Monday, September 28, 2020
The Truth About Success In The Kingdom of God
The Truth About Success In God’s Kingdom
Acts 19. 8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.
II Timothy 1.15
You know this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
4.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Do you see what is going on here? Paul the apostle has preached in Ephesus as a center and all the Greeks and Jews living in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. Then go ahead to a number of years to when he writes to Timothy. He tells Timothy that all Asia has forsaken him. He tells Timothy at the end of the letter that when he stood for his first defense no one stood with them may it not be held against them but the LORD was at my side.
Paul and Stephen have the same attitude of Christ Jesus:
Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
LORD, do not hold this sin to their charge.
May it not be held against them.
What a way to live and pray and finish! Oh to be like Jesus in this!
What are some truths we can glean that will help give us a right perspective in our work for the LORD? We all want to be successful. This kingdom has different parameters that any other. This is not just in the church. It is in all of life.
Work Done For Christ Is Just That: Work For Christ
It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. Colossians 3.24
We need to remember that.
Paul would have been disappointed if after years of preaching he was serving people who deserted him! If we serve the church we will become disillusioned. If we serve the LORD we will be content. There is a huge difference. We need to love the church but not be surprised when it lets us down. It will. I totally agree with Dr. E. Stanley Jones, “The church, with all other faults, is still the best serving organization on earth. So get into it and serve.” Just remember It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving.
But we must guard against bitterness... Milo Arnold/ E. Stanley Jones
Remember the LORD Jesus. He had opposition, things said about Him that were not true.
He also had His Deserters.
John 6. 66 From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.)
Jesus gave us a perfect example of what to expect when we served Him in the account of the Ten Lepers Bring Healed.
Luke 17. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Don’t be surprised if after someone is healed or helped that they go on and forget to even give thanks to the LORD. I remember the first time this happened. I was a young pastor. It blew me away nearly. We actually went to pray with a guy who was dying. A few weeks later he was fine. I figured the whole family would come to church. He never showed up. The family never acknowledged God’s healing to us.
The rewards of serving Jesus blow us away. To be part of His work is wonderful!However we must remember that there is this other side we are speaking about this morning.
You and the LORD know many things in your service to Him that others do not know or see. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. Those times when you do what is right because it is right, those times when you go the extra mile, do the extra work.
It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving.
Colossians 3.22
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the LORD.
The Only One We Can Always Depend On is Jesus.
II Timothy 4.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the LORD stood at my side and gave me strength,
It is marvelous to have the LORD stand at your side. To have His Hand upon you is simple amazing.
He is with us.
He will never leave us.
Friends who leave when circumstances change were never ours to begin with!
Proverbs 19.4 Wealth attracts many friends,
but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
Nobody wanted Him, No one cared
But as long as the miracles flowed like wine they called him wonderful they came to dine.
Jesus was crowded by so many wanting to be healed. When He talked about suffering they rejected that teaching, even His own disciples, even Peter!
God gives us strength to suffer. It is not all a struggle. Serving Jesus is wonder filled.
I Timothy 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service.
It is the LORD Who Gives Success.
Numbers are not the bottom line in this Kingdom.
Faithfulness to the LORD is.
Christian character is.
Christian Influence matters.
Some have ten talents, others of us just one. Use your talents in the Kingdom.
John 3.27 A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
Success is faithfulness.
Hebrews 4. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
God sees the things we do when no one is watching. He knows the giving and praying and fasting we have done in His Name. He knows the phone calls, cards and texts we we send to simply encourage souls.
He is keeping account. That is what we will commended for when we stand before Him.
Hebrews 10.25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.
God’s Word of Encouragement
God’s Word of Encouragement to the Apostle Paul
Acts 18. 9 One night the LORD spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the Word of God.
In this time we need a word of encouragement from the LORD. The coronavirus and the after affects are taking it’s toll on all of us. Some people are struggling with depression. Some people have become shaky in their faith. One out of three people in the United States that were active are no longer attending church or viewing the services online. Others are trying their best but it seems as if everything’s against them. When Paul was going through a difficult time in his ministry God came to him and spoke to him about the work that he was doing.
The LORD speaks to us in our times of struggle and uncertainty. We wonder what is going on today. We want life to be predictable, to even go back to the way things were. We forget that reality does not repeat. In this “End of the World As We Knew It” the LORD has not changed. He and His Word remain the same.
Paul, the apostle needed this Word.
Paul had to escape several times. He still bore the scars from the beating he had received in Philippi for being falsely accused. God knew that coming to a new area, he would need help and encouragement.
We are in a new time.
This Word to Paul is for us today.
The LORD speaks to us personally!
*From His Word
The more we are in the Word, the more we will hear Him.
Problems in believers’ lives happen when they do things contrary to the Word.
*To Our Hearts
Hebrews 1. 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe.
*In Our Hearts
The still small voice
I Kings 19. 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Do not be afraid
One of 365 times
One for everyday
Keep on speaking
Don’t stop doing what you have been doing.
Don’t be silent
Don’t quit
Don’t give up
Hebrews 10.39
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
I am with you
His Presence
Exodus 33.15
Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
I will protect you.
No one is going to oppress or harm you.
I have many people on Long Island
God has people in your life people that love him and love you. Paul didn’t even know who these people were. And we may not either. But He has many people around you and he’s going to protect you and he’s going to be with you always.
When going through a stressful time, a difficult time we can easily forget that.
Elijah was a man just like us.
I Kings 19. 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Be A Berean
Be a Berean
Acts 17.10-12
Paul the apostle left Thessalonica and traveled to Berea. This was done at night. He was basically snuck out of the city to escape persecution. He still had the scars from the severe flogging in Philippi.
He did the same things with the Bereans as he had always done. He went to their synagogue. His pattern was, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1.16
The success in Berea was greater than Thessalonica. There was a reason for this... actually several:
The Bereans were of
Noble Character
Well behaved
Good
The Greek word used in Acts is eugenesteroi, which comes from eugenes, from which we derive the personal name "Eugene." Originally, it meant "wellborn" and implied nobility. Later, it described those of a generous spirit, who are open-minded toward truth, not prejudiced, hostile, or suspicious of others, but give others a fair hearing. The Bereans are considered as noble because they listened to the preaching of the gospel with open hearts as they pursued God and His whole truth.
May you have an open heart.
In this time of great change in the world and Church.
In the sunshine and the rain. We need both to make flowers grow.
In the seasons of the year and life.
The Bereans held the Word of God in high esteem.
The character of a nation, a group of people, a denomination, a church’s character will be known by the place it holds the Word of God in its heart and life.
Always hold the Word of God along with His Name high in your life. Hide it in your heart.
I wish Paul had written a letter to this church. It would have been one full of commendations. May we be that kind of church! Commended by God.
What man commends/ What God commends
We have the letters of Paul to the churches. We have the messages of Jesus to the 7 churches in Revelation. If we were have a letter written to us what would it say?
The Bereans were model seekers/ believers
They were
Eager to learn
Take hold of it.
Receive it like a grant.
Embrace it.
Zeal
We need to diligently search the Scriptures daily.
Marinate yourself in it.
We should be people of one Book. All other books should be read in the light of the Word of God. I am concerned because that is not so today, even among so called believers.
Our relationship with the Word of God is one of embracing it, being zealous to keep it, receiving the gift of it with thankfulness.
What a gift we have been given!
I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing Your praise. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your love and your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your Word.
Psalm 138.2
Your Word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Psalm 119.89
The Word of God is our sole basis for truth and error.
Testing the Scriptural Teaching
To see if what is being proclaimed is true.
To see if what I believe is accurate.
You didn’t hear from Bereans, “Wow! What a great message! What an awesome speaker. I could listen to that man preach all day! What a great preacher!” May God help us move away from such childish thinking across the Body of Christ!
Here is Paul’s Testimony:
I Corinthians 2.1 And so it was with me, brothers, When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
The Bereans were a people who held Scripture in such a high regard that it became their daily pursuit, their source of truth, the only reference book or material they would read in search of what is true.
Sifted
Getting the wheat separated from the chaff
Pulling out the truth
Examined
Checked out his quotes from the Old Testament.
Judged
Is it reasonable?
Is it right?
Listening to the Word of God put them in the Word of God daily.
Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good.
Be a Berean!
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Boasting
Let The One Who Boasts Boast In The LORD
II Corinthians 10.12-18
v.17 Let the one who boasts boast in the LORD
I love the way God put His Word together. It is His Story. Through the story He tells us things we need to know. He could have just listed a bunch of dos and don’ts but He tells us through real people in real situations.
Take the subject this morning, “Boasting.” He could have simply said, “Don’t boast.” Instead He brings us this truth in the lives of Paul, the Apostle and the Corinthian Church. All of this to make us more like Jesus.
This is really a message about humility. But we need the negative and positive to make the battery work... my Jeep last week.
v.1 By the humility and gentleness of Christ
Humility= meek and mild
A true view of oneself
No pride or haughtiness
Taking the lowest place, being the servant of all. Washing feet.
David wrote in Psalm 34.2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
This is a perfect contrast between humility and boasting.
1. What is Boasting?
To glory on account of something
I Corinthians 5.6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
The context of this passage is pride over how open the church in Corinth was over sin among them. “We are progressive in our thinking...”
Whenever it is said that we are the avant-garde, there is a real danger of pride, boasting.
It is always best to assume a place of less importance.
The Words of Jesus in Luke 14.10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Humbling ourselves is the opposite of boasting.
Jesus told us, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15.5
I John 2.16 For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
the boasting of what he has and does
This is sinful
This is not from the Father
This is worldly.
I find this activity so distasteful. So much hot air to hear someone boast and brag about their life’s accomplishments... and often so boring!
Lit. Empty Braggart talk, Pretending
Proverbs 13.7 One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
Dependence upon the LORD is what is needed, what we should be exclaiming.
We should be...
2. Boasting in the LORD
Psalm 44:8: - The good kind of boasting In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise Your Name forever.
Psalm 44.1-7
I love talking about what God has done!
Isaiah 45.25 But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the Lord and will make their boast in Him.
He has rescued me. He is my Provider. Without Him I can do nothing. All the good you see that I am associated with is through Him. Christ working within me, giving me the strength.
I Timothy 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our LORD, Who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry.
3. Boasting In The Cross Of Jesus Christ
Galatians 6.14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
How can I become that radically cross-centered — so that all my exultation is traced back to the cross? Answer: realize that when Christ died on the cross, you died; and when you trusted him, that death took effect in your life. Paul says it’s your death to the world and the world’s death to you.
All glory belongs to God
All honor to Him
Praise and Worship
4. God’s Commendation
This is what we ought to be seeking above all else
Too often we worry about people will say or think, we concern ourselves with human relationships...
They are not to be ignored. They are to be in perspective. Our relationship to God is all important. We get that in order and He will order our other relationships.
Serving others is wonderful. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. Colossians 3.23
v.8 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the LORD commends.
Well done good and faithful servant. Matthew 25.23
Monday, February 10, 2020
God's Comfort In Our Time Of Trouble
God’s Comfort In Our Times Of Trouble
II Corinthians 7.5 For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, Who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
Conflicts On The Outside, Fears Within
No rest= relief, relaxing, to loosen
troubled= press hard like with grapes... crushing
a narrow straight, distress
No way out
Psalm 90.10
Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
I used to think that life was mostly stress-free with an occasional trial to mold us. I now believe that almost all our lives we are contending for the faith, our faith with an occasional break in between battles.
We, as believers in Jesus, have the promise of His Comfort. We need it most of the time. I just finished reading through the Book of Acts. It is the standard for the church. Life was not easy for the church. There was persecutions, arrests, even deaths... like we are seeing around the world.
Our lives are filled with joy because of our names being written down in Heaven. Our lives however are lived on this earth. We walk by faith not by sight. We need to hear these words from Paul, the Apostle. Some of us are going through fiery trials right now. The church in America is in peril. We need the LORD. I know that may sound funny to say Jesus’ followers and His Church need Him. I read the advertisements for some of the conferences, some of the articles for young leaders... God help us! They go through all this profiling of necessary qualities without ever once mentioning prayer. The minister of the Gospel is to be an example in prayer! Churches need prayer. We are to be a House of Prayer for all nations!
Paul prayed. He urged the people of the churches to pray.
Colossians 4.2
Ephesians 6.18-20
In his letter to the Corinthians he talks to them and us about life, the life of a Christian minister, the lives of believers in times of trouble.
1. Facing Harassment
Paul was harassed by the Jews. Even the Gentiles got upset.
In Philippi he was thrown into prison Acts 16
In Thessalonica an uproar Acts 17
In Ephesus a riot Acts 19
Satan harasses.
Revelation 12.10“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
He accused Job to the LORD of serving God for what he could get out of it.
I have been falsely accused. Some of the accusations have been laughable! Some not so funny.
Satan accuses us. Anyone who spreads false accusations is doing the devil’s work.
People harass us.
Unbelievers harass God’s people. Take a stand against sinful behavior and those engaging in it, disagreeing with God’s Word will go after you.
2. Contending with Conflict and Fears
We are tempted to give into fear... the “what if” questions.
If we are doing something in God’s Kingdom there will be conflicts. We are in a spiritual battle.
Conflicts= battles, fights, contention
Fears= dread, terror
Psalm 91.5-6 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
15 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
3. The Comfort of God
God, Who comforts the downcast
Call aside, exhort, counsel, comfort... miracles implied by the Parakletos
brought low with grief, depressed
that comfort comes by getting our eyes on the Lord. Getting them off of those troubling things that have disturbed us. You see, our problem is that we so often become so completely involved in our problem that we lose sight of God. The problem becomes overwhelming; we lose perspective. Our problem seems to be greater than God. But God comforts those that are cast down. So we need to get our eyes upon the Lord.
May today God comfort your heart and soul.
Through others
v.4 in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
Art, “I can hardly contain the joy!” I feel the same way!
Through His work in us and through us.
Romans 5.3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us.
God’s comfort is with us in our troubles!
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Heaven, Our Hope, Our Home
Heaven, Our Hope, Our Home
II Corinthians 5.1-5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Know= see, understand, experience
John 14.1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. “
Heaven...
What is it?
Where is it? It is a definite place spoken about here in the scripture.
Who is going there?
1. It is a place Jesus is preparing for those who believe in Him. John 14.1-3
Prepare= to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready
Bridegroom’s task after the Betrothal in the year before the wedding.
He would get the house prepared for his bride. Make all the preparations for her to live with him.
The bride would wait for him to come back and get her. He would come and announce it with trumpets. Then the wedding would take place. After the wedding feast the Bridegroom would take the Bride to the place he has prepared for her.
II Peter 3.13 But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
It is more wonderful than we can imagine!
We know this:
Revelation 21.1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Out of His great love for us Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins and He rose again ascended back into heaven where He is preparing a place for us and one day He will come again and take us to be with Him forever that place is perfect another demonstration of the love of Jesus for the church.
Therefore
2. There is a longing and groaning in our hearts to be there with Him.
Philippians I.21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
Romans 8.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
II Corinthians 5.7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Acts 21.13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the LORD Jesus.”
II Timothy 4.6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.
Desire to depart= desire, craving, longing to break up camp and move
Long for His Appearing/ Loved His Appearing= to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
Many with lives to live do not sense this as acutely as those who are fully surrendered to the LORDship of Jesus Christ.
We see that not only we have that longing but Jesus desires for us to be with Him as well.
3. He wants us there with Him. John 17.24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
He loves us.
He showed the full extent of His Love.
In love... want to be with that One!
Now we are the Body of Christ
We are the Bride of Christ.
We long to be with Him. He wants us with Him.
Want= determined, resolved, intend, to take delight in, to be fond of
Revelation 21.2,9
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bridebeautifully dressed for her husband.
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plaguescame and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
II Corinthians 11.2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
Ephesians 5.25-26, 32
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b]her by the washing with water through the word,
32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
4. He will bring us there one day.
At the moment of death
When He Returns
5. The Holy Spirit is the Deposit Guaranteeing Us What Is To Come. v.5
Heaven has begun in our hearts.
Our living experience
Christ in us, the Hope of Glory
Our Joy
Deposit= pledge or security
Ephesians 1.13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.
I stand in awe and bow in worship of Him
He Who made the world and everything in it,
He Who came from heaven to earth as a baby,
He Who died on the cross to take my sins away,
He Who rose again on the third day,
He Who ascended into heaven,
He Who sent us His Spirit to be with us forever,
He Who is coming back one day for us.
II Corinthians 5.1-5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Know= see, understand, experience
John 14.1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. “
Heaven...
What is it?
Where is it? It is a definite place spoken about here in the scripture.
Who is going there?
1. It is a place Jesus is preparing for those who believe in Him. John 14.1-3
Prepare= to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready
Bridegroom’s task after the Betrothal in the year before the wedding.
He would get the house prepared for his bride. Make all the preparations for her to live with him.
The bride would wait for him to come back and get her. He would come and announce it with trumpets. Then the wedding would take place. After the wedding feast the Bridegroom would take the Bride to the place he has prepared for her.
II Peter 3.13 But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
It is more wonderful than we can imagine!
We know this:
Revelation 21.1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Out of His great love for us Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins and He rose again ascended back into heaven where He is preparing a place for us and one day He will come again and take us to be with Him forever that place is perfect another demonstration of the love of Jesus for the church.
Therefore
2. There is a longing and groaning in our hearts to be there with Him.
Philippians I.21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
Romans 8.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
II Corinthians 5.7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Acts 21.13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the LORD Jesus.”
II Timothy 4.6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.
Desire to depart= desire, craving, longing to break up camp and move
Long for His Appearing/ Loved His Appearing= to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
Many with lives to live do not sense this as acutely as those who are fully surrendered to the LORDship of Jesus Christ.
We see that not only we have that longing but Jesus desires for us to be with Him as well.
3. He wants us there with Him. John 17.24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
He loves us.
He showed the full extent of His Love.
In love... want to be with that One!
Now we are the Body of Christ
We are the Bride of Christ.
We long to be with Him. He wants us with Him.
Want= determined, resolved, intend, to take delight in, to be fond of
Revelation 21.2,9
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bridebeautifully dressed for her husband.
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plaguescame and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
II Corinthians 11.2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
Ephesians 5.25-26, 32
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b]her by the washing with water through the word,
32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
4. He will bring us there one day.
At the moment of death
When He Returns
5. The Holy Spirit is the Deposit Guaranteeing Us What Is To Come. v.5
Heaven has begun in our hearts.
Our living experience
Christ in us, the Hope of Glory
Our Joy
Deposit= pledge or security
Ephesians 1.13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.
I stand in awe and bow in worship of Him
He Who made the world and everything in it,
He Who came from heaven to earth as a baby,
He Who died on the cross to take my sins away,
He Who rose again on the third day,
He Who ascended into heaven,
He Who sent us His Spirit to be with us forever,
He Who is coming back one day for us.
We Do Not Lose Heart
We Do Not Lose Heart
II Corinthians 4.16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Losing heart= to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted
It is a negative way of thinking, feeling and acting
It is destructive.
It means we are about to faint from emotional, spiritual and mental exhaustion, to collapse.
Renewed= fresh, make new, new strength, vigor, to be changed into a new kind of life
We do not lose heart
We are wasting away outwardly
We are being renewed day by day inwardly
Losing heart...
Elijah was like that after his victorious battle with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
I Kings 19.3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
Jacob expressed feelings of hopelessness when Simeon was kept in Egypt.
Genesis 42.36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”
Losing heart is possible when we are overwhelmed. Life in 2020 can be overwhelming.
Emotionally, Financially, with Family Issues and even spiritually.
How is it possible to avoid this? What if we feel we are close to losing heart?
This section of scripture gives us a number of reasons why we do not lose heart.
1. We Do Not Lose Heart Because We Are Being Transformed By God’s Spirit. 3.16-17
II Corinthians 3.17 Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the LORD’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the LORD, Who is the Spirit.
We spoke about this last week.
Now in the context of all kinds of opposition and difficulty we keep looking to Jesus.
God’s Spirit is renewing you, transforming you.
Peter walked on water when he looked at Jesus. He began to sink when he looked at the wind.
Matthew 14.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “LORD, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “LORD, save me!”
Jesus comes to us when we begin sink. There may be times when we don’t think we are going to make it. It’s all over. Then Jesus comes reaches out His Hand and catches us. We have followed Christ’s command. We have come to a place of being overwhelmed and even going down.
Jesus reaches out His Hand
Jesus catches us
Caught= to rescue from peril, to help
Note: Peter began to sink. He thought he was going to die. Elijah wished he would. Many times the rescue from the LORD comes when we are at the brink of going under. God works in the last hour, sometimes seconds! His Hand providing.
We do not lose heart because we are being transformed, even in life’s difficulties and challenges. He is with us!
2. We Do Not Lose Heart Because We Proclaim The Truth. v.5
5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I Corinthians 2.2
My Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. We are His servants.
Depending upon Him we have His Promises. We stand on the Rock and we are upheld by His Arms.
The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
Psalm 145.14
When we build our lives upon God’s Word we have it in our hearts in times of trouble. We have it as a solid foundation all the time.
We understand His Blessings. In this time of challenge to the Truth we have it to stand firm. Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian Church is for us, (I Corinthians 15.58) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
As I look back over my life, over my ministry, 40 years of preaching God’s Word each Sunday completed at conclusion of the service today! Now, as an elder, in the truest sense of the word, I cannot believe how quickly the time has past, but as I look back...
I am so thankful for the Word of God being central in my life and ministry. I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole counsel of God... in small groups and from this place and now over the internet and around the world, we have gone through Genesis to Revelation over and over again.
My formative years had so much to do with this.
I thank God for my Sunday School Teachers (My Mom, Helen Matthews, Arnie Finch and my Dad) who taught me about God and His Word!
I thank God for my pastors (Mason, Matthews, Weller, Evans and Bond) who did the same.
I thank God for my parents and grandparents who lived it out in front of me and led me to believe.
It was this foundation that led me to the wonderful experiences with the LORD I have enjoyed all my life.
I stand as I did when I asked Jesus to come into my heart over 55 years ago on His Word. Praise His Dear Name.
Standing on the Word, having the Spirit transform us...
3. We Do Not Lose Heart Because We Have The Right Perspective. vs.7-12
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
We are in a spiritual battle.
We may be knocked down but we are not knocked out.
The battle belongs to the LORD.
We do not lose heart when we hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted or struck down. These things will come. We are made stronger for them. We are following Jesus. We have “Americanized” Jesus. Just in the persecution issue alone.
Nigerian Eltoy, Helen’s nurse on Monday evening... praying with me. I thought of his country. 10 Christian men in a video released December 27th.
Suffering Churches around the world.
Haiti
Puerto Rico
Iran, where the church is getting stronger but facing opposition
Nigeria
China, new waves of persecution against the church
We need to read God’s Word, as we discussed in our Discipleship Class, with a proper Worldview.
Suffering is hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted or struck down.
4. We Do Not Lose Heart Because God Is Keeping Us As He Works Through Us.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the One Who raised the LORD Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to Himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
It is amazing how God works through our efforts...
Isabel Povey, a 16 year old from New Hampshire, who founded a non profit organization called “Seeds of Hope” sends seeds to developing nations to help them. She shipped seeds this week to help the people of Bellevue, Haiti. Her mom, Trish , helped set this up with us.
Please pray for this endeavor. It is a way the people can work and make money there. Seeds are very expensive but if they are given them that makes their profit margin 100%.
You can read Isabel’s story about Seeds of Hope at https://isabelpovey.wordpress.com
People have come to me and said you must be so disappointed you cannot go to Haiti. I miss the people but I am watching God continue to work in marvelous ways, in ways not initiated by us but by Him. Pastor Joes and Jhon had a meeting this week to talk about the future. I am having lunch with Pastor Art and Pastor Johnson today to talk about the future. God has some wonders in store for Bay Shore and our area... just this past week at Barnes and Noble at our Discipleship Group... Greg and Donna...
So when we see “the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”- v.15 we are greatly encouraged.
He works through our weaknesses!
But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. II Corinthians 12.9
5. We Do Not Lose Heart Because We Know How This Life Will End.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Next week we will look into this matter of heaven even more. That is what the next chapter is about. We have forgotten to a large degree in the church in America today about having a proper view of heaven. We used to hear a lot about it. We all are to have a longing and groaning to go there. Billy Graham video Friday Night, longing to go (67 years old)
In fact Paul’s was so great that he asked the LORD to take him. When Elijah asked the LORD to take his life he was in despair. We are not in despair. We may be going through all kinds of trials and see the wickedness in the world but we have hope. Our Hope is in being with Jesus one day!
II Corinthians 4.16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Losing heart= to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted
It is a negative way of thinking, feeling and acting
It is destructive.
It means we are about to faint from emotional, spiritual and mental exhaustion, to collapse.
Renewed= fresh, make new, new strength, vigor, to be changed into a new kind of life
We do not lose heart
We are wasting away outwardly
We are being renewed day by day inwardly
Losing heart...
Elijah was like that after his victorious battle with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
I Kings 19.3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
Jacob expressed feelings of hopelessness when Simeon was kept in Egypt.
Genesis 42.36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”
Losing heart is possible when we are overwhelmed. Life in 2020 can be overwhelming.
Emotionally, Financially, with Family Issues and even spiritually.
How is it possible to avoid this? What if we feel we are close to losing heart?
This section of scripture gives us a number of reasons why we do not lose heart.
1. We Do Not Lose Heart Because We Are Being Transformed By God’s Spirit. 3.16-17
II Corinthians 3.17 Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the LORD’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the LORD, Who is the Spirit.
We spoke about this last week.
Now in the context of all kinds of opposition and difficulty we keep looking to Jesus.
God’s Spirit is renewing you, transforming you.
Peter walked on water when he looked at Jesus. He began to sink when he looked at the wind.
Matthew 14.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “LORD, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “LORD, save me!”
Jesus comes to us when we begin sink. There may be times when we don’t think we are going to make it. It’s all over. Then Jesus comes reaches out His Hand and catches us. We have followed Christ’s command. We have come to a place of being overwhelmed and even going down.
Jesus reaches out His Hand
Jesus catches us
Caught= to rescue from peril, to help
Note: Peter began to sink. He thought he was going to die. Elijah wished he would. Many times the rescue from the LORD comes when we are at the brink of going under. God works in the last hour, sometimes seconds! His Hand providing.
We do not lose heart because we are being transformed, even in life’s difficulties and challenges. He is with us!
2. We Do Not Lose Heart Because We Proclaim The Truth. v.5
5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I Corinthians 2.2
My Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. We are His servants.
Depending upon Him we have His Promises. We stand on the Rock and we are upheld by His Arms.
The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
Psalm 145.14
When we build our lives upon God’s Word we have it in our hearts in times of trouble. We have it as a solid foundation all the time.
We understand His Blessings. In this time of challenge to the Truth we have it to stand firm. Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian Church is for us, (I Corinthians 15.58) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
As I look back over my life, over my ministry, 40 years of preaching God’s Word each Sunday completed at conclusion of the service today! Now, as an elder, in the truest sense of the word, I cannot believe how quickly the time has past, but as I look back...
I am so thankful for the Word of God being central in my life and ministry. I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole counsel of God... in small groups and from this place and now over the internet and around the world, we have gone through Genesis to Revelation over and over again.
My formative years had so much to do with this.
I thank God for my Sunday School Teachers (My Mom, Helen Matthews, Arnie Finch and my Dad) who taught me about God and His Word!
I thank God for my pastors (Mason, Matthews, Weller, Evans and Bond) who did the same.
I thank God for my parents and grandparents who lived it out in front of me and led me to believe.
It was this foundation that led me to the wonderful experiences with the LORD I have enjoyed all my life.
I stand as I did when I asked Jesus to come into my heart over 55 years ago on His Word. Praise His Dear Name.
Standing on the Word, having the Spirit transform us...
3. We Do Not Lose Heart Because We Have The Right Perspective. vs.7-12
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
We are in a spiritual battle.
We may be knocked down but we are not knocked out.
The battle belongs to the LORD.
We do not lose heart when we hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted or struck down. These things will come. We are made stronger for them. We are following Jesus. We have “Americanized” Jesus. Just in the persecution issue alone.
Nigerian Eltoy, Helen’s nurse on Monday evening... praying with me. I thought of his country. 10 Christian men in a video released December 27th.
Suffering Churches around the world.
Haiti
Puerto Rico
Iran, where the church is getting stronger but facing opposition
Nigeria
China, new waves of persecution against the church
We need to read God’s Word, as we discussed in our Discipleship Class, with a proper Worldview.
Suffering is hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted or struck down.
4. We Do Not Lose Heart Because God Is Keeping Us As He Works Through Us.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the One Who raised the LORD Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to Himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
It is amazing how God works through our efforts...
Isabel Povey, a 16 year old from New Hampshire, who founded a non profit organization called “Seeds of Hope” sends seeds to developing nations to help them. She shipped seeds this week to help the people of Bellevue, Haiti. Her mom, Trish , helped set this up with us.
Please pray for this endeavor. It is a way the people can work and make money there. Seeds are very expensive but if they are given them that makes their profit margin 100%.
You can read Isabel’s story about Seeds of Hope at https://isabelpovey.wordpress.com
People have come to me and said you must be so disappointed you cannot go to Haiti. I miss the people but I am watching God continue to work in marvelous ways, in ways not initiated by us but by Him. Pastor Joes and Jhon had a meeting this week to talk about the future. I am having lunch with Pastor Art and Pastor Johnson today to talk about the future. God has some wonders in store for Bay Shore and our area... just this past week at Barnes and Noble at our Discipleship Group... Greg and Donna...
So when we see “the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”- v.15 we are greatly encouraged.
He works through our weaknesses!
But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. II Corinthians 12.9
5. We Do Not Lose Heart Because We Know How This Life Will End.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Next week we will look into this matter of heaven even more. That is what the next chapter is about. We have forgotten to a large degree in the church in America today about having a proper view of heaven. We used to hear a lot about it. We all are to have a longing and groaning to go there. Billy Graham video Friday Night, longing to go (67 years old)
In fact Paul’s was so great that he asked the LORD to take him. When Elijah asked the LORD to take his life he was in despair. We are not in despair. We may be going through all kinds of trials and see the wickedness in the world but we have hope. Our Hope is in being with Jesus one day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
