to believe” in YOUR church – that were “free-loaders”, as the old expression goes. In the name of Christ they were seeking the help of their fellow church family for everything from food to money for paying bills. And yet, they were able-bodied people! Paul would later write, in essence, “if you don’t work, you don’t eat” (verse 10).

Third, an OBEDIENCE, as seen in 1 Corinthians 11:1.

“ IMITATE me, just as I also IMITATE Christ.

This may at first glance look like a simple verse, yet the intent is most profound. Paul in essence is challenging the readers from the church in Corinth: follow me as I follow Christ!

The key is this: being an IMITATOR OF GOD means becoming Christ’s disciple, being obedient to His Word, and living in closeness to His will – whether that will involves either suffering or simply the challenges of daily life.

Using this foundation, we see THE LIKENESS OF THE FATHER (verse 1; see 4:32).

Do you remember 2 Peter 1:4? It reads in part that the believers are “partakers of the divine nature”. We have the power of God working in us, enabling us to do what He asks!

Our text says we are to be an imitator of God “as dear children”. What child has never tried to walk in his Dad’s footprints in the snow [or for you suth’nors, in the sand]? Although perhaps impossible, we still try. In time, we become like our parents. Mom always wanted to be treated like a lady. Her instruction for gift giving for her at Christmas or her birthday was simple: make sure the present is feminine! Dad, on the other hand, was a “stubborn Stopford” (as I imagine us 3 boys of his are too!). We are not bent to change unless we are changed!

Our relationships with one another are to be as Christ’s was. Remember Ephesians 4:32:

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

While being kind to one another was the theme of Chapter 4, Chapter 5 presents a sharp contrast. Here the emphasis is on Christ’s distinction from the world. Later in the chapter Paul talks about the “Christian marriage”. Even that was to be distinct from the world and ITS view of marriage!

Adding to our foundation, we see THE LOVE OF THE SON (verse 2).

Notice throughout this chapter the use of the little comparative word, “AS”:

* AS dear children (verse 1)

AS Christ also has loved us (verse 2)

AS is fitting for saints (verse 3)

Not AS fools but AS wise (verse 15)

AS to the Lord (verse 22)

AS also Christ is head (verse 23)

AS the church is subject (verse 24)

AS Christ also loved the church (verse 25)

AS their own bodies (verse 28)

AS the Lord does the church (verse 29)

AS himself (verse 33)

Did I miss any? So when we get down to verse 2, we see the comparative now to the Lord Jesus! But first take a gander at Ezekiel 20:39-41. Here the Lord is reaching out to Israel in their worship of Him ALONE. In so doing, He says that “I will accept you as a SWEET AROMA when I bring you out from the peoples” (verse 41a).

In our text, Paul says that we are to imitate God as Christ…has given Himself…[AS] an offering and a sacrifice to God for a SWEET SMELLING AROMA. God brings us out of the world as a sweet smelling fragrance to Him! Even so, we are to walk! There should be an huge distinction between what we once were and who we are now! And the distinction, while created by the Father, is a direct operation of our obedience to Him!

Completing our foundation is the reminder of THE LIFE OF THE WORLD (verses 3-6).

Look at these terms which Paul gives in these verses. We today might not be familiar with them. In fact, they may seem so foreign that we may have lost our “immunity” to them in our lives! But we must be WARNED! The life of the world hungers to creep into the fundamental, Bible believing, gospel preaching church – even like the ones you or I go to!

Be warned! We are to not even name these terms. They are not fitting for those who name the name of Christ as LORD of their lives:

“Fornication” [“porneia” from which we get the term “pornography”]: a willingness to forego God’s standard

“All uncleanness”: any sexual deviation

“Covetousness”: an insatiable lust which cannot be satisfied

“Filthiness”: obscenity in speech

“Foolish talking”: phrases that can have double meaning, usually with a slant toward sexual perversion

“Coarse jesting”: making every word into an indecent suggestion

See also Proverbs 23:4-5. We are warned not to overwork to be rich, as riches have…wings! One of the biggest downfalls for most Christians is an uncontented heart! Is YOURS content with what you have – what the Lord in His wisdom has wisely provided for YOU?

The sphere of the world is foreign and is not to be named among those who name the Name of Christ as Lord (verses 3,5). Its judgment is certain (verse 6). Don’t be PARTNERS/PARTAKERS with them but with God alone! (Verse 7)

I would love to hear people who knew my Dad say:

“That must be Bob Stopford’s son.

He has Bob’s wit.

Bob’s good looks [had to put that in here],

Bob’s good golf game.

Bob’s sense of humor.”

And as important and special as THAT is,

I crave more to hear people say:

“He must be the Father’s son.

He is different.

He is steadfast.

He is faithful.

He is compassionate.

He is separate from the world, and yet,

like the love of the Father, he loves those in the world

and would give himself for them so that they might

know the Father, too!”

HOW ABOUT YOU? Are you an IMITATOR OF GOD?

A friend who was in the business of buying and selling sailboats told me his secret one day. He said the best way to get a good deal on a craft was to look for barnacles, a sign that the boat was not being used and properly maintained. Those are the people often anxious to sell.

Have you ever noticed barnacles encrusting the bottom of boats? These creatures are not only amazing, but they help us to see an important truth. Many people mistake barnacles as a type of mollusk, similar to clams or oysters. But in reality, they are arthropods, like crabs or lobsters. They have an exoskeleton, which is like a skeleton on the outside of the body instead of inside.

In order to feed, they extend their feathery legs out of their exoskeleton to capture floating plankton. Boats are actually great locations for barnacles. That’s because they provide great shelter and move around to lots of locations, increasing the chances that the barnacles will come in contact with more food. Of course, for boat owners, they can be a problem. If not regularly removed, barnacles often encrust the hull of a boat so badly that they hide its color and its shape.

Their presence slows a boat down, creating drag. That causes a boat to have difficulty moving along in the water. It requires greater energy to propel itself forward and it cannot move smoothly, resulting in a bumpier ride.

Think about that. Boats are designed to move smoothly through the water, creating very little disturbance in its surface as they sail. But when they are carrying a population of barnacles, they have much more difficulty. They move more slowly. They require more energy to go forward. They may not even resemble their original sleek shape anymore.

How about the church? How about our personal spiritual life? Do they collect barnacles? Of course they do. Perhaps they are not as visible as saltwater barnacles, but nonetheless they form and create drag that can create a bumpy ride.

When we study the church today and compare it with the church of the first century, we find that it has many “barnacles” that have attached themselves, largely unnoticed. The extra “baggage” of barnacles creates a great deal of problems. Fear. Feeling unworthy. Holding on to unresolved issues. Lack of patience. All of these are spiritual struggles can bring us down. They change our spiritual appearance and make our countenance less recognizable. The more that attach, the easier it is for additional baggage to cling.

Barnacles That Are Holding You Back From A Deeper Relationship With God.

* Your need for control.

* Your fear of the unknown.

* Your love of all things material.

* Your focus on the impermanent.

* Your need to look back instead of forward.

* Your negative self-image, or self-deprecating thoughts.

What are some of your “barnacles” that are making life difficult to live? Yes, barnacles are amazing creatures. But spiritual barnacles are things we need to deal with daily, preventing them from taking hold of us and slowing us down. How do we keep them from attaching? We need to know the truth of God’s word, daily taking it into our minds and hearts. That provides a kind of non-stick spiritual surface around us, so we can withstand any struggles that come our way.

Take inventory of your spiritual barnacles and scrape them away out of your spiritual life.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Gamaliel was a highly respected and greatly loved first-century scholar. He was a Pharisee. A member of the Sanhedrin council, the Jewish Supreme Court. According to Barclay, he was one of the few given the title of “Rabban.” When Gamaliel spoke, his fellow Pharisees listened.

When Peter and John appeared before the Council for the second time for preaching Jesus, they found an unexpected ally in Gamaliel. While it seems the Council was determined to severely punish the apostles or even kill them, this Rabbi offered a different solution.

After citing the failures of two past insurrectionists, Thedus and Judas of Galilee, Gamaliel advised, “I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)

So, here we are almost 2,000 years later, and God’s plan has withstood the test of time. In spite of the efforts of infidels, atheists and agnostics to ridicule it, thwart it and overthrow it, the message of Christ and the cross continues to be spread around the world. The PREACHERMAN

— o —

The task of living an intentional life focused on things that matter is enormously complicated these days by constant, modern propaganda.

Commercials, advertisements, and marketers work tirelessly to convince us that products manufactured on assembly lines will make us happier.

But in reality, these unnecessary purchases separate us from our dollars and add stress, burden, and obligation to our lives—they don’t bring happiness, they keep us from it!

The goal of Madison Avenue is to distract our desire. Their messaging changes our attitude from “That’s extravagant” to “That would be nice” to “I want that” to “I need it.”

And they are so subtle at their craft we hardly even realize we are being brainwashed. Subconsciously, they take control of our desires, our checkbooks, and ultimately, our lives. The Minimalist

— o —

And a new study indicates that an inability to stand on one leg for ten seconds in later life is linked to nearly double the risk of death from any cause within the next decade. A medical professor explained that one leg standing requires good balance, is “linked to brain function, good muscle strength, and good blood flow,” and “likely integrates muscular, vascular, and brain systems.” As a result, “it is a global test of future mortality risk.” Jim Denison

— o —

The estimated number of Americans with medical debt is 100 million or 41% of all adults

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. – Nelson Mandela

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. – Walt Disney

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. – Steve Jobs

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. -Eleanor Roosevelt

If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough. – Oprah Winfrey

If you set your goals ridiculously high and it’s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success. – James Cameron

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. – John Lennon

In every encounter, we either give life or we drain it. – Brennan Manning

Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” – Mark Twain

I believe in one thing—that only a life lived for others is a life worth living. – Albert Einstein

Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything. – Muhammad Ali

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. – Winston Churchill

In all human history, who has paid the highest price for evil and suffering? Poll a hundred people on this question, and only a few would come up with the right answer: – “JESUS” Randy Alcorn

The rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage. – Dale Carnegie

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Last year, a two-year-old colt finished dead last in his first race. Disappointed, his owners placed him in a “claiming” race where anyone could take the ownership for a fee. An older man purchased the colt after missing the chance to claim another horse he wanted. He said it was his last attempt to find some success in the racing industry.

The colt won by 17 lengths, and his new owner was encouraged. But, in the races that followed, he finished third twice, fourth once, and fifth once. His owner, however, still believed in him.

2022 was the colt’s only chance to race in major thoroughbred races, which are limited to three-year-olds. The day before the Kentucky Derby, the field of horses was already full, but then, at the last moment, a famous trainer scratched (withdrew) his horse. The colt took that place in a field of twenty horses, just 30 seconds before the entry deadline. Suddenly, he was in the game. He had a chance.

All the metrics and predictors were against him. Neither his owner, his trainer, nor his jockey had ever been associated with any horse in the Kentucky Derby. His jockey had never even won a major event. They were decidedly outsiders and newbies in an extremely elite arena. On the morning of the race, his odds of winning were set at 80 to 1, the second longest odds in Derby history.

Halfway around the track, the colt was 16 horses back from the lead. He couldn’t even be seen in the field of view of the drone camera flying above the race. He was a nobody, a throw-away, an inconsequential participant.

But then, he made his move.

He began working his way through the crowded pack, finding a few narrow, fleeting opportunities to improve his position. As they headed toward the finish line, he had miraculously moved up to fifth, then fourth, but still, no one had noticed him. Everyone’s attention was firmly focused on the battle between the two famous front-runners.

Only seconds before the finish, he suddenly, almost magically passed the two front-runners. The announcer struggled to identify him and say his name in time. He said, almost in a single breath, “Rich Strike is coming up on the inside … Oh my goodness! The longest shot has won the Kentucky Derby!”

Where there is life, there is hope. Anything is possible. Don’t let anyone count you out.

Persistence and determination beat the odds.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The greatest gift you can ever give yourself is to live a life fully aligned with God’s values.

When you spend your money, time, and energy on the godly things that bring you happiness today and joy tomorrow, you experience peace, confidence, and satisfaction in the present life you have chosen to live.

Unfortunately, in many respects, we live lives that are too easily pleased. We rely on possessions and money to satisfy our heart’s desire. Or we get caught up in other selfish pursuits, like fame, accolades, or notoriety.

We often fall into the assumption that the secret to a fulfilled life is the possession of more belongings and the achievement of personal gain.

But while we are settling for the temporal pleasure of material possessions, is it possible we are missing out on something better? Is it possible we are missing things that would bring even greater satisfaction and more lasting pleasure to our lives?

Could it be that we were designed for something greater than material acquisitions? And that the greatest act of self-care we could partake in is to stop settling for anything less than the best?

C. S. Lewis said it this way: “Our desires are not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” The Minimalist

— o —

Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn’t seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their “Older Person Friendly” policies.

One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. “Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job when you finally get here; but your being late so often is quite bothersome.”

“Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it.” “Well good, you are a team player. That’s what I like to hear” “Yes sir, I understand your concern and I will try harder”.

Seeming puzzled, the manager went on to comment, “I know you’re retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up in the morning late so often?”

The old man looked down at the floor, then smiled. He chuckled quietly, then said with a grin, “They usually saluted and said, Good morning, Admiral, can I get your coffee, sir”?

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

No matter how dark the night, Jesus is still the “light of the world” (John 8:12). He will forgive every sin we confess to him (1 John 1:9) and transform any life entrusted to his grace (2 Corinthians 5:17).

God has no restrictions, no limitations. Dan Shock

No man can succeed in a line of endeavor which he does not like. Napoleon Hill

People are like vines. They only grow as high as their supports. Jomo Cousins

When confronted with evil, it’s a sin to stay when you could leave.

Don’t lose sight of what God has called you to do.

I awoke, only to see that the rest of the world is still asleep. Leonardo Da Vinci

The only way to tell the truth is to speak with kindness. Only the words of a loving man can be heard. Henry David Thoreau

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create. Albert Einstein

Consider this: rare is the person who lists money and possessions among their greatest goals in life, but we spend most of our time and energy trying to acquire them. In fact, according to one survey, 70% of us say our desire for acquiring more money influences our daily decisions. The Minimalist

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19

It was a surreal experience when I sat before a mic in the studio and put on the headphones. I was about to speak to more than a million people around the world. I was in the studio of HCJB in Quito Ecuador.

God called Clarence Jones to “Arise and go south with the Gospel… using Radio.” Clarence would start Radio Station HCJB.

HCJB stands for Heralding Christ Jesus Blessings, short wave ministry started in 1931.

The mission would grow into a global ministry that was guided by these two foundational verses:

“Call unto me and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Zachariah 4:6

The mission also recognized the need to demonstrate the Gospel in practical ways which led to the development of medical and community development ministries. Our goal was never to just present or demonstrate the Gospel, rather to obey Jesus’s command to go make disciples. Their 500-kw transmitter gives a total broadcast power of one million watts that goes all over the world, even in remote places not otherwise reached.

And they ask me to give my Christian testimony? To well over a million at one time? I was both honored and scared, but it went well. I will never know how many people heard me or where they were, and I will never know how many people responded to the Gospel. Only God knows, but some day in the life beyond this life, maybe I will know.

Maybe not all of us will have the opportunity to speak on our faith to millions at one time, but we can all start with one person one time. And maybe not all over the world, but to your next-door neighbor or the one who works in the cubicle next to yours. Maybe you were created just to lead one special person to salvation. Maybe, just maybe.

The time to start your faith teaching is now. Don’t go a day without it.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Have you ever noticed how “busy” has become the new “fine”? As in, when you used to ask somebody how they were doing, they would answer, “Fine.” But nowadays, everybody answers, “Busy.”

Sometimes, people say it just to sound important. But most of the time, the person legitimately means it. They’re busy. There are too many responsibilities and not enough time in the day nor energy in the body to accomplish everything they want to do.

Busy has become the default state for many of us. But is the state improving our lives? Certainly not.

Statistics indicate that 75% of parents are too busy to read to their children at night. A rising number of children are being placed in day cares and after-school activities. Americans are having a hard time finding opportunity for vacations these days. About 33% of Americans are living with extreme stress daily, and nearly 50% of people say they regularly lie awake at night because of stress.

This is a problem. Activity is good, but we can become too busy.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

While busyness seems to be the prevailing condition of the human spirit these days, it is not true of everyone. In other words, busyness is not inevitable.

Some people are not busy. They appear calm, collected, and in control… but still productive. They are enviable in the life they live. What do they understand about life that others do not? The Minimalist

— o —

When people get wealthier, they experience greater happiness. However, there is a surprising and significant corollary in the report: people with less money view happiness as tied to a sense of meaning—the belief that their life has direction, purpose, and value. Stanford University marketing professor Jennifer Aaker

— o —

Average cost for every American last year for prescription medication: $1,376

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around. Willie Nelson

It can feel lonely to stand for Biblical morality in our radically secular culture. Jim Denison

When what should be first place in our lives gets misplaced, before long it will be replaced. Ken Whitten

If you want to be more like Jesus, try giving help in both time and treasure without telling anyone about it. Jesus has answered your silent prayers for a long time and does not seek to take any credit for it…see the power that brings when you do the same. Dwight Short

Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything. Muhammad Ali

If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all. Michelangelo

We have to be open for God to transform us. Jomo Cousins

Just a little tolerated sin can permeate through the whole body, rotting it away from the inside out. Tim Tebow

“11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, 

some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 

12 FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY, 

for the edifying of the body of Christ, 

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…” Ephesians 4:11-13  NKJV

   I’ve been challenged to continue some more on this passage this week.
   Let me ask y’all what could be some most profound questions:  when you think of all the pastors whose ministry you have been under,  what are some things which stand out in their ministry?  Is there any one pastor who is/was so overwhelming to you that his name comes right to your mind instantly?
   So what makes that pastor special?  Let me give you a personal example:  Rev. Herman A. Underwood (who went Home to glory in 2005).  In his 80 plus years, he served as a pastor in churches throughout New York State and Canada, as well as for many years was President of the Seaway Baptist Bible institute in Williamstown, Ontario.  I first met him about 2 months after I was saved in 1971.  As a new believer and a first year student at a college in WAY upstate New York, I soon learned from the Lord that believers should attend church!   First Baptist Church, Canton, New York.  Pastor:  Herman Underwood.  He was there 13 years before resigning to become President at Seaway. 

I remember his final messages.  He introduced his last study from the Book of Daniel this way:  “I’ve had a few days to reflect upon my ministry here.  It soon became apparent to me that in my 13 years I’ve preached through every book of the Bible except Daniel.  So here we go!”.  
   So he was a good Bible teacher.  What else?  Visitation?  Yep!  Prison ministry?  Yep! Ongoing hospital ministry?  Yep!  Ministry to people?  Yep!  Personal?  Ministering as easily to an individual as he would to a group?  You bet! 
   I went to his funeral in Canada in 2005.  Believe it or not, even though he hadn’t pastored in Canton for around 30 years, many – yes many, some in their 90’s! – of his former First Baptist parishioners came to the service.  Why?  I asked one of them, himself a retired professor at St. Lawrence University in Canton, as to why so many from First Baptist were at the service.  His reply?  Listen CAREFULLY:  “even though it has been over 3 decades since Pastor Underwood was our pastor, people IN THE COMMUNITY are still talking about him!  His care for his parishioners was quite evident.  But his connection with the community – the hospital, the jail ministry, the individuals on the street – they all remember him STILL.”  
   Allow me to bring back a little comparison I shared with you last week, comparing Ephesians 4:11-12 in the King James Version with the same passage in the New King James Version:
    “KJV:  “…he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… “
NKJV:  “…He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”.
   Did you notice any difference between the King James Version and the New King James Version?   Let’s hypothesize:  let’s say a pastoral candidate comes to your church and in the process of his meeting with you, you let him know what you expect of him.  You would say, according to one of the above versions, “We want you to visit, call, serve, start and lead a vibrant youth group, prepare and deliver great sermons, and do all the work that needs to be done to get our church going strong again.”  Which version was that?
   The same pastoral candidate goes to another church and cautiously asks, “what do you expect your pastor to do on a regular basis?”.  In this church, the leadership say, “we would like you to train us, either one on one or as a group, to learn how to do the work of the ministry in our town.  We are only 30 strong, but 30 of us can be in 30 more places at one time than you can.”  Which version was that?
What made the difference?  Our beloved KJV authors, as well intentioned as they were, put in an unfortunate COMMA between “saints” and “for”.  Thus the passage implies that the PASTOR DOES ALL THE WORK!   And you and I know MANY churches – perhaps even your church – where the pastor is expected to do just that:  do all the visitation both purposely throughout the community and on a moment’s notice when any one needs attention.  In addition to his leading the services, he is to teach, teach, teach, work, work, work.  The end result often is a most burned out pastor who lasts maybe, if the church is fortunate, 2-5 years in that church’s pastorate.
   But the NKJV (and the Greek, dear people) does NOT have that COMMA!  So as the pastor trains the people, WHO according to the Scriptures, are accountable and joyfully do the work of the ministry?  THE BODY OF CHRIST!  Yet in our society there are unfortunately MANY well intentioned churches that expect the pastor to do it all.  I knew of a church once where a pastoral candidate was told the above proverbial list of expectations of the pastor-to-be’s qualities.  And you know what he had the nerve to ask in reply?  “And what are YOU going to do while I do all the work of the ministry?”  You know what?  He stayed 20 years there and trained the people, and today they are still reaching out to their community as a body of believers, showing the entire village the love of God in Christ wherever the Lord has wisely placed each one.  THAT’s what Ephesians 4:11-12 is supposed to look like in action!”
   All right.  I began with my mentor and beloved Pastor Underwood.  He was a brother in Christ and servant of the Lord who epitomized the servant found in the above New King James Version text.  
   I want to share how what I call a “King James Version” pastor looks like.  BUT BEFORE I DO, please – PLEASE! – know that I am NOT criticizing a text which is beloved to many of you.  But I AM trying to show how one measly little comma can change not only the intent of the Holy Spirit but also of the outworking ministry of a pastor guided by that version.
   I am familiar with a church whose pastor retired after many years of service to that same church.  He was an excellent Bible teacher.  His sermons were, well, enlightening to the truth.  Outwardly, he was everything you would want a pastor to be.  Until…
   When he retired, certain things began to appear, strange things, all of which were discovered by the leadership who were left to continue the work of the ministry of the church in the community until a new pastor would be called.  There were little things – like a parsonage which really wasn’t kept up.  Perhaps some of that should have been shared with the trustees, but the pastor and his family kept those shortcomings to himself.
   But then?  The leadership soon learned a most amazing and at the same time most sad reality:  the former pastor’s name was on every – yes EVERY – account connected with the church.   Bank accounts.  Fuel accounts.  Every account of the church was in his name.  His oversight.  Seemingly his control.  Insurance accounts were in his name in agencies which were familiar to him from his old home town.  
   The church leadership had no idea how controlling of the church the pastor really had.
   And when many started reflecting, they realized that after a decade, he really was not known in the community. “Pastor who?”, many asked.  “Your pastor left?  When?  We really didn’t know him.”
   Remember again the old King James Version:  “…He gave some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting [“maturing”] of the saints COMMA, for the work of the ministry…”. This implies that the pastor, while involved in maturing the saints, is responsible to do all the work of the ministry.  That’s why a church under such leadership is always asking, “Why hasn’t the pastor done this?  Visit them?  Gone here?  Gone there?  WHY is he so lazy?”  And the body of believers of that well meaning church rarely ask, “WHY IS THE PASTOR SO TIRED ALL THE TIME?”.
   Let me close with one more example from the life and ministry of Pastor Underwood.   After my freshman (and turns out, only) year at the local college, I met with Pastor.  I said to him, “one thing the Lord has shown me in this my first year as a believer is that I need to, I WANT TO learn how to serve the Lord.”  Without even putting together any thoughts – AND APPARENTLY WITHOUT EVEN ASKING HIS DEAR WIFE ! – Pastor said to me, “Why don’t you come live with us this summer?”.  And I DID!  I learned how to memorize scripture, how to study the Word of the Lord, how to go on visitation, how to teach Vacation Bible School (back then, brace yourselves, it was a THREE WEEK school!); be involved in the local Bible Club Movement ministry, teach Sunday school, and among many of the highlights, be a counselor at a Bible camp for 3 weeks.  And Pastor often had me lead the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible studies.  By the end of the summer I said to Pastor, “I believe the Lord is calling me to Bible School”.  And the rest, they say, is history.   ALMOST…
Let’s advance to near the end of 2004.  I was in my 18th year (ultimately of just over 20 total) in my first pastorate.  I was in my 10th year serving as president of the old (established 1844) Tioga River Christian Conference, at one time a booming fellowship of fundamental churches throughout Pennsylvania and New York State.  I had learned that Pastor Underwood’s health was poor, his cancer had returned, his time on this earth would soon be over.  So I sat down to write what would become a long thank you note to him.  I just wanted him to know how much I appreciated his taking me under his wing, and for the better part of 30 years still mentoring me, loving me unconditionally.  About a week after I sent the letter, late one night the phone rang.  At the other end of the line was the low, raspy, yet still very distinguishable voice of Herman Underwood.  He wanted to talk one more time!  And while I was concerned that this call would make him overly tired, he continued to talk.  He was overwhelmed with my letter, and thanked me for being his disciple, his brother in Christ, his friend.  We reminisced.  A LOT.  
   And then near the end of our conversation he asked me a most unusual question.  He asked, “Is Clarence Jones still alive?”.  Pastor Jones was one of the patriarchs of our conference, having served at many pastorates as well as taught at the old Practical Bible Training School near Johnson City, New York.  Pastor Jones,  in addition to all his church and school ministries, had served over 50 years in all the ministries of our conference.  A godly man, a love of missionary work – a love which spread to his family.  His daughter Grace Fabian, now in her 80’s, is continuing to spread in the United States her love for the Papua New Guinea ministry in which she and her late husband Edmund served for decades with Wycliffe Bible Translators.  
   “Is Clarence Jones still alive?”.  YES!  I said.  And I shared all that I knew about his ministry, about his last message before the conference in which he gave his testimony for Christ.  And then it hit me:  “Pastor Underwood – HOW do YOU know Clarence Jones?”
   His answer:  “Back in the 1940’s he was MY first pastor.  He was MY mentor.  Why he even invited ME into his home so I could learn from him how to do the work of the ministry.”
   I shared Pastor Underwood’s story at Pastor Jones’ funeral.  I told the well-numbered congregation that day:  “Pastor Jones was a mentor.  If it wasn’t for Pastor Jones, it is possible that young Herman Underwood might not have been a servant of the Lord.  And if it wasn’t for Pastor Underwood, I would not be before you today.  WAIT!  Let me re-word that:  If it wasn’t for Clarence Jones, I definitely WOULD NOT be before you today.”  
   Over 80 years – plus my years – of “the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry”.  
   Is your pastor an equipping pastor?

OR

Is your pastor a controlling/must do all the work pastor?

The answer to that question might be the life or death of your church.

WHY the answer to that question might be the life or death 

of YOUR spiritual health.

Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 12:28

He was born at Frankfort, Maine, in 1817. After leaning the railroad business in Pennsylvania, he headed south with a dream of forming a railroad hub to connect cities in the emerging south. He chose Marthasville, Georgia and started forming the railroad. He bought land and owned six hundred acres in Marthasville before the name was changed to Atlanta. A colonel in the Confederate Army, he was in charge of the fortifications of Atlanta during the Civil War.

He wanted to leave a legacy, so in 1881 he, Lemuel P. Grant donated 131 acres to become Grant Park, a recreational area for future generations to enjoy. I recently visited the home he built in 1856 and went to his grave in Westview Cemetery. On his grave monument I found the inscription that said his legacy was Grant Park. He was my great grandfather.

L.P. Grant home circa 1856

As I drove away, I thought about the many children I have seen playing in the park while others strolled in the park, a legacy that has lasted for nearly 150 years while the city grew up around it. I asked myself what will my legacy be 150 years from now. What am I leaving for future generations?

I thought of Proverbs 13:22 that says, A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. Is it money? Is it prestige? What if it is spiritual?

That’s it. What greater legacy than spiritual? I found another great grandfather’s will from the 1700’s and in it he left his following generations his belief in God. That’s my inheritance to my future generations.

We raised our three children in the church and in a Godly home and they have done likewise in raising their children. A few weeks ago, our ten-year-old Wyatt, some 62 years my junior walked down the aisle and gave his heart and life to Jesus.

Now that’s real legacy!

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Jim McGuire, an alumnus of River Valley High School in Marion County, Ohio, has sparked public outrage over his commencement speech to the graduates recently.

“My jaw dropped to the floor, and I honestly thought I was hearing it wrong,” said a 2018 River Valley graduate, Alexis Osipow. She said she was “outraged” and was further dismayed when people were clapping in approval of McGuire’s statement.

So, what did he say that was so outrageous? Along with advice about life and pursuing future goals, McGuire encouraged the students to spend time “learning God’s Word.” Then he made the following comment regarding romantic relationships. “Choose a spouse, I suggest. I also strongly suggest to make sure to choose Biblical principles, you know, a male with a female and female with a male.”

One critic said it was “inappropriate.” Another suggested this thinking was so outdated and was like going back to the 1950s.

Now, one might argue that McGuire used poor judgment in using graduation to mention what the Bible says about marriage. Yet, the local response, which included the school board issuing a statement that McGuire was not an official representative of the school district and sharing his own personal views, is indicative of how sin has become normalized.

Last month was dubbed by homosexual activists as “Pride Month.” And Google won’t let you forget as this holiday is embedded in your Google calendar.

When sin is normalized, people as the apostle Paul penned “become enemies of the cross of Christ,” and “glory in their shame.” (Phil. 3:19).

When sin is normalized, religious organizations like Mennonite Church USA, Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians condone same-sex marriage. When sin is normalized, righteousness is scorned, wickedness is praised, and sin becomes a reproach to our nation (Prov 14:34). When sin is normalized people are criticized for simply citing what the Bible says.

It’s a sad day when sin is normalized. Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

— o —

Stress levels are at an all-time high today. For some, it never stops. The constant state of fight or flight is a heavy load that our bodies bear, and it leads to many of today’s common diseases.

— o —

I know that I don’t have the answers about how to fix the ills of society, especially a society where human life seems to mean so little and hate seems to run so deep. But I think I know where to start. It begins with you and me… with us. It starts with faith, hope and love. It continues by stepping up and shining a light into the darkness, and truly loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and then, loving our neighbor as ourselves. Marty Stubblefield

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

We must run to God because we can’t run from him. Bob Sprinkle

We may think we are right sometimes, but no one is ever righteous. Jomo Cousins

Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. Nothing breathes new life into a discouraged person like an encouraging word or deed. George M. Adams

The applause of a single human being is of great consequence. Samuel Johnson

Correction does much, but encouragement does more. German poet Goethe.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. Dr. Seuss

The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become. Heraclitus

When you are offended at any man’s fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger. Epictetus

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. Thornton Wilder

I don’t care that they stole my idea . . I care that they don’t have any of their own. Nikola Tesla

The gifts given to us by God must not be relinquished to those who speak ill of them and who are moved by envy or ignorance. Filippo Brunelleschi

Truth, and goodness, and beauty are but different faces of the same all. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies. Alexander the Great

I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man. George Washington

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,  some evangelists, and some pastors and teacher for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” 

–Ephesians 4:11-16 (NKJV)

When I was growing up – hahahahaha! – my Dad was 6’-1” tall, my mom was 4’-11” (if she stood up).  My 2 brothers were 6” and 4” taller than I.  I think at my greatest height I was 5’5”.  Scoliosis has done a number on that total.  The older of my 2 brothers was 5’9” tall, but when he died 2 years ago, he was shorter than I am. He, too, suffered from scoliosis.   So I’m a real expert on growth!

But what about church growth – how does one measure that?  I once belonged to a fellowship of the area fundamental pastors.  Do you know what the FIRST question seemed to be when each of us met for our monthly fellowships?  Here goes:  “Well, brother, how big is your congregation in the morning service?”.  I usually responded by, “well, brother, some of my congregation members are REALLY big!”

That’s NOT what he was looking for.  He was looking for the comparative, to see if his church attendance measured up anywhere to my church attendance.  Perhaps if he had 5 more people attending on the average than my charge did, that made his church a better church?

Church growth.  Let’s pretend to create a “church growth chart.”  What would it look like?  Let’s find out, and rather than compare your fellowship with my fellowship, let’s line up our church against this chart AND then let’s grow up together!

I promised you last week an insight into Ephesians 4:11-12.  This passage for many congregations is the most abused passage in the HISTORY of the local, even fundamental, church.  Why?  I don’t mean to offend anyone, but let’s compare our beloved KJV with the NKJV.  See if you notice the distinct difference:

KJV (King James Version):  “…he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… “
NKJV (New King James Version):  “…He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”.

Did you notice any difference between the KJV and the NKJV?  

Let’s hypothesize:  let’s say a pastoral candidate comes to your church and in the process of his meeting with you, you let him know what you expect of him.  You would say, according to one of the above versions, “We want you to visit, call, serve, start and lead a vibrant youth group, prepare and deliver great sermons, and do all the work that needs to be done to get our church going strong again.”  Which version was that?

The same pastoral candidate goes to another church and cautiously asks, “what do you expect your pastor to do on a regular basis?”.  In this church, the leadership say, “we would like you to train us, either one on one or as a group, to learn how to do the work of the ministry in our town.  We are only 30 strong, but 30 of us can be in 30 more places at one time than you can.”  Which version was that?

What made the difference?  Our beloved KJV (King James Version) authors, as well intentioned as they were, put in an unfortunate COMMA between “saints” and “for”.  Thus the passage implies that the PASTOR DOES ALL THE WORK!   And you and I know MANY churches – perhaps even your church – where the pastor is expected to do just that:  do all the visitation both purposely throughout the community and on a moment’s notice when any one needs attention.  In addition to his leading the services, he is to teach, teach, teach, work, work, work.  The end result often is a most burned out pastor who lasts maybe, if the church is fortunate, 2-5 years in that church’s pastorate.

But the NKJV (New King James Version, and the Greek, dear people) does NOT have that COMMA!  So as the pastor trains the people, WHO according to the Scriptures, are accountable and joyfully do the work of the ministry?  THE BODY OF CHRIST!  Yet in our society there are unfortunately MANY well intentioned churches that expect the pastor to do it all.  I once knew of a church where a pastoral candidate was told the above proverbial list of expectations of the pastor-to-be’s qualities.

And you know what he had the nerve to ask in reply?  “And what are YOU going to do while I do all the work of the ministry?”  You know what?  He stayed 20 years there and trained the people and worked beside them.  Today they are still reaching out to their community as a body of believers, showing the entire village the love of God in Christ wherever the Lord has wisely placed each one.  THAT’s what Ephesians 4:11-12 is supposed to look like in action!
  

So what are the signs of a church that is growing together doing the work of the ministry under the leadership of a wise pastor – a pastor who not only trains but also is an example of a disciple within the community the entire body is serving together?

THE FIRST SIGN IS “’TIL-LING’” (verse 13)

We live in a NOW age.  I remember the story in our area of factory workers who were soon to be laid off from their hard earned jobs.  So they pooled together some money, entered the New York State lottery as a group, and…WON.  $46 MILLION DOLLARS!   “Now we are set”, they said in unison.  But our passage calls us to a “’Til” mentality.

We are to be working the work of the ministry “together ‘TIL we come to the unity of the faith”.    This is a work for the entire body!  The pastor is more than just a leader.  He is a co-worker, a co-learner.  What he expects of you, he first expects of himself.  Do you have a pastor like that?  Do you have the freedom to expect your pastor to be like that?

We are to be working the work of the ministry “together ‘TIL we come to the knowledge of the Son of God,” a full knowledge of our Savior.  Often don’t we settle for just the knowledge of salvation?  Listen to these challenging yet encouraging verses: Psalm 119:125:  “I am Your servant; Give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.” Philippians 3:10: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His

We are to be working the work of the ministry “together ’TIL we mature to a perfect man”.  Identify yourself:  are you just a babe in Christ, or are you a mature Christian with a working AND learning knowledge of the Savior?  I encourage you to review Hebrews 5:12-14: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Which are you?

We are to be working “together ’TIL we come to the stature of the fullness of Christ…”.  That’s our measure, our standard.  We should be asking ourselves, “Is Christ seen in me?  Or am I getting in the way?”

How long?  “’TIL”!

THE SECOND SIGN IS “TOSSING” (verse 14)

“That we should no longer be children, TOSSED…”
Ever hear the story of the man disgusted with his son’s actions.  He yelled at him, “Joey, you’re acting just like a five year old!”… to which the boy replied, “But Dad!  I AM a five year old!”  What is cute in a five year old is NOT in an adult.  The test is this:  “What do you think of Christ?”  
I encourage you to read 1 John 2:1-6.  Listen intently to verse 5:

“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”

THE THIRD SIGN IS “TRUTHING” (verse 15)

I like how the Amplified Version translates literally this verse: “Speaking truly, Dealing truly, Living truly…”
   Under Christ’s Headship people ought to see us not as how we represent ourselves, our families, even our church.  They ought to see us as how we represent Jesus!
People ought to ask of us our hope, to which we can quickly reply, “We have learned this of Christ.”
   Most of us are familiar with Acts 4:12:

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
But have you ever noticed the next verse, Acts 4:13:

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”   [my emphasis]
Then and only then does the cycle go back to me, and who I am because this is what I have learned of Christ.

LET’S WRAP THIS UP!
Do you remember the initial question?  The group of pastors in a wonderful fellowship ask one another, “How many are coming to your morning service?”

What SHOULD they be asking?  What are the REAL final tests of the growth of one’s local church?

Is your church body joined and knit together?

Is every joint supplying?

Is every part doing its share?

Is the body building itself up in love?

Do all the functions of the local body show Christ and Him crucified, risen, and coming again?

Do I? Do you?

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head above all. 1 Chronicles 20.11

It was an incredibly powerful storm. I went out on the porch just to watch the many bolts of lightning. Briefly I came inside and stood by a window to watch. Suddenly there was a powerful flash with a simultaneous clap of thunder and loss of power. I opened the door and saw smoke coming from my electric transformer. I knew it would be a long night. With a flashlight, I explored the transformer and found where the bolt struck, leaving a large round hole pierced in the heavy steel.

Not only was it a reminder of the power of lightning, but a reminder of the power of God. How Powerful Is Lightning? A typical lightning flash is about 300 million Volts and about 30,000 Amps. In comparison, household current is 120 Volts and 15 Amps. God is in control of it all.

How powerful is the Word of God? You would expect a book that is divine and living would in fact be active, and so it is. Paul writes in 1 Thess. 2:13 that the Word of God does work. Jeremiah writes: “Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rod into pieces.” God’s word is powerful. The word translated here as powerful is the source of our word energy. It means to say that God’s word has God’s power, his energy.

Because it is God’s word, it is an undefeatable word. The Bible has all the essentials of the life and power of God to do his work! Isaiah says that the word of God does not return void; it does His work, powerfully so (Is. 55).

The Word of God is powerful. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

From the standpoint of your own sanctification or spiritual growth, you need this book every single day. You need to read it, meditate on it, memorize it, and delight in it. You need it preached each Lord’s Day and you need it singing in your head all day long.

It is a powerful book!

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The problem is that believing in ourselves, and having confidence in ourselves are not bad things in and of themselves. Not bad as long, as that confidence and belief stems from our faith, confidence and belief in God. He is the source of our confidence and the foundation of our success.

True success is found when we lay down our lives and give it to Him. When we take up our cross and follow Him. When we allow Jesus to work in and through us and guide our steps and our lives. Marty Stubblefield

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“Well son, we don’t need to know about the Bible anymore, they stopped teaching that stuff when we got into school.” A parent answering their son about the meaning of John 3:16

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No one undertakes a journey alone. We depend upon others constantly–in ways both tangible and intangible–to move us toward our destination. We cannot succeed without the help of others, but forming positive relationships can be a challenge. This is true in business. In politics. In sports. In the home. And in the church. John Maxwell

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Authors, motivational speakers, and experts in every field of endeavor agree that attitude makes the big difference in life. It’s the difference between success and failure. Between winning and losing. Between a happy and miserable home life. Between friendly and unfriendly relationships. And between personal contentment and discontentment.

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According to the American Bible Society, nearly 26 million Americans reduced or stopped their interaction with Scripture in the past year.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him. G.K. Chesterto

Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need. The Minimalist

Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Ludwig Van Beethoven

It’s okay to be human, through the mistakes and disappointments of everyday life, give yourself grace to be human. Thomas Nelson Company

Jesus has blessed us in order for us to be a blessing to others. Max Wilkins

None of us are sinless, but God calls us to sin less. Jo Mo Cousins.

Fear is the attention we give our primary attention to. It can be our greatest fear or our greatest hope. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Chris Dodson

Minimalism, to me, has always been about living a focused, meaningful life—one that accomplishes the most good for the greatest number of people. Things That Matter is about living well and pursuing a life dedicated to meaningful pursuits—and allowing that pursuit to take you on journeys to places you never imagined. The Minimalist

If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair. Samuel Johnson

“7 But to each one of us grace was given  according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  8 Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that  He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is also the One Who ascended  far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,”   

— (Ephesians 4:7-11)  [NKJV] 

There is built within our systems a desire, a strong desire, that we are needed, that we are a vital part of the world that surrounds our daily lives.

• The teacher needs to think that he/she is making an impact on his/her students  

• The ball player needs to think he is helping the team win  

• The parent needs to think his children are really listening and will grow to maturity.

BUT sometimes our world can be so shallow that we fail to see the BIG PICTURE!

Let me illustrate from the point of view of different views of the same thing:

 First is the view from your tree house.  Everything looks clear, right?   *  Next, there is the same view, but from the top of the Empire State Building    *  How about the same view, but from an airplane!   *  One more:  how about the same view, but from the space shuttle.  Get the view?

   But there really is only ONE view that matters, and that is the view from God Himself!  Everything then gains INDIVIDUAL significance!

   You then become a BIG PART of the BIG PICTURE called “God’s Purposes in Eternity.”  Our text today looks at the BIG PICTURE, and our BIG PART in it, from 3 perspectives.   Are you ready?

1. FIRST IS THE BIG PICTURE OF THE INDIVIDUAL (verse 7).

As some of you may remember, I had the privilege while serving as pastor over 3 decades to be “bi-vocational”.  During that time I served with our local police department in a number of capacities.  One of the highlights of one’s career is the retirement party!  You’ve worked your shift.  You’ve finished your days.  It is time for your fellow officers to recognize you for your worth.  Such was the case for my good friend Paul, a sergeant who, when he retired, got a job as a salesman for a local well-known car dealership.  What gifts would be appropriate for us fellow officers to give to Paul?  We gave him 3 very personal items.  First, we gave him a water pistol, in case he missed his service revolver.  Then we gave him an auto organizer, so that HIS vehicle looks sharp.  Finally, we gave him magnifying glasses, so that his buyers can read the fine print of the contract!  (All these were in good spirits – he really did get some NICE gifts as well!).  

   These were individual gifts with Paul in mind.  They suited his personality and we ALL benefitted from them.

   What’s the point?  God in turn gives each believer gifts that are uniquely suited for the INDIVIDUAL in light of God’s perspective and purposes of the BIG PICTURE!!!

   God PERSONALLY gives His gift PERSONALLY to me PERSONALLY!  Did you catch the verse?  “To each one of us…”.  Whether we are in the forefront as the Pastor or behind the scenes as a prayer warrior, God has uniquely given to me His gift.   

1 Corinthians 12:11 describes it this way: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

   And all of that which He does for me individually is for His glory personally through ME!  (Do I hear a “Wow!” – or at least an “Amen”?)

   But can’t you hear yourself say, “But what if I can’t do it?”.  The operation of the gifts of God which He has individually chosen for me is dependent upon two things:  my OBEDIENCE and my FAITH!

And we have help!   “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully…Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, SUPPLY and MULTIPLY the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:6, 10-11

   God enables!  And we need to be willing for His enablement!

   So the operation of the gift is a CHOICE?  YES!!!  What happens if we say NO!  In the BIG PICTURE, a cog is wasted and will need to be replaced by a willing vessel.  And as for us?  We will miss the blessing of having been used and having served in ways which only He could have done through us.

2. SECOND IS THE BIG PICTURE OF VICTORY (verses 8-10)

The simple truth of the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Savior includes the fact that He is now at God’s right hand praying, working, and waiting…FOR US!

Now we know and are confident with the truth from 2 Corinthians 5:8 that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”  

   So the picture here is one of VICTORY!  Psalm 68:18 in the Hebrew reads, “You have led away a train of vanquished foes.”

   What does that mean for us?   The Romans – as well as other people groups – were known after a big battle to have a PARADE!  The soldiers would march down the center of town while the people of the village cheered the victors on!  And the parade included more than just the survivors of battle.  It also included many of the captives of war.  AND there were the spoils on display.  Quite the sight!

   As a result of our Savior’s ascension, He shows off the foes as vanquished.  We see the victory.   He gives the gifts.  We see the victory already won.

   Seeing the victory, we are encouraged to press on in our service for Him – knowing that we are ALREADY on the victory side!

3. THIRD AND FINALLY, THERE IS THE BIG PICTURE OF ETERNITY (verse 11)

Verse 11 shares in the gifts which the Lord gives to the local church.  He gave “apostles and prophets”.   We must be careful – very careful – here.  This is not an isolated verse.  Ephesians 2:20 says that the Lord “BUILT ON the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”  And Ephesians 3:5 adds that the church, a mystery to the Jews, “in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”   Scripture shows that once the Bible was complete, there was no need for a new foundation, a new group like the “apostles and prophets” to build upon that foundation.  We need to beware today of the cult of those who call themselves “apostles” or “prophets”.  The foundation and revelation do not need to be built again.

Verse 11 also tells us that God gave to the early church “evangelists”.  OK, when you hear the word “evangelist”, what first comes to mind?  Sure – someone who comes to your church or to an area in town, ministers to the whole community while at the same time pumps up/encourages the local church(es) and its members.  But the original use of “evangelist” was one who was an herald of the good news, was the bearer of the good news.  In today’s church the “evangelist” properly would be what we call “missionaries”.  (And yes, it is possible that who we call an “evangelist” is in reality also a “missionary”, even if his mission is going from town to town).

   Finally verse 11 says that God gifts the church “pastors and teachers”.   Verses 11 and 12 are probably two of the most improperly used verses in the New Testament.  Lord willing, we will discuss this even further the next time we’re together.  But for now, suffice it to say that the Greek does NOT call these TWO distinct offices but…ONE.  A pastor is one who teaches!  He is a “teaching pastor”.  You cannot be a pastor without teaching.  He is equipped by God – and perhaps by extended education and regular study of the Word – as a professional NOT to be replaced by the professionals of today’s society.  He is called out from local churches – THAT’S where pastors come from.  Thus YOU are a part of this BIG PICTURE.  Maybe in your church right now is a young man who needs to be encouraged to pursue by faith the calling that God has upon his life, which calling is apparent to many.  Be that encourager today!

   So there is the story of Lucy and Snoopy.  With apologies to Mr. Schultz, Lucy looks at Snoopy and says, “You’re useless!  All you do is eat and sleep.  You can’t talk.  You are good for nothing!”.  To all of that Snoopy thinks, “well then, I might as well go back to sleep!”

   But what about US?  What are WE to do?

   When caught up by today, see the BIG PICTURE!

When feeling useless, remember GOD EMPOWERS!

When feeling used, remember it is GOD Who is using you in the BIG PICTURE!

   BECAUSE…YOU ARE A BIG PART OF THE BIG PICTURE!