Tips for Loving Tough

Ch. 3 - God gives Grace to the Humble ...want some more?

Ch. 4a - So How are Your Relationships?
Ch. 4b - Forgiveness is Christianity 101 !

The book of Ephesians is the first of the prison epistles that Paul wrote and is considered by many scholars to be the most majestic of all the epistles. Ephesians is fundamental to the "doctrine of ecclesiology", or the study of the church.

11And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: 13till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; 16from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love (Eph. 4:11-13).

So many themes come to light in this chapter, and they flow so eloquently under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as Paul chained to a Roman guard, is faithful in recording them. Let's selectively look at a few of many highlights.

Purpose of the Church

In chapter 4, he describes some of the spiritual gifts that God gives the church. Here in verse 12 to 16, Paul also reveals the purposes God has for the church. It's for the "perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ, till we all attain unto the unity of the faith". The primary purpose of your local church is not necessarily to evangelize the world, it's to assist people and equip them for the work of ministry, enabling them towards maturity.

In Acts chapter 6, we see the early church delegate their various duties in such a way that those best equipped [full of the Spirit and wisdom], were given the responsibility to "give attention to prayer and the ministry of the word", while others took care of other necessary aspects of the church. Again, we see that

...the primary purpose of the church is to equip the saints.

Christianity 101 ....Forgive!

In our last study, we highlighted how significant good relationships are in the life of the child of God. Again the Holy Spirit here is consistent in reinforcing how relationally we need to be, "...speaking the truth in love". When I'm angered, I initially, often want to speak the truth directly and harshly, really only displaying my selfishness and arrogance as I seek to put the other person in their place. I can't be like that....I need to consider the needs of others around me and when necessary, confront in a loving way that builds each other up, and doesn't tear down relationships. We need to be renewed in our attitude (v23). The "old man" needs to be "put off" and the "new man" put on, which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Do these words move you, like they move me? ...these are radical and powerful instructions from the Holy Spirit that I need to employ in my life....starting now!)

As we read the last paragraph in this chapter, the instructions on relationship and reconcilliation to us become even clearer! If we continue in wrong relation with people, we "grieve" the Holy Spirt. .....verse 32. states what should be obvious to us, yet we so easily overlook...

Men, we are to be kind and forgiving towards someone who has wronged us. Put quite simply ...Forgiveness is Christianity 101!

Next: Chapter 5a: "...not even a hint of Sexual Immorality"

Jul 7, 2013

The Church: Wilderness Encroachment --- A. W. Tozer

"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked...." — Revelation 3:17

The wilderness encroaches on the fruitful field, and unless there is constant fighting off of this encroachment there will be little or no harvest.

I think it is exactly the same with the church, for as one of the old saints said, "Never think for a minute that there will be a time when you will not be tempted. He is tempted the most effectively who thinks that he isn't being tempted at all."

Just when we think we are not being tempted, that is the time of danger, and so it is with the church. We lean back on our own laurels and say, "That may be true of some churches, but it is not true of us. We are increased with goods and have need of nothing!"

This is to remind us that we must fight for what we have. Our little field of God's planting must have the necessary weapons and plenty of watchmen out there to drive off the crows and all sorts of creatures, to say nothing of the little insects that destroy the crops. We have to keep after them. We must keep our field healthy, and there is only one way to do that, and that is to keep true to the Word of God. We must constantly go back to the grass roots and get the Word into the church (When He is Come, 13,14).

Jun 12, 2013

Baptism: "You are dead to sin & alive to God. ...that's what JESUS did!

How exciting it was this past Sunday, to see members of ANVIL Ministry for Men stepping forward in obedience to Christ, symbolically following him into the waters of baptism exclaiming to the world "I'm under new management!" It's NOT about following the dictates or wishes of a church, it's NOT saying "I've decided to go to church more than before" ...rather it's accepting Christ into your heart by accepting the salvation he provides, then publicly identifying with the very life of Christ, and allowing him to work in your life through his Holy Spirit.

Steve & Kyle...your ANVIL brothers want you to know how excited we are for you. This is a significant part of your journey, and we wholeheartedly celebrate your decision to follow Christ! We admire your boldness for God. You will never regret that decision of obedience, and you will leave a rich legacy behind in the life of your children (and others), as they are influenced by God through you. This is a very significant time in your life!

Romans 6:11,12 says, "From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did." (The Message)

The bible teaches us of three essentials that will help keep you away from sin and on track for God, :

Prayer,
Reading the Word and
Fellowship with other Christians

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward happening...letting people in your world know where you stand. I like how Pastor Terry described it "...you've planted your flag firmly in the ground, identifying with Jesus, publicly declaring what he did in your heart !"

Romans 6:1-14, (The Message Version):

So what do we do? keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land!

That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life-no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this; If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.

That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time -remember, you've been raised from the dead! -into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God. Romans 6:1-14 (The Message)

Jun 10, 2013

Carter Conlon - June 9, 2013: A former police officer describes being filled with the Holy Spirit .....while in his uniform!

Staying Silent in a Perilous Time

Audio Link to hear this sermon (Press June 9, 2013 Link)

Jun 4, 2013

"When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, the devil shouts for joy." Corrie Ten Boom

May 30, 2013

Ephesians -Chapter 4 - "...so how are your relationships?"

Ch. 3 - God gives Grace to the Humble ...want some more?
Ch. 4a - So How are Your Relationships?

Ch. 4b - Forgiveness is Christianity 101 !

noun, the state of being one; oneness. / a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one / oneness of mind, feeling, etc., as among a number of persons; concord, harmony, or agreement

Psalm 133

1How good and pleasant it is

when God’s people live together in unity!

2It is like precious oil poured on the head,

running down on the beard,

running down on Aaron’s beard,

down on the collar of his robe.

3It is as if the dew of Hermon

were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the Lord bestows his blessing,

even life forevermore.

My study bible commentator says that "...the oil of Aaron's (the high priest) anointing saturated all the hair of his beard and ran down on his priestly robes, signifying his total consecration to holy service. Similarly, brotherly harmony sanctifies God's people." When I read Ephesians Chapter 4, I am reminded of this Old Testament passage in Psalm 133 exclaiming "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!"

This letter of Ephesians that Paul wrote to Ephesus, was written from a Roman prison. Paul had plenty of time to write, and he carefully developed his letter as the Holy Spirit guided him. As we look into Ephesians chapter 4, we can quickly see Paul's focus ....he developed his letter as overseer to address the needs of the church, and his focus here is definitely on "unity in the body of Christ". As mentioned earlier in our study of Chapter 2,

first, RECONCILIATION with God, and
second, RECONCILIATION with others (church).

Frankly, if this isn't describing how you or I are conducting ourselves around our brother's and sisters in the Lord...then something in our lives need changing. Let's read the text and let it speak for itself!

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph.4:1-6)

In 1983, I was the team leader for a group of six pilots and mechanics for a para-church organization relief project in Africa. Employed with Mission Aviation Fellowship, our mission was to fly food grains into the very isolated famine afflicted rural areas throughout rural Ethiopia for World Vision, utilizing the DeHavilland Twin Otter. This was the project that through the BBC reporter we carried in 1984, brought the world's attention to bear on Ethiopia in a huge way, bringing rocker Bob Geldof into the picture with his relief concert series. This was however, "back in the day" before fax or computers or internet email or cellphones were even invented. Telephone services in backwoods or "down-country" Ethiopia were few and far between. When we came back to Addis Ababa for scheduled maintenance, we had access to teletype machines. Our Support/Ops in California required regular reporting on our project's progress, and so when we gathered our reports together we'd breathlessly watch the teletype machine deliver the synopsis, reporting on our endeavors. Because of our isolation, everything we did, we did together. We worked together, ate together, toured together, vacationed together, laughed together & yes, we fought together... and it was very intense. There were few secrets...everybody knew exactly everything about each other...warts and all. It was perhaps an ideal setting for what we now term "reality television". While our filed reports provided HQ, who were 11,000 miles away with a vague idea of our accomplishments, they had only a few clues as to how we were really getting along with each other inter-personally.

As long as I live, I will never forget the first question that our department head asked me when he stopped in for his six-month overseas visit and began to interview me on how the program was going. The main question he had as he looked into my eyes was "...So how are your relationships?"

His question floored me! Obstensibly, our stats were amazing. We delivered the goods with extreme preciseness and regularity....we set ops and safety records that to this day HQ uses to brag on us to other NGO's (non-governmental organizations). We achieved unparalled utilization that got the attention of the manufacturer, DeHavilland, even though we operated to our home-made airstrips up at 10,000 feet above sea level (ISA +20C / 13,000' density altitude conditions) with consequent ops & logistical challenges while an ongoing civil war raged a few miles distant. Hmmm...Yes, we really performed!

The truth however was, being young and around christians 24/7 wasn't really all that easy in such an intense isolated situation so far from home. We were immature. When we didn't get our own way, we battled, argued and fought. We would put ourselves first instead of second..."deference" was sometimes the last thing on our minds. We would "make-up" from time-to-time, though...yet the cycle would repeat as our humanity overtook us, ....we really hadn't developed our inter-personal or conflict management skills.

Contrary to what many think, good relationships don't just happen....they are forged. That is, they are willfully, intentionally banged out like a silversmith making jewelry, with a hammer and an anvil, one step at a time. The Holy Spirit's instruction to us here in Ephesians 4 is a masterful recipe for church relationships and kingdom conflict resolution.

live a life worthy of the calling you have received
be completely humble
be gentle
be patient
bear with one another in love
make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace
re: verse 4 ...when your done your rant against someone else's theology or viewpoint remember "...there is one body and one Spirit...one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all"

Psalm 133

How good and pleasant it is

when God’s people live together in unity!

For there the Lord bestows his blessing,

even life forevermore.

Do you want a blessing? What can you do to promote unity in your church? ...as my Aunt Doris used to say..."if it's going to be, it's up to me!" Nothing much in life happens except through relationship!

> NEXT: Chapter 4b - "Christianity 101"

May 23, 2013

You Can't Stand On Promises (If You Don't Know What They Are)

You can go to church twice on Sunday, and make the Wednesday service too,

You don't even need a songbook to sing Hymn 142,

You can sing "Standing on the Promises" and repeat the last four bars,

..but you can't stand on promises, if you don't know what they are.

You can listen to a thousand sermons, but you never really heard,

That the only way your life will change, is if you get into God's Word!

You can try to walk on water, but you'll never get too far

..cause you can't stand on promises, if you don't know what they are

If there's a trip to the Holy Land, you'll be the first to go,

You give $10 to the mission field -and let everybody know

Your service as an usher, outshines the brightest star

..but you can't stand on promises, if you don't know what they are

You raised your hand and you met the Lord, twenty years ago,

...but John 3:16 and Psalm 23 are the only verses you know

You can see why things aren't working, why things aren't up to par

..cause you can't stand on promises, if you don't know what they are

By Greg Nelson, Phill McHugh & James Isaac Elliott

May 22, 2013

Ephesians -Chapter 3 - God Gives Grace to the Humble...Do you want some more?

Ch. 3 - God gives Grace to the Humble ...want some more?

Ch. 4a - So How are Your Relationships?
Ch. 4b - Forgiveness is Christianity 101 !

7 ....I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me (Ephesians 3:7,8)

Grace "TO" Us...
In Ephesians chapter two and again here in chapter three, Paul references God's grace to us .... God's gift to us by believing.

Grace Through God's Spirit "IN" Us...
God's Spirit working in our lives gives us grace ...the power to do the right thing !!! The energizing power needed to live the entire Christian life is called in Scripture, "the grace of God"

11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:11,12)
10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect (1 Cor 15:10)

*God gives a certain amount of this grace to every person, ...but the proud resist the grace they get and lose God's power. How do we get more grace?

Whole volumes have been written about God's grace. It is one of the most significant topics that we will only touch on here in light of the references to grace in Chapter three. As God demonstrates his love for us through how gracious he is to us, we become aware that he wants us to be gracious, or full of His grace.
The success of our lives is entirely related to how much grace God gives us.

"13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Phillipians 2:13)

*How do we receive this grace? There is only one way - by being humbled.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud

but shows favour to the humble.” (James 4:6)

Nothing is more humbling than experiencing conflicts we cannot solve, especially when others know about our problems. But it is this very experience that God uses to break our pride and give us grace. God allowed all his servants in Scripture to experience conflicts, and it is this very reason that we go through them as well.

When you are in conflict, when someone has offended you, when someone sees the situation different than you do...be careful of your response....be gracious, instead of lashing out in retalliation... humble yourself ....God promises to give you more grace. This I believe is a secret of successful christian life!

*from IBLP

Next: Ch. 4 - So How Are Your Relationships?

May 8, 2013

Ephesians - Chapter 2: Salvation is a Gift ....a work of Grace!

Ch. 3 - God gives Grace to the Humble ...want some more?

Ch. 4a - So How are Your Relationships?
Ch. 4b - Forgiveness is Christianity 101 !