The Progress of Your Pilgrimage

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage (for Mon., Oct. 15, 2012)
II Thessalonians 3:1-18

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.  II Thessalonians 3:5 (NASB)

In 1678, John Bunyan published an allegorical story called The Pilgrim's Progress. It is the tale of a man named Christian who seeks to travel from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. The symbolism is rich and the lessons are profound as we walk with Christian down the path of life. 

There are several obstacles, traps, and temptations that complicate his journey. There is Vanity Fair and the Slough of Despond. There is the Hill of Difficulty and the Valley of Humiliation. Through all of these, Christian continues undeterred in his pursuit of the goal. 


He encounters individuals along the way.  Some of these help him and others hinder him.  Of those who boost him along there is Goodwill, Watchful, Prudence, and Piety.  One man is simply named Help.  There are also evil men who seek to thwart his progress.  Men such as Obstinate and Pliable who try to keep him in the City of Destruction.  Mr. Worldly Wiseman is assisted by Mr. Legality in trying to persuade Christian to seek the City of Morality rather than the Celestial City.  Formalist and Hypocrisy claim that there is another path called Vainglory that will be easier.  It will avoid some of the hard spots like the Hill of Difficulty.

John Bunyan wrote this allegory to illustrate the different stages and stopping points of our walk with the Lord.  Like Paul, he wrote from a prison cell, having been arrested for holding unsanctioned religious services. 

Like Christian, YOU ARE ON A JOURNEY.  For anyone who would "seek first the Kingdom of God" (Matt. 6:33), there will be obstacles in the path.  One of the hardest parts of that path is the "evil men" who can distract and deter -- detain you as you move forward.  It seems at times that Satan actually sends individuals with snares and temptations to get you off track.

Even though you might endure the disappointment of faithless, false friends, yet "the Lord is faithful."  HE WILL ESTABLISH YOU.  HE WILL GUARD YOU.  He will keep you from treacherous traps of the Evil One.

Like a ship sailing into a safe harbor, the Lord will "direct your hearts into the love of God."  While the paths that we walk might be beset with ups and downs, highs and lows, good days and difficult ones, yet the Lord is our STEADFAST ROCK.  He is not only our sure destination, He is our Helper along the way.

The last man that assists Christian is a man named Hopeful.  Together they enter the Celestial City.  May you, armed with Hope today, make progress in your pilgrim journey.  Remember, "THE LORD IS FAITHFUL."

Evil Personified

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage (for Sun., Oct. 14, 2012)
II Thessalonians 2:1-17

 ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. II Thessalonians 2:8-10 (NKJV)

The Bible teaches that history is headed for a SHOWDOWN between Good and Evil. Many have tried to figure out the details of this great clash, and such study can be quit engrossing. But, we need to be careful to stay on target with extending Christ's Kingdom rather than waiting for our escape. Particular, specific details of end-time sequences and personalities can change from decade to decade, but the underlying principles of spiritual conflict remain the same. 

Many have asked, "Who is the Anti- Christ?" This is a fascinating topic. Our passage today indicates that a "lawless one" is yet to be revealed in world history. It seems that the hidden agenda of evil ( the "mystery of lawlessness") that has worked throughout history will finally manifest itself fully. Evil will become PERSONIFIED. There is now a SPIRIT OF ANTI-CHRIST at work in the world, but someday (perhaps very soon) that spirit will find full expression in a person. 

Actually, I believe we have already seen many "forerunners". True evil has many times struck in the dark days of human history. If anyone looks at the sadistic cruelty of a Nero Caesar, you will see it.  

Consider the genocidal hatred of a Hitler.  

Or, the massive murdering of Joseph Stalin.

Recently, I viewed a very difficult movie called Machine Gun Preacher that tells how a very unusual American preacher is today trying to halt the demonic slaughtering and torturing of people in South Sudan, Africa. How can such cruelty and killing be explained?  Only by understanding that evil runs through our world and occasionally becomes PERSONIFIED.

Evil can and will find personal expression. It has happened. It IS happening. So, what are we to do?  Scripture gives us a few clear instructions:

1. DO NOT BE SHAKEN OR TROUBLED. Evil is not stronger than good. Jesus ultimately wins!
2. LOVE THE TRUTH. Stay in God's Word. Live in the light of fellowship. Don't allow darkness to grow in your life. 
3. STAND FAST IN REACHING THE WORLD BY WORD AND DEED. While the world becomes darker, we are called to shine brighter.  This is our privilege.  This is our duty. This is our destiny. 

In the Day of Judgment

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage (for Sat., Oct. 13, 2012)
II Thessalonians 1:1-12

⁹ They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ¹⁰ when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. II Thessalonians 1:9-10 (ESV)

History is headed somewhere!  The Bible teaches that a Day of Judgment lies ahead for every person who has ever lived. Scripture says that Jesus, the Redeemer of fallen men, will come to bring consummation to this age. This will be both the best of days and the worst of days. This should be a source of great comfort and encouragement to all who are ready for that day.  They will be ushered into eternal blessing. But, for those who have chosen to remain far from God, it will be a day of severe reckoning. 

Hell is not a popular topic in our day. Most people seem to think that hell is reserved only for the worst of unrepentant sinners. It is common in our day to attend a funeral and, no matter what lifestyle the person might have lived, to hear that he/she is now "in a better place." 

There was an amusingingly contradictory line in a song many years ago: "I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell."  That song, by Blood, Sweat, and Tears, was entitled And When I Die.  Interestingly it reflects the "I don't know and I don't care" attitude of many today.  But, WE CAN KNOW, and WE MUST CARE.

Let me be clear. WE ALL DESERVE HELL.  Because of sin, every human being is already deserving of judgment before a holy God. Jesus came to DELIVER us from the eternal damnation which we deserve. He came on a RESCUE MISSION.  Therefore, faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ is the only means of freedom from the condemnation of sin. He paid the price. This is the offer of grace - the offer of salvation.

Heaven is real. But, Hell is real, too. This passage gives four descriptions of this terrible place.

1) It is a place of PUNISHMENT. If we refuse to accept that Jesus took our punishment on the Cross, then that punishment will fall on us.
2) It is EVERLASTING.
3) It is THOROUGH, in that it is said to be "destruction".
4) It is FROM THE PRESENCE of God.  Hell is the absolute absence of God.

Praise God that He has made a way for us!  It is so simple, even a child can come. God in His love and mercy has granted to each man the freedom to choose his eternal destiny. Therefore, CHOOSE LIFE!

Unfinished Masterpiece

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage (for Fri., Oct. 12, 2012)
I Thessalonians 5:4-28

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.²⁴ He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.  I Thessalonians 5:23-24 ( NKJV)

It was John Greenleaf Whittier who poetically wrote, "Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been'." Most people live with a nagging sense of unfinished business. There were missed opportunities, or times we couldn't quite get the job done. Maybe the deal just fell through.  There were moments when we saw clearly the new possibilities, the fulfilment of a dream, the beginning of good things, only to later find out it didn't quit work out like we hoped.

History is littered with unfinished masterpieces. They were great endeavours that for some reason or another never got finished. It may have been the death of the artist such as Beethoven and his 10^th Symphony. Or, as in the case of Benjamin West's Treaty of Paris, half the participants (the English) were too ashamed or angry to sit for the portrait.

                                   
Technically, DaVinci never finished The Last Supper.

                             

The most famous to many of us is the portrait by Gilbert Stuart of George Washington that adorns many a classroom or public building

                                                   
Even in our day, politicians speak of unfinished agendas, and leaders cast vision of “The Impossible Dream.”

You can feel that way, too. It seems that God could do such awesome things through your life, but then our flesh gets in the way, or the money runs out, or that needed partnership never formed up. On a personal level, we might deal with the one or two stronghold problems that never seem to let go. WE FEEL LIKE UNFINISHED MASTERPIECES.

But God says something very different about you.  Paul said it in Philippians when he declared,  "He who began a good work in you will complete it!" (Phil. 1:6)  He explains further here in I Thessalonians. God has set about painting a fantastic portrait. It is OF YOU. He includes your whole spirit, soul (mind), and body. While earthly artists may die or simply give up, this Artist is eternal. He never quits. He will not relent. He always finishes that which He starts.  He will bring this beautiful work to completion. "FAITHFUL is He who call you.  He also will DO IT."

A Thief in the Night

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage (for Thurs., Oct. 11, 2012)
1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3

 ¹ 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.  I Thessalonians 5:1-2 (NKJV)

What is your attitude toward the end of the age?  There are those who are completely fixated on interpretation of the "signs of the times."  I, too, believe that we should be very aware of our place in God's prophetic time clock, but there is often other things going on in the hearts of many who become wrapped up in end-time prophecy.

Too often, we become so enamored with current events in terms of prophecy that we forget what we are really supposed to be doing in the first place -- reaching the world for Jesus.  Prophetic teaching (not all of it, but some) can degenerate into cynicism or fear concerning the plight of the world, and hopeful anticipation of our departure from this world.

When this happens, we cease to be salt and light.  Rather, we are escape artists.  Jesus did not save us to take us out of this world.  He saved us to send us into this world with the Gospel.  Therefore, a paraphrase of Paul's words might be: "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, we really don't need to be talking about this so much."  He says that he does not need to write about it in the sense of what might be called a "rapture mentality" -- "Oh, Lord, please get me out of here before the Anti-Christ takes over!"  Instead we should be thinking how Jesus is going forth conquering and to conquer!  Jesus is Lord!

So where does teaching need to take place concerning the end of times?  Paul has just done it in the preceding paragraph (I Thess. 4:13-18).  He talks about the secure future of all who are in Christ.  He refuses to get into calendars and dates.  He just says that we can have firm, confident hope concerning not only our own lives but also those who have gone on before us.

We can live today without fear or anxiety about "the signs of the times."  There will be a day when Jesus comes again, but it will come "as a thief in the night."  In the meantime, we are to shine our light for all the world to see the greatness of our God!

Imitators of the Church of God

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage (for Wed., Oct. 10, 2012)
1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,  I Thessalonians 2:14 (NKJV)

What does it mean to become an "imitator of the churches of God?"  The cynic might say that there is little about the church we ought to imitate.  But, I would say that he is looking in the wrong place.  There is much historically that has taken place under the name of the Church that was anything but the true Church of Jesus Christ.  There is also much historically that speaks to the highest levels of human courage, honor, love, and faith.

If we would look for those things that we might imitate, we will not have to look very far.  While there surely have been bad days in history, there have also been glorious ones.  Think but a moment of those who paid the dearest of prices for the sake of Christ.  The Moravians come to mind.  There is the story of two young men who were so sold out to God, they sold themselves into slavery. They had heard of a place that slave-traders owned and worked the land by the labor of the natives who lived there. These evil traders would not allow missionaries anywhere near their slaves. So these two young men sold themselves as lifetime slaves - to preach the gospel.

They boarded their ship and as it left the harbor the boys were still waving furiously to their loved ones on shore. It was recorded in history the words that one of them yelled across the water as the ship made its way out to sea. He called out:

“May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!”

Years later, in another country, two other men stood ready to pay the price for their stand for the Gospel of Grace.  During an era in which the Gospel of Jesus had been shrouded and distorted by the machinations of man's religion, they remained true to the truth.  For that they stood to be burned at the stake.  One man's name was Hugh Latimer and the other Nicholas Ridley.  In his last words, Latimer turned to Ridley and said,

"Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out."

Their courage and faith inspire us today to follow in their example.  Few of us will be called to pay such a price.  The least we can do is be courageous for Jesus in our day.  We ought to "imitate" their faith.

It was St. Tertullian, the early church leader and apologist, who first said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."  May the high examples of faith that are our heritage inspire each of us to live more fully for Jesus today.

Supernatural: "The Invisible War"

Here's a link to the notes from the message this past Sunday at New Life Community Church.  If you would like to listen to this message, please go our website at www.newlifesite.com.  God bless.

Supernatural, Part 6                                                  Sunday, October 7, 2012

“The Invisible War”

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)

ENTRAPMENT

²⁰ Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.  ²² So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵ correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.  II Timothy 2:20-26 (ESV)

…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.  II Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)

Satan’s Devices:

1.     DISTRACT

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith… I Peter 5:6-9 (ESV)

Clip: Jurassic Park

Illustration:  the way mountain lions stalk their prey

DEPLETE you…

DISTRACT you…

DESTROY you

Illustration:  Parable of seed and sower.  Satan comes immediately and tries to steal away the word.

¹¹ “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. ¹⁵ But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.  Luke 8:11-15 (NKJV)

The nature of a pickpocket

2.     DIVIDE

¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.  II Corinthians 2:10-11 (NKJV)

3.     DECEIVE

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (NLT)

…Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  II Corinthians 11:14 (NIV)

Three Simple Steps to Overcoming the Adversary

1.     REPENT

2.     REBUKE

3.     RESIST

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7 (NIV)