The Heaton File

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:14-16)

Lukewarm Devotion

“The great lack of modern religion is the spirit of devotion. We hear sermons in the same spirit with which we listen to a lecture or hear a speech. We visit the house of God just as if it were a common place, on a level with the theater, the lecture-room or the forum. We look upon the minister of God not as the divinely-called man of God, but merely as a sort of public speaker on a plane with the politician, the lawyer, or the average speech maker, or the lecturer. Oh, how the spirit of true and genuine devotion would radically change all of this for the better! We handle sacred things just as if they were the things of the world. Even […] the Lord’s Supper becomes a mere religious performance, no preparation for it before-hand, and no meditation and prayer afterward. We need the spirit of devotion, not only to salt our secularities, but to making praying real prayers. We need to put the spirit of devotion into Monday’s business as well as in Sunday’s worship. We need the spirit of devotion, to recollect always the presence of God, to be always doing the will of God, to direct all things always to the glory of God. The spirit of devotion puts God in all things. It puts God not merely in our praying and church going, but in all the concerns of life.” (Edward M. Bounds; 1835-1913)

Laodicea had a problem not uncommon in many churches of the Lord today. Jesus examined the hearts of the people concluding they were at best lukewarm. He knew their works and He was not impressed. They were not like Sardis whom the Lord defined as being dead. This would be a cold church, lifeless and with little hope of revival. Laodicea was not a church on fire either. It would have pleased the Lord to at least say the church was dead or alive but it found itself it a much worse state. Lukewarm is mediocre and going through the motions of worship with little or no life convinced they are a faithful and sound congregation. What was greatly lacking in the church of the Laodiceans was a true devotion to the Lord.

E. M. Bounds understood the need of devotion in our spiritual life as a people living in the world and as a people gathered for worship. Both of these arenas of life are connected. If church services are out of context with the rest of the week, the problem lies in the rest of the week. Worshiping God is not a prosthetic we take on and off when we enter the church building. Too often saints gather on the first day of the week to worship who were not saints the week before. The singing is weak on Sunday because there is no joy in the week before. Prayers are rote memorization’s of key words and thoughts with no spiritual meat resulting from lives void of prayer. Listening to the preacher drone on about concepts foreign to the interest and purpose of life result from lifeless carnal pursuits in the hearts of those squirming in the seats anxious for an ‘amen’ to be sounded. Taking the Lord’s Supper is eating some pie crust and drinking Welch’s grape juice. Praise the Lord we are devoted; let’s go home. And this is where the problem came from.

Jesus condemned the church at Laodicea because they were not wholly devoted to the purpose and design of God. Lukewarm devotion emerges from lives that are little interested in spiritual matters Monday through Saturday. The Christian is only a lifeless machine going through the motions doing the will of God because they are commanded to and mom and dad insisted. Having a devoted heart is a spirit that is full of the love of God embracing the glory and majesty of His divine power in every part of life. Worship on the first day of the week is an outgrowth of six days preparing for a wonderful feast of good things as the people of God gather together and join hearts and voices in divine praise. A heart devoted is a spirit filled with the word of God on a daily basis always praying in the spirit and serving others in the kindness of brotherly love. As Berry Kercheville said, “We need to fall in love with God again.” That would change our worship, our hearts and our outlook. Devotion comes from a heart prepared to worship and devoted worship will change the heart to live in righteousness every day of the week. Is thy heart right with God?

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-11)

Everything We Need

There is great power in knowing that God has made provisions for His children to be provided with everything they need to grow, prosper and find assurance in the promised blessing of eternal life. Doubt can fill the heart of a disciple as Satan seeks to dissuade with fears and inhibitions of worthiness. Hope is sometimes lost in the spirit of God’s people because they are unsure whether they are saved or not creating distrust in the promises of the Father. Guilt infiltrates the soul with anxious feelings of inadequacies dooming the spirit to apathy. Challenging these feelings of hopelessness is the knowledge that God has provided everything needed to give a blessed assurance that salvation is sure and true. The child of God should not walk with unsteady steps of uncertainty. Obtaining a like precious faith by the righteousness of God comes from a heart devoted to growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The divine power of God has made full provisions of everything needed to make salvation sure. Revealing His mind through the written word, God has declared to all men what His will is pertaining to life and godliness. This comes about through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Genesis to the Revelation is about the Son of God. The assurance of salvation comes from knowing the glory of the Father revealed through the Son in the express image of His virtue. In this knowledge comes the assurance of salvation and hope of Heaven. It is not a guess or a calculation of chance. Eternal life is something that is sure and steadfast. A spirit of humble confidence fills the heart with the knowledge that death will bring only the light of God’s face upon His child. The promises of God are exceedingly great and His promises are precious. In the knowledge of God we partake of the divine nature infusing our lives with His presence. All that is in the world with its corruption and putridity is cast aside for the grace of God’s love.

Everything we need for life is found in His word. In the grace of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love the character of the Christian is forged through the fires of devotion. There is nothing lacking. Embedding these graces into our lives will insure victory. Our voices can shout in triumph to know that death brings the assurance of eternal life. A crown waits for the one who believes that all things that pertain to life and godliness have been provided through the grace of God. Fears are cast aside. Confidence of hope fills the spirit of man to walk more boldly as a shining light in a dark world. The war rages on against the forces of wickedness as soldiers of Christ take up the banner of truth confident the victory has been won in Jesus Christ. Putting the graces of Lord in the heart of the child of God will bring about the knowledge that Heaven is not a maybe; it is an absolute.

The key to Peter’s exhortation knows the importance of adding the graces of God to a life of faith. Everything has been provided but the child of God must take advantage of His provisions. It takes all diligence to add to faith the virtues listed in the text. Reading about them and thinking about them will be of little value if they are not added to the active life of the Christian. It takes courage to face each grace and to acknowledge any challenge in life is addressed by one or more of the seven characters needed to make our calling and election sure. Failure in life comes from a failure in one or more of these graces. Victory will spring from the practice of each one of these manifestation of God’s grace in our life. He has provided everything we need. Thank you God.

Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to give your fathers, to them and their descendants, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled. (Deuteronomy 11:8-15)

The Blessings Of Obedience

God has always wanted to care for His children and give them the storehouse of His many blessings. He has so much to give. When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, everything they needed was provided. They could eat of every tree in the garden with the exception of the one forbidden tree. One tree. All the hundreds or thousands of trees in the garden and Satan used the one tree to bring man down. On God’s part, He provided an abundance of good things for Israel. The land of Canaan was promised before the people left Egypt. Rebelling at Kadesh-Barnea was an incredibly heart wrenching experience for the Lord because all the people had to do was to trust in Him and the Lord God would fight their battles for them. They refused and He punished them.

The Law of Moses specifically laid out the promises that God would provide all they needed and more if they would only obey. Their days would be long and the land would flow with milk and honey. There was no comparison to what the Hebrews experienced in Egypt. This land would produce great crops for them. The Lord would bring the rains throughout the year to fill the earth with nourishment. Grain would be in abundance, the new wine and oil plentiful. Obedience to the Lord would bring great blessings from the hand of the Great Provider and the people would never be in want. If the people would earnestly obey the commandments of the Lord, to love Him and serve Him with all their heart and souls then God would give them all these blessings and more. Who would not want to obey the Lord with these kinds of promises? The only thing the people had to do was to follow the will of God and He would take care of the rest. Sadly this would not be the case.

Israel conquered the land and prospered under the hand of the Lord. In time, the heart of the people turned from the Lord  as they trusted in themselves and desiring to be like the nations around them followed after the gods of the world. The Law of Moses became a foreign book to them and they forgot the law of God. Israel became a corrupt and evil nation (like the nations around them) and the blessings of the Lord dried up. Instead of the land flowing with milk and honey, Israel became a byword and a hiss as the land was destroyed by other nations. There was no joy in the land and the rains seldom came. All they had to do was to obey the Lord and He would bless them beyond their imaginations. They refused and so did God.

The greatest tragedy of sin is man seeks to find his happiness in himself instead of allowing the Lord to bless him. Obedience to God always comes with blessings. His promises do not provide the physical blessings as clearly as He promised the nation of Israel but obedience will always bring a reward from the Lord. Godliness is a way of life that will keep the heart from the suffering endured by the ungodly. Purity leads to decisions that will keep one from the pain of impurity and lascivious living. Sexual immorality will reap what is sown. Abstaining from every form of evil will bless a person’s life with a greater reward here and in the world to come. Righteousness exalts the spirit of a man because he obeys the word of God. There are more blessings in obedience than pleasures in disobedience.

Keeping the commandments of the Lord is not burdensome. The promise that God will bless those who obey His commandments, to love the Lord God and serve Him with all the heart and with all the soul are found in the covenant of Christ. There will be greater contentment, joy, happiness and promise in a life devoted to serving the will of God. It will bring greater blessings in this life and especially in the life to come. His promises still hold true. If we obey God He will bless us. When we turn away from God to serve the gods of this world He will remove His blessings. The choice is yours.

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

The Greatest Question

Men have sought the answers to life in many ways. Everything man does is the pursuit of finding a place of happiness and he believes that his worth is discovered in his own wisdom. The quest for meaningful life is exhausted in the pleasures of the flesh, the accumulation of money and the prideful heart of arrogance. In a laughable exercise of futility, the boastful man will show the world how smart he is by his physical presence, mental sharpness and bounty of wealth. He rules over other men with an egotistical hand of superiority walking tall among the multitudes of less fortunate and less deserving. His stature among men is great and many marvel at the idol he has become. Life for the prideful man is what dreams are made of and the world envies his success. And then a remarkable thing happens. The man dies.

All men who possess the riches of the world share the common fate as every man. Death is not a respecter of persons. Wealthy men die just like the impoverished. Morgues are filled with the bodies of those who are no different than the other. A shell of a human body lies cold and lifeless without any trappings of wealth and power. There is no pleasure in the body. Death has sealed the fate of the rich man and the poor. The youthful body used for the pleasures of life begins to decay returning to the dust from whence it came. There is no beauty in the dying body. No wisdom and no words of pride. Death silences life. And then a remarkable thing happens. The spirit of the man that lived for the pleasures of carnal man faces an eternal awareness and the face of a God he chose not to believe.

The greatest question that man will answer is what will he exchange for his eternal soul. All men are eternal creatures. When conception occurs in the womb of a woman an eternal being is created that will never cease to exist. The body will grow and mature but in reality the soul of man possesses the physical body waiting to be released in death. Death does not allow the transfer of wealth, fame and pleasure. What is common to all men is no matter how they lived life they all die the same way. Jesus poses the rhetorical question of what is there in the entire world that is worth losing eternity for? How will men face the judgment of the Lord God Almighty with a life spent in the folly of carnal pleasure? Hell is a place of eternal torment. It is unceasing. There is no escape. Jesus described it as a place of fire without end. And men will live in the pleasures of their folly and face God unprepared.

Life is very short and yet upon this vapor of time an eternity depends. A man will gain the whole world and enjoy every particle of life that is given in the flesh – and then he will die. Sadly, eternity is without end for those who deny God. Disbelieving in judgment does not negate the reality of suffering the consequences of selling the soul for a parcel of carnal pleasure. All men will dwell in eternity. Jesus declared that most will find themselves apart from God in darkness weeping and crying out for a relief that will never come. Pleasures on earth will quickly be forgotten and despised. The soul was exchanged for the lie of pleasure, wisdom and fame. You are reading these words. You will die. What will you exchange for your soul?

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.(Mark 6:7-13)

Jesus Cannot Do It All

The ministry of Jesus was an exhausting and grueling three years of teaching, healing, walking, teaching, healing, teaching and once in a while time alone for Himself and the Father. He was constantly going from city to city with multitudes in the thousands following Him. Many came seeking Jesus to hear His teachings or to receive the miracle of healing from His hand. There was so much work to be done in such a short time. Jesus knew His time was limited. He began early to develop the men who would take the work of the gospel to the whole world. Imagine trying to find qualified men to take the leadership role of spreading a message that would encircle the world (literally) and last for thousands of years without fail. Twelve men were selected among so many other qualified disciples. These were not the leaders of the day or educated elite of the people. Common men who knew the value of hard work (fishermen), a man of education (tax collector) and a spirited individual who brought the power of a zealous heart to the group (a Zealot). Little is known of the others but Thomas would prove to be one of the strongest of the twelve with a deep faith and love for the Lord. The background of Judas is not known but he turned against His Lord and suffered greatly because of it.

Jesus also sent out seventy men to preach the gospel. John the Baptist prepared the way. The Twelve were sent out to preach and heal the sick. Jesus was one man and could not do all the work that needed to be done. He also knew the plan of the Father was for Him to die on a cross and to rise from the dead. After the resurrection His time was more limited as He only spent forty days with the eleven grooming them for the work that was before Him. The day came when Jesus returned to the Father and would remain until the end of time. It was that time after the ascension of Jesus that is critical to the completion of the work of God. The eleven fulfilled the work of God by going to Jerusalem, choosing the twelfth apostle and opening the doors of a new covenant on the Day of Pentecost. These twelve men began to preach the gospel in Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. Others were drawn to the work of teaching and preaching. When persecution came, more men and women took a stand of preaching scattering throughout the land to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul, Barnabas, John Mark, Timothy, Luke and Silas all became instruments of preaching the word of God to Jews and Gentiles alike.

Jesus is the Son of God but He cannot do all that needs to be done. He could have remained on the earth and through the power of the Holy Spirit spread the gospel to all lands throughout every century. But that was not the plan of the Father. It was left to men to spread the news of salvation. Jesus sent out the twelve so that men could teach men. This accomplished two things: men would learn from men and those who taught would have a deeper knowledge of God’s word. The same is true today. Like the song that says, “Christ has no hands but our hands; to do His work today” we are the agents of the gospel to take the message of hope to a lost and dying world. If we are not doing it – who will? Jesus will not come to earth and preach for us. He has left that responsibility to us. We are the ones selected by Christ to tell our neighbors, coworkers, friends and family. So often the reason many are lost is because those entrusted with teaching the gospel fail to fulfill their role. Our hearts must be like the seventy that returned and rejoiced because of the power of God over Satan. Let us all be busy about sharing the good news.

And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ (Acts 26:14-18)

A Pauline Doctrine Or A Doctrine Of Christ

In the mail bag this week received a note asking if the Brooksville church was part of a group that followed the “Pauline doctrine.” They cited an author on the internet they follow who espouses this doctrine of Paul based on 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. I will never live long enough to hear every new thing and this was one that had never crossed my path before. It seems (according to the internet) to have become a prominent thought in the 20^th century with the term “Pauline doctrine” although elements of the movement can be traced back to the 2^nd century. From a cursory view it seems to highlight the writings of Paul above all others and the apostle Paul differs from all other writers of the New Testament. Some go so far as to suggest the apostle differs from teachings found in the Gospels, Acts and the book of James.

Attacks against the Bible will continue until the Lord returns as Satan tries to discredit the Holy text. The wisdom of man is an astonishing melody of discord in his infantile pursuit of exalting himself to be his own god. He believes that if he can talk loud enough and long enough he can outlast the power of the word of God. This is like an ant with three legs trying to move the Moon out of its place. The angels must smile as man seeks to outwit the Lord God Almighty in failed attempts to rewrite what is settled in heaven. The view of this “Pauline doctrine” is another attack of the devil to do what he did in the beginning: “Has God indeed said.”

The New Testament church is an eternal kingdom that will never fail. Paul was told by the Lord Himself that he was appointed a minister and a witness of the work of God and that through his work delivers the message of salvation to the Jewish people as well as the Gentiles. Paul was sent by Jesus Christ. The doctrine Paul preached was the doctrine of Jesus Christ as he was a messenger of the will of God. His work would be to open the eyes of the people to turn from darkness to light and the power of Satan to God. The doctrine of Paul was the same as the doctrine of Jesus. He would preach the message of forgiveness of sins established by the Son of God. The inheritance of eternal life was preached by Paul among those who were sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ. Paul never preached his own doctrine. Everything the apostle preached was the truth of Jesus Christ.

Paul was in harmony with what Luke wrote in the Acts of the Apostles. The apostles wrote the same message of hope, grace and mercy as Peter, James and John. There is no conflict in the doctrine written by any other writer of the New Testament. Peter affirms that Paul was a fellow author. The teachings of James on salvation by faith and works do not contradict the message of grace Paul writes to the saints at Ephesus. All sixty-six books of the Bible are in perfect accord with one another as they declare the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The reason we have 27 books of the New Testament canon is because we did not need 26 or 28. In the perfection of the will of God, the Bible is a complete revelation of the mind of God. Paul wrote more books than we have preserved but what we have is all we need to know about the will of God. The other authors of the New Testament probably wrote more than what is preserved but all we need to know is found in the 27 books of the covenant. What is the Pauline doctrine? Paul would refute the idea himself if he were here. Paul preached Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. Let the Son of God be glorified and men bow before the great I AM.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)

Crucifying To Live

The fruit of the Spirit is a melody of blessings that will enrich and build up the life of every person that seeks to implement each of the fruits into their lives as the Spirit of God works in them. It will be life changing. Each one of the fruits will bring an enrichment that will help to fight off the passions of the flesh. Nine specific parts are given by God to complete the character of His children in a perfect manner. Every one of the fruits is necessary and codependent upon one another to perfect the heart of those who seek to glorify the Father in their life. Abiding in the fruit of the Spirit will raise the spirituality of the heart to walk more firmly in the will of God.

Remarkably, to live in the Spirit requires a death. Paul emphasized the importance of the fruit of the Spirit with the need to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. To crucify something is to kill it. The fruit of the Spirit cannot flourish in a heart that remains filled with the passions of the flesh and the desires of the carnal man. Like a garden that first must be cleared of impediments and weeds, the heart must be cleaned of the lusts of the flesh to allow the fruit to grow. The fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh cannot grow in the same soil. Crucifying the flesh with its passions is exercising self-control and removing any sign of the carnal nature of sin. This demands action. Apathy toward the fleshly passions will choke out the fruit of the Spirit.

In the physical world, leaving a garden to grow on its own will produce healthy weeds because their nature is so strong. It takes constant care to prune, weed and remove the powerful seeds of the destructive nature of plants that are good for nothing. Their nature is so strong they need no tending. Weeds have a life of their own and ignoring them will bring about a ruined garden. The works of the flesh are very powerful and if they are not crucified – killed of their passions – they will choke out the fruit of the Spirt and destroy the heart. If there is not an active pursuit of keeping the works of the flesh out of the heart, the fruit of God will die.

Like weeds, the works of the flesh have a life of their own and are very powerful. There must be a constant weeding process to remove the influences of the fleshly works from our lives. The works of the flesh are evident on television, computers, smart phones and every electronic device known to man. Christians are drawn into the works of the flesh by the way the dress (or undress), the manner of their speech and their attitudes. Growing in the fruit of the Spirit demands removing these influences of the carnal man from the life of the Christian so that love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control can grow. If there is no crucifixion there will be no growth.

Living in the Spirit is walking in the Spirit. Walking is an active pursuit of the fruit of the Spirit. Talking about walking, thinking about walking and wishing to walk is not walking. Putting one foot in front of the other is walking and without an active desire to add the fruit of the Spirit to our lives there will be no blessing. Killing the passions of the flesh removes the influences of the carnal pleasures so that we can add the graces of the fruit of the Spirit to our daily walk. If we say that we are children of God then we should act like we are children of God. Walking in the Spirit will only come about when we walk in the Spirit. We cannot walk in the Spirit with one leg in the world and one foot in Christ. As the old preacher said, “a praying knee does not fit on a dancing foot.” Crucify the flesh and let the fruit grow.

Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. (Romans 4:9-12)

A Father To Jew And Gentile

There are many in the religious world that hold to the Ten Commandments and parts of the Law of Moses as their creed. Failing to discern the division of scripture, Christianity becomes a mixture of the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ. The early Christians struggled with the issue of circumcision and what a person must do to be saved. One of the early conflicts of the church was dispelling the teaching that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Paul addresses this question in his letter to Rome using Abraham as an example of how a man is justified by faith. Abraham is the father of the Jewish people and is regarded as the embodiment of the covenant God had with Israel. Using the example of Abraham as a backdrop to his argument, Paul shows that Abraham was justified before circumcision establishing that while circumcision was bound by the Law of Moses, justification came before the Law. This is a key element to understand the relationship of the Law for the Christian.

Without a proper address of the division of scripture, a student of the Bible can assume the Old Testament and its Law is binding upon the child of God today. Paul’s argument will settle the same question as the early church had to understand the role of the Law of Moses and the law of Christ. The Lord came to Abraham when he was ninety-nine years old to establish the covenant of circumcision. This was twenty-four years after God had called him to leave Haran. Abraham was justified before the law of circumcision. Faith was accounted to him for righteousness prior to the covenant. When Abraham was uncircumcised, he was found righteous before the Lord. For the Jew, the righteousness of the Law was established when the child was circumcised at eight days. Abraham became the father of the uncircumcised (Gentile) showing his faith before the Law and he became the father of the circumcised (Jew) by entering the covenant with God through obedience.

The Law of Moses was an important part of the scheme of redemption but the Law of Moses was only given to one nation and one people. Israel was the chosen nation of God and they were bound by the Law of Moses. Salvation for the Jew came through the Law. This law was not bound upon the Gentile and salvation for the non-Jew came through the same justification of faith exemplified by Abraham. Two laws ran concurrently before Christ: the law of faith and the Law of Moses. The strength of Paul’s argument was man is justified by faith before the Law of Moses removing the shackles of the Law as binding upon man today. The Gentile proved that man could not live to himself and the Jews proved that man could live under the Law. Both Jew and Gentile are brought together in Christ to show salvation is only in Jesus Christ.

Enforcing the Ten Commandments or parts of the Law of Moses for justification today is contrary to the teaching of the righteousness of Abraham. He was justified apart from the Law of Moses. It was a sin to commit adultery before the Ten Commandments. Disobedience to the will of God was not established by the Law of Moses. Abraham received grace from the Lord because he was justified by faith apart from the Law. Salvation today cannot come by being a good person or finding justification in the Law of Moses. There is only one name that will save man today and that is Jesus Christ. The Law of Moses has been abolished. It is a sin to commit adultery; not because it breaks one of the Ten Commandments but because it transgresses the law of God. Abraham is the father of all those who obey the Lord. He is a father to the Jew and the Gentile.

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred. (Proverbs 15:16-17)

The Home Of Little

Prosperity has never been a friend of the righteous. Having riches and enjoying the bounty of wealth is not the problem but when men begin to turn their hearts to seeking treasures in carnal things the home changes. Many righteous men were blessed with material riches. Abraham was a powerful and wealthy leader of a large family. Jacob would become wealthy in his day and at one time Solomon was incredibly affluent with untold riches that marveled the Queen of Sheba. The righteous man Lot was one of the richest men of his day. How a person looks at the treasures of the world is what makes the difference. For most men, seeking the rewards of riches will bring nothing but sorrow and heartache.

The ‘American Dream’ has ruined many a home in the frantic search for happiness in material treasures. Husbands and wives will drive themselves into the oblivion of debt to keep up with the latest, most exciting, new and shiny things of this world and have no happiness in the frantic search for enough. Children are left to themselves as the father and mother work long hours every day of the week with no time to spend with family. The people of God are oppressed with the need to have to latest, up-to-date novelty of a pleasure driven world to the neglect of any consciousness of God. Work becomes the new god that men fall down and worship. The Lord instilled in early man the need to work with his hands but never to the point he forgets the Lord. Services of the Lord are abandoned by families who are more interested in playing with the trinkets of the world rather than communing with the Creator. And to what end? Often homes are filled with unhappiness and discontent.

Solomon knew all too well the dangers of prosperity. When a man spends all his time to give the family the treasures of the world and to make certain the fatted calf is served every night; to the neglect of his own spiritual needs and the needs of the family – tragedy follows. The proverb explains that happiness never comes from the charms of the world but in the contented spirit of a home that trust in the Lord. It is better to have a home that is filled with knowledge of God than to have all the things of the world. A home that enjoys a simple meal of herbs where love abounds is better than a rich home surrounded by the opulence of marble and gold and there is no love. It does not have to have marble and gold. It can be a home where the family is fragmented by the cares and riches of the world and God is seldom taught. The family that is not centered on the Lord is a home that is built on a foundation of sand.

Satan does not have to tempt many people with the wickedness of immorality. He first will attract the soul of the family to gain all the pleasures of the world and as long as they do not think about God very much, he can have his evil way. The devil convinces the Christian the treasures of the world are more to be desired than a home with the fear of the Lord. He will impress upon the heart of the home that having the fatted calf is more important than the herbs of contentment. Satan drives the man and woman to work long hours over many days so they can have all the pleasures of life. All the while the home goes further and further away from the Lord. Instead of love filling the home, hatred and discontent rule the passions of the family.

It is a hard lesson to learn that life is not about the abundance of things we possess. Contentment is having enough to live with the Lord and allow His blessings to fill our hearts with love. Riches can be more or less but the measure of happiness is not ruled by the passion of things but the blessings given to us by God to share with others. The Lord instructs all men to work with their hands so they may have something to give to others. A home that learns the contentment of God will be a home that finds the joy of love.

So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened. (Luke 8:40-56)

The Miracle Of Twelve Years

There is a marvelous contrast in the life of Jesus when He is asked to leave the land of Gadarenes but welcomed with great anticipation in the land of the Galileans. Healing the man with the Legion spirit brought distrust and anger but coming into the region of Galilee Jesus was met by the multitudes who welcomed Him. In the crowd was a man extremely anxious to find Jesus. His twelve-year-old daughter lay sick unto death and he desperately needed to find the miracle healer. Jairus was a man of prominence. He was a ruler of the synagogue which brought him much power in his position of influence. None of this mattered to him now that his little daughter lay so gravely sick and there was no hope of her recovery. Seeking out Jesus was his final plea for mercy and he anxiously implored the Lord to come to his house.

On the way to the house of Jairus, a woman in the crowd brought the multitude to a standstill. For twelve years she had battled an issue of blood that had drained her finances and filled her life with misery seeking cures from everyone she could find. The nature of her disease would make her untouchable. Her embarrassment was heightened by her sickness making it impossible to approach Jesus directly and ask for a cure. In an incredible show of faith, she decided to quietly maneuver through the crowds and believed if only she could touch the garment of Jesus should would be healed. Coming behind Jesus she stretched out her hand and touched the border of His garment. Immediately she felt relief and Jesus felt power leave Him.

Jesus wanted to know who touched Him. What an amazing example of the divinity and humanity of the Lord. He knew power had flowed from Him but He did not know who had such great faith to seek healing by touching His garments. The woman had incredible faith to believe she could be healed with just a touch. Granting her desire, the Holy Spirit cleansed her of her disease. The greatest measure of faith came when Jesus called her out and she had to come before the Lord to confess her stealth. She began to tremble for fear of what may happen when everyone finds out what she did. Falling down before Him, the woman declared her plight and the blessing of her healing. Jesus did not rebuke her but commended the immense faith exhibited by her actions.

In the background, Jairus is pacing nervously over concern for his daughter. Why have we stopped and dealt with this woman? His daughter is dying and time is fleeting. His heart must have been bursting out of his chest. Then he saw the messenger approach and knew that something had happened with his child. The message was clear: his daughter had died. In an instant Jairus was crushed under the weight of grief. Jesus, perceiving the news exhorted the grieving father that all would be well. Arriving at the house, Jesus took Peter, James, John, Jairus and his wife into the room where they young child lay dead. Cries of anguish filled the house. Jesus told everyone to leave and He took the child by the hand and she lived. Commanding food be brought He charged them to tell no one what happened.

Two stories and one period of twelve years. The little girl was born nearly a decade before Jesus began His ministry and the woman first was diagnosed with her malady. Two lives that would intersect in the life of Jesus to show the power of faith from a father that believed Jesus could heal his daughter and a woman who believed healing could come from a slight touch. Twelve years corresponding the lives of a little girl and a woman who would come together in the same story as a memorial to love and courage. Two women that remain as monuments to the love of God in sending His Son to bring the healing power of His love over sin. Disease and death came from the sting of sin but Jesus conquered both. Twelve years came together in one day when Jesus healed a woman of faith and a little girl who had died.