Phil.3:13) "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead..."
The Apostle Paul reminds the church here at Philippi, no matter what he or they might encounter they must "strain" forward. These instructions are easier said than done. As a pastor of a local church, you see people who do things out of habit instead out of "What saith the Lord." We must strain to move forward as God's elect, no matter the pain and suffering. The thought of "straining" is something which is not easy. Today we want relaxation and the easiest route to take.
The church at PHBC is "straining" in the right direction by God's grace. We are getting a website for the church to get the word out that there is still churches in this area who preach and teach God's grace. I know there will be alot of persecution ahead has God's Word goes forth. But as Paul said, "we are straining forward to what lies ahead."
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
"A Healthy Church'
Acts 2:42-47) And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
In these six verses of scriptures, portrays a beautiful picture for believers today of how the early church functioned. Peter had just finished preaching his sermon at Pentecost, calling for everyone to repent and believe the gospel. At the end of verse 41 there were about 3000 converted on that day.
The Bible however, does not end their. But this group of believers began functioning as a local assembly of Christ believers. In the text mentioned above there are several items mentioned that describes how the church functioned. To my regret, there are few attributes found in the early church that you can find in a church today. For the last few weeks I have been searching the scriptures looking how the early church functioned, operated, and carried out their mission.
In our text, we see about 12 attributes of the early church:
1.They held to the Apostle's teachings
2. They prayed together
3. They fellowshipped together
4. They broke bread together
5. They had a holy fear (reverence) of the Lord
6. The Apostles done wonder and signs
7. They had all things in common
8. They worshiped daily together
9. They had glad and generous hearts
10.They praised God
11. They knew about the grace of God
12. The Lord was adding to their number
May the Lord help us today to function as a N.T. church, to the glory of God.
In these six verses of scriptures, portrays a beautiful picture for believers today of how the early church functioned. Peter had just finished preaching his sermon at Pentecost, calling for everyone to repent and believe the gospel. At the end of verse 41 there were about 3000 converted on that day.
The Bible however, does not end their. But this group of believers began functioning as a local assembly of Christ believers. In the text mentioned above there are several items mentioned that describes how the church functioned. To my regret, there are few attributes found in the early church that you can find in a church today. For the last few weeks I have been searching the scriptures looking how the early church functioned, operated, and carried out their mission.
In our text, we see about 12 attributes of the early church:
1.They held to the Apostle's teachings
2. They prayed together
3. They fellowshipped together
4. They broke bread together
5. They had a holy fear (reverence) of the Lord
6. The Apostles done wonder and signs
7. They had all things in common
8. They worshiped daily together
9. They had glad and generous hearts
10.They praised God
11. They knew about the grace of God
12. The Lord was adding to their number
May the Lord help us today to function as a N.T. church, to the glory of God.
Friday, March 12, 2010
"The Gift of Suffering for Christ Sake"
Phil.1:29) "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,..." (ESV)
The Apostle Paul reminds the believers in Philippi, there God giving duty as believers in Him, was"to suffer." Paul's message to the church at Philippi is in opposition to the culture we live in today. Most evangelicial churches today do not view "suffering for Christ" as a gift. Most Christians think if you suffer something must be wrong. We have replaced suffering for "Christ's sake" for the health and wealth gospel. In America today we want to be healthy, wealthy, and retire with a large amount of money so we can be happy. By the way do not forget to tag Jesus on the end, we do not want to go to HELL! (Blasphemy)!
How sad to see people fall for the lies of satan. We need to understand persecution is what fuels the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What happened when the early church was persecuted? The gospel started to spread throughout the world. In order for the church in America today to see true revival it will take soldiers coming in burning down our "pretty church buildings" and "cutting our tongues out" (quote from Paul Washer) so we might depned on the True God to bring life to His people.
As I read Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, I am reminded how weak I am. I get offended when someone rejects me or the gospel. May the Lord grant all of us repentance for being afraid to suffer for "His sake."Friends it should not be a surprise to us that if God has granted us the gift of believing in Him, He might grant us the gift of suffering as well. To God Be the Glory!
The Apostle Paul reminds the believers in Philippi, there God giving duty as believers in Him, was"to suffer." Paul's message to the church at Philippi is in opposition to the culture we live in today. Most evangelicial churches today do not view "suffering for Christ" as a gift. Most Christians think if you suffer something must be wrong. We have replaced suffering for "Christ's sake" for the health and wealth gospel. In America today we want to be healthy, wealthy, and retire with a large amount of money so we can be happy. By the way do not forget to tag Jesus on the end, we do not want to go to HELL! (Blasphemy)!
How sad to see people fall for the lies of satan. We need to understand persecution is what fuels the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What happened when the early church was persecuted? The gospel started to spread throughout the world. In order for the church in America today to see true revival it will take soldiers coming in burning down our "pretty church buildings" and "cutting our tongues out" (quote from Paul Washer) so we might depned on the True God to bring life to His people.
As I read Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, I am reminded how weak I am. I get offended when someone rejects me or the gospel. May the Lord grant all of us repentance for being afraid to suffer for "His sake."Friends it should not be a surprise to us that if God has granted us the gift of believing in Him, He might grant us the gift of suffering as well. To God Be the Glory!
Monday, March 8, 2010
John 3:7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again(born from above). The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (ESV)
Yesterday we feasted at the buffet of God's Word on the doctrine of salvation. Our text was from the gospel of John (2:23-3:16) on Biblical salvation. So many in our day boast they made a decision for Christ. People boast they helped their "poor little god" out by deciding to believe in Him. My friends the true and living "God is in heaven and He does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3)." We seem to forget the God who has created us and sustains us day to day, is a Sovereign God. Because He is Sovereign He can do whatever He wants to, whenever He wants to and He needs not to ask permission. Even in salvation! (Romans 9:18-20) "So then He has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, Why have you made me like this?"
Paul's theology was correct. He knew it was all of God and none of man.
Lenoard Ravenhill said it like this, "Nobody else can give you a clean heart but God."
To God Alone Be The Glory!
Yesterday we feasted at the buffet of God's Word on the doctrine of salvation. Our text was from the gospel of John (2:23-3:16) on Biblical salvation. So many in our day boast they made a decision for Christ. People boast they helped their "poor little god" out by deciding to believe in Him. My friends the true and living "God is in heaven and He does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3)." We seem to forget the God who has created us and sustains us day to day, is a Sovereign God. Because He is Sovereign He can do whatever He wants to, whenever He wants to and He needs not to ask permission. Even in salvation! (Romans 9:18-20) "So then He has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, Why have you made me like this?"
Paul's theology was correct. He knew it was all of God and none of man.
Lenoard Ravenhill said it like this, "Nobody else can give you a clean heart but God."
To God Alone Be The Glory!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
"Teaching Jesus From House to House"
Acts 5:40-42) and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
The apostles had been arrested and beaten for preaching Jesus, it seemed as a small thing to them. For, they had left the council in Jerusalem rejoicing and praising God they were counted worthy for the suffering. So much so, they continued going house to house preaching and teaching Jesus Christ.
This is my main thought, "is it necessary to have big buildings and major financial debt to be considered a church?" Well of course not. The early church meet in houses and was very much persecuted for Christ. I believe this is one reason for such "apathy" in the churches today is because we know little persecution.
Tonight our small group will meet in our home for a time of Christian fellowship. We will reflect on Sunday mornings message and apply practical application to our lives. Following with a time of seeking the Lord (through prayer) to help us in areas of our lives where we fall short.
The early church did not dress up and come to the neatly manicured multi-million dollar building with everything figured out. They were fearful for their lives and come together for edification and exhortation in the Word of God, namely learning about Jesus Christ.
Our direction in doing small groups at home is to be in unity as a church family and apart of one anothers lives. "Sharing our burdens with one another, loving one another, and praying for one another." By the way is all Biblical reasons.
So tonight, I pray our gathering together would not be one of just "fellowshipping." But it would be a honest time of being open with one another and asking the Lord to help us in our day to day lives. By the way the early church did this as well," from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."
The apostles had been arrested and beaten for preaching Jesus, it seemed as a small thing to them. For, they had left the council in Jerusalem rejoicing and praising God they were counted worthy for the suffering. So much so, they continued going house to house preaching and teaching Jesus Christ.
This is my main thought, "is it necessary to have big buildings and major financial debt to be considered a church?" Well of course not. The early church meet in houses and was very much persecuted for Christ. I believe this is one reason for such "apathy" in the churches today is because we know little persecution.
Tonight our small group will meet in our home for a time of Christian fellowship. We will reflect on Sunday mornings message and apply practical application to our lives. Following with a time of seeking the Lord (through prayer) to help us in areas of our lives where we fall short.
The early church did not dress up and come to the neatly manicured multi-million dollar building with everything figured out. They were fearful for their lives and come together for edification and exhortation in the Word of God, namely learning about Jesus Christ.
Our direction in doing small groups at home is to be in unity as a church family and apart of one anothers lives. "Sharing our burdens with one another, loving one another, and praying for one another." By the way is all Biblical reasons.
So tonight, I pray our gathering together would not be one of just "fellowshipping." But it would be a honest time of being open with one another and asking the Lord to help us in our day to day lives. By the way the early church did this as well," from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."
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