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Serving Christ by Serving Others

1/6/2017

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If we were asked to serve Christ in a very significant or exciting way, I believe many Christians would jump at the chance for adventure, notoriety, etc. It would be exhilarating more than likely. We would equate that sort of service with really making an impact for God's glory. There is no doubt it certainly could be an occasion for God's use.

Sadly though, when it comes to the more mundane, ordinary, less exciting options to serve, many Christians do not want to exert effort. They may serve in spurts or defined lengths of time. It may be in a more traditional setting, such as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon, Pastor, etc. It could be because of guilt trips, the inability to say "No," being appointed or voted to a position, etc.

Those are all types of service that we have come to equate with serving the LORD. I am not discounting those opportunities, but I don't want us as Christians to believe that is the totality of service to Christ. Jesus Himself provided an occasion to highlight other ways of serving Him.

In Matthew 25, Jesus was teaching about the second coming and the final judgment of the sheep and goats. This judgment was about those who inherited the Kingdom by God's grace (sheep), and those who were rejected from the Kingdom (goats).

He uses the same actions to highlight the difference between the two. These actions related to serving Him through service to others. He equated serving others with serving Him. Notice His words to the sheep in verses 35-40:

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"

He used the same circumstances with the goats (v. 42-45). They did not serve Him because they refused to serve others.

Neither group understood the significance of their works. Merciful acts done to others in Christ's name was serving as if these acts were done to Christ. The sheep did these things for others. Undoubtedly they wanted to extend mercy, grace, and compassion. However, they didn't seem to understand such a connection with serving Christ by serving others. They asked Jesus when did they do these things to Him? He said that acts done to the least of the brothers are acts done to Him.

These were acts done to the naked, sick, prisoners, hungry, and thirsty. These describe ones in society that we often see as deserving of their consequences, not blessed, lazy, or hosts of other views that are often used to excuse our lack of compassion and action. That is what the goats did. They refused to perform acts of service to the needy and help meet temporal needs.

Are you and I serving Christ in suchcapacity? I am not advocating a social gospel that only tries to meet temporal needs. However, I am also not advocating a gospel that ignores the temporal needs. If we are Christ's sheep, we will serve the "less desirable" because that honors Him. He condescended to save and serve the ungodly sinners of the world, which is what all of us are by nature.

If we believe we are better than serving such ones as described by Jesus, we are less like Christ and more like goats.
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The Danger of Self-Deception

1/3/2017

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The hardest type of deception to avoid is self-deception. One can be wary of others and refuse to be taken in by persuasive arguments. One can be suspicious of being duped and led astray when talking to people. However, when we believe lies we invent or refuse to heed or believe truth, we deceive ourselves.

In his epistle, James wrote, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers" (1:16). The next verse speaks to how we could easily deceive ourselves. James addresses a topic we must always keep in mind; everything good in our lives is a gift of God's grace to us.

James writes, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (1:17). This is a key verse that speaks to God's immutability, or His unchanging nature. He doesn't go through even the slightest or most minuscule change in nature. That should be a source of great joy to the Christian. It should also be a cause of terror to the one who refuses to repent of sin and wickedness.

The more relevant part of the verse I want to mention in this post is the fact of God's good and perfect gifts to us. The very term, "gift," speaks of grace. God gives good and perfect things. We do not earn them. We indeed cannot earn them. If God doesn't give grace, we will receive nothing but what we are owed. We are owed justice, and that would mean everlasting condemnation because we are sinners by nature. God is holy by nature and does not change, and He cannot change. The very fact that we are not in hell right now but enjoy life is a gift. All of the material, relational, spiritual, and all other types of blessings come to us as gifts.

James wants these Christians, "beloved brothers," to not become self-deceived by thinking God owes them anything. There is nothing any human can do to place God in debt. If God doesn't provide grace and mercy, all creation would be instantly consumed and condemned. He is reminding Christians here. This admonition is not to the unsaved!

However, because God is good, loving, gracious, and merciful, He extends good and perfect gifts through His Son. We do well to live in constant thanksgiving to Him and never think we earn or deserve anything.

This realization will help us avoid self-deception and live for the glory of God more because we call attention to His goodness.
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The Most Important Question

1/2/2017

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   The question that is the most pressing and crucial for humanity is this, “Who is Jesus?” Was He a mere man, or is He more? If Jesus was simply a rebel, self-deluded lunatic, teacher, or anything short of deity, then He is not worth much more than a simple reference to human social studies.

   However, if He is exactly who He claimed to be and who the biblical writers claimed, then He is worth nothing less than our full devotion and allegiance.

   Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus clearly claimed His deity and equality with the Father. Paul affirmed this in Colossians 1. The writer of Hebrews explicitly affirmed in as well.

   In Hebrews 1:1-4, we read, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”

   Do you see the words that unashamedly and unequivocally state His deity? The Son, is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact representation or imprint of His nature. 

   Christians understand that all God is and does is meant to show forth His glory, His beauty, His majesty, His goodness, etc. The way that His glory shines the brightest, in its fullest radiance, is in the Person and work of the Son, Jesus. If we are to see the pinnacle of the glory of God, we look no farther or any other place other than Jesus.

   Jesus is also the exact imprint of His nature. He is God in flesh. Jesus told His disciples if you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father (John 14:9). All (and I mean ever single one) attributes of the Father exist eternally in the Son. He is no less God than God the Father. 

   Only God clothed in flesh could offer the sacrifice for the sins of His people (Heb. 2:14). Only Jesus is the one true Mediator between God and Man (1 Tim. 2). No person comes to the Father other than by and through the Son (John 14:6). There is only one Name under heaven by which men must be saved (Acts 4:12). 

   If man is going to be saved from sin and reconciled to a holy God, it is only through Jesus, God clothed in flesh. This is why the question concerning Jesus is the most crucial mankind can ponder. 
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Striving for the Prize

1/1/2017

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"Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14

   At the beginning of a New Year, let's listen to how Paul describes his past efforts. Earlier in the chapter, he lauded the things he used to count as good or worthy. In verse 7, he concludes, "Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ."

   The idea is counting. It is reckoning. It is to do math. You add up what you had outside of Christ, compare it to what you have in Christ, and you see that all outside of Christ is loss and rubbish" (v.8). When engaging in accounting, you deal with numerical facts. Emotions and sentimentality do not come into play.

   As we move into 2017, let's not live in the "good things" or "bad things" of the past that were done or experienced apart from their relationship to Christ. Let us not become proud or conceited over those "good things." Let us not despair or become discouraged over the "bad things."

   In Christ, we are complete (Col. 2.) We have redemption in Him (Eph. 1). We have peace and reconciliation in Him (Rom. 5). We are justified in Him and have been glorified in Him (Rom. 8). We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heaven lies in Him (Eph. 1). We have all things that pertain to life and godliness through Christ (2 Pet. 1).

   All of these truths should make us thankful for the past but energize us, by the working of the Holy Spirit in us, to press on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus in the future. Let us run with endurance the race that is before us. We are to fix our eyes on Christ (Heb. 12).

   By God's grace may we run and stretch ourselves out toward that goal.
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Andy Stanley Sermon reviews by Chris Rosebrough - see Blog post below

2/15/2016

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The Need for Discernment

2/15/2016

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One of the greatest needs in the Church today is discernment. Just as Jesus and the Apostles warned, there are many false prophets and teachers. As Christians, we must be on guard against those that deceive with smooth sounding arguments. Many times these false teachings are encapsulated in the use of biblical sounding terms and phrases. However, a careful study of what is being propounded will show that it does not square with Scripture. Scripture is the ONLY infallible standard!

While I don't fashion myself as one of the "Watchdogs," I do try and bring warning about those who are gaining in popularity and influence. One of the ministries I have begun listening to and trying to keep up with is "Fighting for the Faith." It is the ministry of Chris Rosebrough. He is a Lutheran Pastor and examines much that is going on within Christendom today. He doesn't do it from a Lutheran perspective, but he constantly measures beliefs, statements, and sermons back to Scripture. He interacts with these sermons and teachings, and he examines them on his site.

I recently saw that he had examined two sermons from Andy Stanley. That is a name many of us know because of his father, the beloved Charles Stanley. Andy has risen highly within the Seeker Sensitive Church movement. His influence has grown in that approach and continues.

Chris Rosebrough played and interacted with two sermons that Andy preached and published. Andy said it was perhaps the most important series he had done, and Chris also points out the importance to know what Andy is teaching.

I told Southside just last evening (02/14/16) it would be in their best interest to not listen to Andy Stanley or seek influence from his ministry. I admit I haven't listened to Andy Stanley or none that espouse similar views because I wholeheartedly reject the Seeker Driven emphasis and style of ministry. However I know the temptation to hear the name of Andy Stanley and assume all he teaches is good because of the sentimental feelings many have for his father.

After listening to the first sermon (posted below), I wholly contend that Andy Stanley's approach to ministry and emphasis are not biblical. I have yet to listen to the second sermon but will be doing so within the next few days.

I would encourage you to listen to these sermons and heed what Chris Rosebrough is demonstrating as he interacts with these sermons. More of Chris Rosebrough's resources can be found on the website:

http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/
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The Enemy's Tactics

1/2/2016

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In Genesis 3 the record of mankind's fall into sin is recorded. There is a great deal of truth contained in this chapter, and the way to consider it is an in-depth study. I will leave that to the reader.

I do want to consider just a few aspects from this record to see that the serpent, Satan, has not really altered his attacks against God's people. Why should he? His strategy continues to be effective. We must, therefore, know our inherent weakness and his tactics. We cannot gain victory in our strength for sure. The victory is given to us by Christ through faith. The question is, "Faith in what?"

Genesis 3 begins by telling us that the serpent was the most crafty creature God made. He approached Eve, instead of Adam. He didn't do that because Eve was defective or Adam was better. God has created a covenant relationship where the man was (and still is) the head of the marriage. Paul expounds on this in Ephesians 5. Eve did not defer to her husband, and her husband did not step up at be the leader. They both failed. It appears Adam was present during this exchange (see verse 6).

After circumventing God's plan, Satan raises doubts in Eve's mind about God's word. "Did God REALLY say," is the attack he takes. He makes her question the content of God's commands as well as her understanding and recollection of it. He makes her faith in the content of God's word begin to totter. God's word should be questioned and not trusted.

Eve does confess what God said, but she adds to it. Some see this as indicative of how we always want to add to God's word instead of seeing it as totally sufficient. At this point, there is no longer the word alone, but human reason has been added to it, at least in theory. God's plan has been circumvented, and His promise is brought into question. Satan has set her up for the final assault. She no longer trusts God's plan or His commands.

Satan moves in for the kill. Eve repeated the warning from God about death for disobeying His stipulation. Satan flatly contradicts God's word. He tells the woman that God lied. He wasn't telling them the truth. His word couldn't be trusted. His promise was untrue because of a character flaw.

Satan claimed God was "insecure" and was trying to keep the benefits of deity to Himself. If Eve ate of the forbidden tree, she would become like God. God would no longer be necessary. Eve could determine right and wrong for herself, and she would have all knowledge necessary for life. God was hindering that. Satan attacked the holy Person of God. He denied HIs glory, and Eve believed the serpent.

Mankind was plunged into sin, and it would take a sovereign, amazingly glorious work of God to redeem man (Gen. 3:15). Jesus is the fulfillment of that first promise of the Gospel. He alone redeems from the curse of sin.

The attack of the evil one is always to circumvent God's plan, make us distort and not trust in God's promises in His word, and question or doubt God's Person. Sometimes the distinctions are so subtle that they are bound together. If Satan attacks those areas, which he does, the only true object of our faith, God Himself, is questioned.


Ask God for the grace to trust His Self-Revelation and the glorious redemption He promised and produced in Christ.

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The loving heart of an actual living Christ! - JC Ryle

8/4/2015

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I am afraid that many Christians in our day have lost sight of Christ. They talk . . .
  more about salvation--than about their only Savior, and
  more about redemption--than the one true Redeemer, and
  more about Christ's work--than Christ Himself!

This is a great fault--one that accounts for the dry and shriveled spirit that infuses the religious lives of many who profess faith. As ever you would grow in grace, and have joy and peace in believing--beware of falling into this error!

Cease to regard the Gospel as a mere collection of dry doctrines. Look at it rather as the revelation of a mighty living Being in whose sight you are daily to live. 

Cease to regard the Gospel as a mere set of abstract propositions and abstruse principles and rules. Look at it as the introduction to a glorious personal Friend.

This is the kind of Gospel that the apostles preached. They did not go about the world telling men of love and mercy and pardon in the abstract. The leading subject of all their sermons, was the loving heart of an actual living Christ!

This is the kind of Gospel which is most calculated to promote sanctification and fitness for glory. Nothing, surely, is so likely to prepare us for that Heaven where Christ's personal presence will be all, and that glory where we shall meet Christ face to face--as to realize communion with Christ as an actual living Person. There is all the difference in the world, between an idea and aperson!
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There has been too much trifling with Jehovah! - Archibald Brown (1894)

8/4/2015

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"Then I answered and said: Amen, O Lord!" Jeremiah 11:5 [Or, So be it, O Lord.] 

Perhaps there is a secret contention going on between you and God. God has spoken to you--but thus far there has not been Jeremiah's response of 'Amen, O Lord.'

Here you have the one response which a man of God must ever make to the words of God. When God says anything to him, there is nothing left for him but to bow the head and say,'Amen, O Lord--so be it!' 

This response is the only one that suits a creature's lip. 
When God speaks--there is nothing left for man but to hear. 
When God decrees--there is nothing for man to do but acquiesce. 
When Jehovah gives a command--what is there left for His creature to do but obey? 
Any other word than 'Amen' springs from rebellion. Any other response to the word of Jehovah, simply tells of a heart that wars with God. 

It is not for men to judge God's words, far less to amend them. If it pleases Jehovah to say anything, no matter how stern, how dreadful, or how searching--there is only one position for man: that is to bow his head and say, 'Amen, O Lord.'

'Oh,' says one, in the proud spirit of our times, 'you are making a bold bid for your God this morning.' 

I am. The sovereignty of God needs to be brought to the front. There has been too muchtrifling with Jehovah! Man needs to have the peacock's feathers plucked out of his cap, and be taught that he is a poor little nothing, and that for God to speak to him at all is infinite condescension, and that for him to say anything else than 'Amen' is boundless impudence!

If God condescends to utter a command, am I to go and judge whether the Lord has a right to say it? Shall I take the word of Jehovah my Maker and weigh it in my scales--and bring up his thoughts to the paltry bar of my fallen reason--and enter my protest unless I can see a good reason for God speaking as He does? 

When God promulgates a decree, He does not send it to man to be revised.

His claim is this, "I am Jehovah. I, the Lord, speak that which is right, and let man say: Amen, O Lord." 

We are living in the days of the deification of humanity. We hear so much about 'the glory of humanity', and 'the triumphs of humanity'--that God has become little better than a very inferior deity who runs after man and tips His cap to him. 

This is not the picture which God's Book gives. God's claim is this, "I am the Lord, and you are but the creatures of My hand. The brightest of My angels are but sparks struck off from the anvil of My creative omnipotence. When I speak, let men and angels be silent; or, if they must speak, let them say: Amen, O Lord!" This is the only the response that suits a creature's lip.

If you can conceive of a being who is . . .
  infinitely wise,
  all-powerful,
  infinitely righteous,
  absolutely holy,
  inflexibly just, 
and all gathered up into boundless love--that is God. 

If such a One speaks--then what is there left for me but to say, 'Amen'? I am stark, raving mad, if I dare question the utterance of Infinite Wisdom. I am unutterably vile, if I can dare tocriticize the utterance of Absolute Love. Idiocy must have taken hold of my brain and, alas! of my heart, if I would amend anything which His infinite holiness has declared. The very nature and character of God declare that the only response for man when God speaks, is 'Amen, O Lord.'

Oh, for that grand attitude of resignation and submission to God, that bows before every word of God--whether it be a silver note of mercy from Heaven, or a thunder-clap of denunciation!

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A spiritual playpen where the crying babies must be appeased! - Joseph Bianchi

8/4/2015

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In the twenty-first century, we are obsessed with self-satisfaction and getting our desires met. Hence, any teaching that invades our lifestyle and tells us we must alter or discard out old habits, is usually consigned to the junk pile. In so thinking and doing, the church has been transformed into a spiritual playpen where the crying babies must be appeased with what makes them feel good.

The Evangelical world is abuzz with terms like "purpose driven church" or "seeker friendly church". What these terms really amount to is one thing: compromise. 

The goal of churches should not be to see how much like the world they can be, so as to make worldly people feel comfortable. Rather, the churches should be so unlike the world, so alien to the world, that the disillusioned unbeliever will be drawn to them.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
 For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
 Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? 
 What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
 
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? 
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."  "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."  "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-1
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