Has the Covid-19 pandemic brought the Church full circle? Now that scientists are raising the specter of even more deadly viruses, are we now faced with finding a new way to fellowship—to evangelize the lost, and to edify the saints?
The churches in which we gathered last year were the result of 20 centuries of evolution. The early Church was very different from the Church that we experienced just a few months ago.
Have we come full circle? Is it time to return to the Church of the New Testament?
With leaders like Franklin Graham once declaring that “Our churches are dead,” is it time to look for an alternative? The former president of America’s largest conservative seminar thought so. Paige Patterson wrote:
“In a day of ‘how to’ manuals on church growth and effectiveness, to find a writer who tells the truth…is a breath of fresh air.” He went on to say, “Frank Becker, in this book, The Depression Proof Church: The Biblical Answer to a Church in Crisis, has clearly enunciated the one essential, namely, a return to the church of the New Testament.” And, finally, “We have to recover the New Testament pattern for churchmanship!”
“What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11).
The transformation of water into wine at the Marriage at Cana or Wedding at Cana is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John. In the Gospel account, Jesus, His mother and His disciples are invited to a wedding, and when the wine runs out, Jesus delivers a sign of his glory by turning water into wine.
But there is more, and I thought about it recently as I drove through Cana. Cana is in Galilee, not far from Nazareth. There was a wedding there and Jesus, His mother and the disciples were invited. In those days, wine was a common drink, as the fermentation took the bacteria out of water. A Jewish wedding back in those days was a real party, often more than a day. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him.
Jesus spoke to His mother calling her “dear woman” and asked her why He was telling Him, so she told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. There were several jars filled with water to the brim….. water used for ceremonial washing, not for drinking. Jesus told the servants to fill jars with water and take it to the brim and take it to the host of the banquet.
To the wedding host’s amazement, the unclean water had been turned into wine. But there is more. The host did not know where the wine came from so he called the bridegroom aside 1and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. He spoke to His mother saying, “Why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” He was about to do an act that separated Him in part from His earthly family as He performed His first miracle and established the Glory of His heavenly family.
The guests were amazed, the disciples believed, and the path of His earthly ministry was on its way. The Lord’s miraculously changing water into wine signifies that He changes our death into life. The water signifies death, and the wine signifies life. When the Lord changes our water into wine, that wine in our marriage feast will never end.
Has He turned your death into life?
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
When people are reading a job posting on any one of the hundreds of job sights, one of the headings is always “Job Requirements”.
And in this section they delineate all the necessary skills to be able to fulfill the Job Description or be a successful candidate for the position.
It may be certain education levels, a certain number of work experience years, or certain proficiencies and skill levels that are necessary to be considered for the job.
As we read this passage in Micah today, we see three such requirements from the Lord; to act justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with your God.
And preceding these requirements, we are reminded that He has already shown us what is good. We already know. And then like a new dawn, His reminder springs forth from the page.
For us to do and be what he has called us to do and be, it begins with making Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life. Soon followed by the requirements mentioned here in Micah; act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.
Just like Jesus… – Marty Stubblefield
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Hannah Brencher, was an Atlanta writer who left kind notes in public places when she lived in New York City. Her idea birthed a movement called The World Needs More Love Letters, which now operates in seventy countries and has delivered more than 250,000 letters.
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What would you guess might be the most popular Bible verse, according to You Version’s 400 million users?
Philippians 4:6 is the answer. The verse says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” What does its popularity say about us?
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Two Life Rules About Church Harmony:
1. Think the Best, Not the Worst
2. Speak to the Person, Not About the Person
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One of America’s most destructive myths: the harder you work, the happier you will be.
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
Prayerlessness is my declaration of independence from God.
Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.
If You Contain a Fire, It Will Die; If You Let It out, It Will Spread. Ken Whitten
People cannot be saved unless Jesus saves them. Dr. Ronnie Floyd
Of all the distractions that keep us from living a fulfilled life, the most prevalent in our world today may be busyness. The Minimalist
Apologizing doesn’t mean you are wrong and the other person is right. It means that you value relationships more than your ego.
Christians spend more money in the streets than the followers of other religions spent in their temples. Historian Eberhard Arnold
The Church’s Greatest Need Is the Word of God
God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Plans. John 16:7
As pastor Dwight L. Moody put it, “Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.”
You want to be a missionary? Great. Go next door.—EVANGELIST J. JOHN
Message #4 in the “Honor Series,” originally preached March 11, 2012
Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor
TODAY’S SPECIAL: “A ‘Drive Funny’“
A teenager who had just received her learner’s permit offered to drive her parents to church. After a hair-raising ride, they finally reached their destination.
When the mother got out of the car she said emphatically, “Thank you!”
“Anytime,” her daughter replied with a smile.
As her mother headed for the church door, she said, “I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to God.”
INTRODUCTION
Today’s message continues our series on “honoring God”. We have learned that to “honor” means “to give the highest respect.” It could also be defined as “drawing attention to the one you love.”
Today we are going to look at two lives – David and his son, Solomon – both of whom are described at the start of their lives as men of “honor”. Let’s see what each of their lives of honor look like.
PRAYER
1. LIFE OF DAVID (1 Chronicles 29)
A. He sacrificed (vs. 1-5a)
David’s heart’s desire was to build a temple for the Lord – an house of worship for all Israel. The Lord had shown David that because he had been a man of war, he was not to build the temple. However, long before Solomon was even “thought of” (much less born!), God promised to David a son who would build the temple.
Although he could not build the temple, he could provide for it! And provide he did! Check out all that he gave from HIS OWN BELONGINGS! That was a sacrifice.
He recognized a tremendous Biblical principle: “you are not your own, for you were bought at a price…”. (1 Cor. 6:19b, 20a).
Am I holding on to ownership of anything the Lord has wonderfully giving me, or is He free to use all that I am and have for His glory?
B. He encouraged sacrifice (vs. 5b-9)
David asked (v. 5b), Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?”.
Isn’t that a funny question? Note that he DIDN’T say, “all right – you’ve seen how much I GAVE, let’s see how much YOU can give!”
David told his people, “who is WILLING TO CONSECRATE himself…to the LORD”. True giving comes first of all from a sacrificial spirit. David led by example, and as a result, his people – interestingly, the LEADERS first of all – were willing to follow.
Am I willing to follow? Am I first of all consecrated to the Lord?
C. He praised God (vs. 10-15)
Here comes the neat part. David gives 3 eternal principles which no doubt were the foundation for his life. And please note this: David is near the END of his life. Yet these principles were still his foundation, the roots of all he did:
PRINCIPLE #1: God is the Source, v. 12
“Both riches and HONOR come from YOU, and YOU reign over all”.
WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! Isn’t DAVID the KING???
But David recognized that, FIRST OF ALL, the Lord Himself is King, and all “HONOR” comes from Him!
That’s a good principle for our lives, too!
PRINCIPLE #2: We are His vessels, v. 14
I really like this line. David is praying. That’s right! After the leaders and he gave all that they gave, David leads his leaders in prayer. And one of the things he prays is, well, are you ready for it, could we pray it, are you sure you even WANT to think about praying like this? Well here goes:
“For all things come from YOU, and of YOUR own we have given YOU”.
“OF YOUR OWN” literally means, “OF YOUR HAND”.
What is David praying? He is telling God what God already knows: that EVERYTHING David and his leaders gave CAME FROM GOD in the first place! They all belonged to God! And all they were doing was acknowledging HIS ownership! They were returning to God what He both owned and gave to them for their stewardship! Wow!
Do I hold on to ownership of anything?
PRINCIPLE #3: Our lives are short, v. 15
In his prayer, David states, “our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope.” Earlier he says, “we are aliens and pilgrims before You”. Literally, we are sojourners and temporary residents.
Why, even one day the house David build will belong to someone else! Even the horse he bought will belong to someone else, or be buried. Why, even the clothes, the books, the STUFF he accumulated will either belong to someone else, or be in the fire for starter kindling.
If that is true of David, is that not only true of us!
PRINCIPLE #4: God is the chief end, v. 16
David prayed, “all this…is from Your hand, and is all Your own.”
Paul wrote, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the GLORY OF GOD.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
Our Presbyterian friends’ first creed is, “The chief end of man is to know God and to enjoy Him forever.”
David understood that. Paul understood that.
Do we?
D. He finished well, (v. 28)
A friend of mine once said, “I read the obituary page first thing every morning. And if I don’t see my name in it, I go ahead and shave!”
I LOVE obituaries! I have access to the web site of EVERY funeral home in our area!
OK – before you say “he’s gone off the deep end” (well, you MAY be right!) – listen to what the Chronicler says about how David finished:
“So he died in a good old age, full of days and riches and…HONOR.”
David lived well, and he died well. While the Scriptures are not silent to the struggles David had in his spiritual life, the Scriptures well sum up his entire 70 years: “he died full of HONOR”.
As per our definition, he gave the highest respected, he drew attention to the ONE HE LOVED.
I sure hope that at the end of my days that is said of me!
Wouldn’t you like that to be said of you?
2. LIFE OF SOLOMON (2 Chronicles 1; 1 Kings 11:41-43; 2 Chron. 9:29-31)
Solomon was now the new king of the combined kingdom of Israel and Judah.
At the start of his ministry as king, Solomon received a visit from the Lord. The Lord asked Solomon, “what can I give you?” And Solomon asked simply for wisdom.
Note the Lord’s response to the new King Solomon’s request:
“Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—
wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and HONOR such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”
(2 Chronicles 1:11-12).
Solomon’s new kingship began with…HONOR. How did he finish?
Scriptures give us the tenor of his life. In one sentence: God didn’t own him, but things and pleasures owned him.
He knew the testimony of his Dad’s life. He had watched it for the first 30 years of his own life. And he knew that when his dad David died, he did have a full life. And he did have riches. But most importantly, his life could be summarized with this: he lived a life of HONOR!
And what do the Scriptures say about Solomon?
“Solomon rested with his fathers [a fancy Biblical phrase which means, “he died and joined his ancestors”], and was buried…” (1 Kings 11:43; 2 Chron. 9:31”.
That’s nice. That’s what I often read in obituaries today. But what is missing?
He didn’t die a GOOD OLD AGE although both his father and he died at the same age, 70 years].
He didn’t die FULL OF DAYS AND RICHES.
And most importantly, he didn’t die FULL OF HONOR. In fact, the fact that it is not mentioned means he died WITHOUT HONOR!!!
What a sad commentary on a life that was given by God – and by his father, David – so much wisdom and instruction. Yet he threw it all away for…STUFF AND PLEASURE.
CONCLUSION
We all must ask ourselves: When our name appears in the obituary page of the paper, will it be said of us, “his was a life of HONOR?”
Such a summary statement of our lives can only be said based upon how we live our lives from this day forward. Let us each ask ourselves:
Is my life a life of sacrifice, or of accumulation?
Is my life a life of praise, or of self-gloating?
Is my life a life centered in God, His Word, and His people?
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
These past few weeks have been different and challenging, but they have also brought out the best in some people and the worst in others. Social distancing and lockdown orders have kept us at home and brought about new family relationships. We did a Zoom with our children and grandchildren, something we otherwise would not have done. It has been a time for families to create new relationships with others and with ourselves. The Bible tells us how to create, build and secure relationships.
Quarantined as a family can get tough, but the Bible tells us to use the Bible as we build relationships in the home to be taken out into the community. Be gentle with another, simple as that. The goal of social lockdown should be getting prepared for when things return to normal. The Bible gives us four things to build up individually and as a family to take with us when the door of our community finally are fully open again.
INTEGRITY: The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Proverbs 11:3 We must demonstrate Christ-like wholeness, privately and publicly.
EXCELLENCE: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 This is when we need to rely on God. We need to rely on God when things are getting the best of us in a relationship, when things keep going south, and when God isn’t the center of the relationship. We should honor and glorify God in all that we do.
SERVING: I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:15-17 In all that we do, we should model Jesus’ example of serving.
TEAMWORK: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4. We will work together with other fellow believers for the cause of Christ.
We do not yet know the world and our lives will be different when this pandemic is all over, but we know it will be different and we need to be prepared to do our part to make this a better world and the Bible tells us how.
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
How to avoid the ‘prison of anxiety:
Paul founded the Philippian church in the face of great opposition. He and Silas were beaten and imprisoned before they were released and asked to leave the city (Acts 16:6–40). The congregation they left faced the threat of similar political and religious persecution. Many must have wondered about their financial security and their futures.
To them, the apostle offered these transformational words: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God” (Philippians 4:6). “Do not be anxious” could be translated, “Be worried about absolutely nothing.” There are no exceptions here.
Instead, we are to pray about “everything” with “supplication” (specific requests) and “thanksgiving” (expressions of gratitude). We are to tell God our needs, as explicitly as possible, while thanking him for hearing us and answering us in whatever way is best.
When we do, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7). We could render this promise, “The peace of God, which understanding cannot produce or comprehend, will protect your emotions and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”
The next time you worry about your finances or anything else creeps into your feelings and thoughts, obey verse 6 and claim verse 7.
Max Lucado offers these comments on our text: “One would think Christians would be exempt from anxiety, but we are not. It’s enough to make us wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote in Philippians 4:6, ‘Be anxious for nothing.’
“Is that what he meant? Not exactly. He wrote the phrase in the present active tense—implying an ongoing state . . . as if to say Don’t let anything in life leave you perpetually breathless and in angst. The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.”
Rather than the prison of anxiety, let’s choose the promise of abundant grace in Christ.
What fear do you need to entrust to your Father today? Jim Denison
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Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.
The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration. The Minimalist
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Numerous studies show that PRAYER improves psychological wellbeing and mental health, lessens depression among cancer patients, enables greater cognitive focus, increases self-control and lessens unhealthy behavior, promotes sacrifice for others, and strengthens relationships. Jim Denison
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
There are four ways to look at sin… deny, compare, admit and confess. Ken Whitten
What is needed desperately today is prophetic insight. Scholars can interpret the past; it takes prophets to interpret the present. Learning will enable a man (or woman) to pass judgement on our yesterdays, but it requires a gift of clear seeing to pass sentence on our day. A. W. Tozer
Most people spend more time working around problems than they do trying to solve them. Henry Ford
Christians spend more money in the streets than the followers of other religions have spent in their temples. Historian Eberhard Arnold
The Church’s Greatest Need Is the Word of God
God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Plans. John 16:7
Punishment is what we believe all lawbreakers should receive unless we happened to have slipped up ourselves.
Message #3 in the “Honor Series,” originally preached March 4, 2012
Jeremy Stopford
By Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor
TODAY’S SPECIAL “A taxi funny“:
The passenger tapped the cab driver on the shoulder to ask him something. The driver screamed, lost control of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the sidewalk, and stopped inches from a department store window.
For a second everything went quiet in the cab, then the driver said, “Look mister, don’t ever do that again. You scared me half to death!”
The passenger apologized and said he didn’t realize that a little tap could scare him so much.
The driver replied, “You’re right. I’m sorry. Really, it’s not your fault. Today is my first day as a cab driver. I’ve been driving a hearse for 25 years.”
INTRODUCTION
Today’s message continues our series on “honoring God”. We have learned that God wants to be honored at every age – especially as we grow older and seemingly more frail. We learned that God wants to be honored in our daily lives and our worship. Last week we learned that honor is a choice – and when we chose to dishonor God we actually are despising Him.
Out of the 179 times that the word “honor” appears in Scripture, twelve of those are in Psalms. Today we are going to zero in on the use of “honor” in Psalms.
ILLUSTRATION: “Judge Joe Brown”, “Judge Judy”, “Judge Alex”, “People’s Court”: These programs all show the defendants and plaintiffs at their worst, and, especially in “Judge Joe Brown”, a witness is often heard crying out, “But your Honor!”.
Can we so protest against God Himself? PRAYER
1. GOD IS GLORIOUS – PRAISE HIM! (Ps. 66:2)
“Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.”
In this verse, the word “honor” means “glory to God alone” !!!
This psalm resonates with PRAISE!
What a JOY to HONOR our God this way! Let’s SING OUT His HONOR today!
2. MAN IS HEAVY – BE HUMBLED (Ps. 7:5)
“Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah”
In this verse, the word “honor” means “to be heavy, to get glory [in contrast to being despised]”.
Did you notice the word “Selah” at the end of the verse? Do you simply skip over that word when you see it in Scripture? DON’T!!! It means, “PAUSE! THINK ABOUT THAT!”
The Psalmist wants his reader to pause. Why? Well, if we read the previous verses, David is concerned with two things, as we should be! First (vs. 1-2), he reminds God in prayer that God is HIS trust, and his only Hope in the battle.
But having said that, David spends a moment – as should we! – in self-inspection (vs. 3-5). He asks God to check him out – and if there is iniquity in him, if he has repaid evil to the one who was at peace with him, or if he has plundered his enemy without cause – THEN “LAY MY HONOR IN THE DUST!” Let it get heavy! Let my honor be so heavy in the dust that it can’t get up. David saw relationships with all people – especially with those who didn’t agree with him – as vital in his walk with the Lord. Whoa! Do we? Do I?
3. GOD IS ON DISPLAY – BE SAFE (Ps. 91:15)
[God speaking] “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him and honor him.”
Here, “honor” means “safety in abiding in God’s presence”
How? by God’s glory on display in His child!
* Note the tender verses of intimacy, vs. 1-4,14-16. Verse 1 was one of the theme verses of Elizabeth Eliot in her radio program:
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
The Psalmist hungered to know God in a most intimate way – and so should we! And in turn, the Lord promised that vessel that His child would “safely abide in God’s presence”.
Wow! I sure need to hear that today! Don’t you?
4. MAN IS AT WAR – BE SERVING (Ps. 149:6,9)
“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand…
To execute on them [God’s enemies] the written judgment –
This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!”
God’s people are to have high praises of God. That I understand. But to have a two-edged sword in my hand? To execute judgment on God’s enemies? This is my honor to do?
In this verse, “honor” means “majesty”, on display like a Christmas ornament!
God should be praised in our service!
Did you note the “two-edged sword” in verse 6? Should be a familiar item for battle!
Let’s see Hebrews 4:12:
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
So for the New Testament saint, the war against those that don’t know God is won through our wise use of…His Word! Are we in the Word of God daily? Are we being instructed personally from Him on a regular basis? Are we equipped to use God’s two-edged sword?
For further study!!! Look up: Psalms 15:4; 21:5; 49:12,20; 96:6; 104:1; 112:9
CONCLUSION: JESUS BECOMES MAN – WORSHIP HIM! (Ps. 8:5)
“For You [the Father] have made Him [the Son] a little lower than the angels, And You [the Father] have crowned Him [the Son] with glory and honor.”
The word “honor” here takes on a special meaning: “an object of reverence or majesty”.
The author of Hebrews notes the fulfillment in Hebrews 2:6,9 in the Lord Jesus!
Honor! He is THE Object of reverence and majesty for all eternity!!!
Is Jesus the Object – the Goal, the One and ONLY Center – of reverence and majesty in your heart today?
We have an unparalleled challenge and an Unprecedented opportunity!
By Frank Becker
1977-1982: Pastor Frank Becker co-hosting his daily station-sponsored 2-hour talk show
Your unparalleled Challenge? For the foreseeable future, there will be no “church” as we have come to practice it.
Yes, 100-million Americans are stuck in their homes, continually bombarded with stressful stories by the media, many with frustrated kids underfoot, and all with too little to do to occupy their minds and hands.
Your Unprecedented Opportunity? Some of our mega-churches have the technology and experience to produce weekly services and maybe a bit more. They ought to have 24-hour a day broadcasting!
But YOU too are capable of making a significant contribution. Jesus said, “Occupy ’till I come!” So let’s get busy. If you think you are not equal to the opportunity, you’re right! You need the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. So when in doubt, ask God!
Churches can produce weekly and even daily story times for small children. Likewise, fellowships can produce new or simply broadcast existing graded Sunday school, children’s church, or Christian day school lessons. There’s potential for parents to discuss parenting. There’s need for Christian counseling. And there’s plenty of opportunity for godly teens and adults to communicate with one another, to entertain, edify, educate, and evangelize. About what? The Bible. Life! Liberty! Jesus!
There’s a big world. out there hungering for something hopeful.
Do your part to flood the social media with the Truth!
Numerous technical tools are available. Some are simple, some more complex, but countless skilled individuals are sitting around twiddling their thumbs at a time when they could be assisting preachers, teachers and you to get the Word out!
Keep your messages as succinct and positive as possible, remaining sympathetic to the fact that many people are ill and others are living in pain and sorrow because of their loss.
Leave the politics alone! Glorify Jesus! What’s to keep you from recalling some testimony from your own life, then recording it on your mobile phone and uploading it to Youtube, Facebook, or some other social medium?
Get your kids involved. They are imaginative, enthusiastic, and often ingenious.
If you are beginning to miss being at your workplace, at your school, or even alone in the quiet of your home, it’s time to get busy. Get your family, friends, and associates involved.
Jesus gave us our commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.”
Never before has the Church had the tools to take advantage of a situation like this. Let’s pray for God to begin a great revival among us — his people. Let’s pray that we can reach millions around the world while they are locked down and looking for The Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
For more information along this line, See Frank Becker’s book, “The Depression Proof Church: The Biblical Answer to the Church in Crisis,”available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
*****
In loving memory of Brother Al, the Reverend Alexander W. Salay,
“After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’” John 11:11
COVID-19 has brought challenge, fear, and uncertainty, but it is not all bad. Look around and see the good coming from it. Encouragement has been coming from churches who are utilizing online presentations. Neighbors are being neighborly and families are communicating. The best of medical services and strategic planning along with prevention such as social distancing is attacking this unseen enemy…. and the list goes on.
And then the words, “I’m on my way,” appear. Who said that? Who is that? What is the circumstance? What are the issues? What is the hurt, the fear, or the pain associated with this statement? Does it have application for me? Well, who said that? Jesus Said It!
In times like these, are not those words above encouraging? It suggests help is on the way! Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, were in much pain. Their brother had died and Jesus did not come to heal him. Why did he not come? Why was he not there? Ponder their thoughts, feel their anguish, visualize their tears, their anxiety, and their confusion. They had sent Jesus a message (11:3).
Questions were abounding. Fear was rising. Sadness was billowing. It could not have been worse, but then Jesus said: “I’m on My way!” But he did not come immediately. The delay was for the Glory of God to be seen. Lazarus was to be raised from the dead! Eternal Truths would be revealed! It was all in God’s plan.
There is an application for all of us. This is what is happening to us now … questions are abounding What is God doing, what does He want, what will happen next, will He protect me, will I get through this pandemic, and what is really behind all the physical and financial challenges and circumstances?
It is a time to think. What really is important? What really are the important decisions I need to make? What are the most important things I have? I will bet the list is different than it would have been a month ago. Am I doing what the Lord wants me to do? Am I using His resources that He has entrusted to me wisely, efficiently, and purposefully for the Kingdom of God?
Be assured: He is in Control. He is Working. He is Leading. He is Speaking loudly to many on many platforms of influence. And, He is still saying “I’m on My way!” He is coming … He really is coming! He is coming to heal, fulfill, and to help. He is coming this moment. He is coming to calm your fears, energize your thinking, and encourage your spirits. He is coming to do what needs to be done for you!
Never forget those words Jesus said: “I’m on My way!” Let’s Be Ready … worshipping and working for Him! Take notes, journal, write things down, and share with others. Build and strengthen your faith. See these times as times of opportunity. Not times of disaster. This is the ‘Believers’ Moment!’
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
C. S. Lewis: “God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
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Alexandra DeSanctis notes, “Too many politicians are committed to the notion that the unborn have no rights if they are deemed unwanted.”
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Mosquitoes like the scent of estrogen, hence, women get bitten by mosquitoes more often that men do.
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The WHO estimates that there were 228 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2018, with 405,000 deaths. Almost half the world’s population—about 3.2 billion people—are at risk. The disease kills a child every two minutes.
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Stop judging and evaluating yourself, for this is not your role. Above all, stop comparing yourself with other people. This produces feelings of pride or inferiority, sometimes a mixture of both. I lead each of My children along a path that is uniquely tailor-made for him or her. Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless and deadly. Don’t look for affirmation in the wrong places: your own evaluations or those of other people.
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas A. Edison
God doesn’t love me because I am valuable. I am valuable because God loves me. Rob Taylor
According to Gallup, Americans are among the most stressed people in the world.
What one person starts, others can continue. Jim Denison
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8 NIV
Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America. Dwight David Eisnehower
My goal for 2019 was to lose 10 pounds. Only have 14 to go.
A recent study has found women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who mention it.
This pandemic is keeping people awake at night, and incidentally harming their health, happiness, and relationships with others. There is a far better aid to sleeping than anything devised by man., especially alcohol and drugs. It may be unfamiliar to you, even odd sounding, but it is the accrual of “wisdom.” The Bible states:
“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom…” (Proverbs 3:13).
Did you know that Jesus Christ is wisdom personified? He is the Son of God who came to this earth in human form so that we might identify with divinity. He gave his life as a sacrifice for you and me, so that we, believing in Him, might have everlasting life. But not just everlasting life. Even now, in the midst of this pandemic terror, this Jesus, who rose from the dead, then continued doing miracles for 40 days before ascending to heaven, this Jesus who is coming again, this Jesus offers you “joy indescribable and full of glory.”
Trust Jesus today. Sleep well tonight!
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” (Proverbs 3:24).
Message #2 in the “Honor Series,” February 26, 2012
Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor,
TODAY’S “SPECIAL: “Car keys, a senior moment”
Several days ago as I left a meeting at our church, I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat down. I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing. Suddenly I realized, I must have left them in the car.
Frantically I headed for the parking lot. My wife, Diane, has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. Her theory is that the car will be stolen. As I burst through the doors of the church, I came to a terrifying conclusion. Her theory was right. The parking lot was empty. I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.
Then I made the most difficult call of all, “Honey,” I stammered. I always call her “honey” in times like these. “I left my keys in the car, and it has been stolen.”
There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard Diane’s voice, “Ken,” she barked, “I dropped you off!”
Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, “Well, come and get me.”
Diane retorted, “I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car!”
INTRODUCTION
Today’s message is an appropriate follow-up to last Sunday’s message on “HONORING God”. Last week we learned that God wants to be honored at every age – especially as we grow older and seemingly more frail. We learned that God wants to be honored in our daily lives and our worship.
In reading through the Old Testament this past week – at a clip of 30 chapters a day in order to get done a college class before we go to Florida next month- I was amazed at a couple of verses which fit in with the second part of the verse. “Those who despise Me” – or “dishonor” God. Is it possible for we who love God to dishonor Him? God invites us to a spiritual self-examination. PRAYER
27 Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 29 Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’ 30 Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and THOSE WHO DESPITE ME SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED 31 Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. (1 Samuel 2:27-33)
I. THE WORLD’S CULTURE – reaping what you sow
DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS? Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death! It is written. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sow, that shall
he also reap..” (Galatians 6:7)
Here are some men and women who mocked God (from an email received February 2012):
(1) John Lennon—During his interview with an American magazine, he said: ‘Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that… I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him’ (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
(2) The man who built the Titanic—After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said:’Not even God can sink it’ The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic
(3) Marilyn Monroe (Actress)—She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: ‘I don’t need your Jesus’. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.
(4) Bon Scott (Singer)—The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
‘Don’t stop me; I’m going down all the way, down the highway to hell’. On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.
(5) Campinas (in 2005)—In Campinas, Brazil, a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend… The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends she said to the daughter who was already seated in the car, “My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.” She responded: “Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here…..It’s Already Full.” Hours later, news came that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died. The car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken.
(6) Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) —She said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.
2. THE CHRISTIAN’S CHALLENGE
The Bible gives us several glances at those who struggled with this question: “in this incidence, will I honor or dishonor God?”:
The challenge of PRIDE
“But when he [Uzziah the King of Judah] was strong HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. 18And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.” 19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. 20And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him. 21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death” (2 Chron. 26:16-21a).
What can happen when being in the forefront is more important than being honoring to God?
The challenge of OBEDIENCE
“Now the Lord said to Moses: “Go up into this Mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. 13And when you have seen it, you also shall [a]be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered. 14For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to hallow Me at the waters before their eyes” (Num. 27:12-13).
Notice the progression:
Ex. 17:6: “STRIKE the rock”
Num. 20:8: “SPEAK to the rock”
1 Cor. 10:4-6: CHRIST is the ROCK !!!
Most theologians believe that “striking the rock” represents the crucifying of our Savior. The second time the Israelites needed water, they were told by God “SPEAK” to the rock because Jesus was already crucified, as it were, and He did not need to be crucified again! “SPEAK”ing is a symbol of rich fellowship, not of crucifixion. Moses and Aaron did not get it.
We want to finish well; Moses did not.
The challenge to TRUST & REMEMBER
“They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion, they appointed a leader to return to their bondage” (Nehemiah 9:17a).
We need to ask ourselves constantly, “are we better off now than when we were before we came to the cross?” See 1 Cor. 6:9-11 – do you want to return to “Egypt”?
CONCLUSION: How NOT to DISHONOR God
Remember HIS Word:
“For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,”
Says the Lord.
But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.”
(Isaiah 66:2)
Remember HIS Name:
“Let Your name be kept holy”
(Luke 11:2, God’s Word version)
Remember HIS purpose, His delight:
“that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”
(Ephesians 1:12)
“So Haman came in, and the king asked him, ‘What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?’ Now Haman thought in his heart, ‘Whom would the king delight to honor more than ME?’”
“Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 42:6).
Only a very few weeks ago, all was normal, as we busily pursued the trophies of our false gods, but something invisible came and put everything in its place.
Suddenly the gasoline consumption went down, pollution went down, people started to have more time – so much time that they do not know what to do with it – parents are spending time with their kids as a family, work is no longer a priority, or traveling or social life either.
Suddenly we silently see within ourselves and understand the value of the words “solidarity”, “love”, “strength”, “empathy” and “faith”. In an instant we realized that we are all in the same boat; rich and poor. That the supermarket shelves are empty and the hospitals are full. New cars and old cars both stand in the garages, simply because nobody can get out. Empty streets, less pollution, clean air, the land also breathes.
The human returns to his origins, realizing that with or without money, the important thing is to survive. Today, health is the main thing, even in spite of wanting to have or possessing. Fear invaded everyone. It helped us all to realize the vulnerability of our human being. Nature is forcing us to clean up the mess made by ourselves.
Our overthrown gods:
Money
Sports
Fame
Politics
What the coronavirus is teaching us:
Our best protection: GOD
Our best refuge: HOME
Our best company: FAMILY
Our real time: TODAY
Nature’s call: STOP US
Its message: WAIT, RESPECT
We are not gods, we are not kings, we do not have the power of controlling everything. We are part of a whole, fragile, brittle and vulnerable something. Part of a whole something that we wanted to dominate and today is telling us:
“Stop, breathe, respect. Go back to the basics, to the essentials, that the peace of your soul guide you towards what you are: a creation.”
It feels like God has stopped the earth from turning and there is this tangible “pause”……we are all, everyone of us on this round planet, forced to re-evaluate our lives, expectations, jobs, family time, and anything else we take for granted. It is so profound. God is sovereign, He sees us, loves us and believes in us.
This too shall pass, but when it does, may we all have a new perspective on life, how we should live it, and on God, who should direct it.
***
SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
What would you guess might be the most popular Bible verse, according to You Version’s 400 million users? Philippians 4:6 is the answer. The verse says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” What does its popularity say about us?
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THE ENTERTAINMENT TEST:
Here are 10 questions to consider when we turn on the TV, go to a movie, attend a concert, or watch a play.
1. Is what I’m watching lewd and lascivious and appeals to my sinful fleshy desires?
2. Am I looking at a person created in God’s image with pure and honorable intentions?
3. Does this entertainment distract from my pursuit of holiness, righteousness, and godliness?
4. Does this show produce ennobling thoughts or pollute my mind with cheap and tawdry thoughts?
5. Is the allurement of this show vulgar or virtuous?
6. Am I morally stronger from this entertainment, or spiritually weakened?
7. Are the values being presented consistent with my Christian values?
8. Am I allowing myself to be amused by something that is sinful?
9. Would I feel comfortable having Jesus sit with me during this show?
10. When I finish watching, do I feel good about myself or do I feel sleazy?
Ken Weliever – The Preacherman. Thepreachersword.com
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
You can’t enjoy the sight of the beautiful rainbow without rain.
The peace of God requires the power of God. Jim Denison
No one ever choked from swallowing his pride.
We don’t need a platform or a position to share the Good News. Kelly Knouse
“Paul, in his own estimation, was not a philosopher, not a moralist, not one of the world’s wise men, but simply Christ’s herald. His royal master had given him a message to proclaim; his whole business was to deliver that message with exact and studious faithfulness, adding nothing, altering nothing, and omitting nothing.” —J.I. Packer
“A humble and weak person will show a crucified Savior better to a listener than a polished, pulled together expert. Because that’s how it happened for us: we weren’t saved by pulling ourselves together, but by admitting we were sinners and calling on the one who was pulled apart for us.” —Tim Keller
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” —John Wooden
J. Oswald Sanders was right when he wrote, “The mind is the battleground upon which every moral and spiritual battle is fought.” However, it’s possible to deceive ourselves and allow ungodly influences to corrupt our minds, exploit our feelings, and defile our hearts.
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