All posts by Frank Becker

Blogs, John Grant

REBAR

Week Thirty-Nine 2021

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

When I built my house, I knew nothing about construction. I watched the blocks go up to the top of the second story. I thought how strong it looked. Then, I noticed that the contractor put in steel rods every few blocks and then knocked a hole in the bottom block. Inquisitive, I asked him why and he said that the blocks alone wouldn’t be strong enough to bear the weight until he poured concrete in each hole that had what he told me was rebar.

He explained that rebar when massed as reinforcing steel or reinforcement steel, is a steel bar or mesh of steel wires used as a tension device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures to strengthen and aid the concrete under tension. Concrete is strong under compression, but alone without rebar has weak tensile strength.

When they pour thick slabs of concrete, they use rebar to help make it stronger. The tensile strength is significantly increased by inserting carbon steel bars or mesh steel wires into the concrete during construction. The rebar helps resist cracking and breakage, and it absorbs stress and the other forces that will try to destroy the concrete over time.

I thought about my strong body and how I could bear the weight and endurance of life only because of the bones inside that I had seen only on an Xray. Without those bones, I would be limp as a dishrag and fall like a ball of clay, but my bones give me strength, just as rebar gives concrete strength.

The wording in Daniel 2:41-43 implies that the iron and clay do not mix, and do not combine to make each other stronger, but instead constitute a structural weakness. In addition, for generations the phrase “feet of clay” from Daniel 2 has been used to describe someone who gives the outward appearance of strength, but has a hidden weakness that causes his downfall.

Imagine your life as that concrete for a moment… What kinds of rebar can we insert into our own lives to provide extra strength and help us resist cracking, breakage, and stress?

We’ve all been there. Life takes us right to the edge where the pressure layers on, and we’re on the verge of breaking. The tensions in our lives create stress, and just like concrete, we begin to develop cracks on our surface.

Most of us have experienced stress and pressure at work and in other areas of our life. We’ve experienced tension and strain in our relationships. We’ve felt the squeezing of life from time to time… the expectations, the comparison, the demands that the world puts on us.

Only God’s rebar of the relationship with Christ can give us the inner strength to carry on with the strength to live our daily lives to the fullest.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

God either removes our challenges or redeems them for larger purposes. He miraculously freed Paul from his Philippian jail (Acts 16:25–26), but he did not remove his “thorn in the flesh” despite the apostle’s repeated entreaties (2 Corinthians 12:8). Instead, God used this “thorn” to draw Paul into greater dependence on himself. As a result, Paul wrote these immortal words: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (v. 10).

Our performance-based society measures us by what we do and how well we do it. But God wants us to see our challenges differently—as opportunities to experience his grace, strength, and guidance.

We can be self-sufficient or we can be Spirit-dependent, but we cannot be both.

In Keeping Hope: Favorite Prayers for Modern Living, Michel Quoist writes, “Don’t refuse to acknowledge your limitations. To deny their existence doesn’t make them go away. If they do exist, ignoring them would give them the opportunity to undermine and destroy your life.”

Instead, he observes, “Your limitations are not simply obstacles to your success—they are also indications from God of the path your life is to take.”

What limitation does God want to redeem in your life today? Jim Denison

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It may seem that everywhere you turn, costs are going up. Earlier this year, Chipotle raised its menu prices by about 4 percent. Food products were 2.4 percent more expensive in June 2021 than in June 2020. Used cars are creeping toward the typical tag of a new car, and rent prices are up 7.5 percent nationwide. Inflation will grow more over the next couple of months as businesses recoup their pandemic losses.

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Do you have NOMO phobia? Fear of being without your mobile phone.

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Wife did laundry, all was put away, but the sheets and bedding. Those she left on the bed. Wife asks husband, hey sweetie, could you put the sheets on the bed. Husband asks where are they? On the bed she says. Husband replies, well it looks like my job is done. Contributed by Beverley Grant

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What matters today is not always what will matter tomorrow, much less in eternity. By contrast, we cannot measure the eternal significance of present faithfulness. Will you be “devoted to eternal truths” today? Jim Denison

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cremate

Also contributed by Beverley Grant

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Do not trust in anything outside Christ for your righteousness, even the law in the Old Testament was meant to point to Jesus, not to accomplish salvation for us. Edgar Aponte

When you put God first, He takes care of all the rest. Dan Shock

Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.” M.F.K. FISHER

The struggle you are in today is developing the strength you will need tomorrow. Anonymous

Don’t ever let anyone dull your sparkle. Anonymous

“Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow.”
NORMAN VINCENT PEALE

Jesus triumphed over temptation and can help you to have victory also. Dan Shock

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he isn’t. A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.”
HORACE WALPOLE

God’s hand is in every disruption and every detour. Dan Shock

Life is like an onion; you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.” CARL SANDBURG

Deposit your riches carefully. Dan Shock

Keep talking to Jesus. His Presence will give you strength, and He will bless you with Peace. Sarah Young

How glorious to realize that Jesus Himself is praying for you! Dan Shock

Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has grace, and power in it. JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. Martin Luther

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

“The Strait/Narrow Gate is the ONLY Gate”

“SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

(Matthew 7:13-20)

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

—Matthew 7:13-20 (NKJV)

It is suggested by some scholars that this passage marks the beginning of the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Perhaps the Savior is taking His disciples down off the mountain to where they can see the outskirts of Jerusalem. Each city has a Main Gate! Throughout the Old Testament, the “gate” referred to the Main Gate near the city’s entrance. There are 385 uses of the word “gate” in Scripture!

A casual reading of the Book of Job will find several fascinating references to the “Gate”. Allow one passage to be mentioned here as an help to our study. From Job 29:1, 7ff:

““Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me;

““When I went out to the gate by the city, when I took my seat in the open square,

The young men saw me and hid, and the aged arose and stood; the princes refrained from talking, and put their hand on their mouth; the voice of nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.”

In the midst of his misery, suffering, and pain, Job looked back to those days when life was simpler – and when he was the object of respect in the land of Uz. He would go to the place known as The “Gate By the City”, the place where often business dealings were consummated. Did you notice what Job really hungered for? He looked again for the proper recognition given to him by both young and old alike. And that recognition took place at the Main Gate. And there was only ONE “Main Gate.”

Into that very familiar picture our Savior begins His final words to the disciples, and to those of the multitude who were eagerly listening as well. He said “enter by the narrow gate…”. There was only ONE narrow gate. There were not MANY narrow gates. There was only ONE. There were many WIDE gates which lead to destruction. But there is only ONE narrow gate.

There is a story told about a little boy visiting New York City for the very first time. Perhaps one day in YOUR life YOU were that little boy! I know I was that boy once! I grew up about 30 miles outside of the Big Apple. So when my parents took me to New York City, well, that was a special day! The wise parents thought their son would enjoy traveling on the train, so they took him to the majestic Grand Central Station. Dad went to the ticket counter and bought two adult tickets and one child’s ticket for the train. And then? And then they went to a GATE. Up to this point, the little boy could only hear the noise of the hustle and bustle of the traffic of the train station. He could only hear the occasional train whistle. He could only hear the distant “All Aboard” of some shouting conductor. Those noises were far away. Before him was The Gate. There was only ONE GATE into Grand Central Station [ok, ok, I’m embellishing the story a tad – can you imagine only ONE GATE for a zillion people who enter and leave Grand Central Station each day? But listen on!] Dad gave the little boy his ticket and gave him the instructions as to what to do with the ticket. With excitement, the little boy gave his ticket to the Nice Man by the ONE GATE. And then the Nice Man said, “Welcome, son, into the joy of Grand Central Station!”.

There is only ONE GATE to Heaven. It is a “strait” (KJV) or “narrow” (NKJV and others) gate. That ONE GATE leads to Heaven. All OTHER GATES (and there are MANY!) lead to destruction.

There is ONE GOOD TREE! “Every good tree bears fruit”. This second point is connected with the ONE GATE, and gives a further illustration for the ONE GATE. If you are going through the ONE GATE, you will be a GOOD TREE which bears GOOD FRUIT! The key to this TREE is that ALL OTHERS – did you catch that? – ALL OTHERS bear bad fruit! Our Savior is creating a brilliant visual of the difference between the GOOD SERVANTS of the Lord and those who are not, which He calls the “FALSE PROPHETS”. The “false prophets” are those “merchants and traders who really love a good religious revival! YOU know who they are, right? They are the religious scalpers. They are the spiritual exhibitionists! They are the hawkers who want your money. They may even tell a good “Christian” joke or story to get your spiritual juices flowing. But dear people…what is the KEY to these “FALSE PROPHETS”? Do you know? Have we learned together yet? The KEY to these “FALSE PROPHETS” is that they did NOT go through the NARROW GATE! They are the ones who think there are MANY GATES which lead to LIFE! Yet Jesus said there is ONE GATE which leads to life, which leads to a GOOD TREE which bears GOOD FRUIT. There are MANY paths which lead to DESTRUCTION. And on that path will be many often well-meaning folk, religious, spiritual good talkers. They are the FALSE PROPHETS of both Jesus’ and our days.

Finally, there is ONE TRUE LIFE! Do you have a “B.C.” and an “A.D.” in your life? Is there a “Before Christ” period of your life? For me it was 19 years. For my wife and our daughter, it was only 8 years each! I know of a precious man – who is now “with the Lord” – who came to know Jesus as Savior at age 70. At age 70 he began his “A.D.” – his “after dying to self, his dying to and trusting in Jesus and the cross. He lived to be 90 years old! But OH what he did in those last 20 years of his life. He had been a carpenter by trade, and for those 20 years he served the Lord through his carpentry. But you know what he told me when he turned 90? What do you think he said? He said, “WHY didn’t I trust Jesus when I was younger? I could have lived ALL MY LIFE for Him!”.

There is only ONE TRUE LIFE, and that is the life lived for Jesus’ glory. It is the life that began by “walking” through the NARROW GATE of faith at the cross. It is the life that bears GOOD FRUIT. It is the ONE TRUE LIFE. All other lives are, well, empty.

Have you read the Book of ECCLESIASTES lately? Solomon the Preacher begins by telling about his life. He had many pursuits, and in those pursuits he had plenty of this world’s goods! He had land! He had money! He had valuables, which in his day were horses and buildings. He had everything his eye hungered for. He wrote,

“Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.” (2:10)

And then he looked over ALL HIS STUFF. He looked over ALL THAT HE HAD SPENT A LIFETIME LABORING FOR. And do you know what his conclusion was? Do you have ANY IDEA?

Solomon wrote, “and indeed, all was VANITY and GRASPING for the wind. There was NO PROFIT under the sun.” (2:11).

We understand “vanity”. “Vanity” is the shallowness which is the fruit of seeking something which has no substance. But what about “grasping for the wind”? You may KNOW what it means without realizing it! Remember the toy we all played with as a kid? In one hand you had a stick with a circle at one end. You would take that stick with the circle and place it in a bottle. You would then pull the stick with the circle out of the bottle. And then? And then you would blow into the circle! And what would happen? Out would flow a floating bubble of various sizes. And THEN? You would chase that bubble, perhaps even successfully catching it in your hand. And THEN? The bubble would…BURST! THAT is “grasping for the wind.” A bubble that bursts. You have no substance to show.

AND WHY NOT? Because there is only ONE TRUE LIFE. All other lives which did not begin by going through the NARROW GATE, by not seeking the GOOD FRUIT of the GOOD TREE results in an empty life.

“Oh, yes,” you say. “I have it all! I have my horses: I have riches. I have homes. I have cars. I have it all.” Like Solomon you may have it all. And you are EMPTY.

There is a song I heard for the first time many years ago at a concert. The lady was the “opening act” for the main attraction. You know, I don’t remember who the main attraction was. But I’ve never forgotten the song the intro girl sang. The song is “He’s the Only Reason”. I have not been able to find the name of the author. It is a brief song. Two verses and the chorus. I close with this song.

I’ve been blessed with so many things, God’s been good to me

I have family and friends who share in all I do

But if I lose it all and I am left with nothing

If I have the Lord, then I know I’ll make it thru

You may have tried a lot of things to find real happiness

But if you’ve looked very long then you know it just can’t be found

Until you find the Lord in the power of His spirit

Jesus will be your reason to live and He’ll never let you down

Chorus: He’s the only reason I live but, Oh what a reason

He’s the only reason I live but, Oh what a reason

There is nothing in this world worth living for

It only leaves you empty and longing for more

He’s the only reason I live but, Oh what a reason

As you re-read Matthew 7:13-20, ask yourself: “is this the song of my life?”.

Blogs, John Grant

“STAY IN YOUR LANE!”

Week Thirty-Eight, 2021

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9

All runners have to follow one basic rule. When runners start the race, their body is in perfect form and their feet are rested against the starting block. The moment the gun is fired, the runners take off. They can go as fast as they can but no matter what, they must always stay in their lane.

In a relay race, there are 4 runners who run a certain amount of the track and then they have to pass their baton on to their teammate. Each teammate must run their portion of the lane. Relay races require everyone to do their part, stay focused, and stay in their lane.

Paul often compares the Christian life to running a race: 1 Cor. 9 – “run to get the prize” Phil 2 – “not run in vain.” The writer of Hebrews, which some believe is Paul, in 12 says, run the race set before us with endurance and joy, fixing our eyes on Christ.

Get the picture of an Olympic athlete… on the starting blocks of a 200m race (halfway around the track). Get off the blocks as fast as you can, run as hard as you can, and stay in your lane!

As Christians, our connection begins with our relationship with God and then continues as we try to find and walk the path He has specifically chosen for us. This is where we learn to connect our passion and our purpose.

But you may have noticed something as you start down your path…there are others walking ahead, beside, and behind you. Right? Sometimes these people can encourage you on your journey. Sometimes they distract you. Sometimes they make it hard for you to see where you are going. But you must stay in the lane God has directed you to.

Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out God’s path for your feet; stay on the safe path.”

• Seek to follow God first.

• Take it one step at a time.

• Accept the specific plan God has for your life (and do not worry about anyone else!).

• Yield to others on the path with grace.

• (in your)

• Listen to God’s voice as He guides (shut out the other noises and distractions).

• Ask others for support and encouragement.

• Navigate the obstacles by staying fixed and focused on your goal.

• Expect great things as you learn to connect your passion and purpose!

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

THE VINEYARD:

Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard… Mark 12:2

God loves to walk in His vineyard. Why? He is looking for fruit.

In John 15:8, Jesus says, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.” Paul goes on, in Galatians 5:22-23, to explain the fruit of the Spirit as being “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” This is the fruit God sought from the nation of Israel, and this is what the Lord is seeking from us.

In contrast to fruit is work. Fruit develops naturally as a result of relationship, whereas works are those things that are produced by effort, by organization and by coordination.

The Lord is not interested in coming to a factory and hearing the noisy roar of the motors and the clanging of the steel and seeing the grime that is usually found in such busy places. The Lord wants to come to His garden, that He might partake of and enjoy the fruit He finds there.

What fruit is coming forth from your life? Is it the works of the flesh, or the fruit of the Spirit? If you want to bear fruit for God-easily and naturally-then you need to attend to your relationship with Him. You need to seek Him, think about Him, and study His character.

Fruit will never come by will or determination. It comes by simply walking with the Gardener, and abiding in His love.

What fruit is coming from your life?

Marty Stubblefield

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Healing is not about doing better or being stronger or going to church more. It is about experiencing a love that will never let you go.

Joni Eareckson Tada says, “Your deepest need when you are hurting is to have God, like a Daddy, reaching down and picking you up and holding you and reassuring you that everything is going to be okay. He lets you know that your life is not in nightmarish chaos, your world is not splitting apart at the seams. Somehow and somewhere there is order and stability to it all. And that’s why God never gives advice; He gives Himself.”

Let go of the shreds of your life you have been hanging on to and embrace God.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling” (Psalm 68:5).

“You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more” (Psalm 10:17-18).

Heavenly Father, hold me in Your arms and comfort me. Reassure me that everything is going to be okay. Amen.

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A woman is reportedly suing McDonald’s after claiming that seeing one of its cheeseburger commercials made her break her fast for Lent. She accused the fast-food chain of breaking consumer protection laws and insulting her religious feelings.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Here’s to life and embracing each day with gratitude, passion, compassion, empathy, integrity, love, kindness, faith and purpose. Richard Gonzmart

We are in an economic boom and a spiritual drought. Bob Sprinkle

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

Thankfulness opens the door to His presence, and He is always with you, but Jesus has gone to great measures to preserve your freedom of choice. Sarah Young

Advertised humidity is not humility at all. Edgar Aponte

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting some on yourself.” RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show. The Minimalist

Whenever you are tempted to grumble, come to Jesus and talk it out.

The only way to be found worthy to escape the great tribulation is by receiving Jesus Christ and the forgiveness He offers. Dan Shock

We need men who can dream of things that never were. JOHN F. KENNEDY

Into each life some rain must fall. Longfellow

When it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow. G. K. Chesterton

If the crucified body of Jesus had stayed in the tomb, there would be no Christian faith, no church. Dan Shock

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

“The Most Misunderstood Verse in the Bible”

Jeremy “Moxie” Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

From the “SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

—Matthew 7:12 (KJV)

WITH YOUR BIBLES CLOSED, PLEASE:

There were two lawyers who were best friends forever! Amazingly, one of them became a Sunday school teacher. Surprised by his friend’s new Sunday occupation, the second lawyer said, “I BET you don’t even know the Lord’s prayer.”

“Of course I do! ‘Now I lay me down to sleep…’”

“You win!”, said the other admiringly. “I didn’t know you knew so much about the Bible!”

We laugh, don’t we? Well, stay with me. Is your Bibles still closed?

Ok. QUOTE for me “The Golden Rule” as recorded in the Scriptures. Let me start it for you: “Do unto others…”.

NOW look at the above verse and read what the verse REALLY states!

There are 3 reasons why this is the most misquoted, misrepresented, misapplied, misunderstood verse in the Bible!

Why, this is a verse that MANY ARE DEPENDENT UPON for their salvation! Even you?

FIRST, MANY DON’T KNOW WHY THE “THEREFORE” IS “THERE FOR”!

In fact, many people don’t even read that “therefore” as a part of their remembrance of what they call “The Golden Rule.”

So how should I determine WHY the “therefore” is there for? Follow the Savior’s amazing train of thought in Matthew 7:

* Since I recognize God is the True Judge (verse 1)…

* Since I recognize God’s holiness as the standard for true judgment (verse 2)…

* Since I surely see that I can’t criticize anybody’s speck until I take the log out of my own eye (verses 3-5)…

* Since I realize that only the gospel of Christ can change lives (verse 6)…

* And since I am truly convinced that only continuous prayer – true dependence upon God – will effect anything of eternal value (verses 7-11)…

THEREFORE as a result, my life NOW will be so governed (verse 12)!!!

Now in our study, THIS is a VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION WE MUST ASK: “Is the Lord Jesus addressing this to the world as a SALVATION verse?

OR is He addressing this to the Christian as a WAY OF LIFE?” Hmmmm.

SECOND, MANY DON’T KNOW WHO THE “OTHERS” ARE!

The Lord Jesus said, “Thou shalt love thy NEIGHBOR as thyself”. “Neighbor” is an important word to this study! It is used at least 144 TIMES in the King James Version.

He goes on to say about “loving your neighbor”: “THIS is the law and the prophets,” that is, “THIS is the general nature of the entirety of the Scriptures!”.

Let’s look at a few helpful examples:

* In the 10 commandments (Exodus 20, especially verse 16-17):

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

By the way, “covet” has the modern idea of “keeping up with the Jone’s”.

* In the Law of Release (Deut. 15:1-2):

“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.”

Thus the true follower of the Lord will not harbor anything against his neighbor!

* In the removing of a landmark (Deut. 19:14):

“You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.”

I learned recently of an huge boundary dispute at a local property. Apparently, the boundaries were initially figured from two different angles! Can you imagine the neighbors who were involved? They had no idea what was truly their own land! In the end, lawyers had to get involved to determine why there were discrepancies in the boundaries. In Old Testament days, the honoring of the boundary was a genuine way in which one “loved his neighbor”.

* In the speaking of truth to one’s neighbor (Zechariah 8:16-17):

“These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;

Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace. Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ says the Lord.”

This passage is quoted in the New Testament, as found in Ephesians 4:25, showing that it is not just an Old Testament principle:

“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.”

Look at James 2:8-10, which will lead to our third point:

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

THIRD, BEFORE I CAME TO THE CROSS:

* I COULDN’T “DO UNTO THEM”

* I HAVE NEVER “DONE UNTO THEM”

* APART FROM THE NEW BIRTH WILL I EVER “DO UNTO THEM”!

Why? Because for all eternity, I AM #1 !!! What is the chant at all basketball games? Is it yelled wonderfully to the opposing team, “YOU ARE #1! YOU ARE #1!” OR is it yelled at our own supporters as an encouragement and as a needle in the enthusiasm of the opposition, “WE’RE #1! WE’RE #1! WE’RE #1!”.

What does the Savior say? Look at the conversation wonderfully recorded for us in Matthew 22:35ff:

“…a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Note the order! We are to love God FIRST OF ALL. Only THEN are we to love our neighbor as ourselves. See? Salvation FIRST. Example and Evangelism SECOND – NOT the other way around!

As we bring this week’s study to a close, today’s text has a lot to say about our hearts:

WHO IS #1?

WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOR?

DO YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO BASE THIS VERSE AS THEIR SALVATION VERSE?

And the BIG question: Have you depended on this verse for YOUR salvation?

Blogs, John Grant

FALL FORWARD

Week Thirty-Seven, 2021

For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. Proverbs 24:16

Football is both a physical game and a mind game. It requires a lot of training and a lot of preparation. Players learn every aspect of the game. They even are trained on how to fall. The NFL keeps statistics on how players fall.

Everyone who carries the ball will fall. The average distance run with the ball is about five yards and then the player goes down. If the player falls backwards, he loses yardage and if he falls forward he gains yardage. After a player falls, he gets up, goes back to the huddle and gets ready to fall again.

There is a spiritual parallel here. God is always working in the lives of Christians. He is faithful. When His children fall, He will pick them up and dust them off. He will never forsake His faithful ones and with His mighty right hand He will hold you.

He knows what you need, He knows what you’re going through, and He knows your pain. Commit to Him, continue to live by His Word, hold on to God’s promises in your heart and know that in all situations He will help you and with Him you will overcome.

Like a football player, you learn by falling, so you will do better in the next play. Romans 8:28 says: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. It does not say that all those “things” will be easy, painless or short lived. But we will be better because of them.

People who fall the hardest, bounce back the highest. Just because we fall one time doesn’t mean we can’t get up and let our light shine. When real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep walking.

Football players know that it is hard to beat a person that never gives up. So, when you fall, and we all will, get up, get better and go forward with God.

When difficulty strikes, which way will you fall and how fast will you get up?

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Oswald Chambers observed, “Jesus Christ does not give us rules and regulations; his teachings are truths that can only be interpreted by the disposition he puts in. The great marvel of Jesus Christ’s salvation is that he alters heredity. He does not alter human nature; he alters its mainspring.”

Chambers noted that the Sermon on the Mount, for example, “is not a set of rules and regulations: it is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is getting his way with us.”

This is a massive insight. We can regulate external behavior, but only God can change human nature. We can act in godly ways to impress others and seek God’s blessing. But measure your heart—do you secretly still want to do what you know you should not do?

Imagine being so free of addiction to sin that we no longer suffer from its cravings. Obviously, we will act in godly ways and will draw others to Jesus as a result, but this will be true joy for us as well.

Our “mainspring” will be different. Jim Denison

— o —

One of the consequences of living in a consumer-driven economy is that consumers believe we drive more than the economy. We are given to think that it’s all about us, that we should have what we want when we want it. We assume that what we believe is best for us is best for us.

This fact helps to explain why optimism is down nearly twenty points since May. A majority—55 percent—of the public now say they are pessimistic about the direction of the country, a marked change from the 36 percent who said the same in a May 2 poll. According to ABC News, the drop “likely reflects the growing concern that lockdowns could be reinstated, and already vaccinated Americans could need a booster shot” for COVID-19.

— o —

Jeffrey Bilbro is a college English professor. In Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry into the News, he notes: “There is a profound, insidious kind of formation that happens when the first thing we do in the morning is to reach for a smartphone to find out what new thing occurred while we were sleeping. Such habits form the horizon of meaning by which we judge the significance of our daily life and actions. Structuring our days and weeks instead around Christ orients us to his story and equips us to fit the news of our day into the redemptive pattern of his life and work.”

Bilbro is right: “Modern news organizations double as lifestyle brands; where we get our news signals and shapes our identity.” He adds perceptively, “Instead of looking to the news to create better communities, we should be looking to strengthen communities so that they can create better news.”

We “strengthen communities” by loving our Lord and loving our neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39). We do this best by being led and empowered each day by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and then responding to problems with intercession and to opportunities with service.

When we do, we can know that God is using us not just to follow the news, but to make it, not just to react to culture, but to shape it. Bilbro advises, “Christians should be wary of being caught up in the trivia of the day and should be devoted to eternal truths. This is the posture of the martyrs—faithful to the Word, indifferent to victory.”

— o —

Caroline Campbell has written the entire Bible by hand, completing in June a project that began nine years earlier. Her mother estimates that the completed manuscript, which is compiled in forty-three binders, is more than ten thousand pages.

Caroline serves as a greeter at her church in South Carolina and regularly visits church members in nursing homes. She got a job a few years ago at a restaurant, where the franchise owner said after meeting her, “This girl is a star. Her personality shines. She’s a true star, and her star radiates. Her attitude makes ours better.”

Since completing her handwritten Bible, Caroline has received some attention in the media and is happy to hear she’s inspired others to love God’s word as she does. She recently received a letter from a seminary student on the West Coast who told her he is going to begin writing out the Bible by hand too. All of this helps Caroline fulfill her mission, as she told Christianity Today: “I want to inspire people to learn the Bible.”

By the way, Caroline has Down syndrome.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Christ alone is our foundation and salvation, and in Him you have been set free, so do not allow others to enslave you to traditions and regulations of men. Edgar Aponte

Keep doing good deeds long enough and you’ll probably turn out a good man in spite of yourself. LOUIS AUCHINCLOSS

When planning and problems are preoccupying your mind, turn to Jesus and whisper His Name. Sarah Young

Many are quick to blame God for everything instead of thanking Him. Dan Shock

The most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. Thomas L. Huxley

Saints, in Christ your salvation has been secured, and only in Him through the Spirit you can have victory over temptation and sin. Edgar Aponte

When you’re willing to share in the sadness of this sin-filled world, you learn to feel tenderness and compassion for those around you. Sarah Young

Rather than criticize God, we need to learn from Him. We need to have that same love, compassion, and readiness to forgive as God does. Dan Shock

Western society is experiencing God’s permissive judgment in response to our rejection of his word and will. Jim Denison

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. Thomas Jefferson

No one ever told me how much fear is hidden in love. Erin Loechner

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

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

“It’s WHO You Know That Counts”

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

THE SERIES, “THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

“7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

—Matthew 7:7-11 (NKJV)

Many of you might not be into watching television – and perhaps today that is quite understandable.

But on May 20, 1993, the final episode of the TV show “Cheers” aired. Set in a bar in Boston, the show included a psychiatrist named “Frazier Craine”, played by Kelsey Grammar. I remember the first time I saw him on the show. I said to my VERY skeptical wife, “I KNOW THAT GUY!”.

Of course, she muttered something to the effect, “Yeah, right!”. I said, “I think that’s Kelsey Grammar, Pine Crest School Class of 1973, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.”

You know part of the rest of the story. YES, the part WAS played by Kelsey Grammar, and he went on to continue the character in the popular show, “Frazier”. And YES, he did graduate from my high school 2 years after I did. And YES, he played on the football team. And YES, of course he was on the drama team.

So I can say that I know him, right? Well, he DID go to the high school I attended at the same time I did. So that gives me SOME degree of connection with him. But if I were to go up to him and say, “Hi Kelsey – Jeremy Stopford, Pine Crest Class of ’71” what do you think he would say? I know, he’d say “that’s nice.”

You see, I was acquainted with Kelsey Grammar when he went to high school over 50 years ago. But to be ACQUAINTED with someone and to KNOW someone are two different things, aren’t they?

Today’s passage says the same thing:

it’s Who you KNOW that counts!

This is one of the most often quoted passages in the New Testament. it is considered a passage of promise, and it is! It is considered a passage of presumption, but it isn’t. To understand the promise of verses 7-8 let’s first look at verses 9-11.

First, PRAYER FINDS ITS ROOTS AS A RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE (vs. 9-11)

The most precious, tender relationship in Scripture is, in general, that of a parent and child, and in particular, that of a father and son. Dads know what is best for their children! Note the comparative in verses 9-10.

Do you remember ever wanting something REALLY SPECIAL when you were a little kid? OH I so wanted the drum set on sale at Leplers in downtown Rye, NY! $50! FIFTY DOLLARS! Dad said, “IF you save it, you can have it!”. It took me months saving my allowances and doing odd chores around the neighborhood. One day I had that $50 and I said to Dad, “TODAY is the day to buy the drum set.” Dad somehow had this innate wisdom that I’m sure came with his own childhood experiences. He wisely replied, “I am willing to bet it will be destroyed the first day you have it home.” We went down to Mr. Lepler’s store where I proudly set my $50 on his counter and said, “Mr. Lepler, we are here to pick up my new drum set.” We got it home, unpacked it, set it up in the basement, and within 3 hours…I had put a hole through the top of the main drum.

The father/son relationship in these verses is a pattern God develops as an all-wise Heavenly Father. One of my favorite chapters is Proverbs 23 which the Lord in His wisdom had me reading the day my dad died at the age of 90 years. The chapter talks about the Father Who is the MIGHTY Redeemer of the fatherless (see verses 9-11). Look also at verses 13-15 and verses 24-26. I like verse 22a which says, “Listen to your father who begot you…”. But you ask, “my father has passed away” or “he lives miles from here in another state”. “How can I listen to him?”. The key is WHAT you are listening to! Listen to – REMEMBER – his words, those intimate conversations that are just yours and his. What wisdom did he give you? What encouragement, what challenge?

The hard part, of course, is for the Christian who had an earthly father who he either never knew or worse, who was not a good example to follow. In that case, the images of what to expect with an Heavenly Father are tough to visualize. But in due time, and with the diligent reading of the Good Book, the child of his Heavenly Father will find a relationship which is tender and loving. That’s what the Savior means in verse 11 of our main text: “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”. As a result, the Christian recognizes his need to be dependent upon a sinless Father! THIS is a RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE!!!

Second, PRAYER BEGINS AS AN HEART ATTITUDE: “ASK” (verse 7).

ASKING is not DEMANDING! We all have seen the helpless mother in the aisles of Walmart! Can you hear her children? Can you? “MOM! I WANT THIS, and I want it NOW!” And when they get to the counter, the four darling urchins are taking advantage of the suggestive sales by the register and loading mom’s cart with those dollar items that suddenly put the grocery bill to an unreasonable total – all because of the little tykes’ WANTS!

True Biblical “ASKING” refers to the heart attitude of the petitioner! It recognizes that I am in a lesser position that the One I am petitioning!

What heart attitudes should we have?

* HE IS ABLE: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” (Ephesians 3:20)

* HE IS WISE: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)

* WE MUST NOT BE SELFISH! HE ALONE IS TO BE GLORIFIED: “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:2-3)

* OUR LIVES BACK UP OUR PRAYERS: “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22)

* OUR PRAYERS WILL CONFORM TO HIS WORD: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Third, PRAYER MOVES FORWARD AS AN HEAD ATTITUDE: “SEEK” (verse 7).

“Seek” means “to strive after, desire, work toward a goal, to covet earnestly.” It means that I am to have the attitude that thinks that I will agree – come in compliance with – that which You Father require of me! Have you read these verses lately:

“But SEEK first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 – my emphasis)

“If then you were raised with Christ, SEEK those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1 – my emphasis)

Fourth, PRAYER FINDS ITS FULFILLMENT IN A PERSISTENT ATTITUDE: “KNOCK” (verse 7)

There once was an ad in the paper promoting the business of Mr. Opper Knockity. It read this way: “I take care of all your piano needs. Remember, Opper Knockity tunes only once.”

To “knock” means “to strike repeatedly.” Thus from the Greek it is pictured as “to KEEP ON asking, KEEP ON seeking, KEEP ON knocking.”

By practical application, it means that while you are knocking, the Spirit is taking care of the HEART (“ask”), of the HEAD (“seek”), and of the SPIRIT (“knock”).

Even so does the Lord Jesus! Revelation 3:20 says in part, “Behold I stand at the door and…KNOCK”. He is KNOCKING for our heart, for our fellowship.

As we close, I’m reminded of the words quoted by a VERY wise experienced missionary in one of his prayer letters, words that were written by an unknown author:

“nothing of eternal significance is ever accomplished apart from prayer.”

As you look at YOUR CHURCH, is it and all it does founded on PRAYER?

As you look at YOUR LIFE, are you and all you do founded on PRAYER – on a tender relationship with your HEAVENLY FATHER?

It’s WHO you know that counts!!!

Blogs, John Grant

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Week Thirty-Six, 2021

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Monty Williams is an NBA coach whose team, the Phoenix Suns, lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the final playoff game this year. He has remarkable faith in the face of horrific adversity.

After a driver on methamphetamines crashed into his wife’s car and killed her, Williams said at her funeral, “Everybody is praying for me and my family, which is right. But let us not forget that there were two people in this situation. And that family needs prayer as well. And we have no ill will toward that family.”

Then again as he responded to his team’s loss in the NBA Finals. Speaking to reporters after the final game, he choked up and said, “I think it’s going to take me a minute. I just don’t take it for granted. It’s hard to get here, and I wanted it so bad, you know? It’s hard to process right now.”

Despite the pain of the loss, however, Williams stopped by the Bucks’ locker room to congratulate the opposing team. Putting his arm around one of the players, he said, “I just wanted to come and congratulate you guys as a man and a coach. You guys deserved it, and I’m thankful for the experience. You guys made me a better coach. You guys made us a better team.”

Williams exhibited his faith one after his wife’s death and again after losing the NBA championship. When I heard his story, I wondered if I could do the same. Could I forgive someone who while on drugs killed my wife? Frankly and honestly, I am not sure.

The Bible mentions forgiveness ninety-five times. Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35) – this parable teaches that God will forgive a person who genuinely repents, but this person should also be prepared to forgive others.

Forgiveness doesn’t come easy, even for Christians, but there are steps to make it happen. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting or excusing the harm done to you or making up with the person who caused the harm. Forgiveness brings a kind of peace that helps you go on with life. Forgiveness is not really about “them”. It is about you.

It is not always easy and it is not always fast, but we have to uncover our anger, make a decision to forgive and work on it as best we can. After all, it is the only way to release ourselves from our own emotional prison.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Our part of the equation is to be “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), to yield to God’s sanctifying Holy Spirit every moment of every day. When we “submit yourselves therefore to God,” we can “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Our culture teaches us that we can do anything if we just try harder. However, holiness is not trying harder to do better. It is being so “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3), so humbled and surrendered before God, that he can make us like Jesus (Romans 8:29). Then we can join him in turning the challenges of our day into opportunities for the godliness that glorifies our Lord.

— o —

The Scottish minister John Baillie prayed:

Teach me, O God, to use all the circumstances of my life today to nurture the fruits of the Spirit rather than the fruits of sin.

Let me use disappointment as material for patience;

Let me use success as material for thankfulness;

Let me use anxiety as material for perseverance;

Let me use danger as material for courage;

Let me use criticism as material for learning;

Let me use praise as material for humility;

Let me use pleasures as material for self-control;

Let me use pain as material for endurance.

Will you make his prayer yours today?

Jim Denison

— o —

Rules and Efforts:

▪ Your rules and effort cannot give you the peace that passes understanding, but Jesus can.

▪ Your rules and effort cannot offer you unbroken love, but Jesus does.

▪ Your rules and effort cannot give you courage in the darkness, but Jesus, who walks with you, will.

▪ Your rules and effort do not always make you feel worthy, but the one who shed his blood for you will.

▪ Your rules and effort cannot satisfy your hungry soul, but the bread of life and living water can. Edgar Aponte

— o —

According to data from World Backup Day, 30% of people worldwide have never backed up their devices, and every 60 seconds, 113 mobile phones get stolen or are lost. If your data isn’t backed up, you risk losing it forever…

— o —

This is a time of skyrocketing gun violence. In recent months, between July 17 and July 23, the Gun Violence Archive tracked at least 915 shooting incidents, which averages to one every twelve minutes. At least 430 people were killed and 1,007 wounded.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Sin is the poison the devil got into the blood of our first parents and it poisoned the mankind. Hence Jesus had to transmit His blood to keep the humanity alive. Stephen Bernard

Resentment is destructive. Dan Shock

Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it.” JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. Ken Weliever

Guard your heart and mind of any idea that takes you away from Jesus and keep your eyes on Him. Edgar Aponte

We all know that money and things will not bring happiness, but why do we stare longingly at a 500 horsepower sports car or a 5 carat diamond ring? We forget during this dreaminess that insuring or repairing all these expensive toys requires another small fortune. Dwight Short

Jesus’ kingdom is not about earning and deserving; it is about believing and receiving.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3

When I hear somebody sigh, ‘Life is hard,’ I am always tempted to ask, ‘Compared to what?’ SYDNEY J. HARRIS

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

When you remember that the road we’re traveling on is really a highway to heaven, the roughness or smoothness of the road becomes less important to you.

Unfortunately, negative news garners attention, attracts viewers, and improves ratings. Ken Weliever

I believe that some obstacles that we’ve had always work out for the better because God knows that without those obstacles, you wouldn’t be as strong as you are. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles

Moderation. Small helpings. Sample a little bit of everything. These are the secrets of happiness and good health. JULIA CHILD

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

“The Proverb of Matthew 7:6”

By Semi-Retired Pastor, Jeremy Stopford

“SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

— Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)

I read something last week in a daily email I receive from “Mikey’s Funnies”, a clean humor email sent by Mike Atkinson, a former youth director from San Diego.

[check it out at “http://www.mikeysFunnies.com/sub” I encourage you to subscribe!]. This particular day’s edition wisely looked at events in Scripture through the eyes of the modern day mindset of “don’t offend anyone at all costs.” The premise: “how would today’s media cover Biblical events if they occurred today?”. For your enjoyment:

* On Red Sea crossing: “WETLANDS TRAMPLED IN LABOR STRIKE: Enforcement Officials Killed While Pursuing Unruly Mob”

* On David vs. Goliath: “HATE CRIME KILLS BELOVED CHAMPION OF RELIEF TROOPS: Psychologist Questions Significance of Rock Used as Weapon”

* On the prophet Elijah on Mt. Carmel: “FIRE SENDS RELIGIOUS ACTIVIST INTO FRENZY: 400 Killed In Unprovoked Attack”

* On the birth of Christ: “HOTELS FULL, ANIMALS EJECTED FROM SHELTER: Animal Rights Advocates Enraged by Insensitive Couple”

* On feeding the 5,000: “LAY PREACHER STEALS CHILD’S LUNCH: Disciples Mystified Over Behavior”

* On healing of the two demon-possessed men in Gadarenes: “MADMAN CAUSES STAMPEDE: Local Farmer Faces Bankruptcy After Loss of Hogs”

That is a great introduction to this week’s offering: “The Proverb of Matthew 7:6”. What was our Savior saying? What was He trying to teach us? How does it fit within His teachings of the Sermon on the Mount? And how does it possibly apply to us today? This is a real PROVERB!!! It is a mystery, to which we must dive in! The careful student of the Scriptures must ask at least 3 insightful questions!

Our first question is, WHAT DO THESE WORDS MEAN? The Bible – whether King James Version or even the more helpful New King James Version – uses terms which are very foreign to the 21st century child of God.

* The first word is “HOLY”. “Holy” means “to be separated from sin, and alternately to be consecrated to God.” Quoting Leviticus 11:44, the Apostle Peter writes (1 Peter 1:15-16), “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”.

* The next word is “DOGS”. The word used here is NOT a domestic pet. Rather, it is the village scavenger. It is a fierce and dangerous animal. It is half-wild. The Jews often used this term in reference to non-Jews, such as Gentiles.

* Next comes the familiar “PEARLS”. A pearl is quite valuable. It is a deposit from the juice of the pearl oyster. In Matthew 13:45-46 the Savior uses “the pearl of great price” to refer in His eyes (by application) to either the gospel or to Israel. Revelation 21:21 states that the gates of heaven are LITERALLY “gates of PEARL”. Even Paul in his marital wisdom before his son in the faith, Timothy (1 Tim. 2:9) draws a contrast between the beauty and richness of pearls and the beauty and richness of a godly woman!

I’m reminded over and over of a gift my dad gave to my wife shortly after my mother died. If I’m not mistaken on their history, as a wedding present my dad gave to my mother a pearl necklace. In turn, after mom’s passing, in love dad gave that necklace to my wife. He could have sold it. He could have kept it until his ultimate passing. Instead, for him the greatest treasure was to share this piece of beauty with a loved one, his daughter-in-law. Hence, the picture that the Savior is showing of something which is both valuable and loved.

* Finally, “SWINE”. A swine is a…HOG!!! It is a symbol to the Jew of all that is unclean!

Using the above definitions, let’s re-read Matthew 7:6:

“Give not that which is SEPARATED/CONSECRATED to the SCAVENGER/UNBELIEVER. Don’t cast your VALUABLE TREASURE before UNAPPRECIATIVE HOGS!”

The second question we must ask is, WHAT CAN THIS PARABLE TEACH US? At least 3 basic truths about the heart of people:

#1. The heart of the reproved is hard. Chew on these gems from Proverbs:

* Proverbs 9:8: “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.”

* Proverbs 15:12: “A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise.”

* Proverbs 29:1: “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

There is a complete coldness in those without Jesus. He can come to the point where he says, “I refuse to listen”. This point is one of uselessness to the reception of the gospel. This is a very DANGEROUS condition!

#2. The heart of the sinner is “deceitful and desperately wicked” (read all of Jeremiah 17:8-10). “Dogs” and “swines” are NOT pleasant terms when referring to…PEOPLE! In Romans 3:16-18, 23 (while collectively quoting verses like Proverbs 1:16, Isa. 59:7-8, and Psalm 36:1) Paul writes:

“Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Paul later writes that the gospel is hid to the lost, whose mind is blinded by the enemy (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

#3. But the heart of the saint is PRECIOUS! Because of that, “plant the seed” of the gospel! Perhaps you will be the one who “waters the seed” showing genuine Christian love. AND perhaps you’ll be the one who leads someone to the cross, building on the previous work of others. And in everything, GOD GIVES THE INCREASE! (1 Cor. 3:7).

The third and final question that must be asked as we wisely discern this passage is an obvious one: WHAT IS JESUS ULTIMATELY SAYING?

We have seen that the Savior has a tremendous burden for the gospel! He is setting an amazing foundation for the building of His not so future church. The gospel itself is a most valuable treasure. It MUST not be treated LIGHTLY by the believer. It is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16). It can change the heart of any sinner! It is not up to us to determine WHO might or might not receive that precious gospel. It is not up to us to determine WHERE to plant the seed of the gospel.

It is simply up to us to SHARE the good news of salvation! WHY?

THE HEART OF THE LORD IS GRACIOUS!

THE GOSPEL CAN REACH ANY HEART!

THERE IS NO TIME LIKE NOW TO BE SAVED!

Blogs, John Grant

YOUR WORK IS YOUR PULPIT

Week 35 2021

As we cruised along at 30,000 feet, I relaxed and read my Bible. The man next to me commented, “You must be a minister.” I told him that I was, but I didn’t pastor a church, but explained that every Christian should be in the ministry, proclaiming the Gospel, starting with where they work.

We are called to minister where we are planted and for most of us that is the marketplace where we work and earn our living. My friend, Dan Shock, is not a pastor, but very much a minister as he leads Florida Marketplace Ministries (FloridaMarketplaceMinistry.com), where many have come to Christ under his leadership and ministry.

Do you work the way you worship?

Your work matters. The first person said to be “filled with the Spirit” in the Bible was not a pastor, but a craftsman and artist of wood & stone in Exodus 31:2-5.

Don’t minimize your daily work in the marketplace – it is nothing less than a Holy Calling. Your work… your position is your platform.

In the New Testament…
▪ Of the 132 public appearances that Jesus made – 122 were in the marketplace
▪ Of the 52 parables that Jesus told – 45 had a workplace context
▪ Of the 40 miracles in the Book of Acts – 39 were in the marketplace
▪ Work, in its different forms, is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible – more than all the words used to express worship, music, praise and singing combined.

No matter where or what it is, your work is a holy calling. Your desk is your pulpit.

Treat it as such…

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

CNN reports that “the world’s most premature baby has celebrated his first birthday after beating 0 percent odds of surviving.” Richard Scott William Hutchison was born five months prematurely and weighed 11.9 ounces at birth. His parents could hold him in a single palm of their hands. He spent six months in the hospital before going home. On June 5, Richard celebrated his first birthday.

One of the results of being made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) is that we instinctively share our Creator’s passion for life (cf. John 10:10). Even media platforms such as CNN that consistently advocate for abortion (they call it “reproductive freedom”) know that their readers want to hear stories celebrating life in all its dimensions.

— o —

Our planet’s atmosphere extends 6,214 miles into space. Our moon is 238,900 miles from us; our sun is 94,499,000 miles away. The next nearest star is 24,984,092,897,479 miles from our planet. The edge of our Milky Way galaxy is estimated to be 25,000 light-years away. The edge of our universe is thought to be 46,500,000,000 light-years away.

Jesus made all of that (Colossians 1:16), and his Father measures it with the palm of his hand (Isaiah 40:12).

— o —

A recent study reported that only 42 percent of Americans (and only 31 percent of adults under the age of thirty) believe God is the basis of truth. According to Gallup, only 24 percent of Americans consider the Bible to be the literal word of God. This is the lowest percentage in Gallup’s forty-year trend on this issue.

— o —

In 1969 when Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. A current iPhone has seven million times more memory than the guidance computer on his spaceship and over one hundred thousand times its processing power.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Ask yourself what you are doing today that gets you closer to where you want to be tomorrow. Anonymous

God doesn’t want you to worship or serve Him out of pressure or emotional frenzy. Dan Shock

Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice and is never the result of selfishness.” NAPOLEON HILL

In this world dominated by cyber space, is it possible that God knows us even better than all the “cookies” in the cloud? Dwight Short

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

What has God put in my keeping that He will someday require an accounting for? Dan Shock

Never underestimate the ability of a small group of dedicated people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” MARGARET MEAD

It’s never too late to let Jesus into your life. John Wayne

Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.” CHARLES F. KETTERING

Fear is a sign that we don’t trust God’s ability to take care of our situation. Florida Marketplace Ministries, Dan Shock

Blogs, Jeremy Stopford

“Here Come De Judge!”

FROM THE SERIES: “SERMON ON THE MOUNT – AND BEYOND !!!”

Jeremy Stopford, Semi-Retired Pastor

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?

5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

— Matthew 7:1-5

For almost 3 decades – while at the same time pastoring small town churches – I had the privilege of working for the City of Norwich Police Department, wearing multiple hats.

First of all I was their parking enforcement officer – and for many years until they were removed I was known as the city’s “meter maid”. And second (among other hats as well), I was the city’s dog control officer. That job necessitated the enforcement of both the city’s AND the state’s dog laws.

One year my wife and I took a spring vacation. When I returned to work, I learned that a friend of mine had received a “city dog ordinance violation” ticket. Why? Because her dog was barking “to the point that it disturbed someone other than the owner.”

The dog owner called me all upset. So I took her through the meaning of the law. I shared with her that, while dogs ARE allowed to bark, they are not allowed to bark so uncontrollably (the owner or someone never shuts them up) that the noise disturbs someone other than the one responsible for the dog. I told her that, yes, her name would be in our small town’s local paper police blotter (serious stuff you know, barking dogs!). AND she would have to appear in the local court – and so I shared with her what to expect there.

WHAT DID I JUST DO? The one who would be prosecuting her in court took her through all the logistics of what she could be receiving from the prosecution – much less from the judge!

When we come to Chapter 7 of the Sermon on the Mount, we find the connectedness with Chapters 5 & 6 in a continuing theme: the Christian’s relation to his fellow man based upon the ever present Christ and His fellowship.

Chapter 7 introduces the topic of what the Bible calls “judgment”, a word which primarily means “to criticize, to condemn.”

From our court room analogy above, Jesus is saying that when we judge others, we become:

* Prosecuting Attorney: the one who gives evidence

* Jury: the ones who weigh the evidence

* Judge: the one who passes sentence!

The Lord Jesus takes that human understanding of the court room and applies it to perhaps the harshest area of human relationships: our nature and desire to let others know just how we feel. As a result, what happens? We LORD it over them! Let’s look at the Savior’s response to such a judgment.

First of all, TRUE JUDGMENT COMES FROM AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHO GOD IS (verse 1).

In Isaiah’s classic chapter 6, Isaiah amazingly writes, “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up…” [my emphasis]. Man’s throne is vacant! God is the universe’s eternal Ruler. He is “high and lifted up”, that is, He is seated in a place reserved for worship of ONLY Him! In commenting on this passage in John 12:35, the Lord Jesus said, “he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.”

Following up on this theme, Jeremiah (chapter 1) relates God’s word was his stay (verse 4); God’s knowledge was his humility (verses 5,6); and God’s holiness was his mission (verse 16).

Ezekiel has a similar outline, as in chapter 1. God’s presence was most individual and unique (verses 1-3). God’s appearance was indescribable (whole chapter). And God’s presence demands worship (verses 27-28).

One more! In Psalm 44:3-8, David mulls on God’s greatness and concludes that God’s presence demands only one thing: His worship. Verse 8 he concludes, “In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever.” And then David adds the poetic musical term, “Selah” which basically means “pause, think of that!”. When do WE “pause and think of that” when contemplating that God ALONE is worthy to be HIGH AND LIFTED UP?

In his “Love Chapter” (1 Cor. 13), Paul describes love (verses 4-7). Listen to this wonderful rendition found in the New Living Translation – a rendition so good I use it in most weddings I officiate:

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

True love is not judgmental but…UPLIFTING!

So how does the Christian understand true judgment? How about Romans 5:8:

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

THAT’S true judgment. The JUST dying for the UNJUST! True judgment comes from an understanding of Who God is!

Next, TRUE JUDGMENT HAS GOD’S HOLINESS AS THE STANDARD – ANYTHING LESS IS FALLING SHORT (verse 2).

Did I mention I used to be the dog control officer for the City of Norwich? Over the course of 27 years, I was confronted with many cases, but none like this one. A distraught lady called me to her house: “come her at once – I have a complaint you need to hear for yourself!”. I knew this would be, well, INTERESTING!!! The caller took me to her backyard where she and her husband often enjoyed their nice patio. She said, “sit down here”. I sat! Then, she said, “Listen.” I listened! And listened! And…about 5 minutes later, the distinct bark of a dog could be heard, coming from about 3 blocks away from her back patio, “DO YOU HEAR THAT?”, she screamed at me. “THAT DOG’S BARKING HAS ENTERED MY SPACE!” What did I write in my follow-up report? I wrote, “Her KINGDOM – her backyard with its very nice patio – was a KINGDOM which created a standard which is impossible to meet or enforce.”

We must determine the standards of judgment. If we set ourselves up as judges, we must be willing to use those standards upon ourselves! As someone wisely observed, when we point 1 finger at others, 3 fingers are pointing back at us!

Let’s observe how God’s holiness is the true standard of judgment:

* With God’s holiness as the standard then we can understand Christ’s words “It is finished”. All eternal judgment is based upon man’s relation to the cross!

* Self judgment must begin in relation to our view of Christ (see 1 Cor. 11:27-32)

* The minister must judge himself and such judgment is based upon the foundation of Christ alone (see 1 Cor. 3:11-15)

* A Christian must judge himself – and will be judged in the future – by the terror of the Lord against personal sin (2 Cor. 5:6-11)

* Since God’s holiness is the true standard of judgment, we must govern our lives by great instruction like James 3:1, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

If you set yourself up as a standard, be prepared to be judged by that standard! The better response might be, “Hey! May I share with you what I have first learned of Christ Himself?”

Thirdly, TRUE JUDGMENT BEGINS WITH…ME! (verses 3-5)

This week I am scheduled to have the first of two cataract surgeries – pretty exciting to be growing “more mature”, ain’t it? Yesterday a hospital nurse called and milked me through the procedure. Among other things, BEFORE the procedure even takes place, the surgeon will put 15 drops in my eye – one at a time and spaced well apart in time. Tuck that illustration away for a minute.

Our NKJV talks about the “speck” in your brother’s eye and the “plank” in your own eye. The old KJV talks about that “mote” or speck and that “beam” or plank. What often is that “speck” in our brother’s eye or life? It could be a touch of immorality, or some sin of the flesh, or something in HIS life which does not measure up to YOUR standards. So then, what are almost always the steps we then take to correct this heinous violation of our standards? Let’s see (and can YOU identify with these?):

* Pray for (and then we name the person BY NAME) ___________

* He/she did THIS (identify the violation BY NAME) ____________

* “Isn’t that AWFUL?” (Identifying your horror at the violation!)

* “He reproached OUR church, HIS family (oh, and ALSO Christ!)”

* “AND be sure to tell our BROTHERS AND SISTERS all the details so they can INTELLIGENTLY… PRAY!

But you forget about your eye drops – remember, those FIFTEEN eye drops? They are YOUR “log”, “plank”, literally YOUR beam! These absolutely obscure YOUR vision! Rather, those drops should cause us in our weakness to bear the FRUIT of humility, TRUE compassion, UNITY of heart, TEARS of sorrow.

We need to learn to LISTEN. James (James 1:19-20) wisely tells his readers,

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

As we close, you know what I’m challenged to do? YOU BET! I’m challenged to PRAY:

* To ask God to show me what MY planks are that I simply thought were little specks, and ONE BY ONE lay them at the foot of the cross

* To seek out those brothers and sisters in Christ that I have been overly judgmental before, and ONE BY ONE, seek their forgiveness – and together pray for His restoration of true fellowship in Him

* To seek out those who are NOT “in Christ”, who have never (YET!) trusted Jesus as Savior, who I have wronged by being so “heavenly minded and no earthly good” before them. And ONE BY ONE ask their forgiveness. And, ONE BY ONE, point them to the One Who taught me true love

“HERE COME DE JUDGE!” Many years ago there was an old TV program – a classic at the time – called “Laugh-In”. Remember it? Each week the show’s characters presented many vignettes – some humorous, some perhaps a tad risqué (I really don’t remember them being risqué as I didn’t know Jesus as Savior at the time). But there was often one vignette where all the characters would shout “Here Come De Judge! Here Come De Judge!” I DO remember how much my dad and I would laugh and laugh and laugh – even if I don’t remember today anything that followed that. But I wonder if those words are what some of our family, friends, neighbors, church family and even unsaved folk say about us when they see US coming: “Here Come De Judge. Here Come De Judge”.

Let’s pray that when they see us – with an heart that has been humbled by the cross – they see the Lord Jesus and hunger for Him Whom to know is life eternal (John 17:3).

When folks see us may they see Jesus in us FIRST!