The True Man

Posted on January 29, 2014 by heatonkent

Bibles013The True Man

The Jews had a hard time accepting the man from Nazareth as a person of worth and consideration. They never denied His miracles but constantly battled Jesus over His teachings. In John 7 they could not get past the problem of His education. “Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, ‘How does this Man know letters, having never studied?’ Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him’” (John 7:14-18). The teachings of Jesus astonished the people (Matthew 7:28-29). He was the son of a carpenter and unlearned but taught with such authority the Jewish leaders could never trap Him in His teachings.

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He affirmed His teaching was not His own but from the Father. Every word He spoke came from the Father above. Later Jesus would tell the Jews, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things” (John 8:28). The Son of God established that all truth came from the Father and not Himself. The true man is one who teaches what the Father has said. If Jesus would tell the multitudes His teaching was His own apart from God He would glorify Himself apart from the Father. Jesus knew His mission was not His own but His Father’s.

The temptation of the pride of life would weigh heavy upon Jesus in His work. He was adored by the multitudes when He turned five loaves of bread and two fishes into a banquet for over five thousand people (John 6:1-14). “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone” (John 6:15). Satan tempted Jesus with the pride of life in Matthew 4:8-9 offering Him the kingdoms of the world. The Lord retorted to the devil that worship belongs only to the Lord and to Him alone (Matthew 4:10). He knew that all He did was for the glory of the Father and not Himself. It was imperative that all men know the teachings of Jesus were the words of the Father.

Jesus established a pattern for truth that comes from the throne of God. Standing before Pilate, the Son of God was asked, “What is truth” (John 18:38)? The answer is not found in the wisdom of men but the authority of the Father. All of the teachings of Jesus came from the mind of God and establishing truth must come from the mind of God alone. Creation is established upon the word of God as written by Moses (Genesis 1-2). Righteousness finds its character in how the Father defines what is right and wrong (Genesis 3). The consequence of disobeying the word of God is demonstrated by the flood in Genesis 6-7. Found in the flood is the grace of God and the need for obedience by man. The nation of Israel shows the nature of what is right as the Old Testament unfolds their history and final rebellion and punishment. The law of God glories the Father. The law of man glorifies man.

Religious error comes from men establishing their own law of truth exalting the wisdom of creation over the Creator. No religion would stand if they appealed only to the law of God. The word of God is the sole foundation for authority and whether a person agrees or disagrees with the Bible it does not change what is true. A person can believe the world is flat but that will not change the truth. Churches today can peddle their goods of religious zeal and fervor but without truth it is vain. Jesus told the woman at the well that “the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).

“What must I do to be saved” can only be answered from a diligent study of the word of God. The man who is true is the one who will seek only the word of God for his answer. Worship cannot be based upon a “feel good” religion of popular ideals that excite the senses of the spirit. Worship must be according to what the Bible directs. Marriage is confirmed by the words of God and divorce is explained only through the word of God. Morality can never be measured by the whims of societal placations. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Too many Bible studies are studies without the Bible. The opinions of men and norms of worldly minded experts begin to define what truth is appealing to the multitudes who desire to live as a law to themselves. There is only one body of truth and that comes from the Father above.

Jesus said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me” (John 7:16). No man should take a lesser stand than Jesus. Peter exhorts the early disciples, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever” (1 Peter 4:11). The apostle echoes the words of his teacher. God must be glorified in our teaching regardless of what men say or do. Paul told Timothy to “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). What else is there?

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She Stood At The Tomb Weeping

Posted on January 20, 2014 by heatonkent

AP0306She Stood At The Tomb Weeping

 It was the last day she would be able to enter the tomb to dress the body of Jesus. Joseph and Nicodemus had hurriedly prepared the body on Friday placing Jesus in the tomb of Joseph. Returning on the first day of the week final preparations would be made to the body for entombment. The day after Sabbath was the last day friends would be able to come and commune with their teacher as he lay in the tomb. Sadly when Mary came to the tomb her heart was rent in two finding the tomb empty. What had happened? How could this be? The stone had been removed and realizing that something was terribly wrong Mary hastened to Peter and John telling them the alarming news the body of Jesus was missing. The two disciples raced to the tomb finding it empty. Puzzled and dismayed they returned home leaving Mary in the garden weeping and broken hearted.

The lone figure of a weeping woman filled the garden with the mournful tears of fear and sadness. Still disbelieving her Lord was taken she looked inside the tomb and found two men sitting where the body of Jesus lay. They asked Mary, “’Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him’” (John 20:13). She did not know who the “they” were but she could not understand why “they” had taken his body. The soldiers who had guarded the tomb were in the city reporting to the chief priests what had happened (Matthew 28:11-15). How could anyone take the body of Jesus? Why would they desecrate the tomb by taking the body? She wanted to know where her Lord’s body was!

Standing behind her a man appeared. She did not know it was Jesus and thought He was the gardener. “He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him’” (John 20:15-16). A little frustrated anger rises up in her broken heart because if this man did something with the body of her Lord then he better tell her right now where it is and she will take care of it. How dare he take the body out of the tomb? He should know what happened to the body and she demands to know what happened.  A determined woman.

And then it happens. Can you see this moment? Can you see the face of Jesus as He utters these words, “Mary”? Now turn the camera on the face of Mary as “she turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’)” (John 20:16). Tears of grief become a flood of joy and she wants to grab him and squeeze him so tight He would bust. Her joy is tempered by the Lord’s admonition that His presence does not suggest He is there to stay. Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'” (John 20:17). He knows that in forty days He will return to His Father. His work on earth will be accomplished and the task of teaching the lost the good news of a risen Savior will rest upon the shoulders of people like Mary. Racing back to the disciples she expresses with unbounded joy the news of the risen Lord.

She stood at the tomb weeping. Someone had taken the body of her Lord and she was distraught. The deep feelings of grief filled her heart because of her love for Jesus. Her feelings were not uncaring, uninterested nor indifferent. We hear often of people dying but our feelings are not expressed with weeping and sadness of heart. A simple reason is we do not know the person and while we may mourn the loss because of a tragedy our connection does not create feelings of deep sadness. Mary stood at the tomb weeping and broken-hearted because she loved her Lord. She would learn in the next few days how special Jesus was and after Jesus ascended to His Father she would grow to love Him more and more. But at this moment she was a broken woman because of her relationship to the man from Nazareth. We all need to spend time at the empty tomb weeping for our Lord.

The challenge for us is that we know He rose and that He lives and reigns at the right hand of God. But the empty tomb means more than a cavern void of a body. It signifies the cruelty of Jesus’ death on a cross and the sting of death. He suffered in the days of His flesh and learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:7-8). Mary wept because of her love for Jesus. She had been crying for three days as she witnessed the crucifixion, spending a Sabbath day without her Lord and finding on the first day of the week His body was gone. We need to have the heart of Mary to experience the feelings of sadness for what man (you and I) has done to the Son of God. Our weeping is trying to understand what cannot be understood. How can a loving God save such a wretched creature like man? Look in the empty tomb and you will find the answer. “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5-6)!

Mary Magdalene knew the horror of Satan (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2) but she found peace in the presence of Jesus. It is probable that Mary was among the women of Acts 1:14 (see John 19:25). The story of Jesus to those early disciples would include the day she stood at the empty tomb of Jesus weeping. But she would tell them of her tears of joy when she saw her Lord face to face. He was not just a figure to her; He was her “Rabboni.” Our faith will only be as strong as the tears we shed standing at the empty tomb of Jesus and finding the power of the resurrection to change our lives.

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Suffer The Little Children

Posted on January 14, 2014 by heatonkent

AP0505Suffer The Little Children 

The Lord had just finished a tense discourse with the Pharisees who were trying to trap Him in His teaching about divorce when little children were brought to Him “that He might put His hands on them and pray” (Matthew 19:13). His disciples sought to refuse the disruption rebuking the parents for troubling the Lord with children. However it was the Lord who rebuked the disciples because He longed to be with the children. “And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:16).

Jesus, the Son of God, took time for children. He understood the value and worth of the little minds that needed to see His Father as much as the hardened hearts of the Jewish leaders. He not only took time for them but He laid His hands on them and prayed with them. Paint the picture: there is the Creator of the world holding children in His lap, caressing their hair, speaking words of comfort and joy to their little ears, smiling and thanking His Father for the joy of young hearts.

David the psalmist knew the power of children. “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen– even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth” (Psalms 8).

Children have a pure heart. They are not corrupted with the prejudices of life that change the hearts from a simple trust in God to the dark wisdom of man. The little ones are amazed at the stars and the sun and the moon. Their eyes see butterflies, bugs, leaves and ripples on the water. Forgiveness is not hard for them and it matters not who the other child is and what color skin they have. Children love children because they have a child’s heart.

Earlier Jesus had taught that to be part of the kingdom of God a heart of a child was needed. “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:3-5). It is sad when children grow up and lose the humility that characterized their first years. Adults teach the values to children that destroy that innocence when children should remind adults the nature of being a humble person.

Every aspect of the life of a Christian is measured by the heart of a child. Forgiveness only comes from a heart that is humbled by the forgiveness granted by the Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:14-15). Esteeming others better than one self (Philippians 2:1-11) is developed from the mind of a child. So often the fusses within families and churches stem from those who fail to act like children in the proper setting of kindness and love. Children do not have wrinkles on their brow because they do not worry but trust the Father. They do not have to understand everything to believe in the Father; it means more to them to be able to hold His hand in dark storms and feel secure.

The Lord took time for children. It would seem a bother to the disciples to interrupt the schedule of such an important man like Jesus. And Jesus lived an exhausted life. But one has to imagine how treasured and precious those fleeting moments of holding children were to the Lord to refresh His spirit and bring a smile to His wearied face. Can we do any less?

It goes without saying that fathers need to realize the time with their children is fleeting and there is no time like the present. Your work and your hobbies are not as important as the time you spend with your children – holding them and praying with them. There will come a time they will no longer sit in your lap but they will always be able to pray with you. They need to hear your voice in prayer and learn how to talk to the Heavenly Father as you talk to Him.

One of the great needs in the church today is for the shepherds or elders who tend the flock to also realize the need to tending the children. The example of Jesus would suggest that time should be spent for the shepherds visiting with the children and praying with them. Often elders are so busy with the adults they neglect the children and young people. What impact did it have on the children who sat in Jesus lap and heard Him pray? How wonderful to teach our children the important role elders have in shepherding the flock of God and for them to see and experience firsthand the prayers of the elders.

Children are not the church of the future but rather the church of today! They have so much to teach us in their humility and their love. We should never dismiss them from gatherings of adults but rather encourage them to sit quietly at the feet of their parents listening and learning about God from the hearts of the adults. There is a time to go and play and enjoy the company of other children but do not neglect the golden opportunities to teach them respect and honor for the grownups. Suffer the little children!

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Jesus Died For Food, Fun & Frolicking

Posted on December 31, 2013 by heatonkent

Jesus Died For Food, Fun & Frolickingcrucifixion carry cross

As the covering of the garden surrounded the band of 12 men and darkness overshadowed their presence the chimes of eternal glory began to sound forth the coming event of man’s salvation. The Almighty looked upon His only begotten Son bowed in sorrow as He pleads for mercy in the coming sacrifice. Soldiers and leaders of the nation of God drag Jesus through humiliating courts filled with envy, hatred and fear. Finally on a hill of death the Roman Empire exacted its feeble power to execute the man from Nazareth. Death settled upon the land in darkness both literally and spiritually as the smug hypocrites of the Jewish nation rejoiced at the miserable death of that troublemaker whom they feared.

The first day of the week changed all that when light spread throughout the whole world and the gospel was born upon the shoulders of the disciples of Christ who took the redeeming message of God’s grace to every corner of the world. Peter and the eleven pronounced before a vast throng of devout Jews they had killed the Messiah. The apostles would be brought before councils being warned not to teach in the name of Jesus of Nazareth and yet boldly go forth rejecting the counsel of men. Saul of Tarsus would become one of the great harbingers of salvation showing the world the dying Savior for all generations to see. The early church preached the message of redemption to a world filled with pagan idolatry, immoral virtues, murderous political agendas and according to Paul, “was preached to every creature under heaven” (Colossians 1:23).

To the Roman crowd Paul would show that faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Speaking of his own preaching the apostle reminded the Corinthian church that he only presented the truth without fanfare and trappings of man. “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

The goal of Paul’s preaching was not to attract disciples by the wisdom of man and tickle the ear with the allurements of fleshly desires. He preached Christ crucified so their faith would be in the only salvation man could hope for. He did not need to dress up the gospel or make it more appealing so more people would accept his message. Repentance comes from the heart that is filled with godly sorrow and preaching the gospel of Christ inflicts the sorrow of sin to be regretted (2 Corinthians 7:10). That is all Paul preached when he traveled. Peter and the eleven went throughout the whole world making “disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

In Athens Paul stood in the midst of the idols of man’s totems and declared the true and living God (Acts 17). If the aged apostle were alive today he would stand in the parking lots of many churches of Christ declaring the “unknown God” they have left behind in their pursuits of appealing to the fickle nature of man’s inner desire for food, fun and frolicking. Two thousand years removed from the garden of Gethsemane and Golgotha stand monuments to the failing belief in the power of the gospel message of Jesus Christ and the message of a dying Savior on a cross. The itching ears for entertainment is now the siren song of churches of Christ who fill their numbers by becoming like the protestant churches around them. The belief is that to interest people in the crucified Savior He must be cleaned up and sanitized with the appeal of a modern world.

The charge is made that to interest the world in the gospel an appeal must be made to their desires. Some churches of Christ are beginning to use instruments of music in worship to satisfy the whims of converts. Women are taking on leadership roles to keep in step with the religious norms of society. Marriage, divorce and remarriage are swept under the rug of indifference in fear of causing many to reject the gospel. Adultery and homosexuality are viewed with less concern. The social gospel of bounce houses, cotton candy, popcorn, big screen televisions and festivals year round draw the multitudes to the weakened message of a modern philosophy of social acceptance. Food, fun, frolicking and fellowship is why Jesus died on the cross; at least that is the message given.

Man has never been satisfied with the way God does things. The First Century disciples preached the gospel to a world more hostile than anyone has seen today and yet their message spread like fire. Their appeal was the Word! They sought to make disciples not fill the bellies of men with hotdogs and hamburgers. Lives were changed because people were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37) not growling in their stomachs. Sin was conquered through the blood of Jesus Christ; not ketchup on a bun. The cotton candy of modern theology is creating a system of religious tolerance that accepts anyone who walks under a sign as a child of God.

Paul and Barnabas faced great opposition in Iconium “when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there” (Acts 14:5-7). Did they change their preaching? Did they seek to appeal to the Iconium’s desires? They kept preaching the same message. Later Paul was stoned and left for dead at Lystra. Paul left for Derbe and kept preaching the same gospel.

The gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). If the gospel is that powerful why does man need to dress it up with allurements of the world? Hearts are in need of change. Lives are in need of change. I hesitate to include the old adage that says if you convert someone with fried chicken, sweet tea and ice cream you wind up with people as dead as the chicken, weak as the tea and cold as the ice cream. There is a grain of truth to that. Jesus died on the cross to bring penitent and remorseful people sorrowing over sin seeking the mercy and grace of a loving Father to their own cross bearing (Luke 14:26-33).

Jesus taught the need of separation from the attractions of the world. “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6:26-27). Many of His disciples walked with Him no more after He taught them the lesson of the “bread of life” (John 6:32-69). Many today will not follow Him because the appeal of a crucified Savior is not enough. Not enduring sound doctrine “but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

It must also be understood that the modern appeals of many churches of Christ find no authority in scripture. Bill Hall said, “We are either going to take this matter of restoration of New Testament Christianity seriously or we’re not. We are either going to take the idea of ‘speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent’ seriously or we are not. If we are not going to take the concept of restoring New Testament Christianity seriously, then by all means let’s quit giving it lip service. Let’s just forget the whole thing and do anything we want to do, whether we have Bible authority for it or not. But, on the other hand, if we are really serious about restoring New Testament Christianity – if we are really serious about making the local church according to the pattern given in the New Testament – then let’s rid ourselves of these things that have been introduced into the church for which there is no New Testament authority. Let’s go back and become what the Lord intended His church to be. It’s one way or the other. We can’t have it both ways, talking about restoring New Testament Christianity while accepting all kinds of innovations for which there is no New Testament authority. It just won’t work.” (Restudying Issues of the 50’s and 60’s; A historical perspective.)

God’s design is always best and when we follow the design of the New Testament then we will be blessed. Stand only for the word of God. Stand for truth.

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Jesus Loves The Little Children (Gary Ogden)

Posted on December 25, 2013 by heatonkent

Don-and-GaryJesus Loves The Little Children

(Gary Ogden)

Jesus was a busy man. His days were filled with teaching, healing, and dealing with opponents. Large crowds pressed upon him and pressing concerns occupied his attention. He constantly had to correct misconceptions of his disciples, especially the Twelve who worked with him every day.

Near the end of his earthly ministry, the disciples were arguing again about who was the greatest in the kingdom (Mark 9:34). That discussion had to get old for the Lord because they just couldn’t seem to get it straight. Once again, Jesus said, “If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” Then he took a little child into his arms and said, “Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me…” (Mark 9:36).

It wasn’t too long after as Jesus was immersed in teaching the multitudes (Mark 10:1), that some of the parents brought their little children to Jesus for him to touch and bless them. In spite of what Jesus had so plainly said about “receiving little children” the disciples rebuked the parents for bothering the Master (Mark 10:13). This bothered Jesus, he was moved with indignation toward his disciples, and stated matter-of-factly, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these little children” (v.14, Sim. Eng. N.T.). He further stated that “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” At that point, he took the children in his arms and blessed them (v.16).

What a sight it must have been, Jesus with all the important things he had to do, all the important people he had to see and discuss high matters with and he took the time for little children. He did not just use them as object lessons for his sermons, but truly loved and cared for them. I’m sure it must have been a great drain on his time and energy to take time out for the children, but he was gracious to do so. If I had been a parent living in that time, I think I would have wanted the Lord to hold my sons in his arms and bless them. Can’t you just see the smile on Jesus’ face as he held the little children and infants?       

“Let the little children come to me.” It would seem that there is more to the statement than just allowing them to come into his presence to be touched and blessed. Jesus would be concerned with ultimate spiritual welfare of these children and one day would want them to come to him in faith and obedience.

What about the parents who wanted their children to be touched and blessed by Jesus? What parent, in his or her right mind, wouldn’t want God to bless their child and to be in his presence? Good parents today still want that for their children. They want them to become acquainted with Jesus and the Heavenly Father. They want their children to “come to Jesus.”

Jesus is no longer on earth so developing faith in our children by teaching them about the Lord must be a priority. It is the prime responsibility of Christian parents to instill in their children the knowledge of Christ, God, the Bible and the spiritual relationship that is called the church. They read Bible stories to their children just like they read nursery rhymes. They pray with their children and talk with them about Bible principles. They faithfully take them to assemblies where the Bible is taught and worship is performed. They want their children to be comfortable “in the presence of the Lord.”

Can these little children be taught such high and lofty principles? It might astound you what they pick up, even in the nursery class. I heard the other day that toddler Brett taught newcomer Savannah to say “Bible.” He said, “Bible” about a dozen times and she finally said it. How many little children in our society today know how to say “Bible” much less what it’s all about?

Jesus still wants the little children to come to him, but not enough parents are bringing them! Unfortunately, some Christian parents are falling down on this great responsibility. They’ve lost interest themselves and so their children are going to suffer from the loss. Jesus has some choice words for such parents and anyone else who would hinder a child from coming to Christ: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). What greater sin is there than extinguishing the fire of faith in Christ in the heart of a little child? Think about it!

Sometimes, we feel we just don’t have time for the little children. We get so busy with so many “important” things that we don’t find the time to fit the little children into our lives. We don’t intend to neglect or ignore them, but our priorities are mixed up. If Jesus could find time to pick up, caress and bless the toddlers and infants, surely we can show them some attention and affection. Are you any busier than Jesus was?

We need to spend time and affection on little children because Jesus said that when we humble ourselves as little children we are fit subjects for his kingdom. Those who despise the children and the child-like spirit cannot get through the door of the kingdom.

In the words of the children’s song, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world…..They are precious in his sight.” Do you love the children? How are you showing it? Do you possess the child-like spirit of humility?

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One Thing I Do: 2014

Posted on December 25, 2013 by heatonkent

2014-Numbers-Happy-2014-New-Year-Images-WallpaperOne Thing I Do: 2014

Every 365 days we renegotiate our resolutions we failed to live by the previous year and promise to try harder in the next 365 days to uphold the resolve so easily entrusted to our temporal spirit of flesh. Within 90 days of said new resolutions we find ourselves squandering away the tenacity that so easily ensnared us with hope New Years. Man is the only creature that makes these kinds of promises. The animals live day to day with the knowledge of where their food comes (Isaiah 1:3) and how silly those created in the image of God frantically seek for satisfaction in new acquired resolutions to frame their lives with.

The need to find resolve in our hearts is what the Lord has always wanted for his people. Joshua uttered those wonderful words of declaration when he said, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Abraham was a man known by God “that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him” (Genesis 18:19). David was a man after the heart of the Lord “who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22). These men had resolutions in their lives that guided their hearts to the throne of God.

Paul had a simple set of resolutions he lived by. It was not a complex set of requirements that demanded a long list of do’s and don’ts. He did not try to make unreasonable expectations upon himself. His motto in life year by year was clear and demonstrative: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

The apostle from Tarsus knew the struggles he faced in life and how often he failed to live up the grace of God (Romans 7:13-24). The thorn in the flesh was paramount in his life to teach him the sufficiency of the grace of God (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). His life was measured by the battle lines draw against the “spiritual hosts of wickedness” (Ephesians 6:12). The race he ran was filled with hardships of tribulations, distresses, imprisonments, needs and suffering (2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 11:23-28). How was he able to live such a full life without fear but with power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)? He did ONE thing: he forgot those things behind and reached for the things ahead!

Standing before King Agrippa the prisoner Paul declared that he did many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. “This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities” (Acts 26:10-11). New Year’s resolutions do not remove the guilt of yesterday; only the grace and mercy of God. Paul was able to clearly affirm that his past did not define who he was nor did it determine his future. Forgiven of his sins (Acts 22:16) he was reaching forward to those things which were ahead. Paul was going through life ‘looking through the front windshield not the rear view mirror.’

On the mountain Jesus instructed His disciples to seek the rule of God in their lives and not worry about “tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). If I am not to be concerned about the next day why should I fret about my yesterdays? Forgetting those things that are behind is the knowledge that we can make better choices today because we are reaching toward a higher call. All of my decisions will be framed within the will of God. Only Satan wants us to focus on yesterday to see what miserable failures we are and how worthless we become in examining our lives. Driving with yesterday’s failures will only cloud what we can accomplish today.

As I approach a New Year my resolve should be to forget the things that are behind. To forget something is to “disremember” it (fail or be unable to remember something). Remove the stain of guilt with God’s love. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalms 103:12). He did not say north and south: He said EAST and WEST. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). The “abundant mercy” of God helps us forget the past.

Peering over the horizon of a new year our focus should be to do “all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Reaching forward is how Paul planned his day. He wanted to lay hold of what he had put in front of his life: a goal! Henry David Thoreau said one thing right: “We only hit what we aim at.” Unlike Thoreau the apostle Paul had a goal of eternal reward as he patterned his life to the true and living God. Everything in life must be measured by this goal. Whatever resolutions are made should only be made with the goal of a higher call in God.

The life of a child of God is filled with promise and hope. It will not be measured by the futile pursuits of materialism or pleasure. Our resolutions will be built upon the simple truth of God’s will. Like Paul I will do one thing: forget what is behind and reach forward to what is before me. I will make my goals to reflect in my prayer life, my time in God’s word, my time with my fellow Christians, my efforts with the local family of God and my hope in the promise of eternal life.

When 365 days fade from the sands of time many we know will no longer be with us. For some who are reading these words time will be shorter as life is taken during this year. The reality of the coming of the Lord should never be far removed from our knowledge as he will return as a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10). But does it matter? Enoch lived in such a way that when he “was translated so that he did not see death” (Hebrews 11:5) it was not a surprise to him. Saints of God live 365 days a year with the expectation of the coming of the Lord and when that happens they will be found waiting not wanting (Luke 12:35-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12).

Moses the man of God said, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalms 90:12). With the passing of an old year and the promise of a new year we should number our days in accordance with the grace of God. Be thankful for the breath of life given by God that we are able to see another day. Plead the promises of God to guide you through another year. Live each day looking to Jesus as Savior, King, Lord and Teacher so that when time is no more we may all stand on the eternal shores of God’s promise and give praise and glory to Lord God Almighty.

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The Simple New Testament Gospel (Gary Ogden)

Posted on December 20, 2013 by heatonkent

PICT0062 (2)

The Simple New Testament Gospel (Gary Ogden)

Nearly 2,000 years ago, a man of Galilee walked the earth, said many things and by his life and death changed the world forever. He claimed to be more than a mere man; he said he was the son of God and that He was with the Father from the beginning of time. To prove those claims, he performed miracles of healing and showed his power over nature by calming storms and even raised the dead. The ultimate proof of his claims was that he was raised from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.

He said he was going to die and be raised again and it happened just as he said. He made many disciples, some of who would die telling the story of the crucifixion of the Savior and his resurrection. The Lord had commanded his apostles to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). This gospel was what would save men from the horror of sin; it was the power of God unto salvation.

As these men fulfilled that great commission, those that believed their message responded in a favorable way by being baptized for the remission of their sins: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’ And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them’” (Acts 2:37-41).

Then they banded together in accordance with the Lord’s command and became a congregation to worship and work together after God’s ordinances: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). They were known simply as the church, or the Lord’s church, the church of Christ. They were followers of Christ and were called simply, Christians: “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).

The church of Christ is a congregation established and patterned after the New Testament blueprint. Terms of church membership are taught exactly as they were taught by the apostles 2,000 years ago. The same gospel taught by Paul and Peter and John and all the inspired men are taught in Bible classes and from the pulpit. If the gospel of Christ was the power of God unto salvation 2,000 years ago (“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16), can there be any question that it will still save men and women today?

All need to be made the friends of God because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from the God of the universe and the gospel is God’s remedy for the problem. If we die in our sins, then we must spend an eternity away from the presence of God in flaming fire of hell.

Thanks be to God that he provided a sacrifice for our sins and revealed the terms of pardon in the Bible. It is extremely important for all of us to learn the simple gospel plan of salvation if we want to go to heaven when this life is over. It makes no difference how moral or religious we think we are, we still need to know the truth as revealed in God’s holy word, the Bible.

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Too Much Emphasis On One Thing

Posted on December 17, 2013 by heatonkent

genesis6_8Too Much Emphasis On One Thing

The Bible is a book of words. According to the New Clarified Reference Edition Bible (Royal Publishers, Inc. 1966), there are about 592,439 words in the Old Testament and about 181,253 words in the New Testament. The word “and” occurs 35,543 times in the Old Testament and 10,684 times in the New Testament. Paul shows the conduit of information from the mind of God to the will of man carried forth by the written word – “How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery – as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3-4). This process is through the “finger of God” (Luke 11:20) as explained by Peter in 2 Peter 1:21 – “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

As “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17) we learn from a study of God’s word what we must do to be saved. This knowledge is not based upon how many times it is recorded in scripture but the emphasis placed by the Lord on obedience. The word “faith” is found over two hundred times in the New Testament but the words for “sin” appear nearly three hundred times in the New Testament. It would seem obvious the need for faith outweighs the practice of sin regardless of the number of times one is found in the writing of the New Testament.

Salvation through baptism can be viewed in a similar manner where a charge of too much emphasis on baptism overshadows the need for faith. Suggesting the oft times reference to faith compared to less than eighty times of baptism would conclude that baptism is not necessary for salvation, playing only a minor role in the scheme of things. Yet the place of baptism in the plan of salvation is just as prevalent as other things emphasized by the religious world today. One should never be placed in significance over the other or to the exclusion of the other but placed in the proper role as directed by God.

One clear teaching of the Lord from the beginning is that salvation is never accomplished by the emphasis of one thing. In the story of Noah and the flood (Genesis 6-9) we see the grace of God telling Noah what was coming and how to avert destruction; the mercy of God by saving Noah and his family; the love of God to deliver the family in the ark; Noah’s faith in doing all the Lord commanded (Genesis 6:22; Hebrews 11:7); and the fear of God that moved Noah to be obedient (Hebrews 11:7). There is hope in his deliverance as Noah looked for the promise of God. Building the altar after the flood expresses the thanksgiving of Noah’s heart for salvation.

Was Noah saved by faith alone? Did grace by itself deliver Noah? How did works play into his salvation? Could Noah have emphasized one means of salvation over the other? The joy of Noah’s story is not rooted in emphasis of one thing but the complimation of all the things that brought him to the other side of God’s judgment. And yet Peter says of Noah, “When once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us–baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20-21). Is Peter guilty of over-emphasizing the point of salvation through water neglecting the grace, mercy and love of God? His conclusion is clear: there was a time when deliverance came and all the elements of salvation pinnacled at the moment the rain began and the ark lifted high above the earth. A change took place.

Paul shows that without the grace of God there is no salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Are we saved by grace alone? Does Paul suggest that salvation cannot be through works? The grace expressed by Paul in this passage is the grace found with Noah. Noah could not have known the flood was coming apart from God and with that knowledge would not know how to save himself. The grace of God told him the flood was coming and how to save himself and Noah could not boast he knew any of those things. Was Noah saved apart from works? God instructed him to build an ark (height, width, length, material, decks, windows, doors, etc) and Noah was saved through works when he did what God said.

James outlines the role of works and faith in James 2. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? … You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only … For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:21-26). Salvation never comes by ONE thing unless it is ONE heart agreed to do ALL that is commanded of the Lord.

Did Jesus overemphasize baptism? He told Nicodemus he had to be born of the water and the spirit (John 3). Matthew records the commission of Jesus to His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Mark also tells of this commission when Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Luke tells Theophilus Jesus said, “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47). Jesus told the disciples to teach and baptize those who believed and to spread the message of repentance and “remission of sins” (which Peter calls baptism – Acts 2:38).

The reason that baptism is vital to salvation (not to exclude anything else) is only in the waters of baptism are sins washed away. The removal of sinful flesh does not take place only in belief (see James 2:19). Grace does not bring this upon a man alone nor the love of God alone. When someone in faith, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moves with godly fear, obeys the will of God in washing away their sins (Acts 22:16); dying in Christ by crucifying the old man and rising in newness of life (Romans 6:3-6) – salvation occurs. Noah was saved by water and Peter’s argument is that we are saved by water! It is important to remember that EVERY case of conversion in the book of Acts involves the washing away of sins through baptism – showing its necessity.

Can baptism be overstated as the only thing I need to do to be saved? This also is a false representation of God’s will. It is easy to think the only thing I need is to “get baptized” and I am good for eternity. Often we give more emphasis on baptizing a person rather than saving a person. There are not “five steps to salvation” and never have been. A medley of blessings from God moves a person to obedience when their heart learns of Jesus Christ. The need for a ‘simplistic’ gospel is to frame the eternal truths within a convenient fast-food drive through and send them on their way. First Century disciples never believed in such theology. Phillip “preached Jesus” to the man from Ethiopia. Paul preached the “divine nature” to idol worshippers in Acts 17. The Lord gave us sixty-six books to learn of His will and we must embrace all the character of God in this message.

Baptism is essential to salvation (Galatians 3:26-27) but so is everything else given to us by God. An honest student of scripture will recognize the balance of truth needed to paint the complete tapestry of God’s love for man in Jesus Christ. We should not present the truth less than what is found in scripture either (like faith only salvation). Paul exhorts all to preach the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Anything less is the counsel of men.

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Faith – Seeing What Cannot Be Seen

Posted on December 11, 2013 by heatonkent

faithFaith – Seeing What Cannot Be Seen 

Vance Havner said, “It is part of Satan’s program to make our faith and practice complicated and involved. Now and then we need a rediscovery of the simplicity that is both in and towards Christ, in Him and in our faith in Him.” By its nature faith has a modest yet profound spirit that defies human wisdom. The science of man expects evidentiary proof in everything he knows and trusts. Without the clear evidence and reason for a thing there is doubt. Faith has a character that is simple without the complications of knowing each atom of knowledge involved in the situation. The Hebrew writer defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen: (Hebrews 11:1). It is proving something not seen and believing the invisible to be visible.

How do we explain the creation of the world? Adam was the first one on scene but he was five days late. Moses wrote about it many years later only through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I wonder what he thought of as he wrote those beautiful words of Genesis 1 and described something that his eyes did not behold. His heart must have swelled with joy as the Spirit guided his hand to describe those early days of Paradise and then the terror of judgment in the flood. Writing about the lives of his ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and his own parents hiding him from Pharaoh and the journeys of the people of Israel. Faith guided Moses to see things not seen and it was a simple trusting faith.

Why would Abraham take his only begotten son to offer as a human sacrifice (Hebrews 11:17-19)? Did he understand why God demanded this sacrifice that was against every principle of righteousness Abraham knew about God? His answer to Isaac was, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). Simple faith without the baggage of man’s wisdom trying to unravel the mystery of God. Why did Noah build the ark, David stand before the behemoth Goliath, Gideon defeat the Midianites, Daniel overcome his exile and untold legions of saints rise in victory over the oppression of Satan? Faith! Faith in God! Faith in God’s plan. Faith in God’s will. Faith not in man but in the Everlasting Father and His will.

The pure stream of faith in our lives flows from a devoted desire to allow God to do His part and accept His will sight unseen. It is not as complicated as we want it to be and sometimes make it to be. Faith can sometimes be measured as the Pharisee of Jesus day who was more concerned about “tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23). Trusting God does not require analysis. We can talk about our faith and plan for our faith and pray about our faith but until the knees bent in prayer start moving the feet towards faith in trusting God’s way we will never grow to see what cannot be seen.

Abraham’s test is our test of faith. There was nothing to explain what God ask of him yet he obeyed “accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19). What information did Abraham have to base that decision? Not sure. We have the resurrection of Jesus Christ as our surety and often we find less faith in our lives than Abraham. Trust God! Faith does not require a blueprint or DNA strand to move the child of God. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Romans 8:31-32)? If we would have trusted the Lord five more minutes He would have shown His power in our lives. Yet we do not trust him and lean on our own understanding and fail.

The story of Abraham sacrificing his son was a three day journey. God could have told Abraham to walk out the door of his tent and offer Isaac there. He could have waited until the next day. A key ingredient to the test of faith was testing Abraham for three days journey to the land of Moriah. Faith guided him each morning as they ate their breakfast and prepared for the day’s journey. Abraham would have walked a week if he had to because he had a simple faith in knowing that whatever the Lord required he would obey. “God will provide for Himself” is how faith is seen in our lives to know that regardless of how much time it requires we do not hedge the Lord into our own will and demand evidence.

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The Christmas Story And The Wise Men

Posted on December 5, 2013 by heatonkent

The Christmas Story And The Wise Men

(Kent Heaton)

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land

Not a Bible was open in anyone’s hand.

The story of Jesus is told again and again

But the truth of His birth is confused among men.

They tell of his birth in a place called a stable

His mother and father were not even able

To find a room at a place for him at an inn

So they settled for a manger to place the Lord in.

With shepherds around him and wise men there

The story of Jesus is told with small care

A star is above the stable so high

As the scene of His birth is told in a lie.

We read of a story much changed from this

From the words of men who tell it amiss.

They celebrate Christmas as if Christ is there

But never see what the scriptures lay bare.

The Lord was laid in a manger so soft

And the shepherds saw angels singing praises aloft

They came and found Mary and the child in that place

And gave praises to God for His wonderful grace.

But the wise men were not there nor ever would be

They saw the star in the East and made haste to see

The one who was born King of the Jews

The one who would bring such wonderful news.

They found the young child secure in a home

With Mary His mother and Joseph alone.

There were no shepherds as told by men

There was no manger nor ever had been.

They gave Him their gifts and they parted away

Warned by God to go home another way.

Herod came and killed all the males

In his anger and wrath he made Rachel wail.

The story is told in the Bible for all

To heed the true words and the gospel call.

It matters much what the story will say,

We must obey all of He who is the Way.

The apostle John wrote down in his book

That every man must take time to look

At what he may add to the words of this story

Or what he may take from the divine glory.

The story of His birth is one story alone

And man must not change one word or one tone.

God’s word is true and will always stand

Through the passing of time and the shifting of sand.

Speak truth my friend and you will find

No other story and no other kind.

So wonderful and glorious as this story told

As the story of Jesus from the pages of old.

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