“Quality Is More Important Than Quantity”

By Almon Bartholomew

“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

“And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

“And he said, of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

“For these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had” (Luke 21:1-4).

Somewhere along the way much of the world has focused its attention on volume; “bigger is better.” We want bigger homes, bigger income, bigger social standing, bigger cars, bigger names, and the list goes on and on. This is not new. Then and now, Jesus is scorching those who give for show. It was common for the religious leaders then to trumpet their good deeds. Even their giving into the treasury was done with fanfare. This has not changed. Yesterday, and today, Jesus was, and is, observing.

An unknown woman, held captive by poverty gave also. She gave two copper pennies, a pittance, just two mites. Her name would not be recorded and heralded among the well known donors. But Jesus saw! He evaluated her gift and announced she was the biggest giver of the day. She was poor and should have been receiving from the treasury. Instead, she was contributing to it. Weighed in the eternal scales of the divine, she gave more than all of the rest of them put together. Why? It was because she gave everything she had in her account. Her next month’s bank statement would be a string of zeroes! The others gave from their abundance. She gave out of her poverty and want.

She didn’t do her alms for public notice. But the eternal observer and judge of man’s motives bore witness. He said she had given more than the rest. This is literally true. That upper crust crowd never inspired any one to give a dime. Yet, this unknown woman has inspired millions to give incalculable treasure over the last 2000 years. Poverty could not paralyze her extended hand to help. Her demonstration of quality far exceeded the measure of quantity.

God’s standard and he world’s standards are miles ad miles apart. Many about us, and perhaps we ourselves, are chasing that indefinable thing called success. The world defines success by the three S’s; size, speed and sound. Size; whoever does it the biggest; speed, whoever does it the fastest; sound; whoever makes the most noise about, is called a success.

This is not God’s standard of measurement. He measures success by humility and service; whoever does it not out of pride and for show, but one who becomes the servant of all becomes the greatest in His Kingdom. God’s measures on the basis of who is the greatest giver, not on the biggest takers. Let us learn the joy of giving, not getting, and we will win God’s approval!

This principle is multiplied throughout Scripture. At the border of Canaan Moses sent 12 men as spies into the promised land, All of them brought back a glowing report of the wealth, the beauty and productivity in the land of their inheritance. But, there was a split, a dividing line separating the spies. Ten said it can’t be done. There were giants and armies to conquer. Two men, Joshua and Caleb, acknowledged the presence of obstacles and seemingly impossible challenges as well. Yet, they declared “we are well able to go up and take the country”. The great majority elected to believe the ten. The positive report of the two spies was ignored.

That rejection became detrimental to all to of the people. It led to 38 years of delay and wandering through a wilderness. Which ones were guided by fear? Which ones were guided by faith? The answer is abundantly evident. Ten, the majority, the greater number, carried the day. But it was the two, the minority, who had the quality as measured by faith. Bigger was not better.

In the 14^th chapter of I Samuel Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and his armor bearer confronted a garrison of Philistine enemies entrenched atop a high rocky crag. Jonathan felt to challenge them saying, “It may be that the Lord will work for us today. There is no restraint for the Lord to save by the many or by the few”. After climbing up to the heights these two young man completely destroyed the enemy. Quantity, the overwhelming numbers, did not save the enemy. The quality of faith triumphed over those with superior weapons, position and numbers. Again quality trumped quantity.

The record continues. In a time of drought and famine the prophet Elijah was preserved beside a brook named Cherith. Its waters flowed long after all the others ran dry. A raven delivered meals every day. The raven is a scavenger bird. Yet, when he brought a kosher corned beef sandwich on Jewish rye, there was not even a print of the bird’s beak in the bread! When Cheroth went dry God told Elijah it was time to challenge the evil King Ahab and his blasphemous wife Jezebel. The time of judgment had come.

Living in fear of the king, Israel as a nation had compromised its faith. It seems like history is repeating itself today! Baal had taken over much like militant Islam has today. Elijah laid down the gauntlet. He demanded a decision. “If the Lord be God serve him. If Baal be God serve him”. The contest would be between 250 prophets of Baal, and the lone prophet of God, Elijah. A God, who could answer by fire, let him be God.

The contest took place on Mt. Carmel. Two altars were built, one for God and one for Baal. A bullock was laid upon each altar. Kindling wood was laid in place, but no fire could be struck to burn the sacrifice. For one whole day Baal’s prophets danced, jumped, shouted, cut themselves and finally collapsed out of utter exhaustion. Elijah mocked them out. Your God may be sleeping. He may be on vacation. He may be talking (perhaps on his smart phone).

Then it was Elijah’s turn. To assure the people there was no funny business going on, he called for twelve barrels of water to be poured over the sacrifice, the altar of stone and the firewood. He then offered a simple prayer of but sixty seven words. A fire ball from heaven came down on the whole prepared altar built for God Almighty, consuming everything including the dust in the trenches. The mountain side rang with the shout of the people “The Lord, he is God!” The Lord, he is God!” Again the minority of one overcame the majority of 250. Multitudes witnessed this stellar event. Bigger was not better.

We move on to yet another scene. Elisha, successor prophet to Elijah, revealed the battle plans of the Syrian high command. The prophet informed the Israelite generals. When the Syrian army proceeded into battle the Israelites met them in ambush and defeated them. This happened so frequently the Syrian King suspected defection from within his own ranks. Then someone informed him that a prophet in Israel named Elisha, who got the inside track from God; he was responsible. Elisha became public enemy number one. The story is told in II Kings chapter six. A Syrian cavalry regiment surrounded the home of Elisha in Dothan. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, was scared silly by the sight. “Master, Master, what shall we do?” The prophet rolled over in bed lifted one elbow, and simply said, “Lord, open the young man’s eyes. They that are for us are more than they that are against us”. Suddenly the hills and mountains were filled with the chariots of the Lord and the horsemen thereof.

God smote the regiment with blindness. Elisha led them away, and at Elisha’s word God healed them, Elisha gave them a good breakfast and sent them on their way. You can be sure this was one regiment that never re-enlisted to be part of Syria’s foreign legion. The great truth of Romans 8:31 emerges, “If the God be for us who can be against us”. One with God is a majority. Keep those connections. Bigger is not always better.

God always places a premium on quality. Isn’t it interesting to find out where and when believers were first called Christians? It didn’t happen in Acts chapter one, nor on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two, nor in chapter 3 when a crippled man was instantly healed. It didn’t happen in the Acts chapter 4. Holy Spirit led prayer meeting, nor chapter five where judgment was spilled out upon two fraudulent church members, nor when deacons were first chosen in Act 6, nor 7, 8, 9, and 10. It happened in Antioch in Acts 11, an integrated church of gentiles and Jewish people. Imagine, 11 chapters before these words, “The believers were first called Christians in Antioch”. Why so long? Could it be because, “The quality goes in before the name goes on?” Hey, that could be a good commercial for some brand of appliances. Suffice it to say. God places greater emphasis upon quality rather than on quantity! Never trade real gold for fool’s gold !!!

In the gold rush days many fought and died to get some of those gold nuggets. They had no value until they were proven by an assayer. He determined whether those nuggets were real gold or if they were real gold. God spoke to the Church at laodecia in the book of Revelation and said, “By of me gold tried in the fire.” God is the assayer of men’s souls. He determines what is true and what is false. We must make sure that the assayer from Heaven will approve the spiritual values we hold in life are real gold or fool’s gold. Let’s be found among the people who get the real. Quality will count for more than quantity.

We must ask “What is our priority what do you want to do about it?

By Almon Bartholomew

This paper is intended to show the relationship of humility to one with a teachable spirit. There are many applications of humility which are worthy to consider. These diverse applications impact the person who would learn. For our purpose, we will define teachable as “one who has the capacity and the willingness to learn. “

A basic principle of education sheds light on our theme: “No teaching occurs until learning occurs. No learning occurs until the information received modifies the recipient’s thinking, priority or behavior”. This principle assumes that the person who receives the information has both that capacity and the willingness to learn. Humility aids in this search for a widening understanding.

In considering this principle we will follow a three level application; “teaching”, “learning”, and “changing”. There are obstacles raised on the path of this tri-level concept. These obstacles include apathy, tradition, rigidity, fear of the unknown and an overarching impediment, inflated egos, better known as pride. These must be dealt with if our goal is to be achievable.

Apathy suggests a “so what” attitude “these things don’t concern me”. Tradition says “We have never done it this way before”. Rigidity manifests a hard and fast determination not to change, saying, “God doesn’t change and I’m not going to change either. Well, if one is perfect he doesn’t have to change. Man is not perfect; God is! There is a lesson to be learned from the little boy who said “If God is having difficulty making me a better boy it’s all right. I like me just the way I am”. Fear of the unknown is a real detriment to accepting something new. Some new perspective may be scary. Personal pride will caboose on any of these and deter both learning and change.

Pride is the antithesis of humility. It will create a mental block and will diminish one’s receptivity to something new. One must examine the validity and options of a different view, answer or solution. If such validity is determined, it may be in one’s best interest to consider a new approach. The person who will not entertain options may be characterized by the spirit underlying the statement “my mind is made up; don’t confuse me with the facts”. Humility leaves the door open to that which may be helpful, and indeed better, for one who seeks the best.

There is a difference between pure science and applied science. Pure science takes place in the lab. One can perform the same experiment over and over again and continue to get the same results. This is possible because there are no variables. Applied science, on the other hand, takes place in the field. The same experiment performed there may produce different results. This can occur since there are variables in the field.

What ever profession we may be in, we may tend to insist because we have the educational and background training we have the superior approach to a task. It is commonly called a “know it all attitude”. This creates friction in the workplace. It also limits the understanding of the unique set of circumstances which accompanies appropriate application in the field. It could be, by practicing humility, and looking at the concerns through the eyes of another who might be more experienced, one could learn from their observations. We must not let the information on our resume’ deny us learning from other people and other resources. A teachable spirit allows us to gain something new from persons who have long served in their field.

Let us apply the tri-level approach of “Teaching”, “Learning”, and “Changing”.

Teachers may come in all shapes and sizes and ages. The teacher in this Biblical narrative was a captive slave girl working in the home of a prestigious general in the Syrian Army. The unwitting student was Naaman, commander of Syria’s legions. He was the victim of a dread disease called leprosy. The lesson was, “how to be freed from a debilitating affliction”. The story is told in the 5th chapter of 1 Kings.

Upon learning of her master’s terrible plight she volunteered a solution. She informed him, “There is a prophet in Israel (Elisha) who could heal him. Now if this happened to one of our ministers today, we might be just a bit apprehensive having to live up to this advance billing. This young lady exuded great confidence in Elisha.

Desperate for any hope of help, Naaman pursued the contact. He enlisted the help of the King of Syria who sent a letter to the King of Israel. Israel’s King, with less faith than the captive maiden, thought this was a ruse to create an occasion to attack his land upon assuming his failure to produce the miracle. Elisha got news of the King’s dismay and sent word to direct Naaman to his house. He knew his God and he knew the Lord would not fail him.

Then Naaman showed up at the prophet’s door. Horses, chariots and a cache of treasures accompanied him. Elisha never came out to greet him. He sent word to Naaman by another telling him to go to the Jordan River and bathe seven times, and he would be healed. Naaman’s ego was shattered. He was furious. Didn’t Elisha know who he was ordering around? And, after all, the rivers in Syria were, by comparison, cleaner than Jordan. Naaman was headed home!

While the Syrian generalissimo was ready to ride out of town wearing a public pout, an underling suggested, “If he had asked you something difficult you would have done it”. Naaman humbled himself and struck a learning pose. He went to the muddy Jordan River and ducked in it six times. Following the seventh dip he arose from the water cleansed completely from his sore affliction. It was a teaching moment for Naaman, and when he humbled himself, as a willing learner, he was rewarded with a dynamic change in his life.

In yet another Biblical record, a sweet, wise, generous and mature woman named Abigail was the teacher. She was the wife of a selfish, wealthy and arrogant bigot named Nabal. Read about it in 1 Samuel, the 25th chapter. Besides vast vineyards and grain stores, Nabal owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. David, with his watchful companions, protected the shepherds and the flocks of this insolent man. None of them suffered injury or loss through the extended period of time David and his men kept watch.

In this whole story David is the one who attended class in the “School of Humility”. At first he didn’t even know he had preregistered. He and his men went to Nabal requesting, in lieu of payment for services rendered, an ample supply of food to ease their hunger. He was met with a scurrilous rebuke and utter disdain. In raging anger, (far from a humble response) David threatened death to Nabal, his household and his servants.

It was then when Abigail prepared and sent abundant provisions to David and his men. She also came humbly to him, speaking, as with a prophetic word, appealing to him to not have blood on his hands by retributing Nabal’s insolence. David cooled down took the humble way and God took care of the rest. Ten days later Nabal was smitten of God and he died. Abigail became David’s wife and potential slaughter was averted. David blessed God for Abigail’s intervention. Long before it was penned in Romans 12:19, David learned “Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord”. Here, again, you have a teacher, a learner, and a lesson well learned. It did indeed alter his planned behavior.

Unlike Naaman and David, Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way. In the 4th chapter of Daniel, the God of heaven was the teacher. Daniel was His surrogate in the classroom. Nebuchadnezzar, supreme monarch in Babylon was the audacious student. In process, the king abandoned his self deification and was brought to acknowledge the King of the Universe.

In the scriptural account Nebuchadnezzar paraded his personal greatness; “The King spoke, saying, is this not great Babylon which I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power, and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was still in the King’s mouth, (as had been prophesied by Daniel), a voice fell from Heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom is departed from you”. He was deposed for a season. He ate grass like oxen, the dew of heaven soaked his body, his hair grew like feathers and his nails like bird claws. His pride cost him dearly.

At the end of the appointed time, the King was restored. His eyes and his understanding had been opened. In utter humility he acknowledged the God of Heaven, giving Him honor and glory. He praised and extolled the King Eternal. He exclaimed, “Those who walk in pride He is able to abase”. In that dramatic experience he became teachable. Before this he sang “How Great I Am”. When God got through with him he changed his tune, singing “How Great Thou Art”. In today’s jargon one might repeat “The reason people beat their head against the wall is because it feels so good when you quit”. God taught; Nebuchadnezzar learned; his thinking and priorities changed.

These lessons continued in the New Testament. They are seen in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (The Apostle Paul) recorded in Acts chapter nine. They are reflected in Samaria in Acts chapter eight. Simon the Sorcerer attempted to commercialize the blessing of God. He ended up begging for mercy. In Acts chapter eighteen, Acquila and Priscilla took a brilliant, articulate preacher, Apollos, aside and “expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly”. With humility this gifted man received their word. His ministry grew from that experience and he “mightily convinced” the public that “Jesus was the Christ”.

Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. In the beatitudes He taught them how to live. It was He who said in Matthew 23:12, “Whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted”.

Speaking both to you and myself, I say, “Let Jesus be our Teacher; let us take a humble, learning posture; let us yield ourselves to a life changing experience”. In so doing we will be better servants to Him and to those he entrusts to our care.

Almon Bartholomew is a retired pastor. He is shown here with his wife, Joyce.

(Part One)

By Almon Bartholomew

“For I say, through the grace of God given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3, KJV.

“For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV

Also Read: Hebrews 11:1-6; 32-40 And Jude 20-21.

At what price would you sell out your faith? Of what value is it to you? These are the questions for which we seek answers. What price FAITH? Some have valued it lightly. Others have literally died for their faith, not willing to make a bad bargain.

Years ago I ran across what I believe is a profound statement. “Faith is the currency of Heaven”. It is the medium of exchange. Even though the dollar is shrinking, it is still the medium of exchange for goods and services here in America. Those goods and services may be found in the yellow pages, but they are purchased with the green stuff! Heaven has no shortage of the things we most need. In exchange for our faith they are made abundantly available to us. Jesus advised us in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” and then all of these things on our “needs list”, not our “wish list”, would be provided for. Faith is the currency, the medium of exchange, by which we obtain these heavenly and earthly commodities.

But, we say, “We don’t have any faith”. The Bible says we do. According one of the verses in our text God has given every person a measure of faith. When we say we have no faith it is probably because we have buried it somewhere. It has not risen to the surface above all the” stuff” under which it is hidden. You see, what we don’t use, we lose. For lack of usage and personal reliance upon faith which comes from God, as a gift, it becomes dormant in the depth of our being. Get it out today. Retrieve it. Brush off the dust and decay. Begin to put it to work. We must stop denying its reality.

I am sure there is a deep desire in each of us gathered here today to please God. I am positive that no one wishes to displease him. That would have some dreadful consequences. How, then shall we, can we, please him?

Hebrews chapter one gives a definition of faith and then makes a declarative statement as to the proven benefit of its exercise. Faith is herein described as the substance which provides hope and the evidence of the reality of the unseen. Hope from a worldly source becomes a Russian roulette approach to life. It is a flimsy hope which has no substance upon which to stand. Our faith is in the power and reality of the unseen God. Faith, as a gift from God, provides for us the evidence of his presence, his nearness, his power, his unfailing love and His care for each of us. It is all the evidence we need.

Without that faith, we can not and will not please God. We must affirm that he is, that he exists. When we pray and seek him he will reward us as we diligently and determinedly search him out. He is there and He is here, above, among, and around us. His presence has come to indwell us, to live in our hearts. The song written by Ray price says it so well, “How big is God, how great and wide his vast domain, to try to tell my lips can only start. He’s big enough to fill his mighty universe, yet small enough to live within my heart.”

The Apostle Jude admonishes believers to “build up ourselves in this most holy faith”. We are enabled to do this by praying in the power generated by the Holy Spirit. So, we rely upon the Holy Spirit to help us to pray according the will of God in each matter of need and concern which may confront us. We are further encouraged by Jude to “keep ourselves in the love of God”, move by that divine impulse. It opens the door of mercy which leads to eternal life.

Now, for those of us who think that life is tough. In this 11th chapter of Hebrews we are given examples, one after the other, of God enabled achievements by individuals whose faith set a high bench mark for we who follow. After the recital of these great feats of faith, there is a grouping of people whose victories have been recorded which were all made possible by faith. Faith has been the common denominator, and the prominent factor as they encountered a legion insurmountable odds. Walk with me as together we march through Hebrews 11:32-38:

1. Through their faith they subdued kingdoms

2. Through faith they performed righteous works.

3. Through faith they saw God’s promises fulfilled.

4. Through faith they shut the jaws of lions.

5. Through faith they quenched the flames of fire.

6. Through faith they escaped the edge of the sword.

7. Through faith, they shed weakness & found strength.

8. Through faith they became valiant heroes in battle.

9. By faith they turned back alien armies.

10. By faith, women received their dead back to life.

11. By faith they endured torture.

12. By faith they endured scourging, mocking, prison.

13. By faith they endured stoning.

14. By faith they suffered bodily dismemberment.

15. By faith they fought against temptation.

16. By faith they endured destitution, affliction and tormenting.

17. By faith they dwelt in mountains, dens, caves and deserts.

18. By faith they kept a good testimony.

And we think we have problems. The truth is, we by comparison, have it pretty easy. This is not so in many parts of the world. In many places our Christian brothers and sisters are horribly persecuted for their faith. They are ostracized, jobless, beaten, jailed, and even put to death. Asian, Arabic and African countries have dealt fierce punishment to Christian believers. Europe has becoming increasingly unfriendly to the faith. And we face more threats in our country than we may realize.

A secularized, liberal society is trying to eliminate God from every public arena. They have done it in our schools. They have commanded our military chaplains to not pray in the name of Jesus. The ACLU seeks to strip “In God We Trust” from our currency and the Ten Commandments from our courthouses. Christians are more and more the subject of public humiliation. Yet we are reminded in Scripture we “have not yet resisted unto blood” Hebrews 12:4. We are getting a wake up call. Our faith and testimony is, and it will be tested more and more. We must not be the star actor in a self destructive, personal pity party. Let us rise up to the occasion which is before us in the eternal conflict between good and evil. “This is the victory which overcomes the world, even your faith,” I John 5:4.

Back to the beginning of this message; “What price FAITH? If you had a rare, original Rembrandt painting worth $10,000,000.00 you would do everything to protect and preserve this rare art treasure. We need no less diligence in preserving and protecting what the scriptures define as “precious faith”. This faith is precious and must be kept, must be exercised, must be practiced. It is absolutely irreplaceable!

Let us take up the challenge of Revelation 2:10, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.”

“YOUR FAITH; YOUR TREASURE”

PART TWO

By Almon Bartholomew

We begin today by reaching back to part one, and the question, “What price Faith”? Some have considered it to be of little or no value. Others have given their lives for it.

Our Bible has much to say about this faith. On, at least, 33 occasions the New Testament refers to faith as “the faith”. By repeated emphasis, it has specific qualities. It is personal as reflected in many references such as “thy” faith, “his” faith, “their” faith, “her” faith, “our” faith. It justifies, it sanctifies and it enlightens. It saves, obtains promises, stabilizes when the going gets tough and gains Heaven’s favor. “It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. It is described scripturally as most holy, precious, unfeigned, bold, common, effectual (effective), and as a gift from God. It proudly stands among the righteous trio of virtues, “now abides faith, hope. love, these three”.

Let there be no doubt about it, faith has a high intrinsic value supported by a solid body of truth which can, and does, translate into real life circumstances. It is the faith to which the apostles confirmed the early church. It is the faith the reformers brought the church back to. It is the faith which fired the age of revivalism. It is the faith the circles the globe through the message of countless missionaries. It is the faith resident in the heart of God fearing people, which gives passion to our message of hope in Christ and burns in the hearts Christian believers around the world and right here in us, right now.

Having identified that faith, how do we establish its worth? What gives it value? If we consider it to be priceless, what is the standard of measurement by which we make such an evaluation? Let us take a practical (empirical) approach.

The worth of a product or service is determined by a fivefold standard of measurement:

1. It’s rarity. Is it obtained from a single source or is it something found among many inventories?

2. What is the cost attached to providing the product or service; the cost of acquisition?

3. Does its performance match its promise?

4. It’s durability, its longevity. Is it designed for early obsolescence, or is it long term in nature?

5. What affect would the removal of such product or service have upon their users? Is it indispensable or can a suitable substitute be provided?

Let us look at the first criterion. How rare, and from what source is the product or service available? Our faith, our salvation, the gospel we preach comes from one supplier. God himself is the sole provider of Salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares “For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast”. Salvation comes from an exclusive source, God Almighty! Isaiah, the prophet, delivers God’s undiluted message:

“I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me”. (Isaiah 45:5)

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song: he also is become my salvation,” Isaiah 12:2.

The prophet Jonah adds “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving: I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord,” Jonah 2:9.

Secondly, a product or service has worth because of the cost of acquisition. It cost heaven a dear price to provide for our salvation. God did not take the cheap way out. When the Lord made available a “Pearl of great price”, He picked up the tab. Philippians chapter two reveals the price Jesus paid for our faith. Starting out with equality with God the Father, our Lord left heaven, descended to earth, became a man, and humbled himself. He died at cruel hands. His final suffering came by hanging on a cross between two thieves, and He was buried in a borrowed tomb.

“Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow”. If value is determined by the price paid to obtain it, then our faith, our salvation, is BEYOND priceless!

Not all products and services perform as promised. That is proven by the numbers of scam artists at work today. This brings us to our third test of worth. Can we bank on the promises made by this faith? ABSOLUTELY!

Since Jesus Christ died on the cross, and rose again in resurrection power, literally hundreds of millions of people have testified that he keeps his word! He has rewarded the faith these persons have placed in him with undeniable confidence. He gives salvation from sin, and the start of a new life. He has done what he said he would do. His performance matches his promise! The gospel of Jesus Christ is true, if for no other reason, it works. It makes a drastic difference in the lives of those who place their trust in him. Let me underscore this truth once more; the gospel is of great worth because it performs exactly according to its promise!

Fourth on this list is value linked to durability. This faith has withstood the ravages of time. Uncounted efforts have been made to stamp out the Christian faith. Hot persecution, including martyrdom, beatings, reprisal, and banishment could not kill this faith. Political pressure, governmental edicts, severe discrimination, destruction of Bibles and the outlawing of free assembly for religious services could not destroy it. This thing is built for rough usage and it was made to last. There is no planned obsolescence here. Evil will never triumph over Almighty God. He, and the faith He gives us, has enduring power.

This is the faith that believers have carried into every experience in life. It is good in the good times and it is good in the bad. The undeniable sense of God’s sustaining grace abides through all of life, through death itself, and frees us to enter into His glorious, unrestricted presence in heaven. We sing with ever increasing faith, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows. The more that I love Him, the more love He bestows. Each day is like heaven, His love overflows. The longer I serve

Him, the sweeter He grows“.

Number five in this standard of measurement considers what affect would it have upon the users if such product or service should be removed from them. It focuses on the indispensable quality of the Christian faith.

Had it not been for this faith this world would be an ugly place in which to live. Unregenerate hearts would still be unregenerate. Christian influence upon morals, the quality of life, civil law, music, the arts, the sciences, and the sense of community would leave an unfillable void. And, should all the years of its impact upon mankind be removed, society would be devastated. This faith, this gospel; this vital, essential Christianity, has absolutely no substitute. Its worth to the world of mankind and each individual believer is incalculable.

When cannibals first received the gospel in the South Sea Islands, a French trader visited one of their islands. As an unbeliever, he chided them for accepting Christianity. He asked them what the gospel had ever done for them. They replied, “We don’t know what it has done for us, but it sure has helped you. Without it, you would have already been boiling in our pot”! A world absent this gospel is unthinkable.

For some, the faith has come and gone cheaply. Esau exchanged his birthright for a pot of chili. Judas traded an apostleship for thirty pieces of silver. A rich young ruler preferred worldly wealth to eternal life. Demas forsook the world to come for the world that now is.

While this may be fact, many have been willing to die for their faith. Those who have died for their faith in the past hundred years are more than those martyred since early church history. The book titled “By Their Blood” written by James and Marti Hefley recounts the record of those who have given their lives in behalf of the gospel in the 20th century. There were more who made the supreme sacrifice for Christ in the 20th century than in all of those who laid down their lives in the previous centuries combined.

People among our own great fellowship and throughout the immense missionary movements of the world have paid an awesome price to share the gospel. I have been moved to tears while reading the book written by the Hefleys. I want to refer to one of the accounts, that of a woman missionary who gave her life while sharing this worthy, workable faith.

During the Boxer rebellion in China 1900-1905 there were 153 missionaries and 13 of their children who were slain. Beyond this tens of thousand of Chinese national believers were slaughtered. One of the noblest testimonies I’ve heard is recorded in this book:

“Anti-foreign mobs continued to lengthen the trail of blood of the Christian missionaries. Dr. Eleanor Chestnut an orphan girl from Waterloo, Iowa was among them. Raised by a poor aunt in the backwoods of Missouri, she skimped and starved to get through Park College.

“After studies at Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Chestnut was appointed by the then American Presbyterian Board to China in 1893.She started a hospital in Lien-Chow, Kwangsi, the Province adjoining Hong Kong. She lived on $1.50 per month so that the rest of her salary could buy bricks to build a clinic. Her board learned what she was spending on bricks, and insisted on paying her. She refused the sum offered, saying, “It will spoil all my fun”.

“While the building was under construction, she performed surgery in her bathroom. One operation involved the amputation of a coolie’s leg. The surgery was successful, except that the flaps did not grow together. Eventually the problem was solved, and he was able to walk with the aid of crutches. Someone noticed that Dr. Chestnut was limping. When asked why, she responded, “Oh, it is nothing”. One of the nurses revealed the truth. Using only a local anesthetic, the doctor had taken skin from her own leg for immediate transplant to the one whom nurses had called “a good for nothing coolie”.

“On October 23:1905, Dr. Chestnut and other missionaries were busy in a hospital when an anti-foreign mob attacked. She slipped out of the hospital to ask for protection from Chinese authorities, and might have escaped had she not returned to help her fellow workers. Her last act was to tear strips from her dress to bandage a wound in the forehead of a boy in the crowd. She was slain along with four other missionaries.”

Friends, now is the time to determine what this faith is worth to us. Let us declare, “Our faith; our treasure”! This is our eternal heritage. Don’t sell your birthright for a bowl of chili as did Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. Check out the difference between the temporal and the eternal. Your faith, your treasure is priceless. We must make it the number one, non-tradable possession of our lives.

Rev. Al Bartholomew was, for many years, a pastor in western New York.

JOHN 4:3-26 NKJV

By Almon Bartholomew

This is one of the most fascinating stories to be found in Jesus visit upon earth. It is the most unlikely dramas ever to be played out. The Son of God talks with a moral compromising woman. A Jew conversed with a Samaritan. She approached a well to quench her physical thirst. Although she never knew she needed one, she discovered a divine tonic that satisfied her spiritual thirst. Before her encounter with Jesus she avoided any interaction with a hostile public. Upon meeting Him, and drinking water from the well of salvation she ran to the city and told everyone what had happened to her. She was transformed from a self imposed exile to a publically exposed evangelist!

Before we get down that road to far, let us look back upon a divine interruption. He took no shortcut going to Galilee from Jerusalem. He felt compelled to go through Samaria, a longer and more tiring journey. As Jesus and His disciples approached Samaria they came upon the well of Sychar. In weariness, Jesus sat down to rest by the well while his disciples went to hunt down some food. In the midst of that long, long trip, Jesus had a moment of silent solitude, just recouping from the arduous trek. His quiet time was suddenly interrupted by a woman with a checkered past and His tranquil moment ceased.

We have experienced those times interruption. When we moved from Albany to Mount Ephraim, NJ we finally got our bed set up at 2:00 O’clock in the morning. A drug addict was at our door at six A.M. We reached the home of our parents for vacation time some 300 miles away from our church in New Jersey. A call was waiting for us of a death in the church. The next day we made a special return trip for the funeral. The man who expired had given his heart to Jesus Christ just three weeks earlier. Many, many more interruptions in ministry and life occurred. Duty called and God met us in those divine interruptions.

None of us like to get interrupted. We all ask the question, “Why, in the hospital when I am sound asleep, should the nurse wake me up to give me a sleeping pill”? That just doesn’t make any sense! Don’t interrupt me when I am sleeping! Doesn’t it annoy you when you are half way through doing something and someone stops you and asks you to do something else? How many of you have been awakened at 2:30 in the morning by a telephone ringing and the person on the other end says, “Sorry, wrong number”? I will tell you something worse; that’s when the telephone rings at that ungodly hour and it is the right number. Phone calls at that hour are generally not filled with good news.

Let us change the scene for just a moment. It happened at the house where Jesus dwelt. It was midnight. A persistent knock came at the door. Who could possibly be coming at that hour? It could be a friend, a total stranger, a believer in need, an antagonist bringing trouble, “Who could it be”? John wrote, in chapter three of his gospel that it was Nicodemus, a member of the high court, the Jewish San Hedron. He would be the equivalent of the Chief Justice of our Supreme Court. This group stoutly opposed Jesus. What could this man possibly want?

This was a divine interruption occurring in the middle of the night. Some leaders would have said, send my assistant to the door and tell the person to see me in my office at 9:30 tomorrow morning. But, not Jesus, he politely invited this leader in and heard his plea. Nicodemus spoke respectfully addressing Him as Teacher, Master, acknowledging that Jesus was sent from God and the miracles of His ministry confirmed this. Jesus cut right across the formalities and went to the heart of the matter and clearly told him that a person must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. This startled this highly esteemed religious leader and he asked how this new birth could happen. Jesus explained the way to true salvation. This is what Nicodemus needed to hear. The divine interruption turned out to be a divine appointment.

God is still turning the interruptions in our lives to give us opportunity to come to know Him by being born again, the beginning of a brand new life by accepting him as Lord and Savior.

In Luke 8:41-42 a desperate father, a ruler in the local Synagogue came to Jesus, falling at his feet and pleading for Him to come and heal his dying 12 year old daughter. Nothing could be more urgent. As Jesus and His entourage hastily made their way Jesus suddenly stopped and asked “Who Touched Me”? His disciples said “you have been pushed and shoved and crunched by the crowd all day. How can you ask who touched me?” It was a divine interruption. Jesus told them that virtue went out from him. A woman who suffered for twelve years with excessive bleeding was instantly healed. Jesus recognized her faith. They continued on and by the time they Jairus home the young girl had already died and the mourners were there bemoaning her loss of life. Jesus removed everyone from the room, where the girl was lying, except Peter, James and John, and raised her from the dead. A divine interruption made time for a miracle of healing and a resurrection from the dead.

There are many more such interruptions. I choose, for lack of time, but one more instance. The event was recorded in Luke 7:12-16. A woman, from the city of Nain, a widow and mother of one son was suddenly once again bereaved. This son died. With grief, and broken heart, joined by a large crowd of people, the lonely mother followed the casket bearing her son’s body. For some unknown reason the procession halted. There was an interruption. Jesus showed up and touched the side of the casket. Suddenly the son sat up and began to speak. A mother received her only son back to life. It was a divine interruption initiated by Jesus.

I don’t claim to know all of the needs in each of your lives today. But, there is one who knows all of your needs, and which need is the most pressing. The Lord wants to change the course of our lives, redirecting us from an earthly journey to a heavenly one. He interrupts us to tell us that He loves us that He died for us, that He wants to give us a new hope and a new life that be eternal. This life begins by inviting him to come into your heart and asking Him to forgive you of each and every sin. He will answer your sincere prayer and become the greatest friend you could ever have. A divine Interruption awaits each one of us. Seize the opportunity right now.

For over 70 years, Al Bartholomew has been bringing the Word of God to the people of New York State.

 

By Almon Bartholomew

I took the time to look up the meaning of the phrase “RSVP.” It is a French phrase (and I don’t know any French) “Respondez S’ll Vous Plait.” The simple English meaning is “Please respond”. Invitations to a gathering, a celebration, held for invited guests only, which carry these letters are sent with the expectation that those who receive the invitation will respond. To not do so, whether indicating, “yes, I will attend” or “no, I will not attend,” is considered to be an affront. The higher level of the occasion for the purpose of the gathering, the greater affront it is to not respond. We will speak to this later in the message.

Text: “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Thought they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

God’s Word is replete with divine invitations to a lost and sinning humanity. The door not only stands ajar for returning prodigals, but is also open to His faithful children. We need often to heed his call.

The text is an overarching call to any and all who need Divine acceptance and provision. I can visualize, in human terms, our Heavenly Father sitting in one of our living room chairs with arms extended to us. He is saying, “Please share your problems with me. Let’s sit down together and talk about it. You don’t have to draw away from me. I have everything you need at my disposal and I want to share it with you. Let’s reason this matter out. Where else can you find forgiveness for sin? Through whom else can wrongs be made right? Have you erred and failed at some, or even many, points in your life. I have the answer to you need.”

In the invitation of the text, the words ring out to all of us, “Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” God’s grace reaches across the span of time to all sinners and all failing humanity, declaring cleansing and peace, “Come now, and let us reason together says the Lord Your sins have been taken away, as far away as the east from the west, and cast into the sea of God’s forgetfulness!” Invitation RSVP; you are invited, please respond!

This same seeking, inviting Lord, sought out Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden following their sinful disobedience to God’s demands. Earth’s parents had all of creation at their disposal. They had access to an unbelievable variety of foods. It included every plant of the field, every herb, and the fruit of every tree except for one; “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” A malignant intruder, the serpent, a servant and representative of Satan, appeared. This reprehensible character maligned God’s integrity and caused Eve, then Adam to doubt God’s word that death would follow should they eat this forbidden fruit. They disobeyed big time and their glory changed to shame. Fig leaves could not hide their sin.

God came calling, “Adam, Adam, where art thou Adam?” God kept his word and earth’s first human parents died; spiritually at first, and then later, physically. In that call from a seeking, inviting Lord, came the first promise of redemption. Substitutionary sacrifice was made in their behalf and their sin was covered. The first word of a Coming Redeemer was revealed. This promise of a redeemer was designed to save all of mankind, and that redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ. The call in Eden’s Garden was the first of many calls to follow through the ages. They are registered in the biblical record. Jesus underscored this in Luke 19:10. There He declares “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”. It is our personal responsibility, each and every on\e of us, to respond to his invitation. This invitation is still being heralded. It is incumbent upon each of us to prepare to meet our God. We each have to answer for ourselves.

The call is not limited to the struggling sinner. It is for the needy who place their trust in God. What a precious invitation is sent to you and to me in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Annie Johnson Flint wrote it so beautifully, “His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men. For, out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”

While pastoring in South Jersey some years ago, I was driving on the North/South freeway going into Philadelphia. I saw a most touching sign. It was a 4X8 piece of plywood wired to a backyard fence bordering the highway. Crudely painted on the sign was the poignant message, “Doris, Please come home. The children and I love you”, Signed, Bill. Apparently some broken-hearted father and husband went public, hoping his loved one would travel that busy freeway and would read his pathetic appeal. He longed for reconciliation. Perhaps Doris would read it. Perhaps some mutual friend of hers would see it and carry the message to her: “Doris, please come home, the children and I love you, signed Bill.” Although not often done, Bill went public with his heart. I don’t know whatever became of that heroic effort.

Printed in more than 1,000 dialects, the Bible delivers a similar message. In this blessed book God tells straying humanity that He loves them, and wants them, that He is reaching out to them. There is another sign. It is not a crudely painted message on a piece of plywood fastened to a backyard fence. It is on an old rugged, wooden cross. God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ is nailed to it. It carries the message, “Children, please come home. I love you, Signed Your Heavenly Father.” This invitation to turn to God, from sin, from straying, from unbelief, from pain, from sorrow, from need of every description etched in the words of the text, “Come now and let us reason together says the Lord.”

Jesus illustrates his concern by telling us that he is the seeking, searching shepherd calling you and me. Luke 15:4-32 records a three part parable taught by Jesus. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. This one tells us how the Lord deals with lost things. The three parts deal with a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. They are all sought and found. Their discovery and rescue ends with scenes of rejoicing. Time permits us only to examine one; the lost sheep.

The shepherd had 100 sheep. Ninety nine were safe in the fold. One had strayed and went far from the shepherd and faced a dire end. At the jeopardy of his own life, the shepherd seeks and finds the lost sheep and returns it safely to be numbered with the 99. Unconfined joy reigned in the sheep corral. It is a picture of Jesus seeking the lost, finding the straying, bringing them home, restoring them and bringing joy to all who were in the shepherd’s watch care. This story is amplified in John chapter ten where Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Ira Sankey, who sang in Dwight L. Moody’s Evangelistic campaigns in the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds, wrote a vibrant hymn, “The Ninety And Nine”. Many thousands turned to Christ in those days.

“There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold.

But one was out on the hills away, far off from the gates of gold.

Away on the mountains, wild and bare, away from the tender Shepherd’s care; Away from the tender shepherd’s care.

“Lord, thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; are they not enough for thee?

But the Shepherd made answer: “This of mine has wandered away from me.”

“And altho’ the road is rough and steep, I go to the desert to find my sheep; I go to the desert to find my sheep.

Sing next two verses.

“But none of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed’

Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through ‘ere He found his sheep that was lost.

Out in the desert He heard its cry, sick and helpless and ready to die; sick and helpless and ready to die.

“But all through the mountains, thunder driv’n, and up from the rocky steep;

There arose a glad cry to the gates of Heaven, Rejoice I have found my sheep.

And the Angels echoed around the throne;

Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own, Rejoice for the Lord brings back his own!”

Yes, friends, Jesus Christ endured the agony of crucifixion; He died an atoning death to bring us back to God.

On the cross Jesus invited, and welcomed a repentant thief in to paradise. Upon his resurrection Jesus sent for Peter who had failed Him miserably. This disciple received Jesus personal invitation and was restored. He became the chief spokesman for the early church. That call, that invitation still comes in the words of Jesus, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with me”. Revelation 3:20. “And the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”, and let him who hears, “Come!”. And let him who thirsts “Come!” And whoever desires let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.

Let us take another look at “Invitation RSVP.” Going up the scale, with a simple family picnic to a wedding reception, to a Golden Wedding Anniversary, to a presidential state dinner to a Royal’s dinner in Buckingham Palace, the demand for a response rises higher. Now, think about it; when the gates of heaven are flung wide open, and each one, and all of us are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, all the invited guests who have responded will be there. You and I have been invited. The bridegroom is the Lord Jesus Christ. The bride is his church, that body of people who have received the Invitation RSVP and who have accepted the invitation. What are you, are we, going to do about it? Will you be there? You can be! This entreaty is found in uncounted Bible passages. Believe it! Act on it! You and I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by doing so!

“”I owed a debt I could not pay. He paid a debt he did not owe; I needed someone to take my sin away.

And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing Grace.

He paid a debt for me that I could never pay” (author unknown to me).

In this thanksgiving season it is only right for us to respond to God’s overtures of love and His offer of eternal salvation. He opened the door for us and beckons us to enter. Thank Him for making possible our acceptance of his offer which allows us entrance to heaven and dwelling with the Lord and his saints forever, and forever.

Reverend Al & Joyce Bartholomew, South Glens Falls, New York

 

“THE MIRACLE OF THE AGES”

TEXT: I Corinthians 15:12-22

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the central miracle of the Bible. There is no doubt that the virgin birth of our Lord is a monumental miracle. Miracles confirmed his deity throughout his short three years of ministry. This included turning water into wine, raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons, multiplying a school boy’s lunch to feed a multitude, walking on water and silencing a raging tempest on the sea. But, if after all this, despite his prophetic word that he would rise from the dead, if he should remain lifeless in the tomb the rest would be only a footnote in history.

Jesus died on the cross. There is no doubt about that. He was buried in a tomb. The record supports that. The religious leaders knew that Jesus said he would rise in three days. In order to circumvent any mischief from his disciples to steal his body away, and fabricate a story of resurrection, they insisted that the tomb be sealed and a Roman guard be posted under the tightest possible security. Their request was granted. And, the bereaved loved ones mourned his death.

Think of it! The heavenly host of angels, seraphim and cherubim had sung his praise. But now, he was dead. They wore black armbands and had no song to sing. Heaven was silent.

Now Jesus didn’t need an alarm clock to wake him up! Suddenly the silent angels saw a ripple life flow through those grave clothes. The Son of God rose in power and majesty and the angels sang again. He had risen from the dead, never to die again! “Death could not keep its prey, Jesus my Savior, He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord! Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o’er his foes. He arose the victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever with his saints to reign. He Arose! He Arose! Hallelujah; Christ arose!

An angel had smitten the guards and they, overwhelmed with fear, were as dead men. When they recovered from their stupor, the tomb was empty. They were shocked to see that the stone sealed by Rome was compromised and the stone was rolled back. They were facing court martial for dereliction of duty. When they reported these matters the chief priests, they were paid off to say that while they were sleeping, Jesus body was stolen. The chief priests then promised to bribe the senior officers to let the guards off the hook. This is the lie that was circulated around the city. Not one bit of this conspiracy worked. Evidence mounted that Jesus Christ had indeed risen from the dead.

In the text, the Apostle Paul recounts those who had seen him in his risen state. He was seen by Cephas. He then was seen by the twelve. He was seen by more than five hundred at once. He was seen by James and then by all of the apostles. Special attention was given that Peter should see him. Thomas would not believe until he could place his hands in the scars on his side and in the nail prints of his hands. Last of all, Saul of Tarsus the great persecutor of the church, saw the risen Lord as he was smitten by his divine presence on the Damascus Road.

Simon Peter was the blunderbuss. It is true that when Jesus asked the disciples whom they thought he was, Peter had the right answer. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Yet in the same chapter when Peter took offense at the thought of Jesus dying, the Lord rebuked him, saying to him, “Get thou behind me Satan”. Peter promised that though all else would fail Jesus, he would give his life for him. He drew a sword and severed the ear of the servant of the high priest when Jesus was arrested. He was a better fisherman than a swordsman. He went for the head and only got the ear. The last miracle of healing on earth by the tender hands of Jesus was made necessary by the act of a bungling disciple. Jesus healed the servant, restoring his ear.

Still filled with bravado, Peter must have been shaken when Jesus said, “Before the rooster crows’ tomorrow morning, you will have denied me three times.” As Jesus was being led away to his appointed cross, Peter warmed himself at a strange fire. Three times when challenged Peter denied he knew Jesus and in the final denial, sealed it with a curse. Just then, the roosted crowed and Peter ran for cover.

The risen Christ gave special instructions to summon Peter. He would restore him in a most remarkable way. Peter the denier became Peter the proclaimer. On the day of Pentecost he was the spokesman for the new believers now filled with the Holy Spirit. As he preached, giving the first altar call of the New Testament church, 3,000 were converted.

Believe me, Peter would never have returned if the resurrection was but a fabrication. Nothing but the reality of this miracle would have turned him around. It is absurd to think anything would have turned him around other than Jesus resurrection from the dead. It had to be proof positive for the apostles and others to risk their lives. Men will die for convictions. They will not die for a concoction! They will die for a faith. They will not die for a fable. They will die for a mission. They will not die for a myth!

Look at this clearly. If the resurrection of Christ was a hoax, never happening, where would we stand today? The Apostle Paul clearly tells us in the text.

1. Our preaching would be empty, in vain, just worthless speech.

2. Your faith would be empty, in vain. It would have no substance, no fact.

3. We would be false witnesses, promulgating a lie.

4. We would still be in our sins. What a deplorable state!

5. Our faith would be futile.

6. All who fallen before us will have perished. They would have believed a fairy tale!

7. We would have no hope of resurrection ourselves.

8. We would of all men be most pitiable, most miserable. Such would be the case if Jesus did not rise from the dead!

9. Adam got us into the grave; Jesus got us out of the grave.

10. In Adam came our ruin. In Jesus came our redemption.

11. Adam put us in a hole in the ground. Jesus lifts us though a hole in the sky.

12. Adam’s sin took men to Hell. Jesus love takes us to Heaven.

I refuse to accept a perversion of gospel truth. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. I have no doubt of it! I close by repeating a previously stated position.

“Men will die for a conviction. They will not die for a concoction. They will die for a faith. They will not die for a fable. They will die for a mission. They will not die for a myth.”

This is not fake news. Jesus resurrection from the dead is the real deal.

This message delivered by

The Reverend Almon Bartholomew

Retired pastor Almon Bartholomew, with wife Joyce.