Hebrews 9:27-28 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
On this date in 1945, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States, died of a cerebral hemorrhage at Warm Springs, Georgia. FDR was born on January 30, 1882 and was the only man in U.S. history to have been elected President more than twice.
I often think about the words of one of my favorite hymns, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Isaac Watts. In this great work, he writes, “Time, like an ever rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly, forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day.”
One of the realities of Pastoral ministry is being involved in lots of funerals. While it is always a privilege to be asked to speak at such a service, the serious nature of our appointment with death causes me to think deeply about what I will say to the family and friends who gather together. I almost never prepare for a funeral sermon without the words of this song going through my mind.
For the believer, this appointment marks the beginning of a truly joyous existence in the presence of Christ. Even those of us left behind at the passing of a loved one who trusted in the Lord are comforted by our certain knowledge of their eternal joy.
Most people do not know when they will go into the presence of God. We think and plan ahead as if we have all of the time in the world. I pretty much have an idea of what I will be doing for the next nine years as I lead our Church to accomplish the 20/20 Vision that the Lord has put before us. Often, when I think about what it will take to accomplish this work, I think about the fact that I may very well be kidding myself that I will be around to see it come to pass!
One day, someone will be thinking about what to say at my funeral. I hope they will remind my family and friends that all of us have an appointment with God for which we will not be late!
Prayer: “Father, thank You for the gift of this life, and the hope of the life to come. As we consider this sobering fact, let us put our faith in Your Son as our only hope of salvation. May we see that glorious day when all of your people surround Your throne and praise Your holy Name. Amen!”
Application: Are you ready to meet the Lord?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Power of Prayer!
James 5:16 “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (KJV)
On this day in 1836, English minister and philanthropist George Mueller opened his famous orphanage on Wilson Street in Bristol. (By 1875, Mueller's orphanage was providing care for over 2,000 children.) George Mueller was an amazing man of prayer. For many years, he prayed in the daily (yes, day-by-day) needs of the children!
In the opening paragraph of his biography of Dr. Mueller, Roger Martin quotes Mueller as frequently saying, “Prayer can do anything that God can do, and God can do anything!” Indeed, when Dr. Mueller said that, he was just summarizing James 5:16!
Prayer can do anything God can do, because prayer is simply asking God to act! And the God Whom we beseech to act is a God Who can do anything! We do not always ask God to act according to His will, so He does not always answer just as we desire – but He does always answer each and every prayer.
Sometimes, God answers our prayers directly! We ask according to His will, and He responds by doing exactly what we ask.
Sometimes, God answers our prayers differently! He knows what is best and what His will is. By the way, His will is always what is best for His children. He still answers, but in a way that is different from what we desire and ask.
Sometimes, God’s answer is to delay! His will may be, “OK, but not now.” We almost never like that, but we bow before His sovereignty and wait for His answer.
Sometimes, God answers with a denial! Because He knows best and always wants what is best for us, when we ask for that which is out of His will or will ultimately prove to be a bad thing for us – He denies our request.
Beloved Ones, do not be afraid to pray! If we are praying out of the will of God, He will correct our prayers. He will not give us something to hurt us, just because we asked Him for it. He loves us, and He loves to answer prayer!
Prayer: “Father, we rejoice in the truth that You are a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God. We rejoice that Your answer will always be in accordance with Your will and it will be what is best for us. Amen.”
Application: A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian!
On this day in 1836, English minister and philanthropist George Mueller opened his famous orphanage on Wilson Street in Bristol. (By 1875, Mueller's orphanage was providing care for over 2,000 children.) George Mueller was an amazing man of prayer. For many years, he prayed in the daily (yes, day-by-day) needs of the children!
In the opening paragraph of his biography of Dr. Mueller, Roger Martin quotes Mueller as frequently saying, “Prayer can do anything that God can do, and God can do anything!” Indeed, when Dr. Mueller said that, he was just summarizing James 5:16!
Prayer can do anything God can do, because prayer is simply asking God to act! And the God Whom we beseech to act is a God Who can do anything! We do not always ask God to act according to His will, so He does not always answer just as we desire – but He does always answer each and every prayer.
Sometimes, God answers our prayers directly! We ask according to His will, and He responds by doing exactly what we ask.
Sometimes, God answers our prayers differently! He knows what is best and what His will is. By the way, His will is always what is best for His children. He still answers, but in a way that is different from what we desire and ask.
Sometimes, God’s answer is to delay! His will may be, “OK, but not now.” We almost never like that, but we bow before His sovereignty and wait for His answer.
Sometimes, God answers with a denial! Because He knows best and always wants what is best for us, when we ask for that which is out of His will or will ultimately prove to be a bad thing for us – He denies our request.
Beloved Ones, do not be afraid to pray! If we are praying out of the will of God, He will correct our prayers. He will not give us something to hurt us, just because we asked Him for it. He loves us, and He loves to answer prayer!
Prayer: “Father, we rejoice in the truth that You are a prayer-hearing and a prayer-answering God. We rejoice that Your answer will always be in accordance with Your will and it will be what is best for us. Amen.”
Application: A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Truly Christian Outreach
Luke 14:21-23 “So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”
On this date in 1829, William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army was born in Nottingham England.
According to churchhistorytimeline.com, “Working first as a Methodist minister and evangelist, Booth and his able wife Catherine began tackling social evils at the same time engaging in direct evangelism. In 1865 Booth began a Christian mission in east London. By 1878 the mission and its work had evolved into the full grown organization of the Salvation Army. By the time of his death, Booth had traveled five million miles, preached 60,000 sermons and had drawn some 16,000 enlisted soldiers into his Army. At that time the Salvation Army was working in 58 countries in 34 languages.”
While I deeply regret the abandonment of sound doctrine and the ever encroaching liberalism within the Salvation Army, I am thankful that they have stayed faithful to their foundational calling of caring for the poorest of the poor and the down and out in society around the world.
One of the saddest things that have happened to our own Denomination over the years is that we have become more and more, “Upper Middle Class” in the demographic of our church members. Of course, we need to reach everyone including those who are, “Upper Middle Class” but, we (as a Denomination) have almost abandoned our efforts at reaching those who are most needy among us.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the fact that there are so few SBC Churches located in the inner cities of America. Even the very popular, “Center City” movement among Church Planters seems to be almost exclusively targeted at “Upper Middle to Upper Class” people in the cities!
Several years ago, I had the joy of preaching a week-long City-wide Crusade for the Salvation Army in Richmond, Virginia. It remains a happy memory for me. I found that two kinds of people were usually present in the services and ministries of the Salvation Army: those who were down and out, and those who were dedicated to ministering to them.
The right answer is, of course, to take the gospel to everyone, everywhere! We ought not tailor our services or ministries to reach a “certain segment” of the Community. Beloved Ones, let us, “'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes… and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.” And, everyone else!
Prayer: “Lord of the Harvest, use us to bring into Your Kingdom those who are outside. Let us not care about their social standing, but let us care about their spiritual standing before You. Use us, O God, to reach from among every race the young and old, men and women, boys and girls, poor, wealthy, and everywhere in-between. May our Church truly be a House for All People.”
Application: The Great Commission is geographically, not demographically structured! What are we doing to make sure that everyone feels welcome and wanted in our life and in our Church?
On this date in 1829, William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army was born in Nottingham England.
According to churchhistorytimeline.com, “Working first as a Methodist minister and evangelist, Booth and his able wife Catherine began tackling social evils at the same time engaging in direct evangelism. In 1865 Booth began a Christian mission in east London. By 1878 the mission and its work had evolved into the full grown organization of the Salvation Army. By the time of his death, Booth had traveled five million miles, preached 60,000 sermons and had drawn some 16,000 enlisted soldiers into his Army. At that time the Salvation Army was working in 58 countries in 34 languages.”
While I deeply regret the abandonment of sound doctrine and the ever encroaching liberalism within the Salvation Army, I am thankful that they have stayed faithful to their foundational calling of caring for the poorest of the poor and the down and out in society around the world.
One of the saddest things that have happened to our own Denomination over the years is that we have become more and more, “Upper Middle Class” in the demographic of our church members. Of course, we need to reach everyone including those who are, “Upper Middle Class” but, we (as a Denomination) have almost abandoned our efforts at reaching those who are most needy among us.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the fact that there are so few SBC Churches located in the inner cities of America. Even the very popular, “Center City” movement among Church Planters seems to be almost exclusively targeted at “Upper Middle to Upper Class” people in the cities!
Several years ago, I had the joy of preaching a week-long City-wide Crusade for the Salvation Army in Richmond, Virginia. It remains a happy memory for me. I found that two kinds of people were usually present in the services and ministries of the Salvation Army: those who were down and out, and those who were dedicated to ministering to them.
The right answer is, of course, to take the gospel to everyone, everywhere! We ought not tailor our services or ministries to reach a “certain segment” of the Community. Beloved Ones, let us, “'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes… and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.” And, everyone else!
Prayer: “Lord of the Harvest, use us to bring into Your Kingdom those who are outside. Let us not care about their social standing, but let us care about their spiritual standing before You. Use us, O God, to reach from among every race the young and old, men and women, boys and girls, poor, wealthy, and everywhere in-between. May our Church truly be a House for All People.”
Application: The Great Commission is geographically, not demographically structured! What are we doing to make sure that everyone feels welcome and wanted in our life and in our Church?
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Biblical Church Discipline!
Galatians 6:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
On this date in 1988, Evangelist Jimmy Swaggert was defrocked by the Assemblies of God for his involvement with a prostitute and for rejecting the denominational discipline imposed on him.
Baptists practice the autonomy of the Local Church and therefore we do not have any way as a Denomination to discipline an individual church member. We leave that up to each church. Like most things, that is both good at times; and bad at other times!
Biblical discipline, whether it is imposed on a member, a leader, or an entire church (which Southern Baptists do from time to time) is meant to correct the behavior of the one being disciplined and demonstrate the genuineness of their faith. It also protects the good Name of Christ and the Local Church. When a member, including a minister, rejects the correction offered in love by their church, discipline must be imposed that is commensurate with the offense.
The biblical goal of imposing discipline is restoration! It must be carried out by godly, “spiritual” Christians and done as prescribed by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
Beloved Ones, the Assemblies of God were (in my opinion) correct to defrock Mr. Swaggert. Let us pray that all of our members, including our ministers, will live godly and sincere lives. Let us pray that all of us will have someone, or even an entire church, that will press us to live up to Biblical standards!
Prayer: “O God, I thank You for Your indwelling Spirit Who keeps me from continually sinning. Thank You for the continual rebuke that comes from studying Your Holy Word. Thank You for a godly Church and godly Christian friends who also hold me accountable.”
Application: Do you love your family and fellow-members enough to restore them when they become an offense to God and their Church?
On this date in 1988, Evangelist Jimmy Swaggert was defrocked by the Assemblies of God for his involvement with a prostitute and for rejecting the denominational discipline imposed on him.
Baptists practice the autonomy of the Local Church and therefore we do not have any way as a Denomination to discipline an individual church member. We leave that up to each church. Like most things, that is both good at times; and bad at other times!
Biblical discipline, whether it is imposed on a member, a leader, or an entire church (which Southern Baptists do from time to time) is meant to correct the behavior of the one being disciplined and demonstrate the genuineness of their faith. It also protects the good Name of Christ and the Local Church. When a member, including a minister, rejects the correction offered in love by their church, discipline must be imposed that is commensurate with the offense.
The biblical goal of imposing discipline is restoration! It must be carried out by godly, “spiritual” Christians and done as prescribed by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
Beloved Ones, the Assemblies of God were (in my opinion) correct to defrock Mr. Swaggert. Let us pray that all of our members, including our ministers, will live godly and sincere lives. Let us pray that all of us will have someone, or even an entire church, that will press us to live up to Biblical standards!
Prayer: “O God, I thank You for Your indwelling Spirit Who keeps me from continually sinning. Thank You for the continual rebuke that comes from studying Your Holy Word. Thank You for a godly Church and godly Christian friends who also hold me accountable.”
Application: Do you love your family and fellow-members enough to restore them when they become an offense to God and their Church?
Friday, April 8, 2011
Sunday's Coming!
Chet Daniels, Lead Pastor at Redeemer Church in Champaign-Urbana, will be our guest speaker this coming Sunday morning! Redeemer is one of three new church plants with whom we are partnering this year.
I hope you will be able to attend this service and encourage Pastor Chet; and, I am certain that you will be blessed by what the Lord lays on his heart to share with us.
Chet is the third of these Pastors whom we have heard this Spring. I am thankful that our Church loves church plants and church planters, and gives so generously to their work!
See you there!
I hope you will be able to attend this service and encourage Pastor Chet; and, I am certain that you will be blessed by what the Lord lays on his heart to share with us.
Chet is the third of these Pastors whom we have heard this Spring. I am thankful that our Church loves church plants and church planters, and gives so generously to their work!
See you there!
The Living God!
Today is the 98th day of the year. There are 267 days left in 2011.
Revelation 1:18 “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
On this date in 1966, Time Magazine published their infamous cover asking, “Is God dead?” Atheist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) had written, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.” From that time to this, Nietzsche remains a hero of atheists and nihilists everywhere.
We are reminded that one’s opinion does not change reality. If God does not exist, my belief that He does changes nothing. Likewise, since God does exist, the disbelief of a million atheists changes nothing! God is alive and well and accomplishing His divine will in the world!
Isaiah 43:10-12 “You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am God.”
The One True and Living God, the God of the Christian Bible, is alive; and, because He lives, we shall live also!
(John 14:19)
Prayer: Our Lord and our God, I praise You this day that You, the living God, have given eternal life to those who love you and call upon Your Name. Open the eyes of unbelievers that You may also be glorified in their lives.”
Application: Are we living as if the God we profess to love and serve really is alive?
Revelation 1:18 “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
On this date in 1966, Time Magazine published their infamous cover asking, “Is God dead?” Atheist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) had written, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.” From that time to this, Nietzsche remains a hero of atheists and nihilists everywhere.
We are reminded that one’s opinion does not change reality. If God does not exist, my belief that He does changes nothing. Likewise, since God does exist, the disbelief of a million atheists changes nothing! God is alive and well and accomplishing His divine will in the world!
Isaiah 43:10-12 “You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am God.”
The One True and Living God, the God of the Christian Bible, is alive; and, because He lives, we shall live also!
(John 14:19)
Prayer: Our Lord and our God, I praise You this day that You, the living God, have given eternal life to those who love you and call upon Your Name. Open the eyes of unbelievers that You may also be glorified in their lives.”
Application: Are we living as if the God we profess to love and serve really is alive?
Thursday, April 7, 2011
How Valuable is the Word of God?
Psalm 19:8-11 “the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
From the Preface to the English Standard Bible: "This Book [is] the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; this is the royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God." With these words the Moderator of the Church of Scotland hands a Bible to the new monarch in Britain's coronation service. These words echo the King James Bible translators, who wrote in 1611: "God's sacred Word . . . is that inestimable treasure that excelleth all the riches of the earth."
On this date in 1978, a copy of the Guttenberg Bible owned by the General Theological Seminary in Stuttgart, Germany sold for $2,000,000.00! Of course, the fact that it had been printed by Johannes Guttenberg was the cause of this fantastic price. As late as 1987, a Guttenberg Bible reportedly sold for 3.5 million.
On a recent radio talk show, a guest described the Bible as, “a book about God written by men.” Of course, that statement is true; but, from his point of view he meant that that is all that the Bible is. This is clearly the majority view in America today, but it could not be more wrong!
We pay about $2.00 for paperback Bibles that we give away at our Church. (And we give away lots of them!) A pretty good copy can be bought about anywhere for $10.00. Really nice ones go much higher. I recently purchased an English Standard Version Study Bible, Larger Print in a Leather Cover that retails for $125.00!
But, regardless of the financial investment involved, the question is, “What is the value of the Bible to us?” David said in Psalm 19, that the Words of God “are more to be desired than gold.” Some very wise person once said, “The Bible is the most often purchased and least often read book in the World.” Sadly, that is very likely true. I certainly need to spend much more time reading the Bible, and I suspect that most Christians do as well.
Since we do love the Bible, let us commit ourselves today to reading – and heeding – every word of it this year!
Prayer: “Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Word. I thank You that I live in a place where it is so easily accessible and so affordable. May I always treasure it in my heart, and may I, and we, do all we can to get Your Word into the hands, and hearts, of others. Amen.”
Application: Do we faithfully read and heed the Bible?
From the Preface to the English Standard Bible: "This Book [is] the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is Wisdom; this is the royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God." With these words the Moderator of the Church of Scotland hands a Bible to the new monarch in Britain's coronation service. These words echo the King James Bible translators, who wrote in 1611: "God's sacred Word . . . is that inestimable treasure that excelleth all the riches of the earth."
On this date in 1978, a copy of the Guttenberg Bible owned by the General Theological Seminary in Stuttgart, Germany sold for $2,000,000.00! Of course, the fact that it had been printed by Johannes Guttenberg was the cause of this fantastic price. As late as 1987, a Guttenberg Bible reportedly sold for 3.5 million.
On a recent radio talk show, a guest described the Bible as, “a book about God written by men.” Of course, that statement is true; but, from his point of view he meant that that is all that the Bible is. This is clearly the majority view in America today, but it could not be more wrong!
We pay about $2.00 for paperback Bibles that we give away at our Church. (And we give away lots of them!) A pretty good copy can be bought about anywhere for $10.00. Really nice ones go much higher. I recently purchased an English Standard Version Study Bible, Larger Print in a Leather Cover that retails for $125.00!
But, regardless of the financial investment involved, the question is, “What is the value of the Bible to us?” David said in Psalm 19, that the Words of God “are more to be desired than gold.” Some very wise person once said, “The Bible is the most often purchased and least often read book in the World.” Sadly, that is very likely true. I certainly need to spend much more time reading the Bible, and I suspect that most Christians do as well.
Since we do love the Bible, let us commit ourselves today to reading – and heeding – every word of it this year!
Prayer: “Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Word. I thank You that I live in a place where it is so easily accessible and so affordable. May I always treasure it in my heart, and may I, and we, do all we can to get Your Word into the hands, and hearts, of others. Amen.”
Application: Do we faithfully read and heed the Bible?
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