The Heaton File

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:11)

Living For Jesus

Each Monday we have been spending time looking at the life of Jesus. The purpose in this examination is to learn how to live ourselves. Jesus is our example and He has left his footprints in our lives to follow after Him. No life can find happiness unless those steps are measured by the manner of life found in Jesus Christ. The Lord said He was the “Life” signifying that if man is to find the purpose of his being it must be in the true life.

When we compare the life of Jesus to our lives we immediately assume the impossible. We cannot live as He lived without sin. But He did not leave us His example to intimidate us to non-action but rather His life is a pattern we should follow to keep us from sin. He suffered in the flesh as we suffer in the flesh. His life was spent in the same aches and pains as we experience. As a child and then as a young man His life was not uncharacteristic of all boys. When He grew to manhood the world pressed hard upon Him as it does all men. During His ministry the temptations of the flesh swirled around Him. The devil sought to destroy the Lord through the pride of life. Daily the pressures of the lust of the eye paraded in His presence. But the life of Jesus was guided by the love and will of His Father. Can we do any less?

As we study the life of Jesus believe that we can put that in our lives to walk like He walked. Our Father has not given us an impossible task but rather a journey that has already been prepared for our lives to follow. That journey is protected by our Lord to help us over the difficult times of life. We can be victorious because He was victorious. We can overcome because He overcame. Our dying words can be “it is finished” because He prepared the way for redemption. The greatest story in the life of Jesus is the new life He gained in resurrection. When we mold our lives to the life of Jesus we will experience the resurrection.

Today is Monday and Monday is a good day because we are living for Jesus today. As the week unfolds find those nuggets of Jesus’ life that will help you be a better person at work, school, in the home, community and work of the church. Pick out a story in the life of Jesus and live with it each day. Let the life of Jesus shine in your heart.

Our Lord is Bread of Life. His proportions are perfect. There never was too much or too little of anything about Him. Feed on Him for a well-balanced ration. All the vitamins and calories are there. (Vance Havner)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

On Bended Knee I Come

On bended knee I come, with a humble heart I come,

Bowing down before Your holy throne.

Lifting holy hands to You, as I pledge my love anew,

I worship You in spirit, I worship You in truth,

Make my life a holy praise unto You.

On bended knee I come, with a broken heart I come,

Bowing down before Your holy throne.

As I look upon Your face, show Your mercy and Your grace,

Change my life, O Holy Spirit, make me fresh and ever new,

Make my life a holy sacrifice to You.

(Robert Gay and Jimmy Orr)

This song is a wonderful reminder to how beautiful our worship to God should be. There will be no pride in Heaven as every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess the Lord is God and He is Ruler of all. Today is our time when we gather with fellow saints to sing together in worship – on bended knee. Today is a time of worship when we embrace our brethren in the strength of prayer – on bended knee. Today is a time of worship as we delve the riches of God’s word – on bended knee. Today is a time when we stand in awe of how great our Father is and how much we NEED HIM every day. I wonder sometimes if it would serve us well at times to literally go to our knees in worship. May our hearts bend the spiritual knee today as we WORSHIP. Thank you God for our time of WORSHIP on bended knee.

Wonder is the basis of worship. (Thomas Carlyle, Sartor Resartus, 1836)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?” As the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him on it!” (Esther 7:8-9)

Haman’s Folly

The story of Esther is a beautiful portrait of courage where a young woman of God is willing to give her life to save her people’s annihilation from the plans of a wicked man. Haman is as much the central character in the story with his devious plans and hatred for Mordecai. It is a contrast in those who would follow a righteous path of the Lord with those who seek power and fame through unrighteousness.

Haman was a man filled with pride, arrogance, evil intent and hungry for the power of men. A villain of scripture he not only wanted to kill Mordecai; it was his plan to destroy all the people of this foreign slave. He did not want a single Israelite left alive and he would stop at nothing to see his plan done. Granted permission from the king the evil Haman put things in motion to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day. His plan is perfect – or so he thinks.

Hearing of the holocaust that would befall her people Esther puts herself at the mercy of God to entreat the king to save her people. Inviting her husband and Haman to a banquet she lays her first plan forth and invites them to a second feast the next day. Haman can hardly contain himself for his pleasure to be invited by the king. But the hatred of Mordecai still burns deep in Haman and through the advice of his wife Zeresh a gallows seventy-five feet high is built to hang his nemesis.

Meanwhile the king is reminded of the conspiracy to kill him and the man who stopped this plot was Mordecai. Deciding to honor Mordecai the king inquires of the first man to come into the court what shall be done. In a humorous (at least to me) twist of fate it is Haman. His folly is thinking the king will bestow this great honor on himself but to his deep shock the king orders Haman to bestow the honor on Mordecai. It is about to get worse.

Furious and humiliated, Haman runs backs to his house crying and covering his head. He has never experienced such a horrible and demeaning thing in his life … but again that is nothing to what is about to happen. The message comes for Haman to appear at the feast of Esther. During the feast the plot is revealed to the king and furious the ruler steps out to the palace garden to compose himself. Haman, knowing his life is in danger, falls on the couch of the queen begging for his life. Talk about the wrong place at the wrong time: in walks the king. Seeing Haman accosting his wife, the king demands Haman to be taken out and hanged on the gallows (75 feet high) he had built for Mordecai. Haman’s folly. Now that is a great story.

But the greatest story of all comes tomorrow. The Lord is risen.

Friday Morning Reflections – Wisdom Literature

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

We Need Each Other

The wisdom literature is timeless. No matter what generation reads these words truth rings as clear as the day it was penned. In the beginning the Creator realized it was not good for man to be alone. He made a help meet. The need for companionship is also needed for all of us to learn our fellowship with God. No man should be an ‘island to himself’ without the interaction of others. Sharing our lives is a basic need of who we are.

One of the great blessings of being a saint is the relationship we have in the body of Christ. The church is made up of people who need people. No matter where we are in life we need a friendly companion. Singing together lifts our spirits because we are singing together. Notice the use of “our spirits” and “we are singing” as an indicator of how much we need one another. It is easier to bear burdens of grief when there is a shoulder to lean on. Battling sin every day will become easier when I share my burden with others. Rejoicing with friends of some good news warms the heart. Standing with friends I can be a stronger force against the disparity of life and onslaught of sin. United we stand because we stand united.

The week is almost gone. In a couple of days we assemble with fellow Christians. What does that day mean? There are many doctrinal answers. But one answer we should never overlook is how important I am to others when I am there. And – please know how important you are when we are together. If we worship with a small number of saints the absence of another is greatly noticed. In larger numbers it may seem as apparent but it is just as important. We need each other. The empty pew is a powerful sermon either of need or lack of interest.

Companionship goes beyond the assembly on Sunday. It also has to do with our fellowship during the week. We all need to remember the importance of spending time with one another – no television, smart phones, IPads – just human beings enjoying company with one another. The real problem in America is we don’t build houses with porches and so often we have porches that are never used. Two people sitting on the porch learning how to love one another is better than anything we find on the electronic landscape. It is even better when we invited others into our home and share our lives with one another. A congregation that spends time with one another grows together. It builds a spirit of unity that is difficult to break. Bonding. It is what makes churches grow.

I need you and you need me. See how easy that is? Let us thread our lives together to bring greater strength to the body of Christ. Be strong – be united – be together.

We are not isolated souls, singular, lonely, called and engaged in a solitary effort. We are members of a great company and whether we think it or not, we pray in company. (John W. Lynch, Hourglass, 1952)

A Climate Of Acceptance 

For anyone living in the last twenty-five years it is clearly evident of a shift in the moral compass of where we were to where we have come. This does not suggest that what was unacceptable twenty-five years ago was right simply because it was twenty-five years ago. The moral code of right and wrong is determined by the Lord not whims of man. However the core of the American culture twenty-five years ago was less lenient to the dogmas of modern day morality as seen in the passing glance of the daily news.

From the headlines comes news of the Presbyterian Church (USA) trying to define marriage as, in part, that “marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives.” This paves the way for homosexual marriage or acceptance of same-sex marriage. It is clear the Presbyterian Church (USA) is not the Lord’s church of the New Testament and they follow creeds inscribed by the failing philosophies of man. This is not a shock as any institution founded by man will appease the desires of man.

Homosexuality is the norm as celebrities flaunt their immorality as acceptable with scorn given to those who will say anything hurtful. A commercial on television has two boys holding hands in school and the caption suggesting hurtful words are unkind. God loves those who follow a perverse morality but only to the need of their lives rejecting their desires for one another. “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting” (Romans 1:24-28).

A new propaganda from the media is the focus on “transgender” and how that the identity of those who desire to be the opposite sex is to be tolerated and accepted. The sexual identification is no longer “man and woman” but “whatever and whatever.” Whatever moral compass there was in the past is now changed to the barometer of the fleshly needs of passion. Consider all the things that are acceptable in our world today: abortion (murdering millions of human beings every year – a greater holocaust); divorce for any and every reason known to man; sexuality in every form and fashion; ridicule of fatherhood; degrading the true mean of family; role models of manhood and womanhood; religious diversity; etc.

The great failing of man is his inability to learn from history. As each season of man’s wisdom progresses to the next stage it is clear that lessons learned in the past will not be applied to the present. Paul warned about a world filled with “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:2-4). Man tries these methods of pleasure seeking happiness and finding nothing but misery. It happened in the Roman period and every period since. There is no future in the moral degradation touted by man.

The Presbyterian Church can define marriage any way it desires but God’s word will not change.  “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). Sexual immorality (fornication, adultery, homosexuality, sodomites) may be accepted in different levels of society but the Lord God Almighty declares that such rebellion will be punished by eternal fire (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Man can legalize any kind of divorce but God does not.

Asaph, the psalter, explained it best in Psalm 50. “These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes. ‘Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver: whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God’” (Psalms 50:21-23). Man thinks he knows what God wants. He will change laws that God established in the beginning but truth remains the same. Whether he calls evil good and good evil it will never usurp God’s character of righteousness (Isaiah 5:20). “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:21).

Thursday Morning Thankfulness – Epistles of Paul

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1)

I Am A Saint

There are many reasons why we should call ourselves “Christians.” We wear the name of our Savior and no greater blessing can we share with others than to be known as people of Christ. One of the unique finds of the New Testament is to realize there is never given what we like to think of as an “official” name or title to the church or its people. The early writers referred to the church in many different names and when speaking of the people of God penned beautiful language describing the relationship with the Father. Paul frequently called his brethren “saints.”

The world has a narrow view of what a saint is. To most people the Catholic meaning of saint has taken away the Biblical impression of the true people of God. The real meaning has more to do with those separated to God than the character of a person. We are not saints because we are good. We are saints because God has set us apart to Himself. When we dwell in the presence of our Father then our character will mirror His grace and we will live in such a way to be worthy to be called saints.

Today let us think of our relationship to God and how He has separated us to be His special people. This is called grace. We do not deserve to be brought into the family of God but He loved us enough to open His door through Jesus Christ. We are saints because of HIS love and what a wonderful thought. When we think of ourselves as saints we can know how special we are to the Lord. I am His. He wants me to be with Him. His love is poured out in MY heart. The greatest thought of being a saint is the invitation our Father gives to us in asking us to live with Him in His presence – to see Him face to face.

Thank God I am a Christian because of the blood of my Savior. I am now set apart to be His own special person that He protects, guides, loves and blesses because I am a saint. When I learn how special this is then my life will change to be a life of purity and holiness. Thank you Father.

God creates out of nothing – wonderful, you say; yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful; He makes saints out of sinners. (Søren Kierkegaard, Journal, July 7, 1838)

Wednesday Morning Meditation – Psalms

The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalm 119:160)

The Sum

Math is not one of my strong points but I understand what it means when I see the word “sum.” The English Standard Version of scripture renders Psalm 119:160 as “The sum of your word is truth.” From the King James Version it reads “Thy word is true from the beginning.” There are some hard things to understand in the Bible. Psalm 119:160 is as plain as 1 + 1 = 2. Basic. Fundamental. Easy to understand. Powerful.

The psalmist makes a simple statement of profound knowledge. Looking at the word of God there is nothing else to consider in the realm of truth. The entire message of God from the beginning of time is truth. God is true. His word is true. The acts of God are true. Destroying the world in the days of Noah was right. Saving the nation of Israel shows the righteousness of God. Allowing His Son to come to earth and die for the misery of man was truth in flesh. Raising Him from the dead exalted His word as truth. Promising eternal life comes from His heart of love. Condemning the ungodly to Hell is the fulfillment of His righteousness. The entire message of His word is truth no matter what man says or does.

Understanding the sum of His words as TRUTH will be of no benefit if we do not avail ourselves of its message in my life. Man does not represent truth and is not reliable. The grace of God is He never lies and has never failed in ANY promise made. His word is truth and His righteousness is forever. Why would I not trust in Him? How can I deny His power in my life when He will never fail me? Do I understand everything God ask of me every day? No – but I can trust whatever He asks of me it will be good. Wow. What a way to live. No fear. No worries. All trust. All love.

Today is the middle of the week. Okay the week started good but maybe Monday and Tuesday were a little rough around the edges. That is fine – we have today. Trust Him more today than ever. Believe in His truth which never fails. He will not fail you today! That is truth! As you go through your day today remember this word: SUM. The entirety of His word is truth and it will guide you every day. And then when Uncle Thursday shows up tomorrow you just tell him you have a word for him: SUM! Try it out on Cousin Friday and sister Saturday. It makes a world of difference that word: SUM! Hum your Sum if you like. Make it a SUM day today.

The Bible may cause you to wonder, but it will never cause you to wander. (Selected)

Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

A House Of Merchandise

The foundation of man’s relationship with God has always been determined by his understanding of authority. It is not a glamorous subject and often neglected in teaching the importance of doctrine. However nothing is more fundamental than a need to follow the will of God in the manner prescribed by the Lord with no deviation to innovations of man. Noah built the ark according to the plan given to him by God. Any change in those instructions and the ark would never have gotten off the ground. When Moses was given instructions to build the tabernacle Jehovah expected the plans to be followed without the whims of man changing anything. The New Testament church was founded upon a plan devised by the Almighty and yet we find that pattern so corrupted today. This is especially sad when it finds itself within the pattern of the church today.

Paul explains to the church in Ephesus the pattern of authority within the local church. It is simple. It is direct. It is functional. It is God’s will. Comparing that to what many churches are doing today shows how far off course some have taken the body of Christ. Case in point: the following ad appears in a web site of a church of Christ – “Seeking candidates who have a master’s level degree in ministry and at least 5 years of experience working in justice and compassion ministry in a local church context.” This church also announced it will begin using instruments of music in their worship service this fall. In the list of ‘Ministry Opportunities’ the church includes “Worship, Dramas/Productions, Lead Prayer, Lead Communion Meditation, Read Scripture, Sing on Praise Team, Sing in Choir.” It is also advertised that there are openings for supporting the worship service through “Coffee Fellowship, Hospitality Ministry, Media Booth, Stock Supplies in Sanctuary.”

Read our text again for the day. Paul was an educated man but he gave all that up to serve Christ. There is nothing wrong with having a Master’s Degree but is that now a requirement to serve God? Many brethren have gone so far off course they have become a denomination of the religious world of man’s dogma. No longer satisfied with the simple pattern of righteousness the Lord’s church is being corrupted with the subtle influence of Satan. It is sad to hear of the family of God leaving the Father. Truth does not change. Man tries to change truth but it remains the same. Stay the course of truth – by the book! Reject innovations that are not found in the WORD OF GOD.

When the pulpit is used to glorify the preacher, when the music only shows off the singers, when church membership only enhances community status, when the prayer house becomes a play house, and when we come more interested in recreation than in re-creation, then the church becomes a house of merchandise. (Vance Havner)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. (Luke 4:28-30)

Anybody Seen Jesus?

It is one of the lesser known miracles of Jesus. He was about to be mobbed by an angry crowd and before any harm could come to the Lord He simply walked away from them without their knowledge. The people were filled with wrath at the boldness of the son of Joseph claiming to be the fulfilment of Isaiah’s words in Isaiah 49. They could not see Jesus as the Son of God because they knew Him as the son of Joseph and Mary growing up in Nazareth. It was the intention of the people to kill Jesus by throwing him over the cliff.

Imagine the scene: two men grab Jesus by the arms followed by a loud and boisterous crowd. The mob moves the Lord roughly out of the city and towards the brow of the hill. Their hearts are filled with rage and hatred. They plan to murder this man. Coming close to the cliff they begin to make plans on throwing them over. But then they look around and He is not there. They thought the other fellow had him. Where is Jesus? Confused faces. Accusations. What happened to the man we were going to throw over the cliff? Has anybody seen Jesus? Finally the perplexed crowd goes home. The stories that night at the evening meal were confused. “We took a man out to throw Him off a cliff and we lost Him.”

When men fill with anger they can’t see Jesus. Because of their spiritual blindness the people of Nazareth could not see the man before them as God’s Son. There are so many things that blind the hearts of men to Jesus. The miracle of Jesus’ disappearance was in accordance with the “hour” that had not yet come. When Jesus died it would be on God’s terms, not man. Still men refuse to see Jesus for who He really is and will try to destroy Him – but to no avail. Critics of the Holy Word have tried for centuries to discount the story of Jesus but it still lives. No one can change the plan of God. This was one of the great miracles of Jesus because He proves Who is in charge of this world. We serve a great God. He loved us enough to give us His Son.

In no one else in all history do you find an abiding hatred, an immortal hatred except against our Lord … The hatred against Christ has never weakened even after twenty centuries … because He is still an obstacle – an obstacle to sin, to selfishness, to godlessness, and to the spirit of the world. (Fulton J. Sheen, The Eternal Galilean, 1934)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and your judgments are like light that goes forth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:1-6)

For I Desire Mercy

Today is a day of worship. We will gather with fellow saints for a period of praise and honor to Jehovah God. Throughout the world the children of God will congregate in accordance with a pattern established by the early church. Faithful disciples will follow the simple pattern of authority laid down by the Holy Spirit. Adherence to the will of God will be recognized by the manner worship is patterned and carried out. And for many all this exercise of worship will be is a steel framework of commands rigidly kept in a mistaken idea that is all God desires. Worship is more than keeping commands the right way.

The text of Hosea was written when the children of God were in a state of rebellion to their Father. In their minds they thought all they needed to do is to do what the Lord commanded in the Law and God would just take them back because they were Law keepers. In fact it was the Lord who said to them your worship is as vain as a morning mist. What the Creator and Savior really wants is for the heart of man to be overwhelmed with the grandeur of grace from above and salvation by His hand.

It was God who ordained the laws of sacrifice but it was a means to capture the heart of the people. He established the requirements of the burnt offerings but what He was looking for was the personal relationship with His people. He desired mercy and the knowledge of who He was to them rather than the trivial motions of worship done without love.

Our worship today can be done with our eyes closed we have done it so many times. God wants our hearts to be open to Him today. When we sing songs today let the words and the music change our hearts. As the supper of the Lord is being passed do not allow it only to be a brief pause in the hour of worship to nibble some bread and drink some juice. Discern the body of Jesus Christ is wondering praise of what HE did on the cross. When the sermon is being presented treat it not as another half-hour-dull-time-to-bear-through but hunger and thirst after the words of God implored from His message.

Let worship today be a time of feeling the mercy of God. Allow the worship with fellow saints revive in the spirit of each one of us a deep desire to know everything we can about OUR FATHER. Make worship personal today. He desires this more than anything else.

Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins. (Alexander MacLaren)