Philippians 4:4-13
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; (Don’t worry about anything.) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
King James Version
The apostle Paul wrote these touching words to the church at Philippi. We know a number of things about this church which might not even have come to be had God not sent new instructions to him in a dream. Paul had been planning an evangelization trip to northern Galatia, but it seemed that nothing was working out and he had a vivid dream while he was still at Troas. In this dream, he saw a man from Philippi who beconed to him to come there. He wasted no time in making preparations and boarding a ship sailing there.
All who trace their origins to Europe should be thankful that he did, for this was the very first church to be planted in Europe. The first converts were Lydia and her staff followed a few days later by the Jailer and his household. From this small beginning grew a church which flourished; a church which apparently remembered Paul for the rest of his life, sending time and again to his aid when they had the opportunity. Note his words, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.” In another Place Paul speaks of sending greetings to the church which met in Lydia’s home. These people cared, and shared that others also might be blessed.
Paul blesses them for their “moderation.” They were not carried away to extremes; not fanatical at one moment, and neglectful at others. In other words, they were not led by their emotions, but by the Spirit of God, who works from the heart to change the whole being. This whole portion of his letter is a praise and thanks giving for the genuine way in which they are showing the faith that dwells within them. This is what the Lord wants us all to be like.
These were not like the Corinthians who battled with many problems, and this letter is not at all like the letters that Paul wrote to them. We need both letters, one to encourage us in how we should live, and the other how not to live.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
HOW TO SPOT A FALSE TEACHER.
If one would serve the Lord, he must first know what His teachings are. A red letter New Testament makes this abundantly clear in that the words of Jesus are printed in red ink. This makes it impossible to miss his teachings. It was to these words, and of course the entire New Testament, that he was referring when he said, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19-20. Words to the same effect are also found in Mark 16:15,16.These were the closing words of Jesus‘ three year ministry. Three things stand out in this the “Great Commission.” They are, his followers teach, what they are to teach, and what to expect of those who believe what they have been taught. These all depend on the divinity of Jesus, that he is the Christ, the divine only begotten Son of God. Romans assures us that faith comes of hearing the Word of God, and when Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, Jesus pointed out that this knowledge came of God. So it does with all who confess this fact. Let us also keep in mind the thought, “No man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
Having said this, let us consider our teat for today.
2 John 1:9-11
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Again three facts stand out in these verses, but not in the order that we want to consider them. Verse eleven tells us that any teacher who does not believe and teach these same, red letter, teachings of Christ, is evil and not to be listened to. In fact so much so, that we are instructed not to receive him into our house, or even bid him God’s speed. Why?, because his message is not of God, therefore it is evil. What is not of God is of this world, and Satan is the prince of this world. Recall that Satan offered Jesus the world, you might say, “on a platter” if he would just bow down and worship him. Again, recall that we read in Job, when God asked Satan where he had been, he replied that he had been walking back and forth on earth. He had been looking over his people like a farmer goes out and walks back and forth looking over the crop he has planted. Do we wonder that believers can never be completely at home on this earth?
A false teacher, does not believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. As soon as he says Jesus is a god, and believes that Jesus and Satan are brothers, we know that he is false. If a would be teacher comes to your door, before you welcome him or her, make sure that he or she believes that Jesus is the Son of God, and not a son of a god. That distinction is crucial and will cause the recruiters of two major cults suddenly remembering that they have another appointment and their quick departure. God’s messengers use God’s Word, not the writings of men, and they believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ His Son and are obeying Him in sharing that truth. It is the solid rock upon which the whole church is built.
Having said this, let us consider our teat for today.
2 John 1:9-11
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Again three facts stand out in these verses, but not in the order that we want to consider them. Verse eleven tells us that any teacher who does not believe and teach these same, red letter, teachings of Christ, is evil and not to be listened to. In fact so much so, that we are instructed not to receive him into our house, or even bid him God’s speed. Why?, because his message is not of God, therefore it is evil. What is not of God is of this world, and Satan is the prince of this world. Recall that Satan offered Jesus the world, you might say, “on a platter” if he would just bow down and worship him. Again, recall that we read in Job, when God asked Satan where he had been, he replied that he had been walking back and forth on earth. He had been looking over his people like a farmer goes out and walks back and forth looking over the crop he has planted. Do we wonder that believers can never be completely at home on this earth?
A false teacher, does not believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. As soon as he says Jesus is a god, and believes that Jesus and Satan are brothers, we know that he is false. If a would be teacher comes to your door, before you welcome him or her, make sure that he or she believes that Jesus is the Son of God, and not a son of a god. That distinction is crucial and will cause the recruiters of two major cults suddenly remembering that they have another appointment and their quick departure. God’s messengers use God’s Word, not the writings of men, and they believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ His Son and are obeying Him in sharing that truth. It is the solid rock upon which the whole church is built.
Friday, August 8, 2008
WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?
Matthew 16:13-19
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jesus was well aware that people had many different opinions as to who he was. Ask that question of the man on the street today, and you would also get a variety of answers. In fact you could ask that question of the men in the pulpits of America and you would still get a number of different answers. They would range from those who would say, “He never existed. It is all a fairy tale.”. To, “ He was a great teacher,” “He was the founder of a religion.” And a few, would perhaps answer, “He is the Son of God.” Yes, Jesus was aware of what they were saying then, as he is today. What he wanted was that his disciples would put into words, what they believed about him.
Peter spoke for them all when he said, “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.” Peter did not hesitate to speak on behalf of them all. He was a natural leader, even then. Unfortunately at that stage he was still very unstable in his own faith. Still, he knew what he believed and did not hesitate to put it into words. This was the same Peter who not many days afterwards would waver in faith to such an extent that on the night of Jesus’ betrayal he would deny, not once but three times in quick sequence, that he did not even knew Him. Realizing what he had done, he repented with bitter tears. If only men would follow that example, rather than covering up, or denying their weakness. This confession, one that Christians are all called upon to make not once but frequently, came of God the father and not of Peter himself. Faith comes of hearing the Word, and not of ourselves. God still speaks to us and brings a change of heart though his Word, the Bible. Many clergy, have many degrees after their names, but their knowledge has come from books of men, and not of the one Book of God. They know what men had concluded about the Bible, but not the Author back of the “scribe” He used to record the inspired, “God breathed” Word. Jesus said this came of God, the Father.
I would be error not to mention the wonderful line, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He clearly points out that Peter is as a small pebble indeed, “petros,” and not the solid (rock-mass,) or “petra,” on which the church is firmly founded. The indestructible church, is founded on the fact of the divinity of Christ, the Son of God. Any group which denies the divinity of Christ, is not the indestructible church and body of Christ. This statement of the faith of Christians and a part of their conversion and witness, will prevail until he comes again to call them home.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jesus was well aware that people had many different opinions as to who he was. Ask that question of the man on the street today, and you would also get a variety of answers. In fact you could ask that question of the men in the pulpits of America and you would still get a number of different answers. They would range from those who would say, “He never existed. It is all a fairy tale.”. To, “ He was a great teacher,” “He was the founder of a religion.” And a few, would perhaps answer, “He is the Son of God.” Yes, Jesus was aware of what they were saying then, as he is today. What he wanted was that his disciples would put into words, what they believed about him.
Peter spoke for them all when he said, “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.” Peter did not hesitate to speak on behalf of them all. He was a natural leader, even then. Unfortunately at that stage he was still very unstable in his own faith. Still, he knew what he believed and did not hesitate to put it into words. This was the same Peter who not many days afterwards would waver in faith to such an extent that on the night of Jesus’ betrayal he would deny, not once but three times in quick sequence, that he did not even knew Him. Realizing what he had done, he repented with bitter tears. If only men would follow that example, rather than covering up, or denying their weakness. This confession, one that Christians are all called upon to make not once but frequently, came of God the father and not of Peter himself. Faith comes of hearing the Word, and not of ourselves. God still speaks to us and brings a change of heart though his Word, the Bible. Many clergy, have many degrees after their names, but their knowledge has come from books of men, and not of the one Book of God. They know what men had concluded about the Bible, but not the Author back of the “scribe” He used to record the inspired, “God breathed” Word. Jesus said this came of God, the Father.
I would be error not to mention the wonderful line, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He clearly points out that Peter is as a small pebble indeed, “petros,” and not the solid (rock-mass,) or “petra,” on which the church is firmly founded. The indestructible church, is founded on the fact of the divinity of Christ, the Son of God. Any group which denies the divinity of Christ, is not the indestructible church and body of Christ. This statement of the faith of Christians and a part of their conversion and witness, will prevail until he comes again to call them home.
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