I was a little shocked when I got the news. At first, I thought my teenage daughter was trying to pull a fast one on me. It wouldn’t be uncommon if she was. Our family is known for our love for practical jokes on one another. My six year old daughter told me the other day that she was working on a list of “approved” names and of “unapproved” names for me because she never knows what I’m going to call her.
But back to my story, my teen daughter asked me if I felt the earthquake last night. Earthquake? What earthquake? I am a very light sleeper and I didn’t have the greatest sleep last night to begin with. If there was an earthquake, surely I would have known.
I have to admit, I didn’t really believe her, that was until I was driving the girls to school and heard the radio DJ talking about running through her house at 4 a.m. this morning to check on her children while her house was shaking! “Oh my! It must be true! How did I miss it?” Like most of you, I was asleep.
Did you know that the Bible says that when the Lord Jesus comes to call His Church to be with Him in Heaven, that it will happen like a thief in the night? Read how Paul describes that approaching day –
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-3, NKJV
I have heard people doubt the coming of the Lord. They usually state that they have heard about His coming their entire lives and because it hadn’t happened yet, they presume God has changed His mind. Well, He hasn’t changed His mind. Jesus is coming. The Bible announces in Mark 13:32 that no one knows the day or hour, not even the angels. But one day God will say, “Jesus, call up your bride – the Church!”
There are a couple of truths we can be assured of:
1) It is coming!
2) It will come when most people aren’t expecting!
Perhaps because of this second truth, the Holy Spirit led Paul to write verses 6-8, “ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”
Let us not be found spiritually like many of us were last night when the earthquake came without warning – sleeping! Paul urges us to be sober – spiritually alert, vibrant, be dressed with faith and love, and having our mind settled and secure in our Salvation through faith, by grace in Jesus Christ.
You know, even after I found that the earthquake did happen, I was at total peace. No fear, no intimidation, no worries. I can’t really explain why? Our house is definitely not “earthquake proof,” but I was at peace. God wants us to be that way when we think of the day Christ will call us up to Glory to be with Him. No fear, nor intimidation, no worries. Look at Paul’s comforting words… “ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (vs 9).
Have you trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If you have, you can rest in peace. God has not appointed you to experience the wrath of God, but His grace. When Jesus calls, you will be going up! If you have not, dear friend, would you trust Christ today? The wrath of Christ has been reserved for the devil and all those who reject Him. Heed my friend to the final invitation found at the end of the Bible, “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” – Revelation 22: 17, NKJV
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Jesus is Enough
Their names are synonymous with Christianity. Ordinary men whom God did extra-ordinary things through. PETER, JAMES, JOHN, ANDREW, PNILIP, BARTHOLEMEW (also known as Nathanael), THOMAS, MATTHEW, JAMES (the Less), JUDE (also known as Thaddaeus), SIMON (the zelote), JUDAS ISCARIOT.
In time, others were added to this number of early disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Men such as MATHIAS, who took the place of Judas Iscariot after he committed suicide for betraying our Lord, and PAUL the great apostle.
For these men, and others like them, loving, serving and following the Lord Jesus Christ was everything! To them Jesus was enough. And God took these men and changed the world! These men did not follow Christ out of blind loyalty. The Lord Jesus told them that following Him came at a price.
Luke 9: 23, “If anyone desires to come after ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
The disciples left jobs behind. Peter, Andrew, James and John left fishing businesses, Matthew left the Roman IRS. These men exchanged the plans they had for their lives, for the plans God had for their lives. Some left positions of power, prestige, and the support of family and friends to follow Christ, such as Paul who left the position of a Pharisee to follow Christ. Listen to his words,
Philippians 3: 4-9, “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own
righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith”
These men were transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. These men proclaimed the Word of God, planted Churches, shared faith with those who were spiritually lost, and many of them paid the ultimate price of devotion – they gave their lives for Jesus Christ!
For these men, Jesus was Enough! He was Everything!
• James the Elder preached in Jerusalem and was beheaded by Herod in AD 44
• Andrew preached in Asia Minor and Greece and was crucified on an “X” shaped cross
• Philip preached in Phrygia and was executed in Hierapolis
• Bartholomew was a missionary in Armenia and was flayed alive like a fish.
• Thomas preached in India where he was speared to death
• Matthew preached and died for Christ in Ethiopia
• James the Less preached in Palestine and Egypt where he was crucified
• Jude preached in Assyria and Persia where he was executed for Jesus
• Simon the Zealot was crucified
• Tradition says that Matthias preached and was martyred in Ethiopia
• Peter was crucified in Rome on an upside down cross. Tradition says his wife was crucified in front of him. Like many of the others, Peter was given an opportunity to live. All he had to do was deny Christ. But as his wife was going to her death, it is said she turned back to Peter with one final admonition, “Stay true to the faith!”•
In AD 67, a weary Apostle Paul would write, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7).
Of the original disciples of Jesus, only John died a natural death, but even he was imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos, a 6 mile wide, 10 mile rock prison in the Mediterranean.
Friends, Jesus was enough for these great saints of the faith. You may say, “Why didn’t God protect these men from death? Wasn’t God able?” Yes! He was and is able, but their deaths have become powerful declarations to the authenticity of death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Many will die for a belief, but no one will die for a lie! If Jesus Christ was not truly the Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for our sins on the cross and arose from the dead on the third day, these men would not have died. At least one of them would have thrown their hands up and said, “Now, wait a minute, put that sword away, put away those nails, it was fun while it lasted, but it was all a hoax, I quit, I give.” Friends, at least one would have denied the Lord Jesus, but none did, NO, NOT ONE!!!
For these men, JESUS WAS ENOUGH!!!
What about you? Is Jesus enough for you?
In time, others were added to this number of early disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Men such as MATHIAS, who took the place of Judas Iscariot after he committed suicide for betraying our Lord, and PAUL the great apostle.
For these men, and others like them, loving, serving and following the Lord Jesus Christ was everything! To them Jesus was enough. And God took these men and changed the world! These men did not follow Christ out of blind loyalty. The Lord Jesus told them that following Him came at a price.
Luke 9: 23, “If anyone desires to come after ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
The disciples left jobs behind. Peter, Andrew, James and John left fishing businesses, Matthew left the Roman IRS. These men exchanged the plans they had for their lives, for the plans God had for their lives. Some left positions of power, prestige, and the support of family and friends to follow Christ, such as Paul who left the position of a Pharisee to follow Christ. Listen to his words,
Philippians 3: 4-9, “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own
righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith”
These men were transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. These men proclaimed the Word of God, planted Churches, shared faith with those who were spiritually lost, and many of them paid the ultimate price of devotion – they gave their lives for Jesus Christ!
For these men, Jesus was Enough! He was Everything!
• James the Elder preached in Jerusalem and was beheaded by Herod in AD 44
• Andrew preached in Asia Minor and Greece and was crucified on an “X” shaped cross
• Philip preached in Phrygia and was executed in Hierapolis
• Bartholomew was a missionary in Armenia and was flayed alive like a fish.
• Thomas preached in India where he was speared to death
• Matthew preached and died for Christ in Ethiopia
• James the Less preached in Palestine and Egypt where he was crucified
• Jude preached in Assyria and Persia where he was executed for Jesus
• Simon the Zealot was crucified
• Tradition says that Matthias preached and was martyred in Ethiopia
• Peter was crucified in Rome on an upside down cross. Tradition says his wife was crucified in front of him. Like many of the others, Peter was given an opportunity to live. All he had to do was deny Christ. But as his wife was going to her death, it is said she turned back to Peter with one final admonition, “Stay true to the faith!”•
In AD 67, a weary Apostle Paul would write, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7).
Of the original disciples of Jesus, only John died a natural death, but even he was imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos, a 6 mile wide, 10 mile rock prison in the Mediterranean.
Friends, Jesus was enough for these great saints of the faith. You may say, “Why didn’t God protect these men from death? Wasn’t God able?” Yes! He was and is able, but their deaths have become powerful declarations to the authenticity of death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Many will die for a belief, but no one will die for a lie! If Jesus Christ was not truly the Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for our sins on the cross and arose from the dead on the third day, these men would not have died. At least one of them would have thrown their hands up and said, “Now, wait a minute, put that sword away, put away those nails, it was fun while it lasted, but it was all a hoax, I quit, I give.” Friends, at least one would have denied the Lord Jesus, but none did, NO, NOT ONE!!!
For these men, JESUS WAS ENOUGH!!!
What about you? Is Jesus enough for you?
Friday, February 3, 2012
The Comfort of our Faith
I have used the words of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 on countless occasions as I have had opportunity to minister to those in distress, or despair. The passage shares with us the promise of Christ coming to receive His followers to be Him in Heaven. Paul, the preacher God used to pen these words, uses very descriptive language that brings forth powerful imagery in our minds. Images of angels blowing trumpets, clouds dividing, lights shining down from the heavens, and Christ Himself standing on a cloud declaring to all the Saints, “Come Up Here!” (ref: Revelation 4:1). Then, Paul gives us the soothing challenge of verse 18, “Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”
I was reminded of the truth of that little verse again this week as I sat at the funeral of lady who had crossed over death’s chilly waters far sooner than her family and friends would have wished. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, but most importantly, a committed follower of Jesus Christ. Her body had been ravaged with pain and sickness the past few years. Her family has faithfully walked alongside of her, loving her, caring for her, praying for her. And through it all, though she experienced all the emotions that we feel as humans, worry, anger, confusion, joy, and sadness, she remained faithful to God and took comfort in her faith.
I sat and listened as the minister shared from the Bible the life and declaration of a man named Job, a man who was completely dedicated to God. Even when he lost his children, his wealth, and his health, Job had his confidence in God. Job declared, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God…” (Job 19: 25-26, NKJV). What a powerful declaration!
As the preacher shared how Job knew that even after his “skin” was destroyed, a reference to death, he still knew that he would see God. As he shared and referenced Jobs’ declaration to the uncompromising faith of the young lady whose body now lay at the front of the church, I then was reminded of the power, the comfort that is granted to us through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. As the preacher shared, I turned my eyes to the front pew where the young lady’s parents sat. As the preacher shared how Job, and this young woman, both knew in their heart that they would see God, the mother emphatically nodded her head in agreement! it was a precious sight to behold.
I knew her heart was breaking, but her faith in the promise of eternal life for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ was giving her great comfort. I could not help but simply smile at the comfort that God was giving that precious woman. I am so thankful that God has given us His Word, the Bible. In the pages of the Holy Scriptures, God gives us the words of hope, love, correction, salvation, and eternal life. God gives us words to lead us, warn us, discipline us, and to comfort us.
Praise God for the comfort we have through our faith!
I was reminded of the truth of that little verse again this week as I sat at the funeral of lady who had crossed over death’s chilly waters far sooner than her family and friends would have wished. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, but most importantly, a committed follower of Jesus Christ. Her body had been ravaged with pain and sickness the past few years. Her family has faithfully walked alongside of her, loving her, caring for her, praying for her. And through it all, though she experienced all the emotions that we feel as humans, worry, anger, confusion, joy, and sadness, she remained faithful to God and took comfort in her faith.
I sat and listened as the minister shared from the Bible the life and declaration of a man named Job, a man who was completely dedicated to God. Even when he lost his children, his wealth, and his health, Job had his confidence in God. Job declared, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God…” (Job 19: 25-26, NKJV). What a powerful declaration!
As the preacher shared how Job knew that even after his “skin” was destroyed, a reference to death, he still knew that he would see God. As he shared and referenced Jobs’ declaration to the uncompromising faith of the young lady whose body now lay at the front of the church, I then was reminded of the power, the comfort that is granted to us through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. As the preacher shared, I turned my eyes to the front pew where the young lady’s parents sat. As the preacher shared how Job, and this young woman, both knew in their heart that they would see God, the mother emphatically nodded her head in agreement! it was a precious sight to behold.
I knew her heart was breaking, but her faith in the promise of eternal life for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ was giving her great comfort. I could not help but simply smile at the comfort that God was giving that precious woman. I am so thankful that God has given us His Word, the Bible. In the pages of the Holy Scriptures, God gives us the words of hope, love, correction, salvation, and eternal life. God gives us words to lead us, warn us, discipline us, and to comfort us.
Praise God for the comfort we have through our faith!
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