How Important Is The Church?

 

A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper complaining that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. “I’ve gone for thirty years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time, and the preachers are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.” This started a conversation in the “Letters to the Editor” column, to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until some wrote this clincher: “I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of these meals, but I do know this – They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today.

There is more than one way to defeat an army. Head-on clashes with the enemy works – if you’re stronger. A sneakier approach is to cut off the enemy’s supply lines. This tactic has been used for centuries. Soldiers need food, medical supplies, and ammunition. If you can find a way to disrupt the flow of these things you have greatly weakened your opponent without even firing a shot. Hungry soldiers don’t fight very well and eating the questionable leftovers are a problem. (Napoleon lost more soldiers from spoiled food than from bullets).

You can be sure that our enemy, the devil, uses the same strategy. God is stronger so head-on attacks are not Satan’s best option. Jesus says about His sheep that since God is greater than all “no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). With God we are undefeatable! To win the devil has to weaken us up first. I think the best way to do that is to try and cut us off from the source of our spiritual strength. If the devil can distract us when it is time to pray, if he can convince us that more television is more important than the Word, if he can convince us to fill our Sundays with activities that aren’t church then we are going to have problems. You become spiritually hungry and weak when these supply lines are cut off.

Let us all take to heart the words of Jesus! He proclaims, “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). I’ve picked up many fallen branches in my yard. Separated from the tree they all quickly wither and die. But connected they bear leaves and fruit. We are the same. Connected to God not only do we thrive but we also bring many blessings to others. If we remain in Christ, we spread the light of Jesus wherever we go. So, let’s stay connected. Defend your supply lines so you remain strong. Zealously defend your times of prayer, study, and worship. The One, who is in us, is greater – so as long as we are connected to Him victory is ours.

(Matthew 16:15-18) Jesus promised to build His Church upon the great truth that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock l will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it". Whatever your understanding of the Church may be, it is easy to see from what the Savior said that it must be important to Him. How important is His Church to you?

What a privilege it is to be a member of the Church (Ephesians 2:19-22)! In the Church we find those with whom we have the most important things in common - fellow citizens of the everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ! In the Church we are granted opportunities to grow in grace and to prove our love for God by loving our brethren (1 John 4:20-21)!

The Bible is Right

Willie Cato’s book “His Hand and His Heart” is about the wit and the wisdom, dedication and sacrifice of the beloved Marshall Keeble. “Brother Keeble,” as he was affectionately known, was one of the greatest preachers of the Twentieth Century. Read about this great servant of God, listen to his sermons and learn from his life. In life this giant of a little man touched thousands and, although gone from this world for many years, still impacts lives today. Like Abel, “…he being dead still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4).

Keeble’s preaching was simple, sincere, powerful and practical. He believed in God. He lived a devoted life. He sacrificed and endured much. He loved the truth, and he loved the souls of men. He preached from the heart and thousands responded to the gospel!  Keeble would often say, “The Bible is right! You can leave this meeting and go home mad, but the Bible is right! You can fuss at Keeble all night, but the Bible is right! All men can die and go to Hell, but the Bible is right!”

[Acts 17:32-34] “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter.’ So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” Is it not strange how people react to the word of God? When Paul preached at Athens, his message drew different reactions. People react differently to the truth today. Some become angry. Some shrug off the saving message of the gospel. Some rejoice and receive it. One man might say, “I didn’t get a thing out of that message.” Another might say, “That message really helped me.”

Keeble was right! Regardless how people react to it, “The Bible is right!” It is the inspired message of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It will be the standard by which we are judged (John 12:48). One can reject it, neglect it, or “interpret it” (a fancy way of saying change God’s word to fit your life instead of changing your life to fit it), but as Keeble said, “The Bible is right!”  One must hear the word! One must believe the word! One must obey the word! One must proclaim the word! One must defend the word! Why? “The Bible is right!” Keeble knew it, and so do I!

[Genesis 3:9] God called to Adam, “Where are you?” The first question in the Bible involves a man trying to hide from God. No one can hide from God. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). If you were asked the question, “Are you with the Lord or against the Lord?” what would you answer? In the great conflict of good versus evil, no middle ground exists. If we are not allied with Christ, then we are a co-worker with the evil one. If you were asked, “Are you a servant of righteousness or servant of sin?” what would your answer be? Jesus said no man can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). To be a servant of righteousness one must obey all of God’s commands; to live in sin is to obey the evil one. Jesus points out that only two roads are open to us and that we must make a choice. Are you among the wise or the foolish? Are you in the church or in the world? The Lord closes the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:24-27) placing all people in one of two groups. The wise who hear and do; they will be able to stand at the judgment. The foolish also hear but fail to do; they will be lost at the judgment. All “accountable” beings are in one category or the other.

When the separation takes place at the judgement, will we be among the “sheep or the goats”? (Matthew 25:31-46) “The Bible is right!” Obey and be saved (Acts 2:36-47). 

Who's In Charge?

 

We’ve heard it said, or maybe even said it ourselves, “Nothing good ever happens to me.” We get some unwelcome news, things don’t go as planned, etc., and we immediately respond negatively. I recognize that some folks experience more misfortune than others, and maybe you’re someone who has delt with an overwhelming number of headaches.

I was reading an article written by a woman who was raising a difficult child. In the article she confessed how her faith in God had deepened in the midst of her struggles. She said something that made me stop for a moment and think. She wrote, “I found out God really doesn’t give you more than you can handle. He just makes sure you know He’s the one in charge!” What made me pause was her last statement. I have to admit that this never occurred to me when thinking about life’s challenges. God doesn’t necessarily take away the challenge or even make it easier. The promise is it won’t be more than we can bear. I guess I had always thought that it would become easier. But if we begin to think that somehow, we are handling it by our own strength, then we are not really trusting in God.

[Romans 8:28] Hardships seemed to follow the apostle Paul everywhere he journeyed (2 Corinthians 11:24ff). Job, could easily have won the award for “misfortunate man of the year.” Even David, in in those years before becoming king over all of Israel, faced an onslaught of headaches and pain (1 Samuel 18:1ff). What about Joseph? You think you’ve had it bad? A quick journey with Joseph (Genesis 37-50) will make one realize how truly blessed you are. Speaking of this man Joseph, it would do us well to remember his words to his brothers who had, by their evil deeds, brough about his many sorrows: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). You read it correctly, “but God meant it for good.” If Joseph’s brothers never sell him to the Midianites, then Joseph never goes to Egypt – he’s never sold to Potiphar – Potiphar’s wife never falsely accuses him of rape, then he is never put in prison – he never meets the baker and butler of Pharaoh, he never interprets their dreams – thus, he never interprets Pharaoh’s dreams – he’s never rewarded and made prime minister – he never wisely administrates for the severe famine coming upon the region – if so, then his family back in Canaan perishes from the famine – thus the Messiah couldn’t come forth from a dead family – Jesus would have never come. If Jesus never came, you would still be dead in your sins and without hope in this world.

 Instead of complaining and being critical of all the misfortune he had endured, Joseph, as he looks back on his life, recognized the providential workings of God and the ultimate good that resulted. We, like Joseph, need to focus more on the big picture and not the big problem before us!

[2 Corinthians 12:7-10] Jesus is calling us to follow Him, bidding us to “take up our cross” and come after Him. Surely that cross has to do with the burdens and challenges we confront as humans in this life. We each carry our own foibles and shortcomings. Who we are and where we come from are always with us. We take these with us in following the Lord. We become victims of our own desires or of circumstances that we cannot control. In all this God helps us in that they will not overwhelm us. This is either because He is in control of what happens, or He gives us the strength to stand.

I like the thought, “He just makes sure you know He’s the one in charge.” Paul wrote about his request to remove his “thorn in the flesh.” The answer was in the power of God being revealed and demonstrated through Paul’s weakness. Reveal God in your weakness.

Busy Mom's

 

Prayer of a Stretched-Out Woman by Alice Cravens Moore.

 

“Lord, I’ve done it again. I have too much to do and too little time. Not only that, Lord, even if I had the time, I wouldn’t have the energy.

Why am I always the one to do everything? Lord, why am I a chronic volunteer? Why couldn’t you have made me fragile-looking and shy? That way no one would ever ask me to do anything or even allow me to whenever I open my big mouth to commit myself.

Why can’t I learn to say, “No” - just once? Lord, I don’t want to say, “Sure,” when they ask me to serve on that committee. That “Sure” just slipped out. When they said, “Can we depend on you to prepare six dozen sandwiches?” Lord, why didn’t I smack my mouth when I said, “No problem!”?

I wish I could scream, “Not in a thousand years,” instead of, “When do you need it?” or “That shouldn’t take much time.”

Lord, enough dust is under my bed and behind the refrigerator to fill the low spot in my back yard, and here I am cutting out 350 bulletin board letters. Lord, I’m tired of being everything to everybody and nothing to myself. There isn’t enough of me to go around anymore.

I’m so worn out, Lord. I’m always on the run, and I’m so cranky that my kids have decided the Wicked Witch of the West is not dead after all.

My husband says I bring it all on myself. No sympathy there. It doesn’t help to know he’s right.

Lord, did Deborah have this problem? Surely Ester had a maid. What queen doesn’t?

Of course, I know the real problem, Lord. I need to understand what is truly important and then push the excess away right out of my life.

Helping my children with Bible school lessons is more worthwhile than deciding which decorations to use for the class party. Preparing my husband’s favorite meal is of more consequence than meeting with some committee for the umpteenth time.

Lord, help me realize that the world won’t end if the beds aren’t made or the floor isn’t mopped. In my heart, I truly know that making snow angels with my children is of more value than planning another congregational “42” party. Playing with the children is more important even than nagging them to clean their rooms.

When Mary followed her Son and stood there as He suffered on the cross, I don’t imagine she thought of all the other places she needed to be or the things she needed to do.

Perspective, Lord, that’s what I need. Help me find it. Teach me to spend my time on the things that matter. Guide me, Lord!

Lord, I’m so glad we had this talk. Now don’t let me forget what was said… Amen.”

 

[Genesis 3:20] “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.” Imagine with me some of the possible statements of famous people's mothers to their children – Columbus’ Mother: “I don’t care what you’ve discovered Chris. You still could have written.” Batman’s Mother: “It’s a nice car, Bruce, but do you realize how much the insurance is going to be?” Super Mans Mother: “Clark, your father and I have discussed it, and we’ve decided you can have your own phone line. Now, will you stop spending so much time in all those phone booths?” I remember the one statement my mother said, “Someday you’re going to miss me.” Once their gone, we all miss our mom.

Are We Losing Our Spirituality?

 

Two words, LAUS DEO, are displayed on the aluminum cap atop the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there. LAUS DEO, two seemingly insignificant unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most powerful nation in the world. So, what do these two words, in Latin, composed of just two syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say, “Praise Be to God!”

Construction began on the monument in 1848 but was not completed until 1888 when it was opened to the public. From the top of this magnificent granite and marble obelisk structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city. Charles L’Enfent formed a perfect cross upon the landscape with the White House to the north and the Jefferson Memorial to the south, the Capital Building to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4, 1848, deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. Such was the spiritual mood given by the founders of our nation, a unique constitutional representative form of government. When observing the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation’s capital, one will easily find the signature of God as it is unmistakenly inscribed everywhere you look. As Christians we are reminded of Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Un less the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.”

[1 John 4-4] Over the years poles have been repeatedly taken as to the morality statis of our country and the world. From what the poles show, America’s moral values are in free fall! It is incredible to me how many who come to the church asking for assistance are unabashed about co-habiting with a sexual partner without permission of a marriage license. Few consider it wrong. More consider it wrong for asking.

Let’s be honest about a few facts we cannot deny. Our prisons are overcrowded. Our court system is overloaded. Bibles and prayers have been removed from the classroom. Our churches are not even holding their own while Islam is growing. Blatant immorality is more tolerated in our culture than conservative Christianity. Anti-Christian philosophies such as relativity and naturalism rule the day. The lack of spiritual direction in America has created much larger problems today than what we saw sixty years ago. So, how is this all going to play out? Can it be turned around? Has the slide away from God gone too far?

Only God knows the answers to our troubling questions. However, what we do know is that the true church has always existed in an untoward world. Jesus recognized that His disciples in the first century were “…not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16). John later wrote to the churches for all ages, “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13).

Let us not be surprised at anything that happens against Christ and His church (not being surprised doesn’t mean that we have to like it). But let us be determined to not surrender without a fight against the forces of darkness that want to bring down Christianity. If respect for the body of Christ and practice of the truth decline in the world, they don’t have to in our personal life. We can remain stronger than the world. We can remain separate from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). By the devotion of each individual, the individual can conquer (Romans 8:37-39) and lead the way for others to follow in the truth of God.