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From the Pastor's Desk |
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NAAMAN'S HEALING
A Leper is someone who had contracted the dreaded disease of Leprosy. Leprosy, much like AIDS today, was one of the most feared diseases of its time. Some forms were extremely contagious and in many cases incurable. In it’s worst forms, leprosy led to death. Many lepers were forced out of the cities and into quarantined camps because Naaman still held his post, when he probably had a mild form of the disease. Or perhaps it was still in the early stages. In either case his life would have been tragically shortened by this disease. Naaman, a great hero, was use to getting respect and he was outraged when Elisha treated him like an ordinary person. A proud man, Namaan expected royal treatment and to wash in a great river, but the Jordan was small and dirty. It was beneath a man of his position. But Namaan had to humble himself and obey Elisha’s commands in order to be healed. Obedience to God begins with humility. We must believe that His way is better than our own. We may not always understand His ways of working but humbly obeying, we will receive His blessings. We must remember that:
1. God’s ways are the best.
2. God wants our obedience more than anything else.
3. God can use anything to accomplish His purposes.
Namaan left in a rage because the cure for his disease seemed too simple. He was a hero, and expected a heroic cure, full of pride and self will, and he could not accept the simple cure of FAITH. Sometimes people react to God’s offer of forgiveness in the same way. Just to believe in Jesus Christ somehow doesn’t seem significant enough to bring eternal life. To obey God’s commands doesn’t seem heroic. What Namaan had to do in order to have his leprosy washed away is similar to what we must do to have our sins washed away. Humbly accept God’s mercy, don’t let your reaction to the way of faith keep you from the cure you need the most. Elisha refused Namaan’s money to show that God’s favor cannot be purchased. Our money, like Namaan’s is useless when we face death. No matter how much wealth we accumulate in this life, it will evaporate when we stand before God our creator. It will be our faith in Jesus Christ that saves us not our bank accounts.
SEPTEMBER 2007
SELF-AMBITION
Scripture Reading: Philippians 1
Many people, even Christians live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves, but “selfish ambition” or “conceit” brings discord.
Paul therefore stressed spiritual unity, asking the Philippians to love one another and to be one in Spirit and purpose.
When we work together caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Jesus’ example of putting others first. We experience unity. Don’t be so concerned about making a good impression or meeting your own needs that you strain relationships in God’s family.
Selfish ambition can ruin a church, but genuine humility can build it. Being humble involves having a true perspective about ourselves. It does not mean that we should put ourselves down.
But we are saved and therefore have great worth in God’s Kingdom. Jesus was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Christ, we should have a servant’s attitude. Serving out of love for God and for others. Not out of guilt or fear. Remember you can choose your attitude.
You can approach life expecting to be served or you can look for opportunities to serve others.
SEPTEMBER 2006
SELF-GRATIFICATION
Scripture Reading: James 4:1-10
Seeking to be number one puts a Christian in the middle of great tension; into a dual philosophy. One is Hedonism, meaning everything is geared toward pleasure; the other is Christianity, meaning all is geared toward God. When one gets caught in such a bind, we experience four detrimental results from our pleasure seeking instincts.
1. The passion for self-gratification causes wars and fighting. One thing that happens when we do things our way and seek glory from it is conflict. James speaks of fights and wars in verse 2. These wars he refers to are chronic hostility towards others. . They damage friendships and sets people at odds with one another. It also drives the individual to commit greater and greater sins. One thing leads to another. Coveting to envying to jealousy to hate to theft and then to murder.
2. The passion for self-gratification negates prayer. The scripture reading implies that there may be a possibility that we ask for the right things, but ask wrongly and fail to get an answer. Then we protest to God. We may be denied because we ask for the wrong things, or more likely, for the wrong reasons.. The basic problem is that we stand in the way of our own prayers.
3. The passion for self-gratification is abhorrent to God. A third disastrous effect of self-gratification is its offense to God. This is really the most heinous aspect. God abhors those who are pleasure seeking and not purity seeking. James says in verse 4 that the passion for self-gratification is spiritually sinning against God. It is the strongest form of unfaithfulness towards God. The person who is unfaithful to God by feeding his own lusts is likened to the married woman who cultivates a friendship with the man who is trying to seduce her.
4.The passion for self-gratification demands repentance. We must repent of this sin. James’ words in verse 7 carry the weight of a military command pointing to the urgency and necessity of returning to God. We must subordinate ourselves and all that we have to the Lord.
Self-righteous people know nothing of true repentance. A woman told her minister she would leave the church if a girl that was sharing the pew with her did not move to another seat. The minister told the woman, “That girl was saved from a terrible life of sin and you are upset because she sits and weeps quietly throughout the service? Have you tried to understand her?” The woman replied, “No, I can’t. People who show their emotions over religion annoy me. I have always lived a good life, I don’t make any fuss and never bother anyone and neither should she.” The minister then said, “Well, madam, I believe you should have a talk with the girl, I believe she can help you.”
Well the woman never talked to the girl, that was freed from so much, that all she could do was cry in gratification towards God. You see the self-gratified woman had no room for Christ because she was number one in her life. Let’s examine our lives. Do our actions show that we are number one in our lives? Or do they show that Jesus is?
AUGUST 2006
ARE YOU FULLY PREPARED FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY?
We all know where we are at, so we must ask ourselves the question — are we ready?
We need to become entirely fit to serve. We know how to serve, we know what is expected of us. We need to become fully grown and fully equipped.
So as you exercise your patience and faith and as you go through your trials, the Lord fully shows you that you can make it. Then as you continue in growing in your patience, you then become careful in what you say.
James 3:1-8
Question: why can’t any man tame the tongue. Because the most powerful muscle of all is the tongue. With the tongue great kingdoms have been created and destroyed. Life and death have happen through the tongue.
Mankind’s greatest and worst moments have happened because of the tongue. The tongue has tremendous power so we must be careful about what we say to and about each other. With the tongue we can create great pain.
The bible emphasizes about the control of the tongue, because the power of it is understood. The power of the tongue is analogous, meaning it is incontrollable and when we can control the tongue, we can reap some benefits from it.
If we can only control our anger. If we can only control those things that cause us so much pain and suffering. The tongue is very powerful and it has the capability to bless and heal and uplift. It can also destroy repetitions, create strife and separate people, communities and nations.
Let us turn to God as our source of strength. We will fail and make mistakes, but at worst it is a way to stand and know that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we can imagine.
Let us rely on our creator to control our tongue to solely give honor to Him and Him alone.
JULY 2006
When troubles come, we must see them as God’s opportunities:
We must not wallow in self-pit, asking “Why did this have to happen to me?” We ought not to bristle in resentment, nor brood over our troubles, nor complain. We should ask what blessing in somber hue is this? God didn’t send it, but He can use it for my good if I have faith.
Our troubles can be God’s opportunity to make something out of us. Our God is a sovereign God. He overrules all things for the ultimate good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Our troubles can be God’s opportunity to spread the Gospel. This was Paul’s interpretation of his first imprisonment in Rome (Philippians 1:12).
Our troubles can be an opportunity to develop our moral and spiritual muscles. Our troubles can be an opportunity for promotion to higher things. Joseph’s career in Pharaoh’s court is a classic example of this.
When troubles come we must allow to elicit inner strength. Inner reserves must be stored before troubles come if they are to be called forth in crisis (Daniel 6:10). Troubles will call out our inner reserves of strength. When troubles come, we must look outside ourselves to God, the source of all our strength.
We are not exempt from troubles. Let no person think that he or she will not experience trouble. There are no exceptions when troubles come. We must view them correctly, respond to them directly, and look with confidence to God, from whom our help comes.
JUNE 2006
A more Excellent Way to Love, Peace and Joy.
A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
Life is so complex that sometimes it is very difficult to decide which way to go. Sometimes you are troubled, uncertain, or confused. You don’t really know what to do. You need divine guidance. God guides those who follow him. He is your shepherd; you will not lack guidance. He leads you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalms 23:1-4) But God doesn’t always interfere in human lives when He is not asked to do so. He has designed man with a free will. Man may exercise the right to choose against God. However, when man voluntarily chooses to obey God and seek His guidance, God interferes and directs.
The steps of a man are [ordered] from the Lord, and He establishes him in whose way He delights. (Psalm 37:23)
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1)
APRIL 2006 |
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