How To Come Back To The Lord

Posted on February 26, 2016 by heatonkent

kneeling“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him — a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? (Joel 2:12-14)

How To Come Back To The Lord

From the beginning of man’s rebellion against God the need of repentance has been of the utmost importance. Separation from the Lord is death. Reconciliation is the only avenue man can find the blessings of God to avoid the punishment for sin. Grace and mercy are the key elements of allowing man to seek forgiveness. The first thing that happened in the Garden of Eden following man’s disobedience was the grace of God to allow man to live. He punished the man and woman but provided them a means to regain a relationship with the Creator. God is not willing that any should perish and gives by His own hand the opportunity for sinful man to change his life and find salvation. Through the blood of Jesus Christ all men have the gift of forgiveness when they come to God in a penitent manner. Found in the means of forgiveness is the requirements of change.

Joel pleads with the people to change their lives. He writes how God will accept them again if they will do what is required. This change must be a complete change with the heart being totally given to the Lord. Turning to God means turning away from sin. Jesus taught that man cannot serve God and mammon. Coming to the Lord cannot leave part of the heart in the world of sin and part of the heart in the grace of God. Repentance means a complete changing of mind to serve the Lord. Sin is so grievous it cannot be removed without a full commitment to reject it all.

There is great sorrow in repentance. It is easy to think of sin as if one has only been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. This does not seem to such a serious act because it only involves a cookie. Sin is death. It is terrible. The nostrils of God are offended by the act of sin. Man cannot ignore the seriousness of sin looking upon sin as nothing important. Can the death of a loved one go without feelings of great sorrow, weeping and mourning? It would seem remarkable to see a child not mourn his mother or a wife her husband. The point is that death brings deep sorrow. Sin is death and should bring greater sorrow than the death of a loved one. Joel shows the character of godly sorrow with fasting, weeping and mourning because death has occurred. The heart is torn not the clothing. A heart burdened with the sickness of sin will react with great sorrow and remorse. Turning to the Lord will all the heart brings the penalty of sin to bear upon a soft conscience.

Who can explain the love of God? When a man turns to Him with all his heart and comes to the throne of forgiveness with great sorrow the Lord God is gracious and merciful to remove the sin as far as the east is from the west. Our Father is slow to anger and will forgive a penitent heart. He is not only a kind God but a God of great kindness. He will relent from punishing because the softened heart of sorrow has shown the spirit of forgiveness in His child. Consider how many times we sin in a lifetime and yet He forgives. God is willing to forgive anyone who comes to Him with a penitent heart no matter what they have done. Can we understand that? As sinful and rebellious as the children of Israel had been the Lord was willing to take them back – when they repented. He is willing to take me back. Thank God.

He that feels himself alarmed by his conscience, anxious for the attainment of a better state and afflicted by the memory of his past faults, may justly conclude that the great work of repentance has begun. (Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, April 6, 1751)

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Jude’s Five Point Plan

Posted on February 25, 2016 by heatonkent

judeBut you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 20-23)

Jude’s Five Point Plan

The epistle of Jude is a small letter with just over six hundred words. There are a lot of similarities between Jude and the writings of Peter as the early church dealt with false teachers. In the final exhortation of his letter the brother of James writes a five point plan for the called of God to follow to keep themselves preserved in Jesus Christ. These admonitions are vital for the life of the Christian in our world of religious confusion.

One: Establishing faith will give a firm foundation to refute false doctrine. The word edification comes from the idea of an edifice or building. While we are to exhort one another we should never fail to build our own faith. The word of God is the ground of truth. Our faith (like a building) must be built up (edification) and rooted in the word! When we do not spend time in the Word we will lack in our faith. In Hebrews 4:2 the writer explained how the people of God heard the word but it did them no good because they did not mix what they heard with faith. A vital component is building our lives upon a daily walk with God’s word. False teaching comes from hearts that have not been spending time in the Book. Paul declared firmly faith will only from hearing and that hearing must come from the word of God.

Two: A life without prayer is a life without spirit. Like the body is dead when there is no spirit so the spiritual body is dead without prayer. Praying in the Holy Spirit is not a charismatic miraculous event (false teaching). Developing a relationship with the Holy Spirt to pray to the Father will establish a wall of defense against the wiles of the devil. It is not possible to pray in this manner without establishing the faith in the word of God. Prayer and meditation on the study of God’s word are necessary together. Lacking one will defeat the other. The more time spent in the study of God’s will the more time will be spent on humble knees of prayer. Praying in the Holy Spirit is the power of God working in our lives to protect us from false teaching. Christians today need to be spiritual people.

Three: The life of a child of God is aware of the Father’s love. One of the purest characteristics of a child is humility and dependence. They are not filled with pride. Their hearts are not boasting of their own worth. Children love the protective arms of a benevolent father. When the storms come they run to the father for protection. Darkness is not feared because they hold the hand of the father. They have little worry because they know their father will take care of them providing all of their needs. The blessing of our heavenly Father is the constant vision of the child of God. Humbling ourselves to the gracious love of God we do not worry about our daily bread, fret over the clouds of doom, fear the darkness of doubt or live with anxious hearts about death. Our Father is in Heaven and all is well. We keep ourselves encircled in the arms of the love of God and we are secure.

Four: There is a great day coming and what a wonderful day that will be. Jesus is coming back to take us home with Him. This will be a day of rejoicing because we are saved from sin. False teachers abound teaching messages of salvation deceiving the hearts of the multitudes. Being rooted in the word of God, praying in the Spirit and being enveloped in the love of the Father we know we are saved from sin because of the mercy of Jesus Christ. He came and died so that I could live. He left the Father to bring me to Him. His suffering gave me the promise of living in eternal joy. We need to take our eyes off of this world and look to the heavens above anxiously waiting and longing for Jesus to come back. It will change your life.

Five: Salvation is not just for me but for others. Spending time in the word and prayer, loving the Father and the Son cannot be contained in just one life. Life cannot be full until I share the salvation of God with others. Sin is destructive. It is not possible to allow others to be lost when sin can be overcome through a study of God’s word, the power of prayer, love of the Father and mercy of the Son. This leads me to be compassionate with those who need love and also to be firm in a defense of the gospel. Tough love must be shown with some pulling them from the fires of destruction. The goodness and severity of God must be impressed upon the hearts of our friends and neighbors so they can share in the joyful hope of eternal life. The greatest gift we can take to Heaven is someone else.

Jude had a five point plan. Put it to work. Make it your guide each day. Five steps will lead to glory.

The word which God has written on the brow of every man is hope. (Victor Hugo; 1802-1885; Treasure Bits from ed. Rose)

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Take Time To Listen

Posted on February 24, 2016 by heatonkent

TimeToListen-560x280He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him. (Proverbs 18:13)

Take Time To Listen

The best quality of a wise man is the ability to listen. It is easy to be impatient in dealing with others expecting an immediate solution often at the expense of knowing the whole truth. Often this comes from a prideful heart that assumes there is no reason to hear what the other person says. As the conversation develops a constant barrage of interrupting discourse drives the discussion to an end based upon self-absorbed knowledge. There is a belief that what the other person has to say is not worth listening to. The folly and shame of this type of attitude is arrogance. A haughty spirit will not be patient enough to listen attentively to what anyone says. This happens more against God than anyone.

Faith comes from hearing and faith comes from the word of God. Like in our conversations with one another to answer a matter without first hearing the whole story is foolishness; many will not hear the full message of salvation as explained in the word of God. This is also foolishness. Bible study becomes a sparring of ideas instead of a search for truth. Arguments are created over matters that are without foundation in what is written in the word. Instead of trying to answer a question by the wisdom of man it would be wise to open the Bible and read what God says.

Imagine the scene of three people having a discussion about what one of the other individuals said. Bob and Sam get into a heated discussion about what Gary said and the whole time the argument continues no one every stops to ask Gary what he said. In fact, what Gary said is written down and either Bob or Sam could read what Gary said but instead they argue from their own viewpoint. This would be folly. Let’s take the scene to a spiritual application. Bob and Sam get into a heated argument about what God said but neither of them takes the time to read what the Lord said. Would that also be folly? Why is it those who know so much about the Bible seldom read the Bible? It is imperative to know what God says about a matter before we begin to draw conclusions of faith.

Our relationships with others will be much improved if we would take the time to listen before we speak. The eternal relationship we have with the Father will be much improved if we would take the time to read what His will is. Listening is so important to knowledge and seeing what the will of God is for my life will give me greater guidance. Take time to be holy and take time to listen.

Faith will totter if the authority of sacred scriptures wavers. (Augustine, De Doctrina Christiana, 397)

Posted in Bible, Character Study, Christian, God, Jesus Christ, obedience, Proverbs, salvation | 1 Comment

The Problem Of Uzzah

Posted on February 23, 2016 by heatonkent

Ark of the CovenantAgain David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:1-7)

The Problem Of Uzzah

The story of Uzzah (Uzza in 1 Chronicles) is a difficult passage to understand for many people in the religious world. It seems very harsh by standards of man’s wisdom yet it shows the nature of God in a clear demonstration of law. Following the conquest of Jerusalem and defeat of the Philistines, David the king gathers Israel together to deliver the ark of God. There is a lot of excitement and joy at the victories given the people by the mighty hand of the Lord. Setting the ark of God on a new cart Uzzah and Ahio drove the ox cart with great anticipation of what was to come. Little did Uzzah know that in a short time he would be dead. David was playing music on all types of instruments as the festive mood of worship filled the air. Then it happened. Nearing the threshing floor of Nachon the oxen lost footing and stumbled. Uzzah reached back to hold the ark of God and the Lord struck him dead. Shocked and dismayed David was angered at what happened to Uzzah. Was David right in his anger? Reviewing the story in closer detail will explain the justice of the Lord.

The ark of God was not just an ordinary thing. Verse 2 of our text clearly shows the ark is of God, “whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim.” This was not grandmother’s bow-front. Under the Law of Moses the handling of the ark of God was very specific. It was to be carried only by Levites and that it should be veiled even from their eyes (see Numbers 4). Uzzah had been part of the family that for the last seventy years had the ark of God in their home. Earlier (1 Samuel 7) the ark of the Lord had been brought to the house of Abinadab. Now David was moving the ark out of the house of Abinadab. The oxen stumbled. Uzzah put out his hand to stay the ark. God struck him dead.

Did it matter that David was carrying the ark of the Lord on a new cart driven by oxen? For all the good the shepherd king thought he was doing his actions brought about the death of Uzzah. When the oxen stumbled Uzzah thought he was doing a good thing by putting out his hand to stay the ark but the law of God was very clear. Were the actions of David and Uzzah going to change the law of God or His will? The law of God remained the same. The death of Uzzah is a powerful testimony that obedience to the word of God is necessary. In the religious world today the common theme is it does not matter what one believes as long as one loves the Lord and is kind to his fellowman. Attend the church of your choice is acceptable. Salvation comes in many forms but does not matter in the end. Every religion is pleasing to God as man seeks to worship in his own way. Finally no judgments should be made to the lifestyles of others – we are all God’s children and He will not condemn us. If Uzzah were here today he would disagree with all of these tenets of modern religion.

There will be a lot of people like Uzzah standing before the Lord in judgment that will find this to be the greatest lie of Satan. The devil does not want us to disbelieve in God but rather believe in Him just enough to make us feel good but then do what we want to do. Jesus declared the Father’s word was truth. It does matter what I believe. The choice we make is eternal.

Sin arises out of mistrust. Man is afraid to trust the divine destiny and to accept his limits. The rebellion that follows is a decisive act of repudiation, a trusting of self over against God. (James I. McCord, The Nature of Man, ed. S. Doniger, 1962)

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Getting Excited About Jesus

Posted on February 22, 2016 by heatonkent

CHRT08When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well. (Mark 6:53-56)

Getting Excited About Jesus

It is hard to imagine the joy when the people heard the great miracle worker had landed on their shores. Physical sickness is a plague sapping the joy of life and creating a world of misery. No one finds happiness in sickness, disease, blindness and during the days of the Jesus the horror of demon possession. Medical advances were very limited in understanding how sickness was transmitted and cures where seldom available. The news of Jesus of Nazareth coming to their villages, cities and country side sent ripples of ecstatic joy among the people as they brought all of their sick and infirmed if only to touch the hem of His garment.

During the short ministry of Jesus thousands of people were healed. The healings were not long ordeals of treatments that are often more difficult than the disease. Cures were given instantly. When a lame man was brought to Jesus and he touched the hem of the Lord’s garment instant strength came to the legs. Blind people immediately received sight without drug treatments. What we understand as cancer today was removed immediately with no radiation or chemotherapy ordeals. Children were healed of many maladies, dead were raised with great power and there was great joy in the land. The people came to Jesus in throngs seeking relief. He gave them what they needed and changed their lives.

All the miracles of Jesus stopped when they nailed Him to a cross. Gone was the power of the Son of God to bring healing to the bodies of those who sought Him. During the ministry of the early church His disciples would show that same power confirming the word of Christ as God’s word. Soon the power of healing diminished and then disappeared from earth. But the power of God remained in the words of Jesus. There was joy in the heart of the Lord when He took a man who had suffered many years with an infirmity and He took that pain away. Jesus could see in the eyes of the healed man inexpressible joy. The greatest joy and the reason that Jesus came was when a woman who was an outcast among men learned she was talking with the Messiah she believed and helped others come to know the Lord. Truth was the healing power Jesus came to bring men. His word remains powerful today healing men of the disease of sin.

The contrast with the people coming to Jesus for physical healing and the healing of men today is the disease. It is easy to see a blind man’s need. He wants to see. What is more difficult is to recognize spiritual blindness and a greater need of healing to simply gaining physical sight. All men need to come to Jesus for healing from sin. The consequence of sin is greater than any physical ailment. What is lacking among the multitudes is the joy found that day Jesus arrived on the coast. Is there joy at the message of healing from sin? It was probable there were physically sick people in the days of Jesus that did not know they were sick. Many are those today that do not realize they are sick with sin.

The story today is not about the people that were sick but those who brought the sick to Jesus. They knew their loved ones were sick and they knew only Jesus could heal them. Until we get excited about Jesus and His healing power we will not be bringing lost souls to Him for comfort. Our task is to bring the spiritually infirmed to the message of Jesus Christ because like in the days long ago only the Son of God can take away sin. Let us be people of faith that will be willing to bring our friends and neighbors to Christ to be healed. There are many sick. There is only one cure. Those who are sick need one of us to bring them. Be excited about the healing power of Jesus.

He came to save us, not from poverty or from ignorance or from the ghetto, but from our sins. Sin must be dealt with first. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

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He Came In His Father’s Name

Posted on February 21, 2016 by heatonkent

see JesusI have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? (John 5:43-44)

He Came In His Father’s Name

The Jews were angry with Jesus because He healed a man on the Sabbath. They could not see the miracle of healing for the forest of hypocritical trees blinding their hearts to believe He was the Son of God. Their anger was to the boiling point of seeking ways to kill Him. In answer to their charges Jesus admonishes them that healing a man infirmed for thirty-six years was a testimony that God was His father. No man could do the miracles the man from Nazareth did without being the divine son of God. What the Jews saw with their own eyes confirmed the power of God seen throughout their history. The proof of raising men from the dead would be the Son’s greatest testimony as the Father would raise Him from the dead.

Jesus declared His teaching to be from God and the authority of His word was from the relationship He shared with Jehovah. He was God. His message of eternal life came from the voice of His Father. His judgment came from His Father. Everything He did was in the name of His Father. John the Baptist had testified that Jesus was the Son of God. The miracles of healing, casting out demons, walking on water, raising the dead and many more were ample proofs He was the Son of God. The Father declared His blessing on His Son at His baptism. Moses and the Prophets declared Jesus to be the Son of God. Nothing Jesus said was different than what the Father had told Him to say. Jesus did not come in His own name. He came in the name of His Father and His name alone.

We are children of God. Jesus is our brother as we share the inheritance of glory with Him. Jesus declared the Father through His life so we must share the image of the Father by the way we conduct our lives. Jesus came to express the name of God upon the hearts of men. Our walk as disciples of Christ should always be to exalt the name of God. Wearing the name of Christ is wearing the name of the Father. Everything we do in life is a reflection on how we carry the name of God before others. People will know whether we are of the Father by the manner of our speech, our behavior, the way we dress and our love for others. Letting our light shine is reflecting the image of God in a world of darkness.

It is a challenge to live in the world without looking like the world. The greatest trouble most Christian’s have is they look more like the world than the Father. The types of clothes we wear exemplify the character of our heart. The questions we should ask before going out for the day is whether our heavenly Father is glorified in our attitudes. Does my speech reflect the voice of the word of God giving glory to His name in my life? Jesus left a pattern of devotion to do all things in the name of His Father and we cannot do any less. He came in the name of His Father. As we begin a new week let us resolve to make this week a time of glory for God in how we bear His name before others. Let our friends know that we are children of God – His child.

You are called Christian. Be careful of that name. Let not our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be blasphemed on your account. (Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 350)

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He Will Not Always Be Angry

Posted on February 19, 2016 by heatonkent

blue-ridge-parkway-north-carolina-autumn-mountains-sunrise-fall-foliage-dave-allenFor thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. “I create the fruit of the lips: peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him.” (Isaiah 57:15-19)

He Will Not Always Be Angry

God hates sin. For this reason He sacrificed His only begotten Son. The measure of the sacrifice shows the depravity of the situation. Man was not just a bad person. He did not simply do something wrong. Sin was a death, a separation of rebellion and dishonor to the Holy name of Jehovah. It was not just because Adam and Eve ate some fruit in the garden that made sin so terrible. The realization of what happened in the garden is that Adam and Eve would sin over and over again. The first man lived to the age of 930 years. He was a righteous man by all indications but imagine how many times he would sin in nearly one thousand years. He did not live a sinless life and needed the grace of God.

As children of Adam we struggle with the temptation of sin constantly. Paul the apostle called himself the worst sinner on earth. Satan gains victories in our lives even when we battle courageously against him. We share in the place of Paul as being the worse sinners because we can never overcome sin to live a life of perfection. We do good for a period of time and then something comes along and we love the sin more than the Father. In godly sorrow we beg forgiveness. There comes a realization over time that sin will always be a struggle and we begin to wonder if the Lord will continue to forgive us over and over again. How can He? Why should He?

God hates sin and it makes Him very angry. This anger may be accompanied with a chastisement for the spirit of rebellion in His children. Israel is an example of the nature of God and sin. They were His special people but they had rebelled against Him and He was very angry with them. Because of their sin He brought the Assyrians and Babylonians to punish them; and how great a punishment it was. Isaiah is reminding the people that while the Lord is angry with them His fury will not be forever. He is looking for those contrite spirits who feel the chastisement of His mercy and seek forgiveness. The Lord desires humble hearts to bow before Him begging for His grace. It is then God removes the sin and gives the child forgiveness. Peace returns.

The grace and mercy of God is everlasting. Like Israel we will rebel at times in our lives. No man or woman today is not challenged by sin. It becomes a daily challenge. While sin may have its way in our lives the joy of salvation knows that God will not always be angry (although He is angry when we sin). With broken hearts mourning our sin and contrite spirits of repentance bringing our souls before the throne of a merciful God – He forgives us and removes our sin as far as the east is from the west. Grace. Love. Joy. Peace. Healing.

In a few days we will gather with disciples of the same faith to worship our God of mercy. When the songs of praise are lifted high to His throne remember that His anger is not forever. As the incense of prayers flow to His nostrils know that His love is always abounding toward us. The supper of Jesus Christ is the testimony of remembrance that God hated sin so much He gave (think about that word) His Son for MY sin – and through His Son said He will not always be angry. He forgives a broken and contrite heart. The preaching of the word of God is the message of grace from a loving Father. Make each day a time of worship to thank God He is not always angry. Thank you Lord God Almighty full of mercy and abounding grace.

The Old Testament teaching about God’s wrath finds its logical expression in the statement of the Psalmist: “His wrath is for a moment, His faithfulness life-long” Psalm 30:6. (Edmond Jacob, Theology of the Old Testament, 1955)

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His Name Was Onesiphorus

Posted on February 18, 2016 by heatonkent

Samaritan high priest, mat10626The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day–and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. (2 Timothy 1:16-18)

His Name Was Onesiphorus

In that wonderful hall of faith where great men and women of God are enshrined for their heroic accounts of courage is a room filled with names of unknown disciples. Tapestries fill the walls in God’s house of the journeys of Abraham, courage of David and pleadings of Jeremiah the prophet. Familiar names like Daniel, Noah and Job fill great libraries of faith. The New Testament wing in God’s house is filled with portraits of Peter, James and John as they walk with the Lord and struggle in faith as the law of Christ is brought to man for the first time. Paul has his own room where his exploits are visualized with huge strokes of devotion to the One he once sought to destroy. The room least visited is the where the images of those saints who pass through the pages of Holy Scrip in just a brief wisp of time are found. These are the unknown soldiers but how important they are to God.

In Paul’s final letter he includes a commendation for a man we know nothing about. His name is Onesiphorus. A name that by its pronunciation makes a person feel good. It’s a great name and this is a great man. All we know about him is the two places penned by Paul in 2 Timothy. For Paul it was vital to preserve for all time the name of someone who had changed the apostle’s life. Here was a man who was not ashamed of Jesus Christ. Paul suffered greatly because of the Lord being imprisoned numerous times and again found himself in a Roman jail. Onesiphorus was a friend of a convict. The only reason Paul was being persecuted was because of his belief in a risen Savior. Through all of this suffering stood a man that refreshed the spirit of the apostle. Onesiphorus lit up a room when he came in – even if it was a prison cell. There may not have been a lot he could do but he could encourage Paul. He often revitalized the spirit of the aged apostle.

Onesiphorus did not see the chains that bound Paul. He saw a man that served the Lord suffering in chains because of his faith. Onesiphorus knew Paul needed someone to encourage him and he took upon himself to be that person. When he came to Rome nothing would stop him from finding Paul to be there with him. The apostle was under penalty of death and at his first defense no one stood with him. Everyone forsook Paul. Only Luke the historian was with him. How hard that would be for Paul. But then his face lit up when there through the bars he could see his friend Onesiphorus. The chains did not bind as hard that day. His heart was no longer heavy.

There are many stories that we would want to read more about. It would have been grand to read the ‘book of Onesiphorus’ but his story is only told in a brief moment. Contained within these few words is an example of faith that we should find to be servants to others. Many people need just a word of encouragement. There are those who struggle with sin, with disease, family troubles and challenges to faith. What Onesiphorus did was just be there for Paul. He could not get him out of prison but he could help his spirit live outside those Romans walls.

Are there people in the congregation where you worship that are homebound or living in assisted living places? They could use some cheering up. When the sick are announced do we only have concern for our clique? The elderly need a hand of encouragement. Those souls who struggle in their faith need a hand of cheer. Young people need to know that we care about them. If we took the time to look around we would find a lot of opportunities to be like Onesiphorus. Our lives should be focused on often refreshing the spirits of others. We may not be able to change circumstances but we can change hearts.

Love is a mutual self-giving which ends in self-recovery. (Fulton J. Sheen, Three to Get Married, 1951)

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For His Mercy Endures Forever

Posted on February 17, 2016 by heatonkent

mercy of God

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:

 

To Him who alone does great wonders, for His mercy endures forever;

to Him who by wisdom made the heavens, for His mercy endures forever;

to Him who laid out the earth above the waters, for His mercy endures forever;

to Him who made great lights, for His mercy endures forever—

the sun to rule by day, for His mercy endures forever;

the moon and stars to rule by night, for His mercy endures forever.

to Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, for His mercy endures forever;

and brought out Israel from among them, for His mercy endures forever;

with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for His mercy endures forever;

to Him who divided the Red Sea in two, for His mercy endures forever;

and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for His mercy endures forever;

but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for His mercy endures forever;

to Him who led His people through the wilderness, for His mercy endures forever;

to Him who struck down great kings, for His mercy endures forever;

and slew famous kings, for His mercy endures forever—

Sihon king of the Amorites, for His mercy endures forever;

and Og king of Bashan, for His mercy endures forever—

and gave their land as a heritage, for His mercy endures forever;

a heritage to Israel His servant, for His mercy endures forever.

who remembered us in our lowly state, for His mercy endures forever;

and rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy endures forever;

who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy endures forever.

 

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

(Psalm 136)

For His Mercy Endures Forever

The unknown psalmist who scribed the words of Psalm 136 was overwhelmed with the compassion of God upon His people. Repeated twenty-seven times in this short yet powerful prose the psalmist clearly expresses a humbled heart of thanksgiving for the enduring mercy of the Lord. Like the prayer of Jesus when He taught the multitudes to pray, the writer begins with hallowing the name of God. A contrite heart recognizes the goodness of the Lord as the redemptive song of the saved. Mercy is compassion for the miserable or feeling sympathy with the wretched. Man has needed compassion and sympathy because of his miserable state of sin. Only through the mercy of God is hope found. Man is solely dependent upon the Lord God and His mercy.

Looking at the world we can see the mercy of God. The wonder of a planet that supplies all the needs of man was established by the hand of the Creator. Man has been given dominion over the world but he did not create the world nor does he sustain the world. Everything was created by God and it remains in place by the word of God. Creation declares the majesty of the One who fashioned everything. Where does our daily bread come from? We work the ground and harvest the crops but only by the mercy of the Creator are we blessed with the bounty of His hand. The sun rises and sets by the word of God. Tides ebb and flow because the Lord set them in motion. As long as the world will endure there will be the seasons and seedtime, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night. Why? The mercy of the Lord is why.

In all generations God has worked His power among the nations. The psalmist reminds the people of Israel who brought them forth from Egypt. When Israel passed through the Red Sea it was by the power of Jehovah. Pharaoh and his army were defeated by the hand of God. What king stood before the people of God? Were they not all defeated? The mercy of God delivered the people from their enemies. The nations that rule today are held in check by the mercy of God. He will raise up nations and He will bring nations down. Look back in the past three decades and see what nations no longer exist. Thank the Lord for His abundant mercy that gives us hope and peace in the conflicts of the world. He remains in charge.

The final exhortation of the psalmist is how God takes care of His people – yes, His people. He will not forget their needs or abandon them. The same powerful hand that created the worlds, destroyed the humanity of man in the days of Noah and delivered His beloved people from the tyranny of Egypt will take care of my life today. When I rise in the morning giving honor to the Lord for His mercy I invoke the blessing of His hand upon my life today. His name is hallowed; His power is omnipotent and His grace everlasting. What do I have to fear today? Give thanks to the God of heavens because His mercy endures forever.

God made Sun and Moon to distinguish seasons, and day and night, and we cannot have the fruits of the earth but in their seasons: But God hath made no decree to distinguish the seasons of His mercies. In Heaven it is always Autumn, His mercies are ever in their maturity. (John Donne, LXXX Sermons, Sermon II, 1624)

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If There Is One Jesus There Is One Church

Posted on February 16, 2016 by heatonkent

cross earthAnd what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:19-23)

If There Is One Jesus There Is One Church

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. There is one God and He is the only Father. From the beginning of time the Lord God Almighty has required of man to believe in one God rejecting the gods of man. It was inscribed upon the Law of Moses there was only one God and worship to the one God was required. Jesus came to earth proclaiming worship to His Father was in spirit and truth and there could be no other worship. As Jesus revealed Himself He declared His Sonship with the Father as paramount to salvation. There is only one way to the Father and Jesus said He was the only way, the only truth and the only life. Jesus was the Son of God and there is only One Son. One Father and one Son.

The Bible is the only revelation of God to man. There is only one book that tells men what they must do to be saved. This precludes any other book as inspired – period. From the pages of Genesis to the Revelation the mind of one God unveils the sacrifice of one Son to mankind. Redemption is found in the one message of hope from the one Father who gave all men the one Son who prepared the one way of salvation. One God, one Son and one Book. So why are there so many churches? For the last five hundred years churches of every type and kind have begun in the name of Jesus all proclaiming to be the way of salvation. The Protestant movement was in response to the apostasy of the early church that created the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Beginning with Martin Luther men have created churches that look like men instead of Jesus Christ. They wear names that are not found in the Bible practicing creeds that teach doctrines not found in the Bible. The message of salvation depends on which church is teaching the way of a truth mingled with the philosophies of human wisdom. There is one God, one Son and a thousand different churches. Can this be right?

The Bible teaches there is only one church. This does not suggest that “one church” means all the churches of the world are one umbrella of religion. There is no umbrella in the plan of God. There is one church because there is one God and one Son. The church of the Bible is very distinct in its name, its design, its teaching and its purpose. A simple examination of what the Bible teaches about the church and the churches of today will see a great disparity. It matters not what the sign says but it does matter what the Bible says. Jesus died for one church. He did not die for all the churches men have built today. The church is the body and there is only one body – period.

Believing that you can attend the church of your choice is like saying you can believe in the Savior of your choice. How can we find the one true church Jesus died for? Read the Bible and compare what the Bible (alone) says with what the church you are a part of teaches. If the church you belong has a name, organization, teaching and doctrine that CANNOT be found in scripture then it is not the Biblical one body of the one Father who sent His only Son to build one church. One Jesus means one church. You have one choice.

All teaching and all truth and all doctrine must be tested in the light of the Scriptures. (D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, Authority, 1958)

Posted in Bible, Church, God, Jesus Christ, New Testament, obedience, salvation | Leave a comment