ABOUT
In Proverbs 2 the wisdom from God’s Word is likened to Hidden Treasures. The more time we spend in His Word, the more treasures we find. The greatest Treasure we can find is Christ Himself, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3 Until we know Christ personally, spiritual truth is hidden from us. It is foolishness to us according to I Corinthians 2:9-11
I encourage you to discover God’s greatest Gift to you, the Lord Jesus Christ. You’ll find Him throughout this web site. God’s Spirit, who comes to live in you when you receive Christ as your Saviour and surrender to Him as your Lord, will unlock the Treasure Chest of His Word to you.
RECENT POSTS
Sunday mornings we’re preaching through the Gospel of Luke. We are currently in chapter 21 which deals with the OLIVET DISCOURSE, Jesus’ conversation with His Disciples concerning the future..
We are presently preaching through Philippians on Sunday evenings. Watch this category for the latest message from Philippians 2:14-15 “Stop Complaining!”
Go to FATHER category for my recent Father’s Day message, “A Father’s Responsibility”
For the relationship of theogical Liberalism to political Liberalism and Socialism, go to category LIBERALISM.
For a life-changing experience, I challenge you to go through our series on BEATITUDES
Planning to get married or struggling with yours? Get off to a good start. Take time now with your spouse-to-be to read and discuss together our series on MARRIAGE, on the VIRTUOUS WOMAN and on DIVORCE.
Having problems raising your kids? Read the series on FAMILY. You don’t have to experience “the terrible twos” nor “teen rebellion”.
For my biographical sketch go to MY TESTIMONY. To learn how God has used others to touch my life through the years, go to INFLUENCE.
Often in my reading, I come across outstanding, sometimes life-changing thoughts that beg to be shared. See GEMS category for the list.
See A MERRY HEART for much more than a smile.
HOW TO GAIN THE MOST FROM THESE STUDIES
I encourage you to approach these studies prayerfully, as you should studies from any preacher or Bible teacher, asking God for discernment to distinguish truth from error. Use your Bible as you check the references scattered throughout these articles.
You may not agree with everything I have written. That’s fine. I don’t totally agree with every preacher I read; however, I have found that those who hold to the inspiration and infallibility of the Bible and to the deity of The Lord Jesus Christ and love Christ and His spiritual Body, the Church, and are intent on building up the Body of Christ and not seeking to divide it; usually have something worthwhile to share with me.
It’s my prayer that this web site will be a blessing to you and that God will use it to draw people to Christ, encourage fellow Christians and be a help to faithful preachers. If you find this site a blessing to you, I encourage you to share it with others.
COPYRIGHTS
Anything I have written in HIDDEN TREASURES may be copied and used for the glory of God. If someone should misuse it, they can answer to God for that.
“What? Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God and you are not your own; for you are bought with the price, (the precious blood of Jesus). Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 Christians have no rights but to live for Christ and be a blessing to others.
Jesus sent His disciples out to serve Him, saying to them, “Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:8
“The things that you have received of me, the same commit to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.” Paul taught young Timothy in II Timothy 2:2. So the truths that I have learned from reading and studying the Bible and from the works of faithful men of God, have become a part of me and I pass them on to you.
My greatest joy will be to learn one day in Heaven that the things God has taught me through faithful men and women have been passed on to multitudes around the world. Who cares who gets the credit as long as souls are saved, Christians are edified and Christ is glorified.?
Mal Bicker
Pastor of Alameda Bible Church since 1990
Albuquerque, NM
GEMS
As I read books and listen to preachers and others speak, occasionally I read or hear a gem of truth that is so outstanding and powerful that it merits being remembered and shared with others. Watch this link for new gems as I unearth them.
A MERRY HEART
A reader of this blog recently asked the question, “What is a merry heart?” The dictionary defines merry as “exhibiting high spirits or lightness of heart.” At Christmas time we wish one another a “Merry Christmas.”
We’re all familiar with the truth of Proverbs 17:22, whether we’ve ever read the verse or not, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” That is a true physical fact of life.
The world seeks to be merry by trying to forget about the burdens of life and the certainty of death by drowning such thoughts with constant music, entertainment, alcohol and drugs; anything to crowd out the serious thoughts of life and death.
The desperately sad truth is that a person without Christ Jesus lives a living death. a living hell. Any merriment is strictly superficial. Christ is the only source of life. Those without Christ abide in death. Read the short epistle of I John on this matter. I John is a little book just before the last two books of the Bible, Jude and Revelation.
Those who receive Christ as Saviour, do not receive eternal life (God’s life) when we die. We receive it the moment we are born again by the Spirit of God. The Christian has eternal life the moment He puts his trust in Christ as his Saviour. When we die, we simply slip from our bodies and continue to live forever with Christ. The departure from our bodies is only temporary. I Corinthians 15 tells of how when Christ returns for us, we will be joined to our bodies once again, but the difference is, they will be glorified, perfect, sinless bodies in which we will enjoy Christ and one another for eternity.
The following jokes may give you a laugh, but they will not give you a merry heart. Only God can do that and He gives His gift of a merry heart to anyone who will turn from his sins to Christ, who died on a cross and rose from the dead three days later to pay the penalty for our sins and give us the gift of eternal life.
If you are tired of superficiality, or trying to put on a happy face, I invite you to trust Christ right now. He will give you a “joy unspeakable and full of glory”. I Peter 1:8
Though becoming a Christian is a life and death decision, and though living for Christ is a serious matter, No Christian has any business going through life with a miserable scowl and a miserable, pessimistic, depressed attitude about life. We, of all people, have the joy of the Lord bubbling up from the depths of our being, even in times of sorrow. if you do not have a joyful heart; I invite you to admit you are a lost, sinner, helpless to change your life. Invite Jesus to be your Saviour and Lord this day.
The following are some clean jokes that have been shared with me. I share them with you with the hopes they will brighten your day.
Stop Complaining!
We live in a self-indulgent society where complaining is in style. We complain about everything: the weather, food, traffic, long lines and any circumstances that doesn’t go the way we planned. The more we have, the more we complain. The more we make of self-esteem, the more we feed this wicked, ugly sin. I wonder if we are aware of the fact that when we complain about our surroundings and circumstances, we are complaining against God who has full control of our circumstances?
Complaining has been around since the beginning of time. The first man, Adam, complained to God about the wife God had given him. Gen. 3:12
Cain complained, when punished by God, that his punishment was more than he could bear. Gen. 4:13
Though a very patient man, Moses complained to God in Exodus 5:15-23.
Miriam and Aaron complained against their brother, Moses, whom God had appointed deliverer and leader over Israel. Numbers 12:1-15
Job who experienced some of the severest testing almost beyond endurance; complained, as we read in Job 7. However, James records in James 5:7-11 that God saw Job as a patient man.
COMPLAINING IS CONTAGIOUS
When I was a student at Bob Jones University back in the mid ’50’s, there was a sign in every dorm room right over the door. “No griping tolerated! Constructive suggestions appreciated.” I don’t recall being a griper, but if I had any thoughts about griping about anything, that put the fear of God in me as far as griping was concerned then and even now, 53 years later.
As you read through Exodus and Numbers, you read repeatedly of how Israel griped and complained and how God dealt with that sin. It wasn’t long after Israel had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground and had seen the Egyptians army that followed them drowned, before they were griping about their need for food and water and were complaining against Moses’ leadership.
Miriam, Moses’ sister, led some of that complaining and found herself a leper. God in His mercy, heard Moses’ prayer for her and healed her.
In Number 13 and 14, we read of how twelve spies were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. You may remember the Joshua and Caleb came back with a good report of faith assuring the people that they could conquer the enemies and possess the land. The other ten spies brought back an evil, negative report that the enemies were too strong for them and they could not conquer the land God had given to them.
As a result of the negative report of the ten spies, as recorded in Numbers 13 and 14, all Israel believed them and rejected God’s command to invade the land and conquer it. As a result the older generation of Israelites spent the next forty years wandering in the wilderness until they had all died. The younger generation followed Joshua’s leadership and entered and conquered the land.
One spine chilling account in Numbers 16 tells us of three men: Dathan, Abiram and Korah, who complained against Moses’ leadership. Read in this chapter how God separated all Israel from these three men and their families and then opened the earth under them and swallowed them up alive with all their families and possessions. Next time you are tempted to complain against your faithful Bible preaching pastor, remember Dathan, Abiram and Korah.
COMPLAINING AND GRIPING IS SIN
In Romans 9 we learn that God, as our Creator, has the wisdom and the right to make us as He sees fit with our strengths and weaknesses for His own purpose. We have no right to complain or question Him. Complaining over our lot in life is simply complaining against the God who has full control of all our circumstances. It is evidence of our distrust in God.
HOW TO HAVE VICTORY OVER A COMPLAINING SPIRIT
Psalm 77 teaches us that the way to overcome a complaining spirit is to remember the goodness of God. That brings us to our text, Philippians 2:12-15. As we work out the salvation that God has worked in us, let us do it without murmuring and complaining. As we do the right thing, let us be careful to keep a good attitude and avoid complaining; otherwise, our good works are less than worthless. James 5:7-11 teaches us the same thing. Don’t complain and don’t hold grudges. Christ the judge is standing at the door, ready to return. Are you ready to meet Him? Is your attitude what it ought to be?
OUR SILENT GOD
Solomon’s temple, one of the architectural wonders of the world, was built silently. According to I Kings 6:1-7 there were no sounds of iron tools such as hammers, chisels, etc. All the measuring and cutting of stones was done at the quarry. The temple went up at the building site in total silence as the men put the pre-measured, pre-cut stones into their proper places.
Is this just mere trivia? Not at all. Nothing about the Bible is trivial. Everything is for a reason. There’s something intriguing about this silence. It tells us something about God and of how He works. Consider
OUR SILENT GOD
The universe moves in its orbit in total silence. The sun rises and sets in total silence. At the Grand Canyon and other marvelous natural wonders, the hushed silence is noticeable as people ponder God’s creation.
Oh yes, there is the occasional roar of thunder and lightening storms, of tornadoes and hurricanes and other natural disasters. That’s all part of the curse of sin on this earth. So are the angry screams and roarings of anger and rage as sinful people vent their sinful hearts.
Babies are formed silently in the womb. They continue to grow from infancy to old age, all in silence. All of God’s creation moves through time and space in total silence.
Though God moves and acts in silence; the redeemed respond in worship and praise in a great variety of beautiful melodious and harmonious music to God and in joyful fellowship with Him and with one another.
By contrast there is the mind-numbing dissonant cacophony of discord and confusion in hell’s music.
As one who loves God-glorifying music, I can’t wait to hear and participate in its variety and perfection in Heaven.
In the midst of God’s silence, when it seems as though nothing good is happening and God is not answering our prayers; we can take comfort that God is at work in our lives and working all things together for our good.
Listen to the third stanza of the Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem as it speaks to us of Christ’s coming into this world.
“How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is given.
So God impart to human heart the blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin;
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.”
As physical growth takes place silently in the body of a child who eats, drinks, exercises and rests; so spiritual growth occurs silently in those who feed on His Word and surrender to His will.
In this message, consider the silence of:
1. Worshiping God
2. Serving God
3, Effecting change in individuals, churches, nations and the world.
THE SILENCE OF WORSHIP
Habakkuk 2:20 instructs us regarding worship, ”The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” Reverential silence is to be desired in worship. It’s not that there should be a funeral-like silence in the church; but a respectful, reverential silence is often missing.
There is a place in worship for loud, joyful, Biblically-based, instrumental and vocal music as David describes it in the Psalms, some of which are Psalm 33:3, 66:1-2, 81:1-3, 95:1-3, 98:4-9, 100. Quiet, peaceful music that turns our thoughts to reflecting on Christ and what He means to us also has a place in worship.
Not only should we joyfully sing from our hearts, but we should reach out in Christian fellowship to others in genuine love, warmth and friendliness.
Let us show respectful, reverential treatment of our church property, including our rest rooms, sanctuary and hymn books. At the same time, keep in mind that our bodies are the true sanctuary in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. As much as it is important to take care of our church sanctuary, it is even more important that we recognize our bodies as the true sanctuary and holy property of God, as I Corinthians 6 teaches.
The highest form of worship takes place silently in our hearts as we worship the Lord in Spirit and as He prepares our hearts for the Truth of His Word, the Bible. John 4:24
Certainly singing hymns and choruses from a wicked, rebellious heart is blasphemous, according to Amos 5:21-24.
THE SILENCE OF DOING GOD’S WORK
As Isaiah prophesied of Jesus’ ministry in Isaiah 42:1-4, Jesus ministered quietly. He was not a rabble-rouser. Though we are to always be ready to share the Gospel; our witness is empowered by the silent witness of a consistent godly life. If we are failing to live it, it would be better to be silent about our love for Christ, because our hypocrisy brings shame to His name.
Paul writes in II Thessalonians 3:11-12 that we are to mind our own business as we do our own work quietly. Jesus gives a wonderful description of the attitudes of the Christian life in His Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-16. For more on this, go to my link, Beatitudes, on this web site.
God’s work takes time, energy and commitment; however, we must avoid frenzied activity. Yes, we get physically tired and emotionally drained, but in our weakness, He promises His strength. Read some of the wonderful promises upon which we can rest in our times of weariness. Isaiah 40:29-31, 30:15, Zechariah 4:6 and Matthew 11:28-30.
THE SILENCE OF EFFECTIVNG POLITICAL CHANGE
The political situation in American and throughout the world today is not encouraging, to say the least.
I am convinced from Scripture that my calling as a preacher is not to get caught up in politics and political and social causes. I believe that through my faithful preaching of the Word and magnifying Christ, I can quietly be used of God to effect changes in values and thus changes in political thinking as changed people seek political leaders who best reflect their changed values.
As Christians are grounded in God’s Word, they become like King David’s mighty men described in I Chronicles 12:15-40 Note especially verse 32 as the men of Issachar are described. They were men who “had an understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do.”
God is not impressed with big crowds nor majorities. In fact, God does not get the biggest crowds in this world today. The devil does. He not only gets the biggest crowds, but he also makes the most noise. We accomplish nothing by trying to out-shout him.
God still speaks with a “still small voice.” I Kings 19:11-12
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
“Stand in awe and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Psalm 4:4
Our strength in times of trouble is to sit still. Isaiah 30:1-7
We are to study to learn to be quiet before God. I Thessalonians 4:11.
We are to pray for our leaders that we may enjoy a peaceable and quiet life. I Timothy 2:1-2
A woman’s greatest strength is her “meek and quiet spirit”. I Peter 3:4
How does God change our nation? Quietly without any big show or loud commotion as we Christians get right with God. II Chronicles 7:14
Why Teens Leave Church
Why are teens leaving our churches in droves?
Please take time to listen to The State of our Nation by Dr. Ken Ham of Creation Research as he deals with the spiritual crisis in our nation and presents the only answer to that crisis.
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=122768640055&h=ULyhp&u=wqrge&ref=mf
Persecution of Christians
Jesus in His Olivet Discourse is teaching His disciples future events leading up to His return to reign on this earth for a Millennium. Luke 21:27-28. But before He returns to this earth certain things must take place in this Church Age: religious deception 21:8 and all sorts of natural disasters and wars 21:9-11
But before these things come to pass, in verses 12-19 Jesus warns His disciples, as well as Christians in general, that we will experience severe persecution, even to martyrdom. Martyrdom of Christians has continued for 2000 years and there is more today worldwide than at any time in history.
This was difficult for His disciples to grasp. In fact, it was shocking! Their hearts were set on the Golden Age and they looked forward to being leaders in the Kingdom. See Luke 9:46 and Matthew 20:20-28.
Yet they should not have been surprised. Jesus had warned of persecution early in His ministry in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:10-12.
The persecution of Christians would come from two sources, Jesus warned. It would come from the Jewish unbelievers as Christians were brought before the Synagogues and it would also come from Gentile rulers.
That’s exactly what happened to the Apostles, as recorded in Acts. First it came from the Jews, as the new Christians were brought before the Synagogues and beaten. Actually, Stephen an early deacon was the first Christian martyr. His Christ-glorifying death got through to the Christ-hating Saul of Tarsus. Saul soon was saved and became the flaming evangelist and missionary, whose name as an Apostle of Christ was changed to Paul.
Have you ever thought about this? If Christianity is but a myth for ignorant, misguided people, why all the hatred towards Christians? If it is nothing but a myth, like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, why do people get so worked up about Christianity? The reason they hate Christianity is because they know it is true and they hate the God who sees them as rebellious sinners facing hell and they hate those of us who love Him and share the Gospel with them.
If God could reach into the heart of Christ-hating Saul of Tarsus who frothed at the mouth with hatred for Christ, he is well able to reach those who hate Him in this age. Christians, let’s get the Gospel to those enemies of God. They can become the greatest of missionaries and evangelists when God get through with them.
One more thing
In Luke 21:20-36 is Jesus only speaking of the Roman invasion of Jerusalem in 70 AD, or is He also referring to the Tribulation yet to come?
Post-Millennialists answer that it speaks only of the Roman invasion of 70 AD.
Pre-Millennialists believe it speaks of the Roman invasion of 70 AD as a foretaste of the persecution that is yet to come during the Great Tribulation
Let me show you why the events of 70 AD did not usher in Christ’s Kingdom.
1. The Jews were not converted to Christ as a nation in 70 AD nor did it usher in Christ’s Kingdom. Read Ezekiel 36-39 and Zechariah 12-14 and see if those events have been literally fulfilled. Of course, they have not been fulfilled yet, but they will be when Christ returns to reign.
2. Two thousand years later, the Jews are still being trodden down by the gentiles as Jesus prophesied in Luke 21:27. That mistreatment of Jews by non Jews will continue until Christ returns to set things right. It’s our responsibility as Christians to befriend the Jews and give them the Gospel.
3. The Jews as a nation do not yet recognize Jesus as their Messiah. They will when Jesus returns to reign. Read those Ezekiel and Zechariah passages again.
4. The great sign in the heavens spoken of in Luke 21:27 have not yet occurred. They will during the Tribulation just before Christ returns in His glory to reign over the whole world.
5. Although the Gospel has been preached around the world these past 2000 years, it has not yet reached everyone on earth. That will take place during the Tribulations when the 144,000 Jews (12,000 from each of the 12 tribes) peach the Gospel of the Kingdom and an angel joins in preaching the Gospel to the whole world. See Matthew 24:14. Don’t let the cults confuse you on this as some of them claim to be the 144,000.
6. Before God’s wrath is poured out on this earth during the Tribulation, Christians must be removed from this world. That will take place in the Rapture of the Church, taught in I Corinthians 15:50-58 and I Thessalonians 4:13-18. God promises that Christians will never experience the wrath of God which will be poured out on the world in those last years before Christ comes in His Kingdom. Read carefully I Thessalonians 5:1-11 for assurance that you as a Christian will never experience God’s wrath when it is poured out on this earth.
Did the persecution Christ prophesied in Luke 21 come?
The answer is yes. It began with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. Not only that, but through the past 2000 years we have seen the wars, earthquakes, pestilences and other natural disasters Jesus prophesied. If Jesus has been right about these things, doesn’t it make sense that all the other details of the Olivet Discourse are going to come to pass on schedule just as Jesus prophesied?
How shall we as Christians respond to persecution?
1. Rejoice, we are blessed. Matthew 5:1-16
2. If we live godly lives, expect persecution. Philippians 1:29, II Tim. 3:12
Are we living in the last days?
Every generation of Christians finds themselves living in the last days, but for each succeeding generation these warnings become more relevant, pertinent and urgent than for any generation of the past. Reading I Timothy 4:1-5 I am convinced that we are closer to Christ’s return today than at any time in history. Are you ready to meet Him? You will meet Him one day either as His friend or foe. Woe be to those who meet Him as His foes when He comes to pour out His wrath in that day.
Working Out What God Works In
As we attempt to understand Philippians 2:12-13 we come face to face with a great paradox of Scripture. There are several paradoxes in Scripture; statements that at first, appear to be contradictory; but on closer study give us the full-orbed truth on a topic.
For example there is the paradox of the incarnation of the Son of God who was born of a virgin as the baby Jesus. Though He never ceased being God, He lived and ministered on this earth and died on a cross as a man, shedding His blood as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
The Bible is another example of a paradox. Though the work of many men who wrote over a period of centuries, using their own vocabularies; the Bible is as perfect as though God wrote it, for the human authors were inspired of God and protected so that they wrote without error the very words of God.
There is the paradox of salvation. Do we receive it by God’s choice or by our own choice? It is foolish to argue over this. Both are correct. God chose us to salvation from before the foundation of the world, according to Ephesians 1:4. But it is just as true that we each must choose to receive Christ or reject Him as the sacrifice for our sins. Repeatedly we are told to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Those who reject Him are eternally condemned to Hell. See your choice in John 3:36, but understand that without God’s Spirit drawing you to Christ, you can’t even choose to be saved, John 6:44 teaches. The warning to you is that if the Holy Spirit is drawing you to Christ, don’t delay. Receive Christ NOW! II Corinthians 6:1-2
We are not saved by faith plus works. We are saved by faith alone; but that salvation results in a changed life of good works.
Why are we Bible believers so quick to choose sides and set our heels in the dirt and refuse to budge? Why are we so closed-minded and bull-headed on one point of doctrine that has two sides? Why are we so quick to try to put God in our own little theological box and brand anyone who doesn’t see it our way as a false teacher? How this must grieve the heart of Christ who prayed in John 17 for the unity of His own.
No wonder we have far too many denominations and factions and unnecessary divisions in Christendom. Paul shames the Corinthian Church for their sinful divisions over the “Preacheritis”, that is, choosing to follow certain preachers and their teachings and branding those in other camps as false teachers.
Now I’ll be the first to admit that there are fundamental truths upon which all true believers are called to stand and not compromise an inch. These are the well known Fundamentals of the Faith. The following are the two most foundational Fundamentals.
1. A true Christian believes the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God and the foundation for everything we believe about God and life.
2. A true Christian believes that Jesus is God come down in human flesh. We believe He was born of a virgin as prophesied. We believe He lived a sinless life and then willingly died on a cross to shed His blood as the only atonement for our sins. We believe He arose from the dead three days later and then ascended back to Heaven exalted and reigning in a glorified body. We believe He is returning for His own one day.
Anyone who denies either or both of these truths cannot be a Christian, for it is the Christ of the Bible that saves. Any other Christ is one of our own making and brands us as cultic and under God’s curse, according to Galatians 1.
All of this we dealt with in the previous messages on Philippians 2:5-11 as we dealt with Christ’s humiliation and His exaltation.
The paradox before us in Philippians 2:12-13 summarizes what is perhaps the greatest paradox in the Bible, the truth that we are saved by God’s grace and not by our works; and yet at the same time, the truth that genuine faith in Christ always results in a changed life of good works.
In other words, the Christian life is working out the faith that God has graciously worked into our hearts through faith in Christ.
Christ’s Exaltation
Earlier in Philippians 2:5-8 we were confronted with Jesus’ steps down from His eternal Godhead in Heaven to being born in a manger as a human baby boy who grew up as a servant. (The Greek word is SLAVE) and offered Himself to pay the penalty for our sins by dying as a common criminal on a cross, the Roman instrument of torture. In all of this we are made aware of His amazing humiliation.
Now in Philippians 2:9-11 we see just the reverse of His humiliation. In these verses we see the steps of His exaltation. First God raised Him from the dead on the third day. Later He ascended back to Heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for His own.
The way to exaltation
We would all rather be exalted than humbled. Humiliation can be very painful. Exaltation is much to be preferred. Jesus not only embodies humility, but He teaches the path to exaltation. It’s always through humility.
Matthew 23:12 “Whosoever shalt exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” That is, accept the humbling experiences He brings into your life that He may exalt you in due season.
Pride has no place in the Christian’s life.
Proverbs 13:10 teaches, “Only by pride comes contention.” Keep this in mind always. Whenever there are two who are in contention, one or both of them are guilty of pride.
Nothing is more obnoxious and ugly than a proud Christian. It is so out of character for a true Christian who has been humbled by his sins and has cast himself on the mercy of God.
God provides salvation for us in such a way that we have to approach Him humbly as a sinner in order to be saved. There is no salvation available to proud, self-righteous people.
What is the full message of the Gospel?
The full message of salvation begins with Christ’s crucifixion and death for our sins. It continues with His burial, but it doesn’t stop there.
It includes His resurrection from the dead in His glorified body. If further includes His ascension back to Heaven. It goes even further.
It includes His position at the right hand of the Father in Heaven as our intercessor and advocate. But His exaltation goes even further.
It includes His coronation as our Sovereign Lord and King;
That’s the full message Paul preached in Acts 13:28-37.
According to Acts 7:56, that’s the way Stephen saw Jesus as he was about to be stoned to death for the Gospel.
That’s the way we must see Him. Not just Jesus hanging on a cross, but ascended and glorified and crowned as our Lord and King. I Peter 3:22
We will experience this resurrection and exaltation also.
As we are identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, as taught in Romans 6; so we will also experience His resurrection and exaltation with Him. Our ascension will occur at the rapture of the Church and our coronation will take place as we return with Him to reign on this earth with Him. II Timothy 2:12 says it all. “If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.”
Philippians 2:9 teaches us that The Father has given Jesus a name that is above every name.
That new name is LORD, according to verse 11. We don’t make Jesus Lord. God did that. We simply bow to Him and submit to Him as Lord. No Christian has any business confessing Jesus as Saviour and refusing to submit to Him as Lord. As it is unthinkable and foolish for anyone to reject Him as Saviour; so it is unspeakably evil for any Christian to stiffen his neck before Christ and refuse Him as Lord.
Philippians 2:10-11 teaches us that every tongue must ultimately confess Christ as Lord. No one will escape that. Doesn’t it make sense to settle this Lordship issue right now and not wait until the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ and have to give a reason to Him as to why you refused Him as Lord?
A Father’s Responsibility
We live in a world that is filled with increasing evil influences on our families. The world is not growing more righteous. It is becoming increasingly more evil from generation to generation. Paul warned it would be that way in II Timothy 3:1-7 and 13-17. In the light of that fact he challenged young Pastor Timothy in II Timothy 4:1-4 to counter Satan’s assault with the faithful preaching of God’s Word so that the Church can be light and salt in a dark corrupt world.
Our kids can become more Christ-like than we were
Regardless of how evil the world is, our young people can grow spiritually stronger and more faithful to God from generation to generation, Romans 5:20 assures us that “where sin abounds, grace can much more abound”.
Though Satan tries to blur the distinction between Christians and non-Christians, the contrast between Christians and non Christians must become more pronounced.
We as Christian parents have the responsibility of protecting our children from evil influences, including the influences of carnal Christianity and false doctrine. We can best do that by spending time with them, listening to them, knowing them, loving them, teaching and guiding them in God’s Word. This includes avoiding all hypocrisy and praying for them and modeling before them a pure and joyful, life fully surrendered to Christ.
When our responsibility ceases
Once they leave home, whether single or married, they cease to be our responsibility as parents. The direction they go and the decisions they make are beyond our responsibility and control, though not beyond our prayers. We never cease loving them and praying for them;
“We will serve the Lord.”
Just before Joshua died at the age of 110, he made this declaration in Joshua 24:14-15 concerning his family.
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your father’s served on the other side of the flood and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your father’s served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
The generation that outlived Joshua stayed true to God, we learn in Joshua 24:31. The generations that followed are described in the book of Judges as spiritual failures, for the most part. The reason for their failure is summed up in Judges 21:25. “Everyone did that which was right in their own eyes.”
Ruth and Boaz were the exception. They were a godly couple who lived in the time of the Judges. Their beautiful story has its setting in this period of moral declension, we learn in Ruth 1:1.
Generational Promises
Hidden within the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20 is a promise in verses 5 & 6 to godly fathers and mothers that if we will love and serve the Lord, we can count on God’s blessing on our families to the third and fourth generations.
My grandfather Simon Bicker was a godly pastor who loved and served the Lord. As part of his second generation, I can testify that God kept His promise to him. His son, Clifford, my father, was a faithful missionary to Peru, South America where he gave his life. As Clifford’s son, I was blessed with living in a strong Christian atmosphere where I heard the Gospel and responded by being saved and surrendering my life to Christ. Each of my three children are faithfully living for the Lord. God has kept His Word to my grandfather.
The line of blessing can be broken
In any generation when an individual turns in rebellion from God, the line of blessing is broken. Learn this truth well, Christian reader. The life you choose to live is not just your business. The choices you make affects not only you; but your posterity for generations to come. When one turns away from God, he not only loses the blessing on his own life, but He cuts off God’s blessing to his future children, grandchildren and generations to come. The blessing of God on our posterity is dependent on our relationship with God, as far as we are concerned.
However, as far as God’s grace is concerned, He can reach down into the depths of an ungodly family a take a trophy of grace and use him or her mightily for His glory, I’ve seen Him do that repeatedly throughout my ministry.
To broken-hearted parents
To parents whose young people have rejected Christ and turned to a life of rebellion towards God, I’m not going to even consider pointing a finger of blame. My heart aches for you. Nothing in life can be more agonizing; not even the death of a child.
I want you to understand that God fully understands the pain you are experiencing. He experienced Himself as He saw His beloved chosen people, Israel, upon whom He had poured His blessings, turn in an adulteress affair to their false gods. Read of that pain in Ezekiel 16 and Malachi 1:6.
We also see the pain in God’s heart as revealed in the story Jesus told in Luke 15:11-32 of the loving father with his two prodigal sons: the younger son, a profligate, who turned to harlots and the wild life and the older son , a cold-hearted, self-righteous legalist. Thank God, the younger son repented and returned to his father. Sadly, we learn of no change in the heart of the older son.
SIX CHALLENGES FOR EVERY FATHER
1. Accept your responsibility as head of your household.
Fathers; not government, are to provide for their families. You are to provide for them materially, according to I Timothy 5:8. To fail is a shame and disgrace. How you divide the work load is between you and your wife; but ultimately the responsibility rests on the husband and father.
You are to provide for their spiritual wellbeing. That’s God’s command in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Adam was responsible for his wife Eve, but he failed. He ended up blaming her when God confronted him with his disobedience. How spineless of our first father!
Abraham’s sin of deception left scars not only on his own life, but also on his son Isaac and on his grandson’s Esau and Jacob. They learned deception from their grandfather.
Eli, the priest of Israel, failed as a father to restrain his sons from vile sins which they practiced in the Sanctuary with the women. As a result I Samuel 3:12-13 records how God removed Eli from his responsibilities as a priest.
David, a man after God’s own heart and a great king of Israel, became guilty of the sin of adultery and murder. His heart was broken and he truly repented of his sins and God forgave him, as recorded in Psalm 51. Though God forgave him, he suffered terrible tragedy in his family as his sons Amnon, Absalom, and Solomon, and his daughter Tamar ruined their lives with sin. Their tragic stories are recorded in II Samuel and I Kings.
Because our examples are so vitally important in leadership positions, Paul wrote in I Timothy that those in church leadership positions, such as pastors, elders and deacons, are to live moral, godly lives above reproach, or they disqualify themselves from serving in those offices.
A Father with the help of his wife should set the spiritual tone of his home, making sure that his children are receiving the proper spiritual training in his home, in his church and in the education of his children.
Together they set the standards for dress, music, television entertainment, the use of the telephone, and internet from the earliest years of a child. The parents; not the child, determines what he will eat and how he will dress, what he will watch on television and his use of the internet. If a father is firm, but reasonable and loving and sets the right example and teaches God’s Word to his children, their values will be set by the time they are teenagers and there will be no power struggles or arguments.
A husband and father is also ultimately responsible for the financial condition of his family, including the management of his credit. In my case, I have learned that my wife is skilled in this area, so she handles the check book and credit cards. I can fully trust her to mange wisely and keep us out of debt. I am, however, ultimately responsible. The buck stops with me.
Remember, a husband is a hus- band or a house band. He ultimately holds the home together with his unconditional, self-sacrificing love for his wife and children.
2. Refuse to allow the evil world system to influence your children.
If you start while your child is an infant you, with the help of your supportive, loving wife, can control the influences that bombard your children from the television and other media.
You can help your child develop a taste for healthful food and not junk food.
You can determine the hours of sleep and can forbid his use of a cell phone through the night when he or she ought to be sleeping.
It’s up to you to see that home work is completed.
It’s up to you to see that he keeps his bedroom clean and cleans up after himself wherever he is and whatever he is doing.
If you insist on quiet, prompt obedience in the home, that will be his pattern in public. The child who does not behave in the home is not going to behave in public.
You and your wife will determine where he goes to school and whether it is home school or Christian school or public school. My wife and I removed our two boys from public school when they were in 3rd and 6th grades. We removed them from public school primarily because of the poor academics as well as the ungodly influences. From that time forward our two sons and daughter completed their education in Christian schools, including a Christian college.
Galatians 1:4 teaches us that salvation is not simply salvation from sin and hell. It also saves us from the influences of this present evil world system.
3. Its up to you, father, to command the obedience of your children.
You don’t have to do it cold-heartedly like a drill sergeant.
Genesis 18:17-19 tells us that God rewarded Abraham because he commanded his children to follow his example.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, Joshua determined for himself and his family that they would serve the Lord.
The question facing many parents is “How do we enforce obedience?”
Hebrews 12:5-11 teaches that God enforces obedience through chastening. “Whom He loves, He chastens!” For more on this go to my link FAMILY and then go to DISCIPLINE. There I go into detail on how to discipline effectively.
Let me summarize. Fathers must control their children with love, tenderness, firmness and consistency. A child must never have to wonder if he can get away with disobedience. You must convince him that he will be punished for disobedience or disrespect every time without exception. Fortunate is the husband who has the full support of his wife in these matters. These are the things we dealt with in our conversations BEFORE we were married. We were both in absolute agreement on these matters; otherwise, we would not have married each other.
4. A father and mother must set the example of a godly, disciplined life.
Youth despise hypocrisy and double-standards in their parents. How brazenly hypocritical it is to tell your children to do as you say, but not as you do. The Philippians jailer was so changed when he was converted, as recorded in Acts 16, that his entire family followed him in his conversion and baptism.
5. A father must love his children unconditionally.
That love for our children, as well as for our wife must be unconditional love. They should not have to earn nor deserve it. On the other hand trust must be earned and with that trust, greater responsibility. That love is best expressed by the way we devote our time in the concerns and interests of our wife and children. Our children would far rather have our time and attention than the toys we buy them. The times our children most remember and appreciate in their childhood were the camping trips we took together in the summer when I could devote all my attention to them.
6. Claim the promises of God by faith.
When we started out as parents in 1956, my wife and I had only the promises of God. We had no books on child rearing By simple faith we took God at His Word. He promised us that if we would train and discipline our children according to His Word, they would not depart from it. We took His Word by faith and did what we were told. He kept His promise and our children grew up without ever going through the so-called “terrible twos” or “teen age rebellion” They were a constant joy to us then and even now as parents and grandparents.
Philip in John 14:8 asked Jesus to “Show us the Father and we will be satisfied.” That’s what our children are looking for from us. They are looking for us to show them what God is like. If they can’t see Him in us, they probably won’t be interested in seeking Him in the Bible. “We are Epistles to our children, known and read of them. II Corinthians 3:2.
Are you sufficient for the task of raising your children as you ought? Neither am I. II Corinthians 3:5 comforts and encourages us that “our sufficiency is of God.”
The Course of this Age
As we continue our study of prophecy in Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in Luke 21 we must approach it with one of two preconceived assumptions. It is either obscure and hidden truth or else it is obviously clear and plain. One thing for certain is that it is revelation from God. What is revelation? It is revealed; not hidden obscure truth. That’s the purpose of the book of The Revelation. It is revealing to us truths about the future.
Since what God says about the past is clear and plain and accurate, it is reasonable to expect that what He says about the future is also clear and plain and can be expected to be fulfilled.
Jesus is returning to this earth in power and great glory.
That is stated in Luke 21:27-28. God-fearing Israelites were certainly aware of Christ’s coming Kingdom. God made a covenant with David which is recorded n II Samuel 7 and repeated again in Psalm 89, This covenant is God’s promise that someone from David’s line would one day reign over the earth forever. This Kingdom is repeatedly mentioned throughout the Old Testament. You can read about His Kingdom in Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-10, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Ezekiel 36-39, Daniel 2:44, and Zechariah 12-14.
Jesus’ Disciples were certainly aware of Christ as the Messiah. They had walked with Him and sat under His ministry for three years and were convinced He was the Messiah. Peter, speaking for the rest of them, confessed Jesus as the Son of God. They had witnessed Jesus’ miracles and listened to Him as He taught the people and confronted the Scribes and Pharisees with their hypocrisy. They were ready and anxious for Him to establish His Kingdom and they looked forward to helping Him administrate it.
They had witnessed His glorious Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. They had to be impressed with the adulation of the huge crowds that greeted Him with palm branches and with their robes thrown down in honor to Him. They had watched Him cleanse His temple and drive out the money changers and sellers of animals and birds for sacrifice. They could not help but be aware of the enmity of the priests and Pharisees as Christ exposed their evil hearts.
The Disciples were ready and anxious for Christ to establish His Kingdom and give them honor and responsibility in that Kingdom. That concern prompted their question in Luke 21:7 as to when that Kingdom would be established.
The second part of their question concerned the signs that would indicate it was at hand? So Jesus devotes most of His Discourse to answering the question of signs of His coming Kingdom.
I. DECEPTION 21:8
We dealt with the first sign in the previous article. That sign is the deception of many false prophets and false Messiahs. That deception began in the first century and has increased over the past two millennia.
II. DISASTERS 21:9-11
World-wide wars, commotions, pestilence and natural disasters are all evidences of God’s hand on history, as we move closer to the Kingdom when Christ reigns from Jerusalem. Romans 8:18-23 speaks of the curse on the entire creation brought on as a result of man’s sin. That curse will not be removed until Jesus comes back to reign.
As long as we have rebellious hearts that reject Christ as Saviour and King, we can count on a disastrous life. When we receive Christ as Saviour, we immediately have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
When we surrender to Christ as Lord of our lives, we have the peace of God controlling our hearts, even though we lives in a world that groans under the curse of sin. See Colossians 3:15 and Philippians 4:4-7. Rebellious Christians can count on unrest and disaster following them throughout their lives.
In the midst of disaster throughout this church age, we Christians can take comfort that all these things are simply evidences of the truth of Christ’s words and assurance that His Kingdom on earth will one day be a reality.
Though we can have His peace ruling in our hearts, we live in a troubled world groaning under the curse of sin. Disasters, disturbances, pestilences, political unrest, wars, earthquakes, famines, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis have continued to fall upon this sin-cursed, world for these past two millennia.
In each generation Christians have taken comfort that the persecution, wars and disasters are all to be expected and that they are signs of the return of Christ to reign on this earth.
These disasters will intensify during the Tribulation beyond anything we have ever seen or heard. Thank God, Christians will miss that by being raptured out of this world before the Anti-christ is revealed.
In Acts 2:1-13 the miraculous events of Pentecost occurred, including the supernatural gift of Christians to speak and share the Gospel of Christ in foreign languages they had never learned. Many were saved. Then Peter, quoting Joel 2:28-32 began to speak in Acts 2:14-21 and he described the entire church age, beginning with Pentecost and ending with the Great Tribulation.
You may wonder why there was no mention of the Rapture of the Church. The answer to that question is that the Rapture was a secret mystery given to the Apostle Paul to reveal to the Church. His major teaching on this is found in I Corinthians 15:51-58 and I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
In our next message in this series, we will deal with the promised persecution of the Church as Jesus taught it in Luke 21:12-18 and I will show you why we hold to a Pre-Millennial view of prophecy.
The Incarnation
In Philippians 2:5-11 we read one of the most amazing and beautiful statements in the Bible on the incarnation of Christ and His humility shown in His incarnation. Yes, God the Son, Creator of the Heavens and the earth, without ceasing to be God, left the glories of Heaven to stoop in humility to walk among men as a human being, as a poor slave, (for that’s the meaning of the Greek word translated servant) and be tortured and executed on a Roman cross in order to pay the penalty for the sins of the world.
The first man, Adam, whom He had created out of the dust of the earth, had chosen to disobey God and experience spiritual death and later physical death. In order to redeem fallen humanity, God had to come down to this earth as a man Jesus, the Second Adam, and take the death that we deserved. Those who trust Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins are saved and are born into the family of God. Read the fifth chapter of Romans to better understand this truth.
For more details on the crucifixion go to my link JESUS and read a medical doctor’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Three days later God the Father raised Him from the dead and He ascended back to Heaven in a glorified body, the same body the witnesses of the Resurrection saw and touched. As He went up to Heaven in that body, so He is returning in that same body to rule on this earth for a thousand years. For more information on all of this go to the link Prophecy or Olivet Discourse.
The Incarnation, God becoming flesh, is the foundational bed rock truth of the Christian Faith. Believe that the Lord Jesus is God and that He died and rose again to save you from your sins and you will experience salvation and assurance that you are saved. See Romans 10:9-13. Deny this or confuse it and your “Christianity” evaporates into thin air.
Philippians 2:1 begins with Paul’s plea for humility and unity in the church. He uses the Lord Jesus Christ as the perfect model of this humility. Read with me verse 5-8. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Note that this passage begins by stating that Jesus was in the “form” of God. The Greek word for “form” is “morphee” the word that refers to His essential being. Jesus has always existed as God and will continue to exist as God for eternity.
Note the word “fashion” in verse 8. The Greek word for “fashion” is “skeema”, It refers to His appearance as people recognized Him. On earth, God was seen in the person of Jesus as a man. At the same time, throughout His short life on this earth, He never ceased to be God, although He voluntarily limited the use of His attributes as God. He claimed to be God repeatedly, as recorded in John 5:18, 10:33, and 14:9. His enemies were very much aware of that claim and it made them so furious, that they repeatedly tried to kill Him.
Note the word “equal” in Philippians 2:6. The Greek word is isos. It is the same prefix used in the English words isomorphic (having the same form), or isometric (having the same measurements) or isosceles triangle, (a triangle having two equal sides.
Even Jesus’ enemies understood that He claimed to be equal with God and that is what infuriated them and caused them to eventually crucify Him. Of course, God used their fury to carry out His own will. It was God’s plan for Jesus to be crucified, for only as He died and shed His blood as the full payment for our sins, could we have ever been saved.
After Jesus’ Resurrection, He appeared at least twice to His disciples. Depressed Thomas had missed His first appearance, telling the other disciples that unless he could put his hand in the wound in Jesus’ side and put his finger in the nail holes in Jesus’ hands He would not believe.
John 20 tells the moving story of Jesus’ appearance to Thomas when He returned to His disciples the following week. As He appeared in the room, He spoke directly to Thomas, inviting him to put his hand in Jesus side and his fingers in Jesus’ hands. Thomas did not have to do that. Instead he fell on his face before God and cried out in saving faith and I believe with tears, “My Lord and my God!” From that day forward, Thomas was a believer and a faithful witness of Christ.
If God had died when the Man Jesus died, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit would have also died, for the three persons are one God, If God had died, the universe would have imploded into nothingness, for Colossians 1:15-17 declares that the universe consists or is held together by the power of Christ. Because Jesus is God, the Man Jesus had to rise from the dead three days after His crucifixion, which He did.
This doctrine of the incarnation, God becoming man in the person of Jesus Christ, is the foundational bed rock truth of the Christian Faith, which Peter confessed in Matthew 16:15-19. Jesus responded to Peter, “Peter, you are (and the Greek says) a small stone. And upon this (and the Greek says) the bed rock of your confession, I will build My Church and all Hell cannot stop its progress.
What will you do with Jesus? Reject Him as God and as the One who died on a cross and rose again to pay for your sins, and you will continue in your lost condition and one day face Christ as your judge. See Revelation 20:11-15. Or Bow before Him today and receive Him by faith as your Saviour from sin, and He will save you from your sins. Through faith, you will be born again into the Family of God. Read John 1:12
Now, with your Bible, dig into this web site and learn some foundational truths to help you better understand what it means to be a Christian.
Socialism 101
That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, It would be a great equalizer.
The professor then said, “OK, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.
As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little. The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed. Could anything be simpler than that? Author unknown
Christ, Our Model of Humility
Although the Philippian Church was a model church in many respects; they, like most churches, had their minor personality clashes. Paul in chapter 4 verse 2 warns two factious women who were a threat to the unity and joy in the church, to try to work out their differences.
In chapter 2:1-4 of Philippians, Paul shows how unity is attained when each of us are humble and unselfish. Humility is simply putting the needs and concerns of others before our own. Only then can we experience true unity.
Motivation and power to be humble
Paul starts out in verses 3-4 of that 2nd chapter by giving us motivation and power to be united.
First, he shows us that when things aren’t going our way and we are tempted to feel slighted, we can find our consolation in our relationship with Christ. We also find comfort in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as He binds our hearts together in love, regardless of our differences.
Paul also challenged the congregation to stay united for his sake as a founding pastor. That’s not the highest motivation for unity, but it is something to consider. If you love your pastor and don’t want to break his heart; do whatever you can to foster unity in your church. There is nothing that tears the heart out of a pastor than to see his church family torn apart by disunity. Of course, sometimes churches are torn asunder by self-centered, hireling pastors who have no heart for God nor for their flock.
Getting back to the need for humility to protect unity, Paul uses Christ as the perfect example of humility in Philippians 2:5-8 Look at the humility of Jesus who left the glories of Heaven to come down to this sin-cursed earth to live among us and die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. His humility was expressed in self-sacrifice, self-denial and in His self-giving love.
How can we learn the humility of Christ?
In Matthew 11:28-30 Christ, the Master Teacher, as well as our Saviour from sin, using the illustration of yoked oxen ploughing a field, invites us to be yoked with Him, as the strong ox. Yoked with Him, we learn His meekness and humility in service and are given the ability to accomplish work beyond our own strength and wisdom. As long as we walk in harmony with Him, allowing Him to lead us, we find the strength we need to accomplish whatever He asks of us. It’s only stubborn Christians who insist on going their own way, who find their stiff necks being rubbed raw by the yoke and being burned out in their Christian service.
Jesus also gives us another example of humility in service by washing the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper before His crucifixion. The story is told in John 13:13-15. Some see this story as simply instruction for us to wash one another’s feet in a church service. I see in the story something far more basic than ceremonial foot washing. Here Jesus gives us His example of humility by doing whatever He can to meet the needs of others, even to stooping to menial tasks to help others. If we stop and ask God to show us how to help the needy, He will bring them into our lives and we will have no lack of opportunity to show humility and love to others.
No, we cannot have Jesus deity nor His sinless perfection. We cannot have His miracle working power, nor can we redeem sinners by dying for them; but we can seek to have His humility to serve and help others.
Christ’s Condescension,
Isaiah 6:1-4 is but one of many Biblical passages that describe the Holiness and awesome loftiness of Christ in Heaven. When Jesus came down to this earth as a baby to grow up and live among men, it was God in human flesh amazingly and graciously condescending to live among us, though He was rejected by those He came to save. What amazing humility!
We Christians have a high and holy calling through our relationship with Christ, to share a little of that glory of Christ, though we bear it in earthen vessels. From that high and holy calling mentioned in II Timothy 1:9, we must condescend (without having an ugly condescending attitude) to meet the needs of others around us as God opens doors of opportunity to us.
What did Jesus give up to come to this earth?
Though He did not give up His Deity, He gave up His Heavenly glory. He mentions that in His prayer in John 17:4-5. Because we are not God, we cannot begin to grasp His Heavenly glory, no more than a worm can grasp the glory of being human.
He gave up His independent authority as God. Coming down to this earth as a man, He lived in subjection to His Heavenly Father with whom He had been absolutely equal in power and authority in Heaven. Hebrews 5:8 tells us that He actually learned and experienced obedience to His Heavenly Father through His sufferings as a man.
He limited the exercise of His divine attributes as a man on this earth. Though He still had omnipotence and omniscience as God, He limited the exercise of those attributes as a man. For example, in Matthew 24:36 He said that He did not know when He was returning to this earth to reign. I believe He knows that information now, but He chose not to know it while He walked on this earth.
Though He owns the entire universe which He created, when He walked on this earth as a man, He lived in utter poverty without a home to call His own and without money. All He had materially was that which was loaned or given to Him by others. Read II Corinthians 8:9 to learn how though rich, He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich spiritually.
In His humility, through He recognized His rights and privileges as God Almighty, He did not clutch those rights. He willingly divested Himself of all His rights and came down as a slave. He did not just do the work of a slave. He became a slave in His heart, living out the life of a slave to serve others. He had a servant’s heart, as can we if we follow Him in His humility.
He gave up His relationship with His Heavenly Father. As He hung on the cross bearing the sins of the world, He cried out in despair, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Try to grasp this. Jesus became alienated on the cross from the very God with whom He was a part of the Trinity. Yes, He who knew no sin, as the Holy Son of God, became sin for us. That is, He became our sin-bearer, taking upon Himself the full wrath of God for our sins. Read II Corinthians 5:21 and rejoice in the wonderful salvation He offers you.
Humility goes as far as it must to meet a need.
Avoiding Deception
Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse found in Luke 21, Mark 13 and Matthew 24-25, answers His disciple’s question of when He was returning and what the signs that preceded His return would be. Those signs would include religious deception, world wide natural disasters, and the persecution of Christians, starting with the apostles themselves.
In this message, I want to warn, especially those who have had a solid Biblical background from childhood, of the possibility of our being deceived by Satan.
THE REALITY OF RELIGIOUS DECEPTION
While the true church grows and make progress against the Kingdom of Satan in this world, as Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18; the false church is growing even faster, deceiving the world. God’s judgment of that false church is described in Revelation 17 and in Revelation 18:4 we are warned to flee from it before we end up sharing in it’s violent destruction during the Tribulation, described in Revelations 6-19,
Deception is something Jesus warned about in Luke 21:8. He had also warned of it three years earlier in His Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. Note Jesus’ warning of deception in Matthew 7:15-23.
Later in Matthew 13:24-43 Jesus warned pf the reality of the danger of genuine and phony Christians growing up together in the same families and in the same churches. He likened the phonies to tares in a wheat field. Tares are imitations of wheat. They look like wheat, but they are empty, lacking any grain. When asked what should be done with the tares, Jesus advised that they be left alone to grow together with the wheat. By trying to separate them from the wheat as it was growing and developing, there was the danger of uprooting the genuine wheat also. Rather, the tares were to be left alone. At the harvest the true wheat would be manifest and the separation would take place at that time.
This truth is not contradicting the Biblical imperative of parental discipline or church discipline.
Parents should warn and punish the disobedience of their children. I encourage you to go to the FAMILY link for more instruction on raising and disciplining your children.
I Corinthians 5 requires churches to remove from their fellowship Christians who flagrantly despise and disobey God’s Word by living in sin after being warned by their brothers and sisters in Christ. Read Acts 5 to learn how seriously God takes such behavior. Read Matthew 18:15-20 for detailed instructions for carrying out church discipline. Note that the spirit in which we carry it out is as important as the action itself. Our desire must be for the restoration of our fallen brother or sister.
HOW CAN WE AVOID BEING DECEIVED?
Cleave to Christ!
In Acts 11:21-23 Barnabas warned the young believers to “cleave to Christ”. Get to know Him through reading the Word of God and through listening to the sound preaching of the Word. Church is more than enjoying exciting worship experiences and hearing positive moralisms on how to be successful in life. Only as we are saturated in the Word of God are we going to be strong enough spiritually to avoid deception.
To cleave to Christ involves much more than simply learning intellectually the deep things of God. It involves much more than simply seeking giddy emotional experiences with what we believe to be with Christ or the Holy Spirit that result in our feeling self-righteous and superior to other Christians.
The right kind of preaching connected to the right kind of listening are going to result in a deep growing love for Jesus. True Christianity results in a deepening love for Jesus.
As a man stops dating other women to cleave only to his wife, so we Christians leave the attractions and the worthless values of this Satanic inspired world system to give our attention and allegiance and our love and loyalty to Christ alone. “Not only are we challenged to cleave to Christ.” but we are also challenged to
Take heed to the doctrine!
“Take heed to the doctrine” Paul warns young Timothy in I Timothy 4:16. and he expands on that in I Timothy 6:3-5 by challenging Timothy to make sure that the doctrine he preaches leads to practical godliness; not simply an academic exercise that leads to futility and strife and pride in a religious vocabulary. What a waste of time it is to sit under such preaching!
Only preaching that grounds us in the doctrines of The Christian Faith and warns us of going in the wrong direction is going to keep us on the right track. Many people avoid preaching that deals with sin because they don’t want to feel guilty.
I thank God for preaching that has made me feel guilty. Guilt is not a bad thing. It’s not something you have to live with. Guilt is the easiest thing in the world to get rid of. Just confess your sin to God. Admit to Him that you are guilty of that sin that is brought to your attention through sound preaching. The moment that sin is confessed as sin, instantly the guilt is gone. Christ’s blood that was shed two thousand years ago on the cross, cleanses you from that sin and removes the guilt. Read about this in I John 1:5-10.
By avoiding such preaching, sin continues to take its toll on your life. and blinds you to false teachers. You are an easy target for the devil and he keeps you defeated and miserable.
A third way to be protected from Satanic deception and oppression is to be filled with the Spirit.
Be filled with the Spirit!
Since the Spirit of God lives in you if you are a Christian, as is taught in I Corinthians 12:13, when you cleave to Christ and take heed to sound doctrine, you are automatically filled with the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit is not some emotional experience you must seek, as is taught by false teachers. Rather it is accomplished by surrendering to Christ and taking heed to His Word. Any obedient Christian filling himself with the Word of God is automatically filled with the Spirit. The two are one and the same and they bring about the same results. Compare Ephesians 5:17-33 with Colossians 3:16-25 and note the correlation to being filled with the Spirit to being filled with the Word of God.
So it is only as we cleave to Christ by taking heed to the preaching of God’s Word and are filled with Christ’s Spirit; that we are protected from Satanic deception. Those who allow themselves to follow their own inclinations and ignore the Word, are easy pickings for Satan’s deception.
Are we living in the latter days?
Every generation of Christians since the days of the Apostles and the early church find themselves living in the latter days. These warnings for each succeeding generation become more relevant, more pertinent and more urgent than for any past generation.
Paul’s warning to young Timothy in II Timothy 4:1-4 is even more relevant to us today than it was to Timothy 2000 years ago. We are closer to Christ’s return today than at any time in church history.
In addition to the warnings from I Timothy that we have covered in this message, let me encourage you to read the following warnings concerning the dangers we face in these very evil days. Read and mediate on them and grow in spiritual strength so you can resist the devil.
II Timothy 3:1-7 and 4:1-5
II Peter 2:1-22 and 3:3-15
I John 2:18-19, and 4:1-6
II John 7-11
Jude 3-25
Read Christ’s warnings to the Seven churches of Asia Minor found in Revelation chapter 2 and 3. These seven churches are pictures of the churches down through Church history, even to our present day. We ignore these warnings to our own peril.
May God help you, whether you are a new or a mature Christian, to take these warnings to heart and at the same time rest in the doxology of Jude 24-25 “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever Amen.”
Optimistic or Pessimistic?
Post Millennialists believe that they have an optimistic view of history. They believe that Christ’s Kingdom began at His Resurrection and that ever since, Christ and His Church have been progressively conquering the world and establishing His Kingdom on earth and that when it is firmly established, Christ will return to take us to Heaven.
The reason they believe this is because they equate Christ’s Kingdom to His Church. I agree with Post Millennialists that the Church is the expression of Christ’s Kingdom on the earth today. The Bible clearly teaches that in Colossians 1:13, as well as other New Testament Scriptures. Every true believer ought to practically be living in Christ’s Kingdom by submitting himself to the Lordship of Christ in every area of his life.
However, the Post-Millennialists (first cousins to the A-Millennialists) do not believe that Christ is returning to establish His Kingdom on this earth for one thousand years, as is taught in Revelation 20.
They believe that we Pre-Millennialists have a negative view of history, in that we believe the world is growing worse and worse and that when all hope is lost, that Christ will come riding on His white horse as the Lone Ranger and save the day by bringing in His Kingdom.
WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT ALL OF THIS?
That’s the subject of the Olivet Discourse we’ve been studying in Luke 21. Other accounts of this Discourse are found in Mark 13 and Matthew 24-25. In these chapters is Jesus’ longest answer to any question ever asked Him. Why is the answer so detailed? It’s an important question the disciples asked in Luke 21:7 and again in Acts 1:6 just before Jesus ascended back to Heaven. They were concerned for the establishment of Christ’s Messianic Kingdom, promised and described repeatedly as one of the major themes of the Old Testament.
Christ’s Messianic Kingdom is described in detail in many passages such as Isaiah 11 and 35, Micah 4 and Zechariah 14 as peaceful, prosperous, righteous and holy. None of this has been true of the world these past two thousand years. Also, all Israel will have received Jesus as their Messiah.
There’s lots to be fearful of today; wars, nuclear holocaust, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, germ warfare, the financial collapse of our markets. As prophesied in Luke 21:6 men’s hearts are failing them for fear.
Thank God, that though the future of this world looks bleak and dismal; we Christians have answers and comfort from God’s Word and we are constantly challenged to not fear these things. Just a few encouraging passage on this include Luke 12:22-32, Psalm 27, Hebrews 12:5-6, and Matthew 10:28-42.
The early church took comfort in the promises of Psalm 27. Peter, in his first sermon, reminded the early church of that Psalm in Acts 4:24-29.
Look at the disciple’s question once more in Luke 21:7 When Jesus prophesied in Luke 21:6 the total destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the disciples asked Him in verse 7 when this would occur and what signs would precede the end of this age.
First, I should remind you that the dismantlement of the temple, stone by stone was literally fulfilled forty years later in 70 AD when the Roman soldiers burned the temple and then dismantled it stone by stone to take the gold that had melted between the stones. You can see the ruins of the temple in Jerusalem today. That is an indication to me that everything else Jesus warned of in this chapter has been and will be fulfilled just as literally.
Jesus answered their questions by first of all warning them not to be deceived by false messiahs who would appear. Then through the rest of chapter 21 He described the course of this age and it is a bleak description of the future. He warned them of escalating deception, wars and commotions, as nations rise against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms. He warned of disasters such as earthquakes, famines, pestilences, as well as fearful sights and signs in the heavens.
But before any of this would happen, in verse 12 Jesus warned about impending persecution of Christians before the Jewish judges in the synagogues and also before the gentile kings and other political rulers.
Jesus encouraged them in verse 13-15 that this persecution would give them opportunities to witness for Christ. He encouraged them not to worry about how they should answer in times of trial and persecution. God would give them the right words to say.
Thank God, we can take comfort that He is always with us in trials and persecutions. In Matthew 28:20 in His Great Commission to us, He promises us the support of His presence. In John 16:33 He promise us His peace in our tribulations. In fact, Romans 5:3 teaches us that we can glory in our tribulations, knowing that they are working in our lives to produce patience.
In II Corinthians 4:17 Paul, who suffered as much or more than most Christians, said he gloried in his tribulations, recognizing that in the balance scales, they were not nearly as heavy as the glory that awaited him in Heaven.
In Colossians 1:24 Paul counted it a privilege to suffer in the place of Jesus who had returned to Heaven. Because Jesus was not present, His enemies were taking their wrath out on Paul who reminded them of Christ.
Though we suffer tribulation in this life, the Bible teaches us that as Christians we will be caught up into Heaven in what Christians refer to as The Rapture just before The Great Tribulation occurs on this earth. We escape The Great Tribulation because that is the time of God’s wrath being poured out on this and God has not appointed His people to His wrath, but to obtain salvation. Read and rest in the promises of I Thessalonians 4:13-19 and 5:1-11.
Other comforting promises of the Rapture are found in John 14:1-6, Matthew 24:36-44, I Corinthians 15:51-58, Philippians 3:20-21, Titus 2:11-14. and Hebrews 9:28.
JESUS HAS FULL CONTROL OF THE FUTURE
When Jesus, God in human flesh, hung dying on a cross one hot afternoon, it appeared to His followers and to the masses, that His life had ended in horrible failure. However, His life had been totally successful. He had accomplished His purpose in coming into the world.
1. He had purchased our redemption with His own shed blood.
2. He had sealed the future doom of Satan.
3. God vindicated Jesus’ sacrifice by raising Him from the dead three days later.
4. He returned to Heaven, as Lord of all, according to Philippians. 2:9-11.
5. He sent His Holy Spirit, as promised, to be our comfort and guide and to empower us for service.
As Christ was successful in His First Coming, so it is just as certain that He will accomplish every purpose of His Second Coming.
But before Jesus returns, bad things must take place, so expect them and don’t be terrified.
As true Christianity grows throughout the world, false Christianity is growing side by side with it. Jesus taught that in His Parable of the Wheat and the Tares in Matthew 13:24-43. The counterfeit Church will come to its full expression during the Tribulation as the Harlot Church of Revelation 17. That Church will be destroyed by the Anti-christ, so that he alone can be worshipped.
Sometimes false Christianity, like the tares, cannot be distinguished from the True Church, characterized by wheat. We are warned not to attempt to pull up the tares for fear of pulling up wheat with it. God will judge in the proper time and will separate the wheat from the chaff.
IT ONLY GETS WORSE
During the Tribulation as the seals are broken starting in Revelation 6, God’s judgments will be poured out on this earth like never before. Wars, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, fires and demonic torment will break out beyond anything man has ever seen or experienced before.
In Revelation 16-19 God will use demons to call the nations of the world together to attempt to fight against Christ in the Battle of Armageddon in the fields of the land of Israel. This is no local battle such as the Roman attack against Jerusalem in 70 AD. This is global warfare against Christ.
Christ will be victorious. His enemies will be killed and Christ will usher in His one thousand year reign of peace, prosperity and righteousness.
At the close of this Millennium there will be one final battle with Satan. He will be cast into the Lake of Fire where the Anti-Christ had been cast one thousand years earlier. Then Christ will destroy this earth and the heavens as we know them in one giant explosion, as described in II Peter 3:9-13.
In this nothingness, a Great White Throne will appear with Christ sitting on it. Before Him will be brought all the unsaved dead. They will be judged for their works. Because they have rejected Christ as their Saviour in life, their names will not be found in the Book of Life and they will be cast alive into the Lake of Fire with the Beast, False Prophet and Satan.
Christ will create new Heavens and a new earth on which Christians will live with Christ, perfected and free from sin and temptation forever. Read again the 3rd chapter of II Peter and learn how it is all going to end. Note that the reason Christ has held off this judgment so far has been because He is long-suffering and not willing that any should perish. If you are an unbeliever, how much further are you going to push His patience?
Why Jesus Must Return
In Jesus’ famous Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24-25, Mark 13 and Luke 21, Jesus and His disciples are together on the Mt. Of Olives, just across the Kidron Valley from the beautiful gold covered temple built by several generations of King Herods. As they are admiring its beauty and grandeur, Jesus shocks them with the truth that soon that temple will be totally dismantled, stone by stone. That happened in 70 AD, just forty years later as the Roman soldiers torched the city, including the temple and then dismantled the temple, stone by stone in order to get the gold that had melted between the stones.
Understand that at this point, just hours before Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, that fact has not yet hit them. They are more concerned about the Kingdom age and their part in it. Their question concerns when the temple is going to be destroyed and the signs that are going to signal the return of Christ ,
Jesus does not give them that answer. Instead, He warns them not to be deceived by false Messiahs. Then He goes into much detail giving them the longest answer to any question they had ever asked Him. In His answer, which makes up most of the Olivet Discourse; He graphically describes future events which cover The Time of the Gentiles and The Church Age.
The Time of the Gentiles began with Assyria’s capture of Israel in 722 BC and has continued through the past 2700 years. It will conclude with the Battle of Armageddon at the close of the Great Tribulation when Christ defeats His enemies and prepares to reign from Jerusalem over the whole world. That battle is described in Revelation 19:11-21.
The Church Age began at Pentecost and will conclude when the “called out” church will be the “called up” church.
Let me give you five reasons why Jesus must return to this earth. All of these reasons are linked to His repeated promise that He would return.
1. Christ is returning to this earth to be exalted.
Jesus’ first coming to this earth was in obscurity and humiliation. It concluded with His crucifixion, as He shed His blood on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. That was the last time the unconverted ever saw Jesus; dead and hanging on a cross. Three days later, He arose bodily from the dead, showing that He had conquered death and that The Father was satisfied with His sacrifice for our sins. I Corinthians 15:3-8 lists the only people who saw Jesus after His resurrection. All of them were Christians only. Hebrew 9:28 speaks of that first coming to offer Himself for our sins. It also mentions His second coming to consummate our salvation by glorifying us in Heaven. No further sacrifice will be needed then, because His sacrifice on the cross was the once for all, final sacrifice for sin forever.
Philippians 2:5-11 details both His first coming to die for our sins and His second coming to reign over the whole world. His second coming is as certain as His first coming.
Though only believers saw Jesus after His Resurrection and only believers will see Jesus when He comes back for us in the Rapture; when Jesus returns to judge and reign, the whole world will see Him. You can read of this in Matthew 24:25-31, Revelation 6:12-17 and Luke 21:28-33 In the Luke 21 passage, it tells us that “this generation” (that is, the generation who is alive at that time) will not pass away until all these events are fulfilled and Christ establishes His Kingdom. Revelation 1:7 announces that “every eye shall see Him”, including “they which pierced Him” when they crucified Him 2000 years ago,.
2. Christ is returning to this earth to Destroy Satan
Satan is presently the god of this present world system. When satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, as recorded in Luke 4, Satan offered Jesus all the Kingdoms of the world, if He would only bow down aand worship him. Could Satan really make thatoffer? Yes he could for the world system was his to offer. I John 5:9 tells us that this whole world lies in the lap or under the control of Satan.
Why are we Christian so enthralled with this present evil world system that is doomed to destruction? I’m not talking about God’s wonderful creation. I’m talking about the sinful world system that attempts to shut God and the Bible out of their lives. We know that Jesus died to save us from hell. But are we as aware of the fact that Jesus died to also deliver us from our infatuation with this present evil world system. That’s what Paul tells us in Titus 2:11-15.
There are only two supernatural powers in this world: Christ and Satan. Whoever refuses to worship Christ, worship’s Satan. Whoever is not devoted to Christ is devoted to Satan. Whoever is not controlled by God is controlled by Satan. Who controls you?
3. Christ is returning to fulfill His promise to Adam’s fallen race.
That promise is found in Genesis 3:15. In that one short verse is the story of the whole Bible. It is serving notice to Satan after He had tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God; that although Satan would do damage to Christ and His Kingdom, eventually God would strike a mortal blow to him by sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to redeem sinners. Later, God will cast Satan into the Lake of Fire forever where he can no longer do Christ and His Kingdom any harm.
Paul, in Romans 16:20 encourages us with the truth that one day Christ is returning to this earth and He is going to allow us to have a part in crushing Satan :under our feet” forever. What a grand day that will be!
4. Christ is returning to fulfill His Covenants with Israel.
The Old Testament is filled with references to that Covenant. To Abraham God promised that through His Seed He would bless the world. Read Genesis 12, and 17. Galatians 3;16 identifies that Seed by name, Jesus.
God’s Covenant to David, found I II Samuel 7 and in Psalm 89 promises that David’s Seed, Jesus, would one day reign over the earth forever. Other promises concerning Christ’s future Kingdom over the earth are found in Isaiah 11, 35, and 40, Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel chapters 34-39, and Zechariah chapters 12-14, as well as many other lesser known passages.
5. Christ is returning to keep His promise to His own, His Beloved Church.
Some of the well known passages to His Church concerning His return include: John 14:1-3, Acts 1:9-11, I Corinthians 15;12-23, 51-58, Philippians 3:20-21, Titus 2:11-14, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, II Thessalonians 1:7-10, Hebrews 9:28, I John 3:1-3 and the final promise in the Bible, Revelation 22:20.
How should our study of the Second Coming affect our lives?
To approach our study of the Second Coming of Christ as we would try to solve a crossword puzzle or just out of idle curiosity, is of little value. To try to pry into matters of the future that are not clearly revealed in Scripture are none of our business.
Rather as Romans 13:11-14 teaches, our study of prophecy ought to affect how we live our lives daily. II Peter 3:11-18 also challenges us to live holy lives in the light of Him imminent return. I challenge you to read these last two passages of Scripture and truly worship Christ and warn sinners to come to Christ, as you watch and wait for His return.
Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman
Although this is a Mother’s Day message, it is just as applicable to those women who are not mothers. It is also applicable to young girls for you girls are going to be the future mothers and teachers of children of the next generation. That’s exciting to me, for I know the power of godly wives, mothers and teachers of children.
Looking back on my life, I can see the tremendous impact that godly women, including godly single women had on my life as I was growing to adulthood.
The Ten Most Influential Women in My Life
Let me list the ten most influential women of my life in chronological order, The first three were married. The last seven were single.
Mother and Dad were missionaries in Peru where I was born. Dad died when I was four and Mother returned with my brother and me to her home in Canada. Mother’s greatest influence on me was in the first ten years.
My mother’s mother, Grandma Smith, often took care of me during several of those early years while Mother traveled to churches in Canada and USA on behalf of missions. She certainly had a godly influence on my life.
Mrs. Westervelt was the next influence in my life from ages 10-16. She operated a Boarding School for missionaries’ children in Batesburg, S.C. Mother enrolled my brother and me in that home and school as she continued her travels. Mrs. Westervelt, a stern, but loving woman, raised us along with about one hundred other missionaries’ kids from 1944-1949 from my last months of fourth grade through ninth grade.
Miss Vera Deardurff was my teacher at that school from fifth through eighth grade. Needless to say, she had perhaps the most powerful impact on my life of any woman, including my mother, as she instilled character principles and gave me my philosophy of life. Grades five through seven were in a one room school house. She also taught me eighth grade later.
Miss Violet Bohy was my piano teacher for five years at Westervelt School. She taught me by example to use my musical talent for God’s glory.
Miss Verta Needham, a Columbia Bible College student, was my Sunday School teacher in a small church in Columbia S.C. (Westervelt Home had moved to Columbia for the final year of their existence.) Verta asked me to lead a devotional time at a class picnic by the Congaree River in Columbia. As a sixteen year old boy, that opportunity set me on a path to becoming a pastor. Now after fifty-three years of pastoring, I am still actively involved pastoring full time.
My mother by this time had remarried a missionary bachelor on the island of Haiti. In my 16th summer my brother and I spent the summer with our Mother and step-Dad and little sister, Carolyn, in Haiti. One of the influences in my life were a group of about 6 young single ladies who were missionaries on that Mission Station in Aux Cayes, Haiti. I was impressed with the zeal and joy of those young ladies who had given their lives totally to serve the Lord there.
Miss Pamela Reeves was the next influential lady in my life. She was my Bible teacher as a Junior at Culter Academy in Los Angeles, California. Not only our Bible teacher, but our class sponsor, Miss Reeves radiated the joy of the Lord and taught that victorious Christian life in her Bible class.
Miss Ruby Grey, my English grammar and composition teacher at Bob Jones University, encouraged me to write. This Hidden Treasures web site is some of the fruit of that encouragement.
Miss Pat Gumm, a C.B.C. student whom I met while visiting Columbia Bible College in Columbia, S.C. in December of 1953, caught my eye and soon won my heart. We were engaged in August of 1954 and married in August of 1955, She has been my faithful, loyal, sacrificial, loving wife and mother of our two sons and one daughter for almost 54 years. God had His hand in helping me find just the woman I needed to complement my life as a pastor. She’s never been an Assistant Pastor. I wasn’t looking for an Assistant. Rather, she has been the wife I longed for and the almost perfect Mother of our children. We share the same values.
A Woman’s Place in the Church
According to I Timothy 2:12 a woman is not to teach nor usurp authority over a man; but that does not rule out the fact that God uses women to influence the lives of men and nations as mothers and as teachers and friends.
Miss Deardurff, Miss Bohy, Miss Needham, the single missionary ladies in Haiti and Miss Reeves, many of whom are now in Heaven, continue to influence my congregation through me as their pastor. Think about that!!!
Godly Mothers in the Bible
I think of Godly mothers of the Bible who had such a powerful influence on so many people through the ministry of their sons.
Jochebed, the mother of Moses. Read Exodus 2:2-9, Acts 7:20-23 and Hebrews 11:23.
Hannah, the mother of the Prophet Samuel. Read her story in I Samuel 1:11, 20-28, and 2:18-19,
Lois and Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy, a disciple and fellow pastor and evangelist of the Apostle Paul.
Consider their faith
I. It was an unfeigned faith II Timothy 1:5
That is, it was a genuine faith; not hypocritical. Some young people turn away from the faith of their parents. I wouldn’t presume to know why any young person turns from the faith of their parents. There are all sorts of reasons- some not even related to the parents.
Certainly some turn away because of the hypocrisy of their parents. Children are very alert to whether someone is real or hypocritical and they are repelled and repulsed by hypocrisy and double standards.
They must observe integrity in their parents their teachers and their pastor. Integrity is simply what we believe being integrated into the way we live each day.
Some women who attend church with their husbands are destroying their homes and turning their children away from Christ by their gossiping tongues and their rebellious attitudes towards their husbands. Feigned faith and feigned religion is ugly. It is a cloak put on just for show and children see right through it.
We can only live a genuine Christian life by coming to Christ, admitting our sinfulness and accepting His righteousness by faith and surrendering our lives to Him who alone enables us to live the Christian life. Anything less is hypocritical and repulsive to our children.
II It was an influential faith. II Timothy 1:5
It passed on from generation to generation. First to grandmother Lois, then to mother Eunice and then to Timothy. Salvation, of course, is not inherited from our parents; but our lives can have a powerful impact on generations to follow,
III, It was an under girding faith.
Grandmother Lois and Mother Eunice lived consistent lives that influenced Timothy positively, Possibly, Timothy’s father, a Greek, was not saved, or perhaps he had died. Regardless, the womens’ faith undergirded young Timothy. No matter how difficult your circumstances, you will find support in Christ. Deuteronomy 33:27 is true in any age. “The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
IV. It was a rewarded faith.
The rewards were not immediate, but they were certain. As James 1:13-15 warns us that sin does not always have immediate consequences, but the consequences are ultimate and certain; so, Hebrews 11:8-39 encourages us that faith does not always have immediate rewards, but those rewards are ultimate and certain.
Jochebed’s faith was rewarded as Moses became the deliverer and leader of Israel for forty years.
Hannah’s faith was rewarded as she saw her son, Samuel, became a great prophet in Israel.
Lois and Eunice’s faith was rewarded as they saw Timothy become Paul’s right hand man and become a faithful pastor to the church of Ephesus.
God bless you, Mothers and single ladies who influence children for Christ. May He keep you unmovable and unshaken in God’s Word. May He under gird you and enable you to accomplish the task of discipling the children committed to your care. May He one day reward you as you see your sons and daughters and students, and children you baby-sat standing fast in The Faith, living consistent, fruitful lives for Christ and serving Him with all their heart.
Church Disunity
“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one for another.” John 13:35 In local churches and on mission fields a major problem is disunity among Christians. There is nothing that destroys a church’s testimony and effectiveness in reaching the lost and building up saints like disunity. Next to living and preaching the Truth, maintaining the unity of his church family is the main burden of a godly pastor.
Often that disunity is fomented by some “Diotrephes, who loving to have preeminence,” (III John 9-10) freezes out of the fellowship those who do not fall into line under his or her usurped leadership. Such churches seldom grow and are pathetic examples of what Christ meant His church to be.
In the light of what Christ has done for us, it is a shame and a disgrace for Christians to not endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit. Christ prayed for us in the Upper Room just before His crucifixion. His concern was “that we all would be one as Christ is one with His Heavenly Father.” John 17:21. That’s not the oneness of organization, but the oneness of an organism, the supernatural oneness of the Body of Christ. Not only does He pray for us, but He gives us the Gift of His Holy Spirit to unite us as one Body. That is the baptism of the Spirit spoken of in I Corinthians 12:13.
Understand that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an emotional experience to be sought and flaunted before the Church. Rather the baptism of the Spirit is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit whereby He unites us to the worldwide Body of Christ. Immediately a new Christian is aware that he is now a part of the family of God and he longs to be united and involved in fellowship, worship and service in a local expression of that Body.
For Christians to remain in a state of disunity is an abomination in the sight of God, as taught in Proverbs 6:16-18
Paul shows his concern for the possibility of disunity in the Philippians Church. This concern is seen throughout this Epistle in 1:5-19, 27. 4:1-2
The number one rule of church leadership according to I Peter 5:3 is to avoid attempting to lord it over others. Rather, pastors, elders, deacons and others in leadership positions are to lead by being examples of what a Christian ought to be and being encouragers with servant hearts.
Attempting to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit is a major concern for every church that is seeking to serve the Lord. The greater the zeal and enthusiasm, the greater the danger of disunity as we collide with one another in our efforts to serve Christ. Only as each member is filled and directed by the Holy Spirit, can we all work smoothly together without ruffling feathers.
Disunity takes place when we allow Satan to make us feel miffed because things do not always go as we plan.
True unity is more than just being members in the same church. It is more than doctrinal agreement, though doctrinally agreement is very important. True unity is unity of heart and purpose.
Unlike the unity of a bag of marbles that can be destroyed by cutting the bag, our unity must be like that of metal filings united together by a magnet. If Christ is the magnet of our life and of our church, that produces the true unity that enables us to work together with one heart and purpose.
Because a spiritually united church cannot be stopped in its progress by Satan, it is essential that each of us endeavor to keep and protect the unity that the Holy Spirit has given us. That’s why Paul emphasizes our responsibility to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in Ephesians 4:3 and in other passages in I Corinthians 12 and 14.
Paul’s approach to the Philippian Church in Philippians 2:1-2 concerning the need to keep this unity is not threatening: rather, it is a three-fold approach of a loving pastor to his church family to do what is right
1. for Christ’s sake,
2. because of the unity that the Holy Spirit has already made available to us, and
3. because of our love for our pastor and our church.
United, nothing can stop us as we move forward in our assault against Satan’s strongholds. Divided, we are paralyzed and powerless to do any more than just “play church”.
Truth
In this message I want to pause in our detailed study of the Olivet Discourse to think about something as basic as Truth.
TRUTH John 14:6
Christ is the Way to God personified. There is no other way.
He is the Truth of God personified. There is no truth apart from Him.
He is Life personified. There is no life apart from Him; only mere existence.
Any philosophy or theory contrary to the Bible is false.
Anyone without Christ, regardless of his scholarship, does not know truth.
Pilate is an example of the typical man without Christ. When Jesus spoke of truth to him in John 18:37, Pilate responded with the cynical question, “What is truth?” He did not wait for an answer for he was convinced there was no answer. Like men today, he believed that no one can know absolute truth about anything. Like the existentialist today, he believed “All truth is relative. What’s wrong for you may be right for me.”
UNFATHOMABLE DEPTHS OF TRUTH
Nevertheless, God speaks Truth through His Word, the Bible. His truth has unfathomable depths as evidenced by:
the unfathomable Love of God. Ephesians 3:14-19
the incomprehensible power of God. Ephesians 3:19-20
the unsearchable wisdom of God. Romans 11:33-36 and
the unquestionable sovereignty of God. Isaiah 55;8-9
Though people question God’s ways and the things He allows, they have no business doing so. When my missionary father was suddenly killed in a car accident in the mountains of Peru back in 1937 where he was a missionary, leaving my 27 year old mother a widow and my brother and me fatherless at the age of one and four, my mother told me in later years that she took great comfort at that time in reading and thinking about Isaiah 55:8-9 and resting in the sovereignty and wisdom of God.
SIMPLE & REVEALED TRUTH
Though God’s truth has unfathomable depths, yet it is simple enough for any Christ-lover to understand. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 13:11 that truth is given to His own to understand; but not to the rebellious, In Luke 10:21 we learn that God hides truth from the proud and self-righteous. He reveals it to the humble and child-like believer.
Towards the end of His ministry Luke 19:11-13 tells us that Jesus’ Disciples had the mistaken idea that His Kingdom would immediately appear. Jesus corrected them by telling the story of a nobleman who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. They could not fathom the long period of time between His first and second coming, nor can we.
Very early in His ministry, Luke 4:16-20 records that Jesus had gone into the synagogue in Nazereth and taken the scroll and read a prophecy from Isaiah 61:1-2. The part He read spoke of His first coming. He purposely did not read the last part of Isaiah 61:2 which spoke of His second coming to carry out vengeance, for His first coming was not the time of vengeance, but of grace and mercy. His vengeance will be poured out on His enemies when He returns to set the world straight and establish His Millennial Kingdom.
As Jesus sat with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, he looked across the Kidron Valley to the magnificent temple. It was a place that was to be known as a House of Prayer. However the corrupt priests had turned it into “a den of thieves”, Jesus said in Luke 19:46. It was now a place of false religion; so Jesus warned that it was going to be destroyed. That took place forty years later in 70 AD when the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and dismantled the temple stone by stone in order to get at the gold and precious stones that had beautified the temple.
As the vestiges of Christ-rejecting Judaism were destroyed then, so Revelation 17 & 18 prophesies that God is one day going to utterly destroy the modern day ecumenical church which will be headquartered in Rome. Not only will the false church be destroyed, but also the cursed one world political and economic system in that day. Even now, we are seeing signs of that doomed one world system beginning to take shape. We’re also seeing seeds of its coming destruction
But then on the Mount of Olives, as Jesus spoke to His Disciples of the end times, they had the nagging concern, “When Jesus? When are you going to return and set up Your Kingdom?” Even in the last moments before Jesus ascended back to Heaven, the disciple had this constant, gnawing concern. “Will you at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?” They had a rightful reason to be concerned about the coming Kingdom. It is prophesied all through the Old Testament, as we have noted in other prophetic articles which you can find on this website under the category PROPHESY Next time we will give you reasons why Christ must return to establish His Kingdom.
