A New Fruitfulness

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another,  to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not the old way of the written code. Romans 7:4-6 (ESV)

Many people assume that to be holy and accepted by God,  a person must believe in Christ and keep the law of God.  Their view is that salvation is a joint effort ,meaning that if you do your part by believing and being good, God will do his part to forgive you and allow you into heaven.

Yet the Bible teaches exactly the opposite of this false belief system.  The Apostle Paul, states in above verses that believers actually “die to” the law through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  The law of God condemns every person of sin. If it were possible (which it is not) to be saved by keeping the law, one would have to comply perfectly (James 2:10). Yet, because of Jesus’ perfect life and substitutionary death (2 Corinthians 5:21), believers have the ability to live a life that is pleasing to God.

This ability comes from our relationship with Jesus Christ,  not relying upon our keeping of the Ten Commandments or the codes of God’s law.  Whereas God’s law serves to point out our sinfulness and condemn us, God’s Spirit gives us a new life and sets us free to live a holy life. If we repent (change our mind about and are truly sorry for) of our sinfulness and trust only in the work of Jesus Christ who died on our behalf and rose again so that we might be forgiven.  Salvation CANNOT  be brought about by anything we can do as human beings (like keeping God’s law, going to church, being a “good” person, etc.) (Romans 4).  It is a free gift of God (Romans 6:23) that must be consciously accepted (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Will you accept it?  Will you trust Christ?  Stop trusting in yourself and your “good works.” Invite him into your life and ask him to be your savior. It will be the start of a brand new life for you.

Once we’ve been “born again”  by God’s gracious Spirit, we are are free from the condemnation of, and utter control of sin in our lives.  It is only then that we can live a holy life.

 

No Longer a Slave

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:9-12 (ESV)

One of the greatest moments in American history is when slavery was abolished.  People could no longer dominate other people.  Every American was a free man or woman. This wonderful event was procured with blood.  Many,  in the Civil War, gave their lives to set the slave free.

Jesus’ death on the cross set many slaves to sin free!  Those who’ve accepted his free gift of salvation are the recipients of the freedom that Jesus Christ gives. When Jesus died and rose again he defeated death.  He not only personally insured a victory for himself, but also to all those who believe. Sin and it’s punishment, death, have been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since he defeated sin and death, he liberated those who who would trust in him, to not only escape the penalty of sin (hell), but also the power of sin in the believer’s life.  Now, as followers of Christ, we don’t have to follow sinful desires and to live a life that is contrary to the will of God.

How do we, as believers, do this?

First, Remember that if you are a child of God, you are able to choose the righteous way over the sinful way.  Just as Jesus died on the cross for sin, and he has defeated it, so you may consider yourself dead to sin.  That means that sin is not an option for your consideration.  The choice to sin against your Father should be foreign to your thinking and should not be on the table of options.  If you know and love Christ, it is just as though sin was dead to you and you to sin.

Second, Present your body to God as an instrument of doing right, not wrong.  Don’t use your brain to think wrong things.  Don’t use your tongue to utter what is sinful.  Don’t use your hands to do wrong things or legs  or to take you where you shouldn’t go. Rather, use your body to do what God wants you to do (Ephesians 4:22-31).  You are a new person in Christ.  God has brought you out of spiritual deadness into a new life with him.

Now we understand that we believers still sin.  We won’t be completely rid of sin’s influence on us until we stand before Christ.  But, the sinful life does not have to dominate my thinking, my choices or my actions.  If we do sin, we can come to our heavenly Father confessing our sin to him (1 John 1:9).  He will forgive us and restore our fellowship with himself.  Those of us who have accepted the free gift of salvation are freemen!

Friend, do you know Christ?  The Bible says that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died on your behalf. He took the punishment you deserve (death, separation from God) on the cross. He rose from the dead and offers you forgiveness if you will repent of your sinfulness and trust nothing but HIM (not your good works, your church, etc.) to forgive you and to make you a new person in Christ.  Why not believe him now and invite him to be your savior?  You will be set free from your sin and its consequences (John 3:16-18).

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

 

Time Out for a Good Thing…

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; ² to declare your steadfast love in ⁱthe morning,and your faithfulness by night, Psalm 92:1-2 (ESV)

There are a few things that God Himself recognizes as “good.”  After He created the Universe, He beheld all He  had made and saw that it was very good (Genesis 1:31).  Here, the Psalmist (under inspiration of the Holy Spirit) says that it is “good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.”

If you notice the title of the Psalm it says “A Psalm, A Song for the Sabbath.” The Sabbath was given to Israel as a day of rest and worship. It was one day in a week to take time out to rest and reflect upon the God of the Universe.  Our Psalm says that it is a beautiful and beneficial thing to direct our grateful acknowledgement  to the One  who is ever loving and loyal to His people.

This Sabbath song states that it is a good thing to start the day declaring that God has a particular love for His people and to end the day to praise Him for His dependability (2). When we do this, we are lifting up El Elyon, the “Most High One”.  He is the King of the Universe!  Just think of the difference this would make in our thinking and attitudes if we started and ended the day praising God for His loving faithfulness. What a great God!

Just think that this “Highest One” sent His Son, to “become low” so that we could be raised up with Him!   It was Christ Who showed us the Father (John 14:8-9).  It was Christ Who died for our sin that we could be reconciled to God if we repent of our sin, and trust nothing but His sacrificial death to forgive us (Romans 5:8).  Have you done so? Admit that you are a lost sinner and put your trust in Christ alone to forgive you.

Thanksgiving is a great “time out” from our hectic lives to rest and reflect.  How about spending some time praising God for His faithful love to you?  He sent His Son to die for you (John 3:16). That is the greatest gift you can have. If you have it, take the time to reflect and rejoice to the Most High.  If aren’t sure you are forgiven, why not admit to yourself and God that you are the sinner Jesus came to save?  Repent (turn away from) of your sin. Trust Him to forgive you and make you a new person. He will.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

 

Spurgeon on Psalm 119:112

I really enjoyed this today.

I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end. Psalm 119:112

He was not half inclined to virtue, but heartily inclined to it. His whole heart was bent on practical, persevering godliness. He was resolved to keep the statutes of the Lord with all his heart, throughout all his time, without erring or ending. He made it his end to keep the law unto the end, and that without end. He had by prayer, and meditation, and resolution made his whole being lean towards God’s commands; or as we should say in other words — the grace of God had inclined him to incline his heart in a sanctified direction. Many are inclined to preach, but the Psalmist was inclined to practise; many are inclined to perform ceremonies, but he was inclined to perform statutes; many are inclined to obey occasionally, but David would obey alway; and, alas, many are inclined for temporary religion, but this godly man was bound for eternity, he would perform the statutes of his Lord and King even unto the end. Lord, send us such a heavenly inclination of heart as this: then shall we show that thou hast quickened and taught us. To this end create in us a clean heart, and daily renew a right spirit within us, for only so shall we incline in the right direction. C.H. Spurgeon , Treasury of David

Link Here

 

CHINA – House Church Leader and Family Evicted from Home

On July 2, Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers evicted prominent house church leader Pastor Hua Huiqi and his family from their home in Beijing, China.

According to China Aid Association (CAA), “Hua and his family were resting in their rental apartment when PSB officials led by Officer Yang Jian used a 10-pound hammer to break down the doors and locks of the apartment. Hua’s brother was beaten by police officers and suffered severe damage to his eye. Hua and his family, including his 90-year-old father, were forced onto the street with their furniture. They are currently in search of a new home and are being hosted by a Christian family in Beijing.”

See the rest of the article at THIS LINK

 

 

The Master in our Midst

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty — yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Revelation 2:8-10a (See Revelation 2:8-11)

As Jesus addresses the seven churches in Asia Minor, He immediately identifies Himself to each church.  These churches existed in John’s day at the end of the first century a.d. and they would each face individual trials. It seems that as Christ identifies Himself, He mentions a particular aspect of His character that would be particularly poignant to each individual church.  To Smyrna, He identifies Himself as the one who “is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.”

The church at Smyrna wouldn’t be considered, by many today, as one of the great, foremost churches.  It was a persecuted church that Jesus loved.  Jesus,  who is “the first and the last” and the the one “who died and came to life again,” would be with them through their difficulties.  To say that He was the “first and the last” may mean that He is the eternal one.  To say that He “died and came back to life” is to say that He conquered death. He is the victor over death.  Such a view of Christ would inspire them to see beyond their immediate trials. Some would ultimately sacrifice their lives for Jesus Christ.  Their steadfast commitment would be strengthened by the One Who experienced torture and death and yet rose victorious.

There are many in this world today who will be persecuted or perhaps give their life for the cause of Christ. Stop and pray for them.  There are those who face conflicts that those of us in the free world will never face nor comprehend.  Pray that Christ will be real to these fellow believers. Pray that they will stand fast in the face of persecution.  Christ hasn’t abandoned them. He is in their very midst and He has called them to witness for him with sacrificing their lives and loved ones.

Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
He has called all of us to witness for Him with our lives.  He is with us. Yes, He’s even in the midst of the churches that don’t face religious persecution.  How should we witness for His greatness?   We are to LIVE FOR HIM. Others will see His difference in us.  How about you? For Whom are you living?

and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:1

Christ has told us,  “Lo, I am with you always” (see Matthew 28:18-20)    He has given us the ability to witness for Him by death, or by life.  He is in our midst.

 

Something That’s Forever

Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment
and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation will last forever,
my righteousness will never fail.

Isaiah 51:6

The prophet Isaiah was writing to the nation of Israel during a disturbing time. As God’s people they were going to be subject to His judgment because of their idolatry against Him. They were going to see some very hard times. Yet, in spite of their faithlessness to Him, God will one day bring them to Himself. Our text outlines the fact this very point. Even though they have, as a nation, rejected their Messiah, God will one day bring them to the point where they will accept His truth about Jesus and turn to Him.

He is faithful to His promises. He had promised to their ancestor Abraham that He would bless him and make him great. Part of that blessing was that he would bring his people to peace and that all of the world would see the greatness of the Lord and the glory of Israel. Obviously that hasn’t happened. But it will. God has established a New Covenant with them and they will return to Him (Jeremiah 31:31-34). He hasn’t run out of mercy and He doesn’t break His promises.

Similarly, those who have put their trust in Christ (the Messiah) are secure in the fact that the Lord’s salvation is forever. Think of it! Long after this life is over, we will be with the Lord. Long after all of the chaos and tumult of this world has ceased, we will “ever be with the Lord” (1 Thes 4:16-18). When this earth is replaced with a new heaven and new earth, God will still be righteous and we will be with Him.

These words were penned by Isaiah sometime around 700 B.C.. God has had the desire to dwell with us for a long time. In fact, He originally planned it that way (Genesis 1-2). But we, as humans rebelled against Him, and now, as sinners we are separated from Him. What is the answer? Read Isaiah 53. God planned it so that Jesus could take away our sin and make us new. His suffering was on your behalf. He fulfilled God’s righteous demand by living a perfect life and then dying on behalf of our sin, thereby taking our punishment (2 Cor 5:21).

So what do you need to do to receive the gift of forgiveness? Admit that you are a sinner that deserves eternal punishment and fully trust that Jesus died for your sin, personally. Don’t trust any of your own efforts to win His favor. If you ask Him to forgive you and make you new, He will do it. (John 3:16) He will make you His child. Now that’s something that will last forever!

When we’ve been there ten thousand years

Bright, shining as the sun

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,

then when we first begun

- John Newton, Amazing Grace

 

The River that Makes Us Glad

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm  46:4-7

The Psalmist describes the presence of the Lord as a refreshing river that supplies the needs of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  The “holy place where the Lord dwells” was, no doubt, the Temple or the Tabernacle.  What a secure feeling that would have given to the Old Testament believer.  The confusion and chaos of the political world could be crashing all around them (vs. 6) yet the Lord would protect them and deliver them from their enemies (vs. 5).

Think of the confidence expressed in this Psalm about God!  He is the Most High (vs.4) and the Lord Almighty (vs. 7a). No one can stand against the Most High and the Lord Almighty!  What a great way to recognize at His unfathomable power!

He is also the God of Jacob. God promised to give Jacob is unconditional love.  He would, in spite of all the mistakes and sins of Jacob, be faithful to him.  God would give Jacob 12 sons through whom the nation of Israel came. God would change his name from Jacob (meaning “deceiver”) to Israel (meaning “prince with God”).  Eventually, the Messiah (Jesus), would come forth through the family of Jacob. What Grace!  What faithfulness on God’s part! He is not only a powerful God,  but He is a faithful God!  He is faithful to His word and to His people!

Last fall, my brother-in-law and I went on a hike through the mountains of Eastern Washington. After hours of walking, we were very hot, tired, and thirsty.  It was time for a break.  Just as we stopped I heard the sound of rushing water.  After a little investigation, we found a flowing stream of ice-cold, pure water.  What a refreshing drink we had!  There is nothing better than life-giving water!   So it is with the Presence of our Lord.  He is the fountain of life and the refresher of our weary souls.  His presence is the river that makes us glad.

Do you know the Fountain of life?  You can.  Trust Him alone (not works) to forgive you and make you new.  Believe that Christ died for your sin.  Ask him to change you and make  you a new person.  He will do it.

 

The Perfect Shelter, Strength and Supply

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah - Psalm 46:1-3

America has seen its share of natural disasters lately.  While on vacation, my family and I went through Iowa. It was disheartening to see the flood ravaged fields.  To some poor farmer it means a big loss. I also read about all of the hundreds of raging wildfires sweeping through California.  Thank God they are starting to get them under control.  Then I’m reminded of the devastating typhoons and earthquakes that have struck the other parts of the globe.

Whether we admit it or not, we humans are utterly helpless when it comes to some things.  For the believer, it is comforting to know that even if everything (weather, politics, wars, etc.) seems to be spinning out of control,  God is in control. He is our refuge and strength.

Note the picture of uncontrolled “chaos”  in verses 2 & 3.  No man can stop this kind of catastrophic calamity!   Some commentators have speculated that the Psalmist was figuratively speaking of abject warfare (cf. verse 6).

Whatever the case, God is still in control and we are not to fear.  He is our place of safety (refuge) and our source of strength.  Because of this, the logical conclusion the Psalmist makes is “we will not fear.”  What a great resolve!  God is our place of perfect refuge and His infinite power backs us up — all the time — so we CAN FULLY TRUST HIM!

The Psalmist also says that God is a very present help.  Think of that for a moment.  He is not only able to help us, but He is willing, very willing to help us.  Somebody put it this way: “He is abundantly available for help.”  God doesn’t sit idly by and watch His children sink into despair.   He is there for you.  Is He your shelter, your strength, Your supply of help?

If you call on Him, He will hear you. So,  what are you waiting for?

When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told
And there His faithfulness is told

Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow

I turn to Wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known
My confidence will rest in You
Your love endures Your ways are good
Your love endures Your ways are good

When I am weary with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in it’s shadow I shall run
Till He completes the work begun
Till He completes the work begun

One day all things will be made new
I’ll see the hope You called me to
And in your kingdom paved with gold
I’ll praise your faithfulness of old
I’ll praise your faithfulness of old

Keith & Kristyn Getty
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

 

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July everyone. I’ll be back, Lord willing, next week.