NEVER OUT OF TOUCH

Ephesians 3:14-21 (King James Version)

It is really a disturbing feeling to be traveling on a six lane freeway and suddenly have the engine of the car accelerate at the same time the vehicle slows to a stop! Thanks to God we happened to be in the outer lane and there was room to coast into a turn-off for a junction. Thanks also to the two young men who rushed to our assistance and helped this 81 year old man push the useless vehicle into a near by parking lot. Having a cell phone, we were able to phone for an AAA tow truck. I will return to that later, but it was reassuring that the owner had painted on the back of his cab in giant words, “DESERT STORM , JESUS SAVES.” Jesus not only saves, but he is never out of touch to his own. God was looking after us, and we were certainly, in a “storm,” symbolically speaking.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul assures his brothers and sisters:

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (1 John 3:10)

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; (Romans 8:9, 1 Cor. 12:13) that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

God so loved us that he has provided for us thro his Son whom we “put on” or receive at the time of our Baptism, a means of reaching himself. (Matthew 22:37-39, 1 John 4:9-12, and 1 John 4:19-24)

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints (Romans 5:5, John 13:34-35) what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

This comes as a gift to all saints, that is all Christians. All who have put on Christ at their baptism, through faith.

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

As we prepared to leave the parking lot, the driver entered the street address of our destination into his electronic navigator, which it interpreted as latitude and longitude. From there on he pretty much ignored the voice which gave definite and clear instructions. Every time we ignored an instruction, the navigator refigured and changed the directions to an alternate route. Christ gives us divine direction, but these reach us not only by latitude and longitude, but also depth, as he did Jonah in depth of the sea, under very uncomfortable conditions, but also by height, as he did Neil Armstrong as he stepped out onto the surface of the moon. Whether trapped a mile beneath the surface in the deepest mine, or in a space craft, God is there. His love reaches us, and we, need never be out of touch.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

PROPHESIES FULFILLED

I am introducing a series which naturally begins with his birth. Also, there so many prophecies that are fulfilled by these few facts. These link the two testaments and show its accuracy in every detail.

We know that the Gospel of Matthew was written with the Jewish nation in mind because of these many prophecies that had been made many years before. The non-Jewish world was not aware of these, but every person of Jewish descent was. They were a part of the fabric of their lives. It was through these prophecies that God prepared this nation for the coming of the Messiah.

Matthew 1:18-25 (King James Version)

18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”

Matthew 2:24 tells us that all of this was foretold by the prophet.

Herod was troubled about this prophecy for he was king at that time. This same prophet had also told where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem of Judah, just a few miles from his very throne! “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”

Herod being who he was, the Lord warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt to save him, and to fulfill the prophecy “Out of Egypt have I called my Son.” God had brought this family from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so that Jesus might be born there, and then instructed them to flee to Egypt so that, he could be called back to return to Nazareth that he might begin his ministry from Nazareth, “and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.“ Matthew 2:23.

God still puts his servants where He plans to use them today.

In so doing, he saved Jesus from the destruction that Herod sent on the whole area of Ramah. “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:18, a fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15.

Before he began his ministry in Galilee, Jesus went to seek John the Baptist that he might be baptized by him. John was preaching there also in fulfillment of a prophesy from Isaiah, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Isaiah 11:2, 42:1.

In the first three chapters of Matthew, there are ten prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, that are all fulfilled. And they came to be!

HOW WE OUGHT TO BE LIVING IN THE FAITH

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.

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.

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.

IN THE LATTER TIMES

Keeping in mind that the Apostle Paul when he spoke of the “latter times” meant the times from the beginning of the church until the Lord returns to judge the earth, we look at most of them as history today. We have the ability to look back over the recorded history of man and to see that what he said was true, and is even more so today. A news paper or news presentation on either radio or television is like reading the fulfillment of these words One can not deny that faith is under the attack of seducing spirits that speak lies as glibly, and perhaps more often than truth. In the book written to the Romans we are told that faith cometh of hearing and hearing of the Word of God. That being so, how many people bother to read for themselves from the Word. Most are content to permit someone else explain the Scriptures for them. The Ethiopian invited Philip to sit with him in his chariot and explain what he was reading, but how many people are willing to do that today?

I am a believer in blogging, but I must confess that as I read an exchange of comments in a blog recently, I was sickened at both the comments and the replies. Both were in error, neither turned to the Word of God the Father. The Christian’s marching orders are to “teach all nations whatsoever I have commanded you.” Don’t ignore the words, “whatsoever I have commanded you.” Paul refers back to this in verses six and seven below. Compressing the thought, a good teacher, knows the words “of faith and good doctrine,” refusing “old wives fables.” He is confident of his faith, because it is the result of his knowledge of the Word of God. He shares it, because that is what a Christian does.
Because he knows the Word, he recognizes and rejects false doctrines

1 Timothy 4:1-11

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Paul points out that bodily exercise is good, but there is something that is far more important. At the age of eighty, my wife and I both try to go to the exercise room daily in our community where we use the stationary cycle for a simulated hilly five miles, and I set the machines for fifty pounds resistance and do about a dozen various arm, chest, and leg exercises. These take perhaps a half an hour, but the really important appointment, the one we start the day with, is our early morning walk in the open, topped off by our morning reading and devotional time with the Lord.

8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

11 These things command and teach.

(KJV)

EVEN OUR DOG KNOWS HOW TO PRAY

She knows who loves her and cares for her.

Every domestic animal knows where to go to find food and water. It may be simply a time of the day. In the afternoon the cattle all start their way in from the pasture. It may be the sound of the refrigerator door opening, or the whirr of the can opener, but the cats are right there rubbing the leg of their benefactor. Peaches knew who loved her. They all came to their provider every day. Jesus said, “Pray without ceasing.*”

She knew exactly where to go.

to the right place, God said, “Go to your inner room, shut the door, and there pray to God alone.*” Too often we don’t shut out the things of the world. We leave the television and radio going, or perhaps those are off, they do have off buttons you know, but we don’t shut the world out of our minds, even in the content of the prayer itself. How many times has our prayer been mostly, “Please God.” How infrequently, “Praise be to you Father,” “Thank you God,” “Hallellujah,” “What would you have me do?”

She knew to catch and hold her god’s full attention. She would come, sit up “eye to eye” in front of him and then to put her paws together in a beseeching attitude, perhaps adding a little “yip” if she was not being noticed sufficiently. Too often we like Peter, as Jesus was facing his coming crucifixion, fall asleep. We have God’s attention, let us give Him ours.

* Please note, the scriptures are paraphrased.