The Heaton File

Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” (John 18:19-23)

The Doctrine Of Christ In Me

Following the arrest of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, the Lord was first brought before Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest. This preliminary examination was to gain proof of charges the Jews would use to present their case to the Roman authorities to have Jesus killed. There was no semblance of jurisprudence in these proceedings as the only goal desired by the fevered mob of Jewish leaders was the a sentence of death on Jesus. Annas was a powerful man among the Jews. He asked Jesus to tell him about the kind of people that followed Him and what was the basis of His teachings. This inquiry was only to gather information to be used against Jesus.

The Lord was always the master teacher. He utilized every situation to teach the will of His Father. Coming before Annas was no exception. In a rebuff of Annas’ ploy Jesus said that what He taught was never in secret and He never tried to hide anything He taught or said. The doctrine of Jesus was an open book. When He would come into a town or city with a synagogue the Lord would take His case to the Jewish teachers. His first encounter was twenty-one years earlier when at the age of twelve He challenged the teachers in the Temple.

Earlier the Jewish people had received Jesus into Jerusalem with a triumphant procession followed by the Lord driving out the merchants selling in the Temple. The story of Lazarus being raised from the dead still resounded in the ears of the chief priests and Pharisees. Nothing Jesus did was hidden from the people. His life was a testimony to the will of His Father. If they did not believe Him they could ask His followers. This angered one of the officers of the high priest and he struck Jesus with the palm of his hand. Jesus’ reply was simply to judge Him by what He said as either true or false. Having nothing to answer Annas sent the Lord bound to Caiaphas.

All the glory of the Father was found in the life of Jesus. The Jews killed Him because of their envy. Time and again the Jewish leaders sought for clear evidence against Jesus and the only answer the Lord gave was to look at His life and what He said. That was a powerful lesson for the people of that day. When Jesus died His Roman guard remarked, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” A life filled with words, deeds and example became the testimony of God the Father.

We will not live to the level of sinless perfection as Jesus did. He became the curse on the tree by His life so that we could live for the Father. In our imperfections we can still live in such a manner that when people speak against us as evil doers we still have a testimony of life that declares the Father. Peter admonishes his readers to live a life blameless before others to glorify God. The doctrine of my life should be a daily reflection of Christ living in me. My speech should always be a mirror of the word of God. My attitude should be measured by the love of God. The impression I leave upon those around me is the imprint of Christ. When people see me they do not see me they see God. To live like Christ is to know Christ. Immerse your life in the character of the Son of God and you will look just like His Father.

Someone has said … that the only Bible which millions of people read today is the daily example of Christians – your example and mine. (James E. Murray, Address, March 31, 1948)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them,  “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”–He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!” (Luke 5:17-26)

Eager Roofers Needed

The crowd included Pharisees and teachers of the law from every town of Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem. There could be no doubt the spiritual elite were gathered in one place to hear what Jesus had to say and see if the miracles were true. This crowd could only be defined as a multitude of people crowded in to be healed and see healing. Somewhere close by some men had grave concerns about a friend who was paralyzed. Knowing he could not go to Jesus they took it upon themselves to carry him the distance to where Jesus was.

When the men arrived at the house they had a problem. Because of the press of the crowd they were unable to take the man in. So many people were crowding into the house and around the house it was impossible to bring their friend to Jesus. Begging people to move was to no avail. Pleading their case fell on deaf ears. Undaunted they hatched a bold plan. Gaining access to the roof they began removing the tiles (a large hole) and with ropes let their friend down into the midst before Jesus. Now they waited to see what would happen.

Those in the house were astonished at the bold tact of the men. Dirt and dust rained down on the crowded room as they opened a hole. Complaints rose from voices asking what the men thought they were doing. What is the meaning of tearing a man’s house apart to let a stranger down before everyone? Jesus did not miss a step. He immediately recognized the faith of the eager roofers and declared their friend free of sin. It would seem at least that while it was a blessing to have sins forgiven the intent of the bold move was something more than that. Jesus knew the hearts of the friends but He also knew the hearts of those religious leaders from all over the land who had come to watch Him.

As the Master Teacher Jesus used the moment to further prove to His skeptics that no man could do what He did save He was the Son of God. It is easy to say to anyone their sins are forgiven. There is no evidentiary proof this took place as only words passed the lips of Jesus. On the other hand to tell this emaciated paralyzed man to rise up and walk out the door was a different story entirely. And that is what Jesus did. To the friends joyful surprise their fellow comrade rolled over, stood on his own two feet, gathered his bed together and walked out the door. And he did this immediately.

I can only think what a trip home that was for all those men who brought their friend. There can be no words to fully show the gratification of the paralyzed man to what his friends did for him. He found salvation because his friends took the time and effort to take him to Jesus so that he could be healed. They did not heal him. There was no power within their hands to heal their friend. But they knew how to take him to Jesus. When they met an unyielding crowd they knew how to take a roof apart. They would not rest until they had their friend into the midst of Jesus. To their delight they returned home with a friend who was now healed. Others would rejoice when they saw their son, brother and friend no longer bound by the chains of suffering.

We need roofers today. There is a need for folk who may not have the skill to fully explain the gospel of Christ to friends and neighbors but they know how to bring them to a place where they can find the healing power of the Lord. Sometimes it may take drastic measures but that just means they will not rest until they have shared the gospel with those they love. The real joy in the story is the trip home. Have you experienced what happens after the person you brought to learn the gospel goes home a Christian? It is a great feeling – for everyone.

The New Testament is the history of the life and the testimony of common men who rallied to the fellowship of Jesus Christ and who by their faith and preaching remade a world that was under the thrall of a Roman army. (Woodrow Wilson, Address, May, 1911)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Recreated At Dawn

The butterfly is one of the most amazing creatures crafted by the hand of God. Beginning from a small egg it becomes a somewhat unattractive worm with legs that does nothing more than eat. In time the caterpillar encases himself in a chrysalis before an incredible transformation takes place. What began in one form transforms into the beauty of a fragile butterfly. The thing that makes this whole process even more wonderful for the child of God is that in most cases this event happens a little before dawn and the lesson is profound.

Paul uses a phrase in Romans 12:2 that Christians are to transform themselves from the elements of the world to a new mind as living sacrifices to God. This metamorphism is very much like the creation of the butterfly. The image of the caterpillar is in stark contrast to the delicateness of a butterfly. There is beauty in the creative hand of God in the caterpillar but it does not radiate the picture of exquisiteness found in the butterfly. Our lives are likened to the caterpillar when we live for ourselves and our single intent in life is to devour whatever is in our way for our own pleasures. It is not until we have buried ourselves in the grace of God we can emerge as creatures filled with the beauty of God living within us. And all of this was made possible when another wonderful thing happened before dawn – Jesus rose from the dead.

It is comforting to see the hand of God in creation telling the Bible story. On the first day of the week very early Jesus came forth from the grave to offer to man the glory of His Father. We no longer are enslaved by the devouring pursuit of sin but set free to fly to the throne of God in the beauty of His spiritual creation. There can be no comparison to the former life. It is hard to believe that such a beautiful creature can emerge from a lowly creature like a worm. In Christ we have been transformed from a sinful creature to the glory of God. How wonderful that knowledge. The grace of God is so filling.

When you see butterflies remember what that means spiritually. The rainbow reminds us of God’s promises and the butterfly tells us the promise is true. Thank you Lord for your loving grace.

Grace is the germ of glory; it has the potencies of the beatific vision with it. (Fulton J. Sheen, Religion Without God, 1928)

Friday Morning Reflections – Wisdom Literature

Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know when God dispatches them, and causes the light of His cloud to shine? Do you know how the clouds are balanced, those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge? Why are your garments hot, when He quiets the earth by the south wind? With Him, have you spread out the skies, strong as a cast metal mirror? Teach us what we should say to Him, for we can prepare nothing because of the darkness. Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up. Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. He comes from the north as golden splendor; with God is awesome majesty. As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress. Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart. (Job 37:14-24)

The Almighty

Elihu sat through the painful discourse of Job and his three friends with respectful honor for the aged. When the four men had finished their debate because Job was righteous in his own eyes, Elihu spoke. He reminded the four men of his age and how he had sat quietly in respect but their conclusion was misguided. Age does not always bring wisdom and how the four men sought to justify the things that came upon Job defied the righteousness of God. Job 32-37 is a powerful testimony of a young man’s answer to an age of wisdom missing the mark concerning the true character of the Almighty.

When Elihu finishes speaking the Lord answers Job out of the whirlwind and picks up the mantle of rebuke begun by the young man. Sometimes it is important to listen to the young who have not been soured with the trials of life concluding misery is the lot of all men and the Lord has forgotten them. Job is reminded the power of God is summed up in the name ‘Almighty.’ When the Lord told Abraham (at the age of 99) he was to be a father within the year He declared Himself to be the Almighty God. Through the ages the Lord is known by this name. No book in scripture uses this name of God more than the book of Job (31 times). Somehow Job and his friends missed the import of what that name meant.

God’s rebuke to Job is the definition of ‘Almighty.” How can one compare the awesome majesty of the Lord with the wisdom of man? He is not just the mighty He is the Almighty with power so far beyond man there is no comparison. Elihu is reminding Job the ways of God are inscrutable.

It is important for the people of God today to remember how Awesome God is. Like Job we need to be reminded of the character of the Lord is understood by calling Him “Almighty.” Language has power and it may help in our lives to use the name Almighty when we speak of the Lord to remind us of how large is His ocean and how small our boat. Pride lifts man up to think of himself more highly than he should. Standing in the presence of one called Almighty helps put a perspective on our dependence upon Him. He holds our breath in His hand. The sun rises and sets at His command. Life is held on the spider web thread of the day when the Lord will speak and His Son will return with His angels. The Almighty rules.

There is nothing which God cannot accomplish. (Cicero, De divination, c. 78 B. C.)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men. Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.

Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.” So his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.” Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this will be a sign to us.”

So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.” Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them. That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land. And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.

Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there. Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there. And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel). Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion. Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven. (1 Samuel 14:1-23)

Seal Team One

The army that faced Israel that day was an immense force of 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and an infantry that could not be counted (likened to the sand on the seashore). Fear filled the hearts of the Hebrews as they hid in caves, thickets, rocks, holes and pits. Compounding the problem weapons for the army of Israel was scarce. It was so bad on the day of battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan. The situation was dire. Hope was lost in the hearts of the people as they looked across the landscape at an army that seemed to fill the earth. Fear controlled every man but one.

Jonathan was the son of King Saul. His friendship with David is well known as he often saved David from the wrath of his father. The story of the shepherd king killing the Philistine giant Goliath is legendary. Less known is the heroics of Jonathan before David fills the headlines of courage. There seemed to be no hope of defeating such a large army and less chance of one man making a difference. Jonathan had an extraordinary faith in the Lord (more than his father). What he saw in the Philistine army was not the impossibility of victory but the power of God showing His glory in the defeat of such a large army. 1 Samuel 14:6 is the classic scripture of faith seeing beyond the impossible to the reality of what one man with the Lord can accomplish. Because of the actions of Jonathan and his armor bearer the victory by a rag tag army of Hebrews was secured over a super power of their day. The Lord saved Israel that day because of the courageous faith of one man.

Life is often filled with the impossibilities. We look across the horizon of our lives with fear and trepidation at what stands before us. It is easy to become discouraged with the immensity of physical problems, spiritual battles, economic fears and a host of things that paralyze the spirit. Jonathan calls from the generations past reminding us of the power of God in our lives. There were times the Lord used mighty powers with the strength of thousands to defeat His enemies. And there were many times the Lord only needed one man to stand in the gap. Noah and his family secured the salvation of the whole world by their faith. David defeated Goliath as one man with God. Twelve men began a religious movement in the city of Jerusalem two thousand years that is the most powerful thing on the planet. Saul of Tarsus turned the world upside down in his day and his writings continue to marvel the world.

The power of my faith and God is the majority. We can accomplish anything with the power of God if we would only believe in His power. My faith can make Satan fall. My courage will help others see the glory of the Lord in my life. As a child of God I have already overcome death and there is no fear. Victory. The victory of Jonathan is my victory if I will have the faith to say, “Come, let us go.” Are you ready? This is a great story.

Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears. (Arthur Koestler, Arrow in the Blue, 1951)

Thursday Morning Thankfulness – Epistles of Paul

For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (Romans 9:17-18)

The Will Of God

Six crippling plagues had fallen upon Egypt. Through Moses God was showing His power to the Egyptian nation and its leader Pharaoh. The magicians of the king acknowledged the plagues raining down upon them was the finger of God. Pharaoh resisted. Prior to the seventh plague of hail Moses warned the king there was no god like Jehovah God. He told the people of the coming destruction and if the people did not heed the warning of the Lord both man and beast in the field will be struck down. There were some among the Egyptians that believed Moses and took their servants and livestock into houses. Many did not believe and died in the conflagration of hail. (See Exodus 9 for the full story).

The apostle Paul uses this story of power to emphasize a lesson of God’s mercy and grace. The Jewish nation had rejected Jesus as the Christ killing Him on the cross. As in the days of old when the nation was punished with captivity the Lord was expressing His great mercy to the people that were the apple of His eye. In the early days of the church a vast chasm divided the Jews and Gentiles in seeing the love of God was for all men. The Law of Moses was nailed to the cross and of no effect. This was hard for the Jews to embrace. The will of God was not based upon the will of man. Jehovah declared His glory through His will as He acted through men. It was His choice and His choice alone.

Jesus taught in the sermon on the mountain that most men will be lost. Paul’s illustration explains why. Everything accomplished by the Father shows His power, His mercy and His grace. He is not willing that any should perish. The destruction of those who reject His word shows His glory because like in the days of the seventh plague the message of salvation has been declared leaving man to make a choice. As in the days of Pharaoh there are those who believe the word of God and those who laugh it to scorn. Pharaoh did not believe the word but that did not change the word of God. The gospel message of salvation is given today and there are few who heed its word. When the final destruction comes upon man God will be glorified.

Hell is prepared for the devil and his angels. It is a most terrible thing. Ironically in the horror of the everlasting pit the mercy of God is found. How? Grace was given to all men through Jesus Christ. He was the sacrificial Lamb offered for the sins of all men and most men reject Jesus. There can be no other answer than destruction for those who fail to heed the grace of God. The power of God and the Name of God is declared in the blood of Jesus Christ. Rejecting this offering has eternal consequence. Jehovah will be glorified no matter what.

There is a God. The plants of the valley and the cedars of the mountains bless his name; the insect hums his praise; the elephant salutes him with the rising day; the bird glorifies him among the foliage; the lightning bespeaks his power, and the ocean declares his immensity. Man alone has said, “There is no God.” (Vicomte de Chateaubriand, The Genius of Christianity, 1802).

Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away. Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; for your people are like those who contend with the priest. Therefore you shall stumble in the day; the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of My people; they set their heart on their iniquity. And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds. For they shall eat, but not have enough; they shall commit harlotry, but not increase; because they have ceased obeying the Lord. (Hosea 4:1-10)

When Knowledge Goes Away

The books of the prophets are seldom read and infrequently studied to learn lessons for today. Sadly one of the richest fields of knowledge in scripture that remains untapped is found between Isaiah and Malachi. This fertile soil abounds with the testimony of man’s failure to find wisdom in his own will challenging the word of God with disdain. It should always be remembered these books contain the writings of the chosen people of the Lord. They were bound by a law written down hundreds of years earlier by Moses. There could be no excuse for their rebellion.

Hosea lived in a time of great evil. The children of God were following the pollutions of the land rejecting all the admonitions of the Law. In this small section of scripture the prophet shows the underlying cause of the misery that was to come upon them. Without the word of God there was no truth or mercy. The knowledge of right and wrong comes from either man or from Heaven. Rejecting scripture Israel had gone after its own lusts. The result was a land filled with immorality, murder, stealing and hatred. From the King of Israel to the lowly peasant sin filled every corner of society.

The knowledge of God was thrown aside for the carnal desires of the flesh. Society laughed with scorn the Creator and His revealed word. Abraham’s descendants had turned aside to the knowledge of hedonism.  The law of the Lord was forgotten and they stopped listening to the word of God. What they could not see in their headlong pursuit of wickedness was how it was destroying the nation. The headlines of the day were filled with murder, immorality, debauchery, crime and a lust for living for the moment. And then it all came to an end. Judgment came in the form of the Assyrian and Babylonian armies massacring the multitudes and taking the remnant captive.

Reading the prophets is like reading the news today. One cannot help but be impressed with how closely the events of Hosea match with the events in America today. Where is truth and mercy? What has happened to the knowledge of God in this land? Why is the church of Christ today filled with saints who have little or no knowledge of His word? How many can remember the word of the Lord? Where is the obedience in the lives of the chosen people of God? The most important lesson of Hosea 4 is the knowledge of judgment. As God punished Israel so will the judgment of America be meted out. The prophet calls for repentance. Hosea is still preaching today. Listen.

Because we [Americans] are out of the will of God we have lost the will to do right. (Billy Graham, Sermon, New York, May, 1957)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” (Mark 14:32-42)

He Was Tired Also

The event planned before the world was created had come. There would be no more sermons to preach, multitudes to heal or parables to exhort the disciples. Everything was now to be focused on the final journey Jesus would take to a certain death on a piece of wood. He knew this day would come. Many times He told His disciples of the horrible manner He would be treated by the Jewish leaders and how they would crucify Him. The Lord understood it was for this purpose He had come. The Passover was finished. Twelve disciples had seen the servitude of their Master in the washing of their feet. Judas was now off planning how to arrest Jesus as He lingered in the garden. Eleven men were weary from the past few days. One man looked forward to something so horrible He shuttered at the thought.

Jesus needed to pray. Taking Peter, James and John the Lord went some distance from the eight remaining disciples to spend time talking to His Father. Telling the three He was greatly troubled He asked them to remain vigilant as he went a little further to pray. While Jesus was off begging the Father to find another way the disciples could not hold their eyes open and fell asleep. Admonished by their Teacher the disciples tried to remain alert but to no avail. As He left for a second time their eyes fell under the heavy sway of sleep. Returning a third time and finding them asleep He told to awaken and prepare for a coming mob. How this must have disheartened the Lord.

If Jesus would have gotten any sleep it would have been some time Wednesday night. Part of the story of the cross is the diminished physical condition of the Lord when they nailed Him to the cross. He would last about six hours writhing in incredible pain but exhaustion was a deadly factor also. Along with dehydration the torment of Jesus was immense. As He prayed in the garden Jesus was tired too. In fact, He was probably more tired than the disciples but they did not know what was coming. The reason they succumb to the power of sleep is they did not know who was coming or what was about to happen. Jesus knew and He was praying to His Father for strength to endure the horrible rigors of the next few days. How tired He must have been.

The picture of Jesus in the garden is one of remarkable love. Here is a man who knows how He will die in a matter of hours praying through a veil of exhaustion and yet fully in control of everything around Him. How His body must have longed for just a little rest but there was no time. Following the prayers in the garden He is arrested and taken before the Jewish and Roman councils, condemned, scourged, mocked and forced to carry His cross which He was unable to bear. Fatigue overwhelmed every fiber of His body as they took Him to Golgotha and nailed Him to a cross. The worst was yet to come. Crucifixion required the strength to pull oneself up by nailed hands just to have a breath of air. Where did Jesus find that needed energy? How did He do that? He loved me. As tired as He was He loved me to die for me.

No man can know his true self, caught between this potential for depravity and this potential for divinity, except in the light of what happened on Calvary. (Stuart LeRoy Anderson, Way, June, 1963)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

Worship Is

Worship is seeing the WONDERFUL love of God through Jesus Christ.

Worship is feeling the ONENESS with fellow saints as we assemble today.

Worship is filling our hearts with the REVELATION of God’s mind to man.

Worship is joyously SINGING to a God that loves an undeserving creature.

Worship is living a life of HOLINESS to the glory of a loving Father.

Worship is understanding the INCREDIBLE gift of Jesus Christ to die for me.

Worship is expressing PRAISE to the God of my salvation.

Worship is a way of living, a way of seeing the world in the light of God. To worship is to rise to a higher level of existence, to see the world from the point of view of God. (Abraham J. Heschel, Man’s Quest for God, 1954)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. (Acts 9:32-35)

A Great Story Of Conversion

We live in a hard world that denies Jesus as the Christ. The Bible is the full testimony of His love for man but man does not love the Christ. Two thousand years after He came men still fail to embrace the evidence of Jesus being the Son of God. This was the case when Jesus walked among men. But there were times when everything clicked and people with honest hearts saw the real power of God believing in the Christ.

The area of Lydda and Sharon was about a day’s journey from Jerusalem. Earlier Philip the evangelist had gone through this area teaching in all the cities (Acts 8:40). The city of Lydda was about five miles east of Joppa. Sharon was a plain about thirty miles long between Joppa and Caesarea. When Peter arrived in Lydda he found a man that had been infirmed eight years. Aeneas was a well-known invalid who lived with the tragedy of being bed ridden because he was paralyzed. There were no surgeries to mend him. He remained in bed for eight years. Peter only spoke to the man. Like Jesus before him Peter called for the man to rise and gather his bed. Aeneas did immediately (not like the so-called faith healers of today where a gradual faint of ‘healing’ happens). He got up and walked. And a lot of people saw it.

What happened to Aeneas was a miracle. What happened to the people in the city of Lydda and those living in the plain of Sharon was remarkable. When all the people saw the bed-ridden man walking they turned to the Lord. They had honest hearts. Their eyes saw the wonder of God’s healing power and they asked no questions. There would be no discussion about how long had the man been paralyzed or whether it was a true healing or not. They knew without a doubt the impossibility of Aeneas being healed yet there he stood. The decision to obey was immediate.

The gospel of Christ is more powerful than the healing of the man from Lydda. Sadly few people can see its glory today and turn to the Lord. This does not suggest (as many brethren believe) that no one will listen today. The reason this is a great story is to remind us that honest hearts still walk among us that will see the power of God working in their lives. Many people rejected Jesus but many people believed on Him. We should never accept the wile of the devil that people today are too hard hearted to see the power of God. Ironically the reason we are not bringing as many people to Christ today is not because the world will not listen; it is because we have failed to believe in the power of the gospel.

Philip preached and Peter showed the power of God. We need to preach and show the power of God. One day we will be talking to people from Lydda and Sharon and to our surprise they will believe and obey the gospel. You see – the gospel of Jesus Christ still works in modern America. Now that is a great story.

Western Christianity has failed in its vocation. It is be to be blamed for not evangelizing or for evangelizing only halfway. God needed men and men exploited God. (Francois Mauriac, What I Believe, 1962)