Guardian Ministries

Koine: The Language of the Roman Empire

2009-08-31T18:00:00.001-07:00

Excavations all over the middle eastern world have discovered various materials from stone, metal, papyrus, wax, pottery on which were written the Greek language called “koine” or common Greek. This is the Greek forced on to the world by Alexander the Great when he conquered the known world.

Before Alexander the Greek language was an assortment of various dialects each one localized to a small area. Alexander wanted a Greek language common to all peoples. It was called “koine.” This is the language of the New Testament as well as volumes of other writings that have been discovered. Among them were old discarded office records, books, legal documents, bills of divorce, personal letters, tax papers, family letters, notes, diaries, etc.

Those contemporary with the New Testament show how people thought, their values, customs, ideas as well as how they wrote and used words. One of the great sources of koine writings came from writings on broken pottery which are called the “ostraca.” These were less expensive and were the main writing materials of the poor.
The koine Greek was more popular in Rome than was Latin. Rome accepted all the cult religions and was their center. Rome’s policy was to allow their subjects to have their own religion as long as they accepted Emperor worship. One of the titles of the Emperor was the koine word, “kurios,” which means “Lord.” It was a divine title of the emperor! It was the main word used by the LXX (Septuagint) translation of the Old Testament when they translated the Hebrew word, YHVH.

Paul said there were many “lords” but for Christians there is only one Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor. 8:5-6). Festus referred to Caesar as “lord” when planning to send Paul to Rome (Acts 25:26). Polycarp, John’s disciple, was asked, “What is the harm in saying, ‘Lord Caesar.” He still refused and like Jesus, was put to death by Rome.

But we are told that Jesus has been exalted and given a name above every name and that every knee will bow and “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11 NAS).

God Looks on the Heart. Do You? #2

2009-08-31T17:59:00.004-07:00

We will explore what you do with your heart and just how important the heart is to God and in our human relationships. Remember, the word translated “heart” is the Hebrew word “lebab (lay-bawb)” which means the inner man, mind, will, understanding, resolution and determination. There is a second Hebrew word (“leb”) which has the same identical meaning. The Greek word is “kardia” which means heart but is a metaphor for mind, inner man, etc.

Here are things you can do with your heart. You can purpose with your heart as when you decide how much or whether to make a donation (2Cor. 9:7). You can have care in your heart for others (2Cor.8:16). And you can even hold people in your heart (Phil. 1:7). If you have love in yourself for others, you would hold them in your heart. You probably have many memories of people near and dear to you that you "hold in your heart." I often think of my wonderful grandparents who have been dead for many years. I still hold them in my heart. I hold in my heart the memories of so many Brethren whom I have served over the years as pastor of churches. I look forward to seeing many again when we visit the Tulsa area.

You can make plans in your heart (Prov. 16:1). But what you think in your heart reveals what kind of person you really are (Prov. 23:7). You can hold a haughty pride in your heart which seeks to lift itself up above others -- a thing which God hates (Prov. 16:5). You can be mistaken or err in your heart as did the Israelites when, because they had no faith, sought to put God to the proof (Heb. 3:10).

Because the heart is deceitful even to its owners (Jer. 17:9), God has to search the heart and test the reins (which literally means kidneys -- another metaphor for mind -- Jer. 7:10). There is no doubt that our minds are fallible and even deceive us. That is why we are admonished to trust God with all our heart and not to lean solely to our own understanding. Have you ever had your mind play tricks on you? It happens to people all the time. We can even hallucinate and hear and see things that are not really there. The heart (mind) is deceitful even to us! Nevertheless, in making decisions we must use our minds and whatever understanding we have at that moment. We should search God's Word and get wise (not just any) council so we can make informed and wise decisions.

Evil things can come our of the heart of man (Mark 7:21). Jesus enumerated them -- evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness (v. 22).

Did you know that you can deceive your own heart (James 1:26)? Think of it. To deceive your own mind, a part of you must know the truth and deliberately keep the truth back from the other part of your mind. You can also train your heart in evil (2Peter 2:14 NAS).

What we need is a good heart that does not condemn us. In other words we need a clear conscience (1John 3:20-21). Why? Because it is the heart which is converted and which believes! “…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation”(Rom.10:9-10 NAS). When God converts us and makes us new, where does He write His laws? In our heart (Heb. 10:10)! Writing to the Corinthians, Paul told them that they themselves were his letter of commendation written in their hearts by the Spirit of God (2Cor. 3:3).

But there are people who have no interest in the heart of another. Writing to the Corithians, in chapter 5 of the second letter, Paul explained that he was not again commending himself to them. What he was doing was giving them reasons to be proud of him so that they might be able to answer "those who pride themselves on a man's position and not on his heart (2Cor.5:12). There are people who simply do as Samuel began to do -- i.e. look solely on the external appearance. They make all their judgments based on appearance alone. Some people make their judgments on the basis of titles. Some on the basis of a position or claim of authority. And others who make decisions on outward appearances.

Some people look on appearances. They say, "This person looks good, like a leader, I believe him or her." But others who look on appearances make another kind of mistake. They say, "That person looks good, so they could not be a leader or know truth." What they want is someone who looks "humble" and not so good. In both cases people judge from outward appearance and not on a person's heart. Why? Because it takes more effort and time to know a person's heart than it does to make a quick decision on outward appearance. We must look beyond the surface to deeper things. In the case of evaluating messages -- written or spoken -- we must compare them to the Word of God and our good common sense.

Good relationships, as well as marriages, depend on our ability to look on the heart of a person who may offend us. A personal example: I have been late in sending a birthday card to my father on several occasions over my adult life. I either forgot it or just was too busy to get to it in time. I have called him and said, "Dad, I'm sorry you won't get your card or gift in time for your birthday." His reply has always been, "That's OK. Don't worry about it. I know you love me and that's what counts." In that statement he has looked on my heart and not merely on my actions.

Some years back I was visiting at my parents house. My mother's brother -- "Uncle Eddie"-- came over as he usually did to visit with us. We were sitting on the back porch talking and I asked him, "How is Aunt Louise?" I had completely forgotten that Aunt Louise -- his first wife -- had died some years back. My mother's face looked horrified as did my dad's. But Uncle Eddie said, "You forgot. You just forgot that she died about 6 years ago." He said it in the kindest of tones and with the warmest of expressions to me. What he was really saying to me was: "I know your heart. You would never mean to say something to hurt me."

Do you know your spouse's heart? Do you know that your loved one would never do something deliberately and with malice just to hurt you? To know their heart -- that it is pure toward you is one of the most important things in maintaining good relationships. Or do you look only on the surface and react strongly to mistakes like forgetting a birthday card, saying the wrong words??

In our relationship to God we need to remember the words of Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."

Do You Look on the Heart?

2009-08-31T17:59:00.003-07:00

When God was choosing a king to replace Saul, He sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to pick one of Jesse’s sons. Samuel wanted to choose the first born son but God told him, “…look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature…for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1Sam. 16:7). David was a man after God's own heart
(1 Sam. 13:14). Jeremiah pleaded with the people to circumcise the "foreskin of your heart" (Jer. 4:4).

God sometimes tests us to know fully what is in our hearts. While God can read our mind and our heart, there are situations in which He Himself wants to know just where we stand (2 Chron. 32:31).

The word translated “heart” is the Hebrew word “lebab (lay-bawb)” which means the inner man, mind, will, understanding, resolution and determination. There is a second Hebrew word (“leb”) which has identically the same meaning.

There are many influences of the heart (mind). Wine makes it glad and food strengthens it (Psa. 104:15). We know that when a person's blood sugar is low, food revives energy and the mind works better. Students who stay up all night "cramming" for exams often eat constantly during that time.

We are to trust God with all our heart and not to lean solely to our own understanding (Prov. 3:5; 4:4). Here we are told that the only One where we can put our entire trust is GOD. We should never lean solely to our own understanding. Our perceptions are often fallible as are our memories. It would be the height of folly to lean solely to our own understanding without getting feedback from others and council from others.

The Bible describes the heart in many ways. It talks of a “deceived heart”, a “foolish heart”, “anguish of heart”, “blindness of heart” (Isa. 44:20; Rom. 1:21; 2Cor.2:4; Eph. 4:18). The mind can be blind to new knowledge and information. Our minds can be deceived and even become foolish regardless of our IQ.

There is even a mention of an “evil heart of unbelief” (Heb. 3:12). A sin, like a crime, is punished based on the “Mens Rae” or criminal mind. In the books of the Law, mention is made of a sin that was done in ignorance or by accident as opposed to one that is done “presumptuously” or by will.
We are told that we are to have a pure heart (Matt. 5:8; 1Tim. 1:5). A pure heart is one in which there is no criminal or sinful intent. A person, by pulls of the flesh or other temptations, may yield to them in a sinful way. This is different from a person who plans and determines evil such as criminals do.

A heart can be open or closed. Paul said his heart was wide open to the Corinthians (2Cor. 6:11). Remember, the Bible is really talking about the mind. To open one’s heart is to open one’s mind regarding another and to be able to receive new and accurate information. But some people close their "heart" even to those they used to love. One offence and there is no more chance with them -- you're simply out of their lives. I have seen people abandon all contact with their son or daughter because that person did something "wrong" in their sight. Where is the open heart? Their heart (mind) is hardened in that it will not take in new information and like a computer is supposed to do -- update itself.

In Part 2 we will continue to explore what you do with your heart and just how important the heart is to God and in our human relationships.

Lessons of Faith from Birds of the Air

2009-08-31T17:59:00.001-07:00

According to most encyclopedias there are about 9000 species of birds. They inhabit every zone, terrain, country, and town. They live from the dry deserts to the tropical rain forests, and range from the Arctic to the Antarctic. They come in every size and shape and with every type of feather. They have nearly every type of diet from meat to fruits and vegetables.

The smallest bird is the Bee Hummingbird on the island of Cuba which measures about 2 inches long from tail feathers to beak. The largest, the grounded Ostrich, can weigh close to 400 pounds. The largest flying bird is the Wandering Albatross with a wingspan of 12 feet (World Book Encyclopedia). Of the 9000 species, the most any bird watcher has claimed to have seen is 8000.

Only one Person has seen them all (Gen. 1:20-21). God says He knows them all (Psa. 50:11). It is a pleasure to study the creation because God’s works are great and are studied by all who delight in them, says the Psalm 111:2. God tells us to “go to the ant and learn from it" (Prov. 6:6-8). Is there anything we can learn from the birds? Jesus used birds to teach us. He said, “Look at the birds…(Matt:6:26 NAS). Another way of saying it is: “Watch birds…”

But here’s the lesson: “…they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (v.26). In the KJV we read, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself”(v.34). This translation may give some a wrong impression. It should read, “Take no anxious thought…” We must take thought for the future. We are told to go to the ant which prepares for the future (Prov. 6:6-8). We must provide for our own relatives and immediate family or we are considered worse than a unbeliever (1Tim. 5:8). How embarrassing that animals do better by instinct than you and I do by conscious choice!

Another misunderstanding from this passage is that God will protect us always. In the passage (Matt. 6:26-34) Jesus did not mean that God’s children are guaranteed protection from all accidents. Even sparrows fall but with God’s awareness. People also fall. Sometimes airplanes fall. God does not suspend the law of gravity.

Commenting on the "Sermon on the Mount," Martin Luther wrote: "You see, he is making the birds our school masters and teachers. It is a great and abiding disgrace to us that in the Gospel a helpless sparrow should become a theologian and a pareach to the wisest of men. We have as many teachers and preachers as there are little birds in the air. Their living example is an embarrassment to us. Whenever you listen to a nightingale, therefore, you are listing to an excellent preacher. It is as if he were saying, 'I prefer to be in the Lord's kitchen. He has made heaven and earth and He himself is the cook and host. Everyday he feeds and nourishes innumerable little birds out of His hand.'"

God feeds the birds but not like you feed your dog. He provides food but they must gather it up (Psa. 104:27-28). Jesus was specific in naming one type of bird -- the Raven. He said, "Consider the ravens..." (Luke 12:24). The raven has played a part in Biblical history from the time of Noah (Gen. 8:6-7) all the way through to the miracle at the time of Elijah (1Kings 17:1-6). But the ravens must go and collect the food that God provides (Job 38:41; Psa. 147:9).
We have faith but we must do our part. The birds show us that faith and works can and do go together. Thus, It is right to trust God for healing, but it is wise to seek a competent health professional for treatment. We thank God for our food, but we are still dependent on the farmer and fisherman or the tilling of our own soil. We trust God in faith but we must take appropriate right action.

Pentecost and the Book of Ruth

2009-08-31T17:58:00.001-07:00

The Holy Spirit came to Christ’s disciples on the day of Pentecost. One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to baptize us into the "body of Christ." It doesn’t matter what race or gender everyone who receives the Holy Spirit is baptized (dipped or dunked) into the Church (1Cor. 1213). But in the early Church where the first members were mostly Jews, there was a difficulty accepting Gentiles into the Body of Christ.

This was evidenced by Paul’s statements (Eph. 41-4; Eph. 211-19). It would not be surprising that Jews would take a skeptical look at foreigners coming to the Messiah of Israel. After all, the law of the old covenant forbid certain people from worshipping in the "assembly of the LORD." "No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD. No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the LORD. No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the LORD; not of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the LORD" (Deut. 231-3 NAS).

Following the Persian captivity It was customary for the Book of Ruth to be read during Pentecost. This book was part of the festival scroll which consisted of five books. Ruth was connected to Pentecost because the law of Pentecost talked specifically about allowing the stranger and widows to glean the fields of the grain during the Spring harvest of which Pentecost was the symbol (Lev. 2310-22).

The book of Ruth is primarily the story of Naomi and her family. She and her husband left the land of Israel during a famine and settled in Moab. During that time Naomi’s husband died, her sons matured and married Moabite women Orpah and Ruth. Then her sons died leaving her bereft of all of her original family. Naomi then decided to go back to her own people Israel. While she urged her daughters-in-law to return to their own people, Ruth would not be persuaded. Her famous words were, "…for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (116 NAS). Ruth was a wonderful daughter-in-law. But as is true in human relationships, Naomi had to be a wonderful mother-in-law also!

When they first come to Bethlehem (city of Jesus birth) the city is stirred because Naomi is known and has been missed during the years she was away. Naomi recognized that she has suffered the great loss. She doesn’t want to be called Naomi which means "pleasant" but Mara (bitter, 120). She knew God allowed it and therefore attributed it to God. God does not always protect His people from natural disasters, death, disease, troubles.

What follows is one act of kindness after another. Ruth, by chance, happens to glean in the fields of Boaz. He sees her and learns about her. His servants tell him that she has been there from early morning to late and working hard. He invites Ruth to glean only in his fields (28) and to help herself to his rations (v.9). She is overwhelmed by his kindness and wonders why he is doing this since she is a foreigner (v.10).

But Boaz was aware that Ruth was being extremely kind to her mother-in-law since the death of her husband(v.11). He wishes her well and wishes her the reward from God for all her work "under whose wings (covering) you have come to seek refuge" (212).

When Ruth tells Naomi she was in the field of Boaz, Naomi tells her that he is a "redeemer" or next of kin. Naomi hearing how kind Boaz was to Ruth instructs Ruth on a very bold move to sleep next to him at his feet (34). When Boaz discovers her in the middle of the night he asks, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread you covering over your maid for you are a close relative (redeemer)" (39). Here Ruth asks him to do his duty and become the next of kin to her as the law required.

When a closer relative refused to take Ruth as his wife and redeem the land, Boaz was free to take Ruth as his wife.

Boaz was kind to Ruth and she to him. Ruth was kind to Naomi who in turn was kind to Ruth. This book is about kindness which transcends racial boundaries. We have a word for unkind people. They are called ruthless.

Ruth became the great grandmother of King David (419-22). She and is listed in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 15). Since the Christian era, God accepts people who fear Him and do what is right regardless of race or national origin (Acts 1034-35. The NT Church recognizes no difference in the treatment of people based on race, gender or social status (Gal. 326-29).

What about you? Can you accept people based on their character rather than on their race?

#2 Testing & Trial – Two Kinds

2009-08-31T17:57:00.002-07:00

We are not to test God either to. put God on trial or test Him to approve of Him. But we are to test the spirits (1John 4:1). We are also to "prove" all things (1Thes. 5:21). Both of these are the Greek word "dokimazo" which means the act of testing for the purpose of approval.

God puts us to the test to purify us (Isa. 48:10; Ps 66:20; 1Pet. 1:6-8). We are strengthened and matured by this testing. Notice James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him." Both of the Greek words we have been talking about are used in this verse. The word translated "trial" or "temptation" (KJV) is the word from "peirazo." The word "test" or "tried" is the Greek "dokimazo" which means to be approved or accepted. In other words, he was put to the test to find out what kind of person s/he was and came through with flying colors and totally approved of God.

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you" (1Pet.5:10). It is through our faithfulness in these tests that we become approved (James 1:12; 1 Pet. 4:12-13). We read a very unusual passage in 1Cor. 11:19 which states, "For there must be also heresies (factions) among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." Note that the word "approved" comes from the word dokimazo. Sometimes we wonder why all the splits and divisions in the Churches of God. Sometimes we shake our heads at the departure of some from the sound teachings of the Holy Scriptures. But this is done so that those who are really genuine and stadfast will be approved. It reads like this in the New American Standard, "For there must also be factions among you, so that whose who are approved may become evident (manifest) among you."

God uses various circumstances and agencies to test us. Satan is one of them Satan puts us to the test but only for the purpose of testing with the hope that we will fail (Greek "peirazo"). Satan does this by manipulating circumstances within the limits God allows him. See Job 1:12; 2:6. At first he was not allowed to touch Job. Then he as allowed to inflict pain on Job but not kill him.

Satan hopes to break us down and get us to doubt and then desert God. But God does provide the way of deliverance or escape and will not allow us to be tested beyond what we are able to endure (1Cor. 10:13). Not many people could endure what Job endured. Each of us has our breaking point and God will now allow us to be tested beyond that point.

The only type of test Satan administers is the type designated by the Greek word, "peirazo". Thus he is called the "peirazon" or "tempter" (Matt. 4:3; 1Thes.3:5).

We are told that we must be on guard because Satan is like a roaring lion prowling around to find a weakness that he can put to the test he hopes we will fail so he might have something he can use to accuse us before God. 1 Pet.5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" To be sober means to be temperate and self controlled. The phrase "be vigilant" is the word translated "watch" in Mark 14:34,37-38. It means to stay alert and ready. It implies that one must not be caught unprepared.

I have a client who is on probation for a drug conviction. He has to take a urine test on a random basis. Each night he must call in to find out whether his assigned number has come up for a urine test first thing in the morning. Sometimes he goes more than a week or two and other times his number will come up two or three days in a row. He, therefore, must always be ready to pass the test. We, too, must always be ready to pass the test. For Satan is looking for that weakness in us that he can put to the test.

We are told that we must "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Some people think that to resist is to put up a weak defense or weak willed resistance. The Greek word here is "avnqi,sthmi anthistemi {anth-is'-tay-mee" and is defined by Thayer’s Greek Lexicon as "to set one's self against, to withstand, resist, oppose."

I had a client some years back, a small, slight of build, Japanese woman who worked for a local utility company. She was working overtime during the winter months and when she came out to her car it was dark. As she opened the door to her car a man grabbed her and tried to pull her away to abduct her. She described how she had her car door open and had one leg in the car, her hand clutched firmly to the steering wheel. She was blowing the horn while he was tugging on her other arm trying to pull her away from the car. She hung on with the one hand and resisted his attempts with all her might.

Though security never came, the man finally fled for fear he would be caught but he did strain her back, neck, and arm. She had to have physical therapy and was psychologically traumatized. But she was not abducted, raped, mugged or murdered!! She put up resistance!

The Bible describes how people resist the wrong thing. "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith" (2Tim. 3:8). The Greek word here is identical to "resist" in James 4:7. These won’t resist the devil but they will resist the truth of God! Talk about mixed up and getting things backward! Let us make sure that we are on the side of truth – God’s side. The Pharisees ended up resisting the truth and doing the devil’s bidding by persecuting God’s Son and the truth He brought. We can be tested by Satan in this too.

We must take on the whole armor of God to withstand such a test (Eph. 6:10-12). We must use this armor to resist him and that resistance must be more than a weak resistance – it is with all our might (James 4:7; 1Pet5:9).

Satan uses two main tools. 1) he hopes to crush us under the weight of hardship. He did this with Job taking away all his possessions and his children. He then struck at his body putting him through near unendurable pain. We also see that he did things to the church at Smyrna (Rev.2:10). Suffering, either mental or physical, is a type of test. We read that even Jesus was put to the test and suffered. Because of that He is able to help us when we suffer (Heb. 2:18).

2) He urges us to a wrong fulfillment of natural desires. He urged Jesus to prove He was God’s son by turning the stones into bread (Matt. 4:3-4). Naturally, Jesus was hungry after fasting 40 days. Paul warns married people not to neglect their love making and thus put themselves in position to be tested for a wrong fulfillment of that natural desire. We will continue this subject in our next "Sabbath Thoughts."

Testing & Trial – Two Kinds

2009-08-31T17:57:00.001-07:00

There are two Greek words that are translated by most English versions as trial, test or tempt. In the 1600’s the word "tempt" meant to test. Today it means to entice or seduce for the purpose of getting another person to sin or commit a crime. The Greek words and their Hebrew equivalents explain more about what the Bible is talking about regarding this important subject.

The first word is peirazo {pi-rad'-zo} which means to try and test with the purpose of discovering what good or evil, what power or weakness is in a person or thing. From Thayer’s Lexicon we have this partial definition: "in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments." This word is sometimes use in connection with God’s trials but is more often used when talking about the Pharisees testing Jesus (Mark 8:11; Luke 10:25; Mark 12:15) and used when Satan causes trials (1Cor. 7:5; Matt. 4:1). This word is used in John 6:6 when Jesus asked Phillip a question to "test" him or "prove" him.

"Peirazo" in the Greek compares to "massa" in the Hebrew. This word is used when David put the armor that Saul gave him to the test (1Sam. 17:39). It is also used in 1Kings 10:1 of the Queen of Sheba who had heard of Solomon’s wisdom & knowledge and put him to the test.

The other Greek word is dokimazo {dok-im-ad'-zo} which is never used in connection with Satan. This word means the act of testing for the purpose of approval. The word was found in a manuscript dated about 140 A.D. where it was used in a plea for exemption of physicians "who passed the examination (dokimazo). It is translated "approve" and "sanction" as well as test or tempt, or prove. A good illustration is Luke 14:19 where the man invited to dinner asked to be excused because, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them." This test is done in expectation and hope of a victorious announcement. Satan never tests us with the hope of approving us. He only tests with the hope that we will fail as he did with Job. He hoped Job would break under the stress of severe trial and test and the he would curse God.

The word is used in passages like Rom. 1:28 where they refused to approve to retain God in their knowledge. "Dokimazo" is used in 1Cor. 3:13 where every man’s word will be tried (dokimazo) by fire to "try" it to see what sort it is. But God expects that our work will pass the test for a victorious announcement! We read, "But let each one test (dokimazo) his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor" (Gal. 6:4 RSV).

A SIN TO TEST GOD: While we do put men to the test, we are not to put God to the test. A test of God is a defiant challenge to prove His words and promises are true and just. This is a sin because of lack of faith. The Israelites had seen God power, His miracles in Egypt and through the Red Sea. They witnessed the devastation of Egypt when God passed over them but struck the first born in Egypt. Yet they still doubted and lacking faith needed to put God to the test. Those who put God to the test are condemned (Ex. 17:2; Num.14:22-23; Ps. 78:18, 41,56; Ps.95:9; Mal. 3:15; Acts 5:9; 15:10). When Israel did it it went down in history to be talked about over and over.

Testing God amounts to putting God on trial. "We don’t know, God, whether your words are true or not. We don’t know whether you have the power you say you have or not. In effect, we don’t know whether you are lying to us or not!"

There was a place named as a memorial of the Israelites testing (massa) God (Ex. 17:7) as a perpetual reminder! To goad God shows extreme irreverence and God forbids it! See Deut. 6:16. This is the Scripture Jesus quoted when the "tempter" (peirazo, another designation for Satan) came to Him. In effect, Satan was saying, if you really are the Son of God, then jump off the temple mount and God has promised to put His angels and protect you. This amounted to putting God and His Son on trial. Jesus knew what Satan was doing and said, "You shall not tempt (test, put to the test = peirazo) the Lord your God" (Matt. 4:7).

However, God tests us by putting us in situations which reveal the quality of our faith and devotion to see what is in our hearts (minds). He did it to Abraham (Gen. 22:1). He did it to Israel (Ex. 16;14; 20:20; Deut. 8:2, 16; 2; 13:3). He did it to Hezekiah (2Chron. 32:31).

God purifies us by this as a metal is purified (Ps. 66:10; Isa. 48:10; Zech. 13:9; 1Pet. 1:6-8. We are strengthened and matured by this process (James 1:2-4;12; 1Pet. 5:10). Through our faithfulness in the trials we become approved (James 1:2; 1Cor. 11:19).

Next time we will examine how Satan tests us and the tools he uses.

Give Praise Through Thanksgiving Because It Is Good (for us)

2009-08-31T17:55:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving is a form of praise to God. It is praising Him for what He has done and who He is. When we praise God for who He is we are adoring Him. When we adore Him we humble ourselves and place reliance upon Him.

The Hebrew word "towdah" is translated "sacrifice of praise", "thanksgiving", "confession", and "thanks offering". It comes from the root word that means adoration. Specifically it refers to adoration from a choir of worshippers.

That's why we read in Psalms, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving (Heb: towdah)" (69:30). And "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving (towdah) and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms"(95:2). Again, "enter into His gates with thanksgiving (towdah) and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him and bless His name" (100:4).

During his reign as king David appointed singers to sing praise to God. Nehemiah continued that practice. We read in Nehemiah chapter 12, "And the Levites...in charge of the songs of thanksgiving..."(v. 8); "Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall around the Refuse Gate"(v.31); "For they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son, Solomon. For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times there were leaders of the singers, songs of praise, and hymns of thanksgiving to God." (v. 45-46).

Worship of God has always included beautiful and praise worthy music! It is easy to think that music is just an incidental filler needed between messages. But is it not. It is a means by which we worship, praise and thank the Almighty God of the universe!

We needn’t think that we have to thank God because He will get offended if we don't. We offer praise to God because it is good for us and is one of the things that makes us happy and gives us a proper perspective on our own lives.

Probably the greatest cause of unhappiness today is lack of gratitude toward God. When we don't thank Him we focus our minds on all the things we don't have rather than on all the blessings we do have. "Give Thanks to God for He is good" and He has blessed you in so many ways. When we give thanks we place our minds on our blessings and that creates feelings of contentment. You have many blessings for which to be thankful. Begin by giving thanks and that will cause you to look around in your life and find them.

Give Praise Through Thanksgiving Because It Is Good (for us)

2009-08-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

Early Enemies of Christianity # 5

2009-08-31T17:54:00.002-07:00

The Apostle Paul was left in Caesarea to face accusation of the Jews (Acts 241-2). They brought along an attorney named Tertullus to speak for them. In the customary polished manner, he began with eloquent words to the governor. "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your provision, most excellent Felix, reforms are introduced on behalf of this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him about everything of which we accuse him."

Following his remarks the Jews who came to accuse him assented to his words. Then the governor indicated for Paul to speak in his own defense. Somewhat like our system of justice, the Roman system demanded that a Roman citizen be faced by his accusers and that they detail the charges. After that he is allowed to speak in his own behalf.

There is a certain polite formality done in the courtroom. You will see above the Tertullus was highly respectful and almost flattering to the governor before he began his presentation. Now it was Paul's time to speak and he too used common sense in following the formal politeness. "Realizing that for many years you have been judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense." Paul then begins by telling the governor that it has been twelve days since he was arrested in Jerusalem. That he went into the temple but did not do anything wrong. He didn't stir up trouble but was minding his own business. Further, "Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me" (Acts 241-13).

Note that it is not enough for the accusers to accuse. They must PROVE their case. Paul did not have to prove that he didn't do the things he was accused of, they had to prove he did. So all Paul had to say was, in essence, "I didn't do it."

I have been in organizations of the past where when someone accused you, you had to prove that you were NOT guilty. In other words, you were considered guilty until proven innocent! This is the very opposite of just behavior. In the Law those in authority had to conduct diligent search to find the truth of the matter. This brings up another issue. Let's say someone makes a statement as, "There is life on Mars." You might say, "I don't believe it." They say, "You can't prove it's not true." Now you are stuck trying to prove something is NOT true. It is impossible to do. Thus, the rule of logic is that the one who makes the assertion has to prove it is so. In other words, he has to prove there IS life on Mars, you don't have to prove there is not!

Paul then makes his positive statements that though they call it a sect, he worships God believing all things written in the law and the prophets (2 major sections of the Old Testament); that he holds the same hope that they hold, that he does his best to live in good conscience before God and all people. He explained that they only thing they could accuse him of was that he said he was on trial for the resurrection of the dead. Felix , the governor, then decided he wanted to hear from the captain, Lysias, who originally intervened to save Paul. But, Felix was looking for a bribe and when Paul did not give it, he postponed the trial again. "But when two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison" (v. 27).

In Acts 25 we see that the Jews once again tried to persuade the new governor, Festus, to send Paul back to Jerusalem to be tried under the local Jewish authority and take this away from Roman interference. (Rome allowed the local areas to run themselves as long as there was peace in the area and that they didn't violate major Roman laws. The Jew were given exemption from emperor worship and allowed to us their own authority to settle problems within Judaism.)

" But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried on these charges before me?" Paul was aware of their former plot to kill him and he knew he would not receive a fair trial under the Jewish authorities. So, he steadfastly refused.saying that if he had committed any crime or anything worthy of death, he was willing to be punished for it. But if not, he refused to be given up to them -- meaning the Jews. He then said, "I appeal to Caesar." (Acts 2511). Festus then had to comply with a citizen's request to appeal to Rome (Caesar). He told Paul that he would go to Caesar as he had requested.

Later on King Agrippa (grandson to Herod the Great) came down to visit Caesarea. Festus took the opportunity to discuss Paul's case with him. He told Agrippa "and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any one before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him" (Acts 2515-16 RSV). Festus went on to explain that he had examined Paul and found nothing worthy of death in him but it seemed to be a lot of dispute about their religion and a one named Jesus. King Agrippa, being Jewish, and having the cult of the Herodians adore him, was interested in hearing the matter. Festus explained to the king, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer" (Acts 2524). Festus was hoping to find some thing that he could write to Caesar when he sent Paul to Rome that would indicate the charges against him.

Paul was called in to speak to Agrippa. Paul began in the formally polite way, "I think myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews"(262). Paul went on to tell about his conversion, and about the resurrection of Jesus asking why it should be thought incredible that God should raise the dead. He then asked Agrippa if he believed the prophets but answered the question with, "I know you do."

Agrippa finally said, "In a short time you think to make me a Christian!" Paul answered that whether in a short time or long time, he wished that all men would become like he was (a Christian) except for "these chains." (Acts 26)

After Paul's talk Agrippa said that he did not see any reason to have him put to death or even be in prison. Agrippa was willing to release Paul right then except that he had appealed to Caesar.

Acts 27 is about the trip to Rome and the troubles at sea. In Acts 28 we find Paul coming to Rome and talking with both Jews there. The Jews had not heard of all the controversies surrounding Paul. But when they began to argue over everything, Paul told them that since they thought themselves unworthy of this salvation then, "Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen"(Acts 28).

Persecution began to happen more and more to the Christians. One reason was that the Jews, who were exempt from Emperor worship, declared to the Roman government that the Christians were not a part of the Jewish religion and thus could have no exemption from Emperor worship. In the Roman empire everyone could have his own religion as long as he bowed to Caesar and called him Lord. He had to worship Caesar as a god. But Christians could not do that. For us there is only one Lord and that is Jesus Christ!

That began the martyrdom of saints -- Christians being thrown to the lions and the terrible persecution of those who believed in Christ whether Jew or Gentile.

The resentment became so strong between the Jews of Judaism and those who believed Jesus was the Messiah, that it was typical of going to extremes. The visible church resented everything "Jewish" to the point that they were repulsed even by solid Biblical things like the Sabbath and God's Laws. The Council at Nicea declared that "Christians should not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath." They forgot that Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man. They forgot that Jesus and the rest of the disciples knew that the 7th day was the Sabbath.

They rejected the Passover. And to show their contempt for anything Jewish it was customary to eat the "Easter ham" when they professed to celebrate the resurrection.

It is typical of humans to go from one extreme to another. At one point some Jewish Rabbis did not believe Gentiles could ever be saved no matter what they did. Later Gentile Christians took the position that Jews could not be saved and that they were "Christ killers" and that no matter what happened to them in persecutions -- somehow they deserved it!

Today, we can have the balance. There is no doubt that the early enemies of Christianity were the Jews of that time. But, the Apostles did not reject the Old Testament. In fact, Paul told Timothy that those Scriptures could make one wise to salvation. It is incredible today that professing Christians know nothing of the annual festivals which their own Lord Jesus Christ observed. They know nothing of the laws, statutes, and judgments in their own Bible.

Today, the Sabbath is, however, becoming more and more accepted by professing Christians than ever before. The honest study of the Bible makes it plain that the 7th day is God's Sabbath and that it was NEVER changed to the first day.

Let us thank God that we can understand the plain historical teachings of the New Testament without going to extremes like so many. The Bible is still our source of truth as we can view it without prejudice!

Early Enemies of Christianity # 4

2009-08-31T17:54:00.001-07:00

Some of the strongest condemning words in the NT were written by Paul against the Jews in Thessalonica (1Thes 214-16). The history behindthese words is contained in Acts 17. Paul was persecuted by the Thessalonian Jews who followed him all the way to Berea to turn people against him.

In Acts 203 we read that the Jews had a formed a plot against Paul but he avoided it and set sail for Syria. Later, after asking for the collection for the "poor saints in Jerusalem," Paul returned to Jerusalem and was very much welcomed by James and the elders there (Acts 2118). Then James asked a favor of Paul. He told Paul that there were tens of thousands (Greek word = myriads which means ten thousand) of the Jews who were believers who had heard rumors and false accusations that "you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children not to walk according to the customs" (v 20-21).

James asked Paul to go to the temple with 4 men who were completing a vow and to purify himself along with them. He felt that the Jews would see that "there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the law" (v. 24). But, James emphasized once again that the decision regarding the Gentiles made in Acts 15 still stood (v. 25).

You may wonder why that decision focused on "blood, things strangled, and fornication." They come right out of Lev. 17-18 where there is strong emphasis on these things for Israelites as well as "aliens." "And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood" (Lev. 1710-12). There were further commands to drain the blood from all animals as well as a prohibition of eating anything that died of itself (vss. 13-16).

Paul did as asked. He went to the temple and paid for the sacrifices for the other four men. But when the days of purification were almost over, he was spotted by Jews from Asia (the province not the continent). Asia is where Paul established the churches of Ephesus, Pergamous, Thyatira, Laodicea, Sardis, Philadelphia and even Colosse. He converted many Jews and Gentiles in this area to the frustration of the religious Jews there. The Jews from Asia caused a stir crying out against Paul falsely accusing him of "preaching against our people, and the Law and this place" (v.28). They then said he brought a Greek into the Temple area because they had seen Paul in the city with Trophimus and just supposed that he brought him to the temple(v. 29).

They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple area and were going to kill him when the Roman military leader was informed of the uproar and confusion (v.31). Rome allowed local areas to govern themselves as long as there was order. But they intervened immediately when disorder occurred. Paul was saved by the Roman soldiers who took him by force away from the Jews who wanted to kill him.. Paul spoke to the chief captain of the Roman soldiers there in Greek and asked it he could speak to the people. The commander of the soldiers then realized that he had confused Paul with an Egyptian who had caused a great deal of trouble. He allowed Paul to speak to the Jews there (Acts 2133-40).

Paul then spoke to the crowd in Hebrew and they listened. He recounted his history as a Jew from the city of Tarsus. He told them that he had been taught "at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day" (223). He told them how he had persecuted those who had believed that Jesus was the Christ. He went on to say that he was struck blind and encountered the risen Jesus personally who talked to him. He even explained how he was baptized but that before he had even been in agreement with the killing of Stephen. Then he told them what Jesus said to him, "And he said unto me, Depart for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (v. 21). At the word "Gentiles" the Jews began the uproar again yelling out that Paul was not fit to live. They tore off their clothes and cast dust into the air. It was at this that the captain took Paul and brought him into the barracks (vss. 22-24).

The Roman leader decided to examine Paul by flogging him (v. 24). As they were stretching him out to flog him, Paul asked, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?" When the centurion heard that he went straight to the captain to tell him. For Rome protected its citizens. They were entitled to fair trial sand to face their accusers. Roman citizens could not be crucified either. That was reserved only for slaves and non-citizens. So Jesus was crucified but Paul could not be by the Romans. Nevertheless he did say, "I am crucified with Christ." He was one with Christ.

The captain asked Paul, "Are you a Roman." Paul simply answered, "Yes." And the captain took his word for it. You might wonder why. It was because it was a crime punishable by death to claim to be a Roman citizen when you were not one. The captain told Paul that he obtained his citizenship by paying quite a some of money. To which Paul replied, "I was born a citizen" (vss. 27-28). They immediately backed away from Paul even fearing retribution from Rome for having even tied him up.

Nevertheless, the captain wanted to get to the bottom of why the Jews were accusing Paul. So he brought asked the Jews to come in and meet with Paul so that he might find out what was going on (vss. 29-30). When they met Paul began to speak saying that he had lived in all good conscience before God. But the high priest commanded someone to strike Paul on the mouth. Paul flared back, "God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?" (231-3). Paul didn't know Annias was high priest that year for he was mindful of the command not to speak evil of the ruler of the people (235).

Paul realized that the Jews who had come to accuse him were part Pharisees and part Sadduccees. So he cried out that it was for his belief in the resurrection of the dead that he was on trial. The Pharisees wanted to let him go but the Sadduccees wanted to condemn him. They got into a fight and nearly pulled Paul apart. Once again the Roman soldiers were there to rescue Paul from harm (236-10). Following this the Jews formed a plot. They asked that Paul be brought to Jerusalem that they might try him there according to the authority given them under Roman rule. But their plot was to ambush Paul and kill him. For they had vowed not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul (2311-12).

Somehow, Paul's nephew found out about this plot and was able to bring it to the attention of the chief captain whose name was Claudius Lysias. When he heard of the plot he decided to send Paul to the governor in Caesarea which is near the coast. He wrote a letter to the governor explaining how he had rescued Paul and that he had found nothing about Paul worthy of death. Thus Paul was brought to Caesarea where he was to await a trial and a hearing.

Having been rescued by the Romans and protected from being killed by the Jews, is it any wonder Paul wrote to be subject to the government when writing to the Romans (131-8)and to pay taxes! We'll continue with the history of the New Testament Church and its early enemies.

Early Enemies of Christianity #3

2009-08-31T17:53:00.004-07:00

After the miraculous giving of the Holy Spirit to the family of Cornelius, Peter returned to Jerusalem once again. But rumors traveled fast even in those days for they had already heard that these Gentiles had received the word of God (Acts 111). Upon his return there were certain "of the circumcision" or the "circumcision party" began to confront Peter and argue with him. They accused him of going into a Gentile home (one that is uncircumcised) and eating with them. This violated the rules of the clean & unclean laws. When Gentiles became unclean, they had no way of becoming clean as they had no temple to go to and no priests to perform the ritualistic washings to become clean. Therefore, Jews considered everything in a Gentile home unclean. Even beef, lamb, chicken served there were considered "common" or defiled because it was touched by people who were unclean.

Peter explained all the circumstances including the vision he had of the unclean animals and then said, "Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" (v. 17). Then they accepted what he did. Peter realized that those who feared God were accepted by Him regardless of whether they had access to the ceremonial washings to get clean (Acts 1034-35).

After the death of Stephen, despite the persecution, the word of God spread and many were converted. It was at Antioch that the word "Christian" was first applied to the disciples of Christ (Acts 1126). A prophesied famine came about and those outside of Judea determined to send relief to the Jews in Judea (1129). The Jewish Christians in Judea suffered the most because their fellow countrymen would not sell or buy from them. No one would do business with them. In years to follow Paul urged the Greek Christians to send relief for "the poor saints in Jerusalem" (Rom. 1526).

King Herod (not the original Herod the Great but a descendent) used his power to vex the church by killing James the brother of John (Acts 121-2). When he saw that it "pleased the Jews" he went on to arrest Peter (v.3). He was going to bring him forth to the "people" which always means Jewish people in the Book of Acts. But God let Peter out of jail by a miracle.

In the history recorded in Acts we read that Paul was recognized in a synagogue in Pisidia and was asked to speak to the people. He gave a long history leading up to telling them that those in Jerusalem were responsible for the death of God’s Son (1327). Paul told them that through Christ they could be justified in ways they couldn't have been by the law of Moses. This drew a big audience of both Jewish people and Gentiles (v.44). Then the Jews were envious and began to contradict Paul and cause trouble. Paul then said since they judged themselves unworthy of eternal life, "we turn to the Gentiles" (v. 46). Paul & Barnabas quoted from Isaiah, "I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth" (v. 47). This caused the Gentiles who heard it to rejoice (v. 48) and the word of God was being spread through the whole region (v. 49).

But when the Jews incited the devout women and leading men of the city and instigated a persecution against Paul & Barnabas and drove them out of this district they shook the dust off their feet and went on to Iconium (v. 50-52).

As was Paul's custom he went into a synagogue of the Jews in Iconium. Once again, there were the Jews and God fearing Greeks. Remember, the God-Fearers were Gentiles who believed in the God of Israel who created the heavens and earth but who had not taken the step of circumcision to become completely converted to Judaism. When Paul spoke both Jews and Greeks believed (Acts 141). But there were Jews who did not believe and these stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and caused them to hate the brethren (v. 2). Paul and Barnabas continued their preaching with attesting miracles and wonders (v. 3). Thus the city became divided. The unbelieving Jews on one side and the apostles on the other (v 4). When there was an attempt on their lives they fled out of there to surrounding cities (v. 5-6).

When they headed a man at Lystra the people thought they were gods and began to sacrifice to Paul & Barnabas who tore their clothes and barely restrained the people from worshipping them (149-18). But then the Jews from Antioch and Iconium came down and won the crowds over turning them against Paul to the place they stoned Paul and left him for dead (v. 19).

In Acts 15 we read that "some men came down from Judea (down meaning north in this case because Jerusalem is on a high hill and most everything was down from there) and were teaching the Gentile God-fearing brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" (v. 1). Paul and Barnabas had a major debate with them over this and it was decided that they would go "up" to the Apostles in Jerusalem about this matter. The decision in Acts 15 that did not require Gentiles who came to Christ to be circumcised was a major move that allowed many God-fearing Gentiles to enter the "sect of the Nazarenes" or be a part of what the apostles were doing. They could have full status in the Christian church but could not enjoy full status in Jewish synagogues without being circumcised. This appealed to many of the Gentiles who came to fear the God of Israel a creator of heaven and earth but who did not want to go through circumcision as adults.

In Acts 16 Paul meets up with his most reliable helper who stood by him and was a major force in stabilizing the early congregations -- Timothy. Even though Gentiles were not required to be circumcised, Paul took and circumcised Timothy because his mother was a Jew even though his father was a Greek. To this day, Jews consider a person a Jew only if his/her mother was a Jew! Paul wanted Timothy to be accepted by the Jews in and around that area (161-3).

When Paul cast out a demon from a slave-girl in the city of Philippi, her owners who made a lot of money from her "seized Paul & Silas and dragged them into the market place before authorities saying, "These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans" (v. 19-21). Following this they beat Paul & Silas and through them into jail without a trial. Here is the first incident in the book of Acts of Gentile persecution of Paul and this was because of his interference with some making money on this slave-girl who could use divination to predict things.

God performed a miracle and the jail was opened. The jailer was going to kill himself but Paul stopped him saying that the prisoners were all still there. When he asked how he could be saved, Paul and Silas answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 1630-31).

When the leaders of the city found that Paul was a Roman citizen they just wanted to have them leave town. Paul said, "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? NO, indeed@ But let them come themselves and bring us out" (v. 37).

But perhaps the worst persecution came from the Jews from Thessalonica. They became jealous and formed a mob with some brutes and actually drove Paul out of the city to Berea (Acts 171-10). The Jews in Berea were "more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica" and received God's word eagerly "examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so" (v. 11). Again, Paul went directly to their synagogue as he did every Sabbath day.

But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that Paul was preaching God's Word in Berea they came there as well and stirred up problems driving Paul out of that city as well. He had to go to Athens. It is no accident that Paul wrote some of the most condemning words ever written in the New Testament to the brethren in Thessalonica. "For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles, so that they may be saved, with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost" (1Thes.214-16 NAS).

We will continue with the history preserved in the New Testament.

Early Enemies of Christianity #2

2009-08-31T17:53:00.003-07:00

Jesus made a most powerful statement that must have shocked his fellow Jews at that time when He said that many from far away places would sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God. But that the "sons of the kingdom" (meaning the His own people right there) would be cast out into outer darkness where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:11-12).

Matthew records that in order to cover up the reality of Christ’s resurrection, the Jewish elders (Sanhedrin) plotted to bribe the soldiers to say that "his disciples came and stole the body." They even said they would cover for the soldiers if they got in trouble for saying it happened while they slept (Matt. 28:12-15). This story made the rounds among the Jewish people for quite some time. Later Christian thinkers began to say that it would not make sense for His disciples to suffer even death for something they knew to be false if they had stolen the body!

The early Christians were all Jews and considered themselves a part of Judaism at that time. They went to the temple to pray but used the name of Jesus to perform healings (Acts 3). Even after a major healing the disciples of Christ were commanded not to talk or speak about His name (Acts 4:18). The Sadduccees especially were upset because the disciples were referring to the resurrection of the dead.

They were thrown in prison but God took them out. They continue to preach in Christ’s name though threatened. They were finally beaten and had it not been for Gamaliel’s admonition to his fellow Jews they would have been slain (Acts 5:14-42). When Stephen was ordained he was so full of faith and power that he did many miracles among the people. So, men from the Hellenistic branch of the Jews put up false witness to say that Stephen spoke blasphemous words against Moses and against God. As a result he was ultimately stoned to death (Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-60).

After the death of Stephen a major persecution broke out against the disciples of Christ led by Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8:1-5). The Bible describes Saul like a dragon "breathing out threatening and slaughter"(9:1). He even initiated going to Damascus to persecute the disciples. But it was on that road that Christ converted him. Now he began to preach what he once had destroyed. Immediately there was a plot by Jews to kill him (9:20-31).

Peter was brought into contact with Gentiles who were God-fearers but who were not circumcised. The structure of the early synagogues was such that male circumcised Jews sat in the most prominent area by themselves. Gentiles who had been converted to Judaism and had been circumcised as full converts sat in the next most prominent section. The Jewish women sat in a section by themselves. And then there was the least prominent section reserved for those who had come to honor, reverence and fear the God of Israel but who had not taken the agonizing step as males to be circumcised. These were called "God-fearers." Cornelius was such a man.

The Bible calls him a devout man who feared God (a God-fearer). He prayed to God and gave money to the poor in the synagogue. God sent an angel to him who told him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God." He was then told to send for Peter who was in Joppa. After a perplexing vision Peter came to Cornelius and entered his house and had a meal with him. While there the Holy Spirit came on Cornelius and his family and they were baptized immediately following the receiving of the Holy Spirit. But Peter got into trouble for entering into the house of one who was not circumcised and partaking of their hospitality by eating the food they served. Why?

Because uncircumcised Gentiles, even though they were God fearers, were looked on as perpetually unclean. You see, because they were not allowed to partake of the rules of the covenant, they had no access to the temple and to the priests. Therefore, they had no way of becoming clean. Thus, everything they touched was "common" or "unclean." Everything they served was considered by the Jews common or unclean. No strict law-keeping Jew would ever enter into such a house as they would become ceremonially unclean.

Peter did and was called on the carpet for it (Acts 11:2-3) Once he explained everything and told them that he could not go against God, they were amazed exclaiming, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life"(RSV).

In our next Sabbath Thoughts we'll see how Paul continued to be persecuted in his visits to various synagogues throughout the Roman world and just who the main persecutors were!

Early Enemies of Christianity

2009-08-31T17:53:00.001-07:00

In the television special, "Search for Jesus, " there was an assault on the veracity of the New Testament. The program, with Peter Jennings, tried to do away with anti-Jewish sentiment by suggesting that it was the Romans – specifically the Roman Curator, Pontius Pilate, who were responsible for the death of Jesus. The program tried to point out that Jesus was just another Jew and did not endorse His divinity.

First, let us be clear on this. The New Testament is not against Jews and there should be no prejudice toward Jewish people in the hearts of converted Christians. In fact, there should be no prejudice in Christians toward any race. A person of Jewish origin is no more reponsible for the death of Christ than you or I are. Christ died for all our sins and all have sinned (Rom. 3:24).

Whatever our ethnic or racial origin, when we are in the Church, the Body of Christ, we are told, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him" (Rom. 10:12 NRS). In the Church there is no distinction (Col. 3:11).

But the program implied that the New Testament was and is historically inaccurate. Let us set the record straight. Jesus was born a Jew. He was born into the Jewish community of the first century. That community consisted of various sects and cults – Pharisees, Sadduccees, Herodians, Essenes, Scribes, and zealots. Jesus came from a Jewish ancestry that could be traced back to King David and beyond (see Matt. 1 and Luke 3). There were, of course, Gentiles in His background – Ruth, the Moabitess, and Rahab the Canaanite harlot.

It was early in His ministry that Jesus set Himself against the legalism that had developed after the Persian captivity. Traditions of elders became like a second religion among the Jews. Jesus spoke out against it and condemned it when it overran the commandment of God and actually laid the commandment aside in favor of the tradition (Mark 7:1-13). The Pharisees did their best to entrap this teacher who was creating a stir among people (Matt 22:15), but they could not.

Jesus went on a strong tirade against the legalism and its oppression of people. The pretended prayers, devouring of widows houses, the faking of long prayers for money, the brainwashing of proselytes, and the inability to distinguish the important from the unimportant (Matt. 23:13-34).

According to the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus was accused and arrested by Jewish authorities and turned over to the Roman ruler (John 18:12, 19-24, 28). When He didn’t answer Pilate He was told, "Don’t you know I have the power to release you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered that Pilate’s power came from above, thus those delivering Him to Pilate had the greater sin (John 19:10-12).

It is true that Christianity began as though it was a sect of Judaism, but events came about that separated the Christian church from the Judaism. In fact, so much so that by the time of the writing of the New Testament the apostles used the word "ecclesia" to mean the assembly of the Christians. They used "synagogue" to mean the assembly of the Jews.

In our next "Sabbath Thoughts" we will examine just what happened that the New Testament Church became alienated from Judaism.

Your Future Today

2009-08-31T17:52:00.003-07:00

Jesus often used this phrase, "…in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 812). Think of that phrase. "Weeping" implies great sorrow or remorse, fear or terror. "Gnashing of teeth" implies anger, upset, mental disturbance, depression. It is the picture of people who are experiencing a future they dread and hate.

Now let’s look at the above verse in its entirety "And I say to you that many shall come from east and west, and recline (dine) with Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Why were the "sons of the kingdom cast out? Remember, Jesus came into Galilee preaching good news. He said, "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel (good news)" (Mark 114-15).

What is the kingdom of God? It is the world ruling government of God which is prophesied to come to the earth and conquer all the satanic governments of this world and bring in a utopian like state (Dan. 2; Isa. 21-4; 111-9). It is also the divine province or family of God which a person may enter by becoming on son of God through receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus talked of those who would not enter (Matt. 721). When the people at that time heard Jesus, they did not repent. They did not believe. Jesus said that some will come to a place of utter regret.

Each of us is making our future today. In fact, today IS the future of 5, 10 or 15 years ago. Today is even the future of yesterday! Erik Erikson, famous social scientist, developed psycho-social stages of human kind. He concluded that the last stage was "integrity vs. despair." When you live your life making right and godly decisions, you can, at the end, have a sense of integrity. When you live life foolishly making wrong ungodly decisions, you may have a sense of despair.

The key to your better future is YOU. How can you have a better future? Become a better you! You might even start with something as simple as improving your smile, handshake, or speaking. What you do today is determining the kind of future you will have. Jesus gave examples of futures that were not so good. He talked of the parable of the "talents." These are not talents like singing or dancing abilities. These were sums of money which the master left with his servants or slaves. He wanted them to buy and sell and increase what they had been given. One received 5 "talents" and produced 5 more. Another received 2 talents and produced 2 more. But the third man received only one. He did nothing with it. He merely sought to preserve it and not lose it. He was called a lazy and wicked slave and was cast out where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth(Matt 2524-30). I

In the verses that follow Jesus talked about two different types of futures. One where the King of the Kingdom says to those on his right hand, "Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." The other future is contained in the words that go like this, " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." He explains the reason for their reward or punishment to both groups. It had to do with the decisions the made and the actions they did. The ones who gave no help to those in need were told to depart. Those that made right decisions of love and care were told to inherit the kingdom (vss. 41-46).

You don’t want the future of "weeping & gnashing of teeth" but the future where Christ says, "Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you…"

The Principles of Friendship (Part 2)

2009-08-31T17:52:00.001-07:00

A good illustration of the difference in the two Greek words translated "friend" is their use in the following passages. Judas gave Jesus a kiss when he came to betray Him. Jesus said to him, ""Friend, why are you here?" Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him"(Matt. 2650 RSV). The Greek word here is "hetairos" which means "companion, comrade, partner." In contrast, Jesus used this word in referring to His loyal and beloved disciples "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you" (John 1515 RSV). The Greek word here is the word, "philos" which means a loved or beloved friend.

While friends (hetairos) can betray us and thus hurt us, we have this reminder "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Prov. 276). A true friend (one who loves you) has your best interests in mind even when s/he hurts you by being frank and rebuking you (see verse 5).

Friends Influence Us

There is no doubt that we are influenced by our friends. This is especially true during our formative years and into teenage. Peers have enormous persuasive power with us. We see it in the case of Amnon and Tamar. It was Amnon’s friend that persuaded him to fake being sick in order to lure his beautiful half sister into his room (2 Sam. 133-15). We are warned not to be friends with an angry person and not to accompany a furious person (Prov. 2224).

We are warned not to let a friend influence us to do wrong. Specifically not to allow a friend to lure us to the worship of other gods (Deut. 136). Today, we can apply that in many ways. We need to resist allowing a "friend who is as your own soul" to influence us toward evil or the breaking of God’s commandments. It takes a great deal of courage to resist the peer influence. Most people want to belong, to please others, to be accepted by others. It is natural, therefore, to want to "go along" or "join in" and not to offend the desires of your friend or friends.

No time in our lives is a difficult to resist peer pressure as the teenage years when acceptance by peers seems to be of paramount importance. You might remember your own teenage years when having the right clothing, style, look, etc. was all important.

The Bible tells us that a true friend "loves at all times" (Prov. 1717). It also suggests that our behavior speaks louder than our words as a friend. "He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing"(Prov. 2714 RSV). Notice that even though the person is "blessing" his friend which means praising him/her the fact that it is early in the morning and is waking the friend up, robbing him/her of needed restmakes it "cursing." Actions speak louder than words.

A husband or wife though a lover can also be in the category of a beloved friend (Song of Solomon 516).

Jesus was regarded as the "friend" (philos loving friend) of publicans and sinners (Matt.1119). There is a Pharisaical tendency to become "angry" or ‘hostile" to people who sin. Jesus was not that way. He was more hostile with the people who pretended to be righteous. It wasn’t the publicans and harlots who wanted Jesus dead. It was the religious leaders and those professing to observe the laws of God.

A Model of Friendship

Perhaps the best model of friendship is the relationship of God with the prophets and patriarchs. What a wonderful statement in Isaiah "But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, my friend" (418). "Abraham, my friend," God said. Put your own name in there. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have God say that regarding you?!

In the New Testament, James must have been referring to the Isaiah passage "…and he was called the friend of God" (223). Again this is the Greek word "philos" which means a loved or beloved friend. This word philos is also used in another famous passage in James "…whosoever therefore will b a friend (philos) of the world is the enemy of God" (44). Think of it this way. Could you be a friend to some one who loved everything you hated? This is what this passage is talking about. We cannot be a loving friend to the world of sin and corruption, to the Babylonian system which hurts and destroys mankind without alienating God. God hates that system. Therefore, James tells us that if we love it, we become God’s enemy.

While God hates the world’s system and sins, He is a friend to mankind. Note this verse "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared" (Titus 34). Contained in this verse is a Greek word translated "love of God…toward man." It is a Greek word that is a combination of two Greek words. It is "pilanthropia" from "philos" (loving friend) and "anthropos" (man or mankind). In other words, God extends Himself to be the friend of all mankind.

But what about mankind? They (and one time we) were God’s enemies (Rom. 510). And while we were enemies Christ died for us. This was so that we could be reconciled to God through Him. Now God pleads with man through His ministry "be reconciled to God" (2Cor. 520).

What does it mean to be reconciled? It is the same word that Greeks would use to reconcile a set of numbers that didn’t add up. It is used when two people are at odds and need to have their differences and attitudes reconciled. To be reconciled to God is to become His friend!

Why would any person (man, woman or child) not want to be God’s friend? What does God bring to a friendship?

Power -- "all power is given to me in heaven & earth."

Wealth -- the earth and its fullness belong to God all the silver, all the
gold.

Forgiveness/mercy -- His mercy never fails and He does not remember
our sins.

Loyalty/commitment -- He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 135).

Care -- He watches over us, cares for us and asks us to bring our cares to
Him.

Wisdom/knowledge -- He has all knowledge and wisdom has been with
Him.

Honesty and truthfulness -- It is impossible for God to lie and we can
count of Him.

Goodness -- God is good and He demonstrates that through His bounty to all.

Help -- God gives help in all circumstances.

Love -- He demonstrated His love for us through the sacrifice of His Son (John 3:16; Romans 5:8.

Again, why would anyone refuse God’s friendship?? People around the world need to know that they can come to God, repent of their sins, repent of their love of the world, and be reconciled to God. They need to know that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself and that He extends His undying friendship now in this life and unto the ages of ages!! We have this ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:20).

The Principles of Friendship (Part 1)

2009-08-31T17:51:00.001-07:00

Who wouldn't want a friendship like that of David and Jonathan where their souls were "knit together"? That friendship endured both good times and bad and transcended even death and lingered in memory to future generations. Think of the friendship of Ruth and Naomi which was based on mutual love and admiration with nothing to be gained by the friendship.
There is also the friendship of Hushai to David. He is called "David's friend" several times (2Sam. 15:37; 16:16-17). David sent him back to thwart the good advice of Ahithophel after Absalom had taken over the kingdom.
A great friendship makes life sweet and the longer the friendship lasts, the better it becomes. Friendships like good wine get better with age.
The Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, uses primarily two words in Hebrew or Greek that are translated "friend." One means a companion or comrade while the other is used of the friend for whom you have affection. After all, companions can become dearly loved friends in time.

Why Do the Rich Have So Many Friends?

"The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich has many friends" (Prov. 14:20). And, "Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbor" (19:4). Psychologists and other social scientists believe that relationships are set up and maintained on a "quid pro quo" (something in exchange for something) basis. If that be so, then we can see immediately why the rich has so many friends.
The rich has something to offer to the relationship. S/he brings money, if nothing else. Money can translate into many things -- entertainment, travel, food, things, etc.
But the poor and the sick are avoided (Psa. 38:11-16; 88:15, 18). Even when the poor calls after his relatives and his friends they still leave him (Prov. 19:7). Why?
Friendships are built on some form of exchange. What do you bring to your friendships? Think of the people you like and would consider as friends. There is something they bring to the friendship that makes them valuable in the exchange. They may bring humor, care, understanding, sympathy, fun, sense of adventure, information, help, skill, compliments, etc. Ask yourself what you bring to a friendship. What do you have to offer?

Friends Can Be Separated

In order to maintain a friendship you have to "keep in touch." When there is little or no contact, a friendship will tend to wilt or become stale and stagnant. Furthermore, you have to respond to contact from your friend. There have been some friendships that became damaged because of mechanical failure. Let's suppose you sent an email or left a message on an answer machine but the device failed or there was no tape in the machine. Once when we were leaving on a vacation, we left the answer machine on but had left the tape that recorded the messages out of the machine, somehow!! I can only imagine how many companions were offended thinking they left a message which we heard but that we refused to answer. The truth is that we never got any messages!
But friends can be separated by gossip and slander (Prov. 16:28; 17:9). It seems to me that the only way that could happen is that the person hearing the gossip about their friend would not go to him/her and ask directly, "Did you say or do what I've heard?" I would not believe what someone told me about what a friend was supposed to have said about me. It is my duty to ask my friend if I want to keep that person as a friend. Feedback is necessary to keep from being separated as "friends."

Faithful Friends Are Hard To Find

A friend that continues loyal in all circumstances is hard to find. Some people are "fair weather friends." That means that they are your friend when you are doing well and have a lot to offer. There are other people who are "foul weather friends" (companions for a short time). That means they only want to be around you when you are in serious trouble. They will offer a helping hand but few, if any, will remain if you stay down and out for very long.
Companions can become dear and beloved friends. To be a faithful friend a person has to put the other person on a par equal to or above the interests of self. Jesus chose 12 disciples. They were His companions and students at the beginning, but they became very close friends and He loved them to the end. He wanted to share His kingdom with them.

The Difference Between Disloyalty and Betrayal

There are people who might be your companions but who in time will just not put any effort into coming around you. Or, to put it more bluntly, will leave your presence. I call this "disloyalty." They are just not faithful to endure in the friendship. This happened to Jesus. After some strong words and hard to understand metaphors, many of His disciples left Him. He even became concerned about the twelve (John 6:66-67).
But betrayal is something else! Judas betrayed Jesus! He pretended to be His friend while he plotted to deliver Jesus over to the authorities for 30 pieces of silver! Even when Jesus said, "One of you will betray me", Judas still did not repent. One would think he would have said to himself, "This man can read my inner thoughts and knows what I'm thinking. Therefore, He must be the Son of God." But, no, not Judas. Not then. He just went out and did Satan's bidding. He ended up betraying Jesus with a kiss no less! One of the psalms was a prophecy of the betrayal of Judas (Psa. 41:9).
David and others knew what it was to be betrayed. "For it is not the enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend. We who had sweet fellowship together, walked in the house of God in the throng..." (Psa. 55: 12-15 NAS).
David complained in another psalm that they had "repaid me evil for good and hatred for my love" (Psa. 109: 2-5).
Betrayal of a friend has to be one of the most heinous acts of bad character. Remember, you don't have to stay friends with some one. But to betray them while acting as a friend is extremely bad character. It's the character of a Judas.
In his famous play, Julius Caesar, Shakespeare quotes Julius Caesar as he is being stabbed to death. He sees among those in the Roman senate, the man he believed to be his friend, Brutus. He cried out with shock, "And you too Brutus?!"
In our next Sabbath Thoughts we'll talk about picking friends and their importance and what friendship should mean to each of us as Christians.

Thanksgiving

2009-08-31T17:50:00.002-07:00

One of the things that darkened the minds of the Greeks after they knew about the existence of God was the fact that they did not give thanks. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened" (Rom. 1:21). Other translations read, "neither gave thanks."

God warned the Israelites against forgetting Him after they came into the land. "When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage….Beware lest you say in your heart, `My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.'

You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth; that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as at this day" (Deut. 8:6-18 RSV).

Jesus never forgot. When He received food He gave thanks (Matt. 14:19; 15:36). He followed the lead from Psalm 103:1-5 which tells us to bless (praise and acknowledge God in word and thought) who has given us so many things.

Many people misunderstand and think that they are asking a blessing on the food. That is certainly ok and proper. But, predominantly, in the Scripture when it states that Jesus "blessed" it means that He blessed God who is the source of all good things.

In temple times under the Levitical priesthood, there were provisions for the "sacrifice of thanksgiving." It was part of a peace offering (Lev. 7:11-15). "If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thank offering unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour well mixed with oil" (v.12 RSV).

Singers Appointed for Thanksgiving

. Nehemiah followed the lead of David and Asaph and appointed singers for the express purpose of giving thanks in worship to God (Neh. 12:8, 31, 46). And we are told in the New Testament to give thanks for all people. "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way" (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

We are to make a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psa. 107:22; 116:17). We are to come into God’s presence with thanksgiving (Psa. 95:2). We are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise (Psa. 100:4). This implies a people who love God, appreciate what He does, and are happy to come before Him in His congregation.

Because this is so important, it behooves every minister or congregational leader to make sure that services are inspiring, uplifting and free from controversy wherever possible. Churches that are filled with strife, where the pastor is constantly accusing the people, or focusing on a problem that one person has but preaching to the rest, become depressing for God’s people who are supposed to come before Him with thanksgiving and praise.

I have heard people say that they dreaded going to their "church." They said they were in a worse attitude after having attended than they were before they ever went. Now, to be sure, we all have to check our own state of mind. But when it happens week after week that you are not uplifted, not inspired to be better than you are, don’t feel like praising God, we might conclude something is wrong in the services provided for you.

Sometimes it is necessary for a minister to correct. But that should be some of the time not all of the time or even most of the time.

Paul followed Jesus example of giving thanks for food (Acts 27:35). He also thanked God for the brethren as he remembered them (1 Cor. 1:4; 14:18; Phil. 1:3). He thanked God when he met the brethren who had traveled so far to meet him (Acts 28:15).

Paul thanks God for triumphs and victories which God gives us in and through Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 2:14).

Always Give Thanks

Here is a New Testament command. It’s really not just a suggestion but written forcefully as a command: "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20 NKJV). Other translations read: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (KJV); "always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father" (RSV); "giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (NRSV).

Note that we are to give thanks in ALWAYS and for ALL THINGS. Even in our most severe trials, even when things seem bleak, dark and foreboding, we are to give thanks. When we come to God with our petitions, supplications and requests they are to be made with THANKSGIVING (Phil. 4:6).

We must never forget what God has given us. We must at all times be aware of His bountiful gifts which He pours out upon us minute by minute day after day! To forget them is to become partially blind and distorted in our mental view of our life and life around us.

Note that creatures far greater than us are said to be giving thanks day and night day after day. "And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, ‘Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.’" (Rev. 4:8-11 RSV).

Do you want to be God’s friend? Would you, yourself, have as a friend a person that you did a lot for, gave many gifts to, listened to, cared for; but who never once thanked you for anything? Or perhaps only thanked you about once out of every thousand or so times for the gifts you have given??

Think of the many gifts we have been given. Air to breathe, children and other people to love. Animals to fascinate us and to be our companions. The beauty of nature, The taste of pure fresh water. The ability to see, to hear, and feel! And those of our other senses.

Think of those who have never heard music of any kind – simply because they cannot hear. They do not know the sound of a saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, organ, etc. They do not know the sound of the male or female voice. They don’t know the sound of the birds or cats, dogs or anything in nature.

For those who have been blind, they never saw a sunset, beautiful morning, pretty flowers, the eyes of someone they loved.

We sometimes take them all for granted and forget to thank God for His many wonderful blessings which He pours out upon us and all humankind.

We are urged to do this: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col. 3:16-17).

Note that our thanks is directed to God the Father but it comes through Jesus Christ. We can and should give thanks for Him and the gift of forgiveness and grace because of Him as well. That amounts to the greatest of all our gifts.

Give thanks to God. He doesn't need it, but it is good for you -- for your mind, your health and your happiness!

The Essene Story (Part 3)

2009-08-31T17:50:00.001-07:00

The esoteric apocalyptic sect by the Dead Sea rejected this world and its ways, governments and evils. They hated the Romans whom they saw as evil and sons of Belial. They were the Essenes and they fought against the Romans in 70 A.D and perished. We have their record from the Dead Sea scrolls.

The believed the Holy Scriptures and were rigorous in their study. But, did the Essenes read these Scriptures? "And he changeth the times and the seasons he removeth kings, and setteth up kings he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding (Dan. 221)

Or these? Dan. 417, 25, 32; 518-21; Exodus 914-17. These passages make it clear that God sets up kings and removes them. God rules in man’s realm and sometimes He gives it to base and immoral men.

Had the Essenes paid attention to the Scripture rather than being immersed in their own interpretations, they might have understood these passages in Isaiah 44. In verse 25 God says that He frustrates the diviners (the ones who try to predict the future). Isn’t it the same today? Do you realize how many people try to "divine" or predict the future. They try to predict events, the economy, the world happenings. But most could not even predict the a presidential election!

Had the Essenes paid attention to Isaiah, they would have seen that God predicted the emergence of Cyrus calling him by name saying `He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfil all my purpose.." (4428). God called this pagan ruler by name and used this uncircumcised Gentile ruler for His own purposes. The primary purpose was to allow His captured nation to come back into their land and rebuild God’s house.

Studying the Scriptures as they did, they would have surely read Jeremiah 27 and 28. Surely the passage from Isaiah 558 applies here "My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways…"

Think of the message Jeremiah had to deliver. Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan Gentile king was an ego manic killing whoever he wished (Dan. 518-21). This Babylonian king had already invaded Judah and took some of the vessels from the very house of God along with many nobles' children including among them Daniel and his three friends.

Nebuchadnezzar was so vain and despotic that he had a "god" designed and built and then demanded that all the people worship it or else be burned in a furnace. Daniel's three friends refused. As a result, no matter how valuable they proved to be in his kingdom, Nebuchadnezzar intended to have them put to death for politely refusing to bow down to his manufactured god. Only God's divine intervention saved them.

In the light of these things, Jeremiah had the very difficult task of telling the people of Judah that they ought to surrender to the king of Babylon (276-8). The false prophets were telling the people that God was on their side against this pagan, uncircumcised Babylonian king. Surely it was easy to believe the false prophets. Everyone wanted to believe it! And if you want to hear it there will always be a voice that will say it!!

They reasoned "After all, don't we have the temple of God in our midst? Don't we keep God’s Sabbaths, His Holy Days and do the temple worship? We are God’s holy people. God would not be on the side of a pagan king. How could He be? Besides that king came unlawfully into the temple and had his men take the vessels of God’s house. He captured some of our children! God will be on our side because God’s very house is here!"

Jeremiah walked around with a wooden yoke on his neck and over his shoulders to tell the people and leaders of Judah that they must submit to the king of Babylon. By doing so they could stay in their own land and live.

Hanniah, the false prophet, removed the yoke and broke it saying that within two years God would bring back the vessels of God’s house and break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 28). Had the Essenes read Jeremiah they might have learned from Biblical history and not have perished.

Jesus knew this when He was in front of Pilate. ‘You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above… "(John 1910-11 RSV). In the next "Sabbath Thoughts" we will understand more what Christ taught and the teaching of the New Testament regarding the governments of this world and their leaders.

The Essene Story (Part 2)

2009-08-31T17:49:00.002-07:00

The Essene Story (Part 1)

2009-08-31T17:49:00.001-07:00

They sought to obey and understand the Scriptures. They called themselves the "Community of the New Covenant" and believed that they alone possessed the true interpretation of the Law and the Prophets. Simply stated, they read the Scriptures especially the Prophets section with the idea that the words and events in them were written for them and would occur in their time.

They kept the Passover, Pentecost and other festival days of the law. But they followed a different calendar one based on the sun, solar, rather than lunar calendar. They were suspicious of the other religions and felt they had corrupted themselves by mingling in the politics of the world and corrupted by the world’s culture specifically Hellenism.

They took the words of Scripture very literally and when Isaiah 403 read to "prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God" they moved to the desert. They were suspicious of the world’s ways. Their retreat into the desert was seen as the obedient response to prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom.

It was not only their belief that the prophets were to be understood in terms of their own contemporary history but also that the prophets’ words referred to the last days before the final victory of God’s Kingdom. And the Essenes believed they were living in those days.

They could read about the 4 beasts of Daniel. They knew about Babylon, Persia, Greece and now Rome. They saw that in the days of that final beast God would set up a kingdom. They believed that they alone were the true Israel, the faithful remnant, who in their way of life already pictured the anticipated fulfillment of God’s promises.

Historians such as Josephus, Philo, Pliny and Hippolytus mention the Essenes. But little was known of them until the discovery of the "Dead Sea Scrolls."

They set up a Kibbutz like community of labor. They read the Scriptures every night. They assembled every morning before going to work for prayers and Bible readings. Those who would join them had to be baptized, had to undergo a period of time and testing before they could partake of the communal meals which took place daily at noon and in he evening. These were a central part of their life.

They were held together by strict obedience and deference to the elders in a well defined hierarchical order. But they rejected slavery.

They took vows of poverty and rejected the world’s emphasis on material goods. They favored celibacy, purity (avoiding bowel movements on the Sabbath) and self-discipline. Hard work was honored. They felt that they Pharisees and Sadduccees were corrupted by their influence of the Greek culture and their control by Rome.

The Essenes believed this world was of the devil and ruled by a Belial spirit of wickedness and the prince of darkness. On the other side were God’s angels, the prince of light and the Angel of Truth. They believed that all men lined up on one side or the other. They hated the Romans because they were the "men of Belial." Actually they hated all uncircumcised people and had an inclination to kill them.

They taught that the end of the world would be a might battle and the Essenes would fight with the hosts of God against the hosts of wickedness both human and angelic. They looked to the Messiah of Israel to lead them in their victorious war. Hyppolytus claimed that they believed in the bodily resurrection, a final judgment, and an earth devouring fire at the end.

In short, the Essenes viewed the present world order pessimistically. They placed great emphasis on the lowliness of man and the perverseness of the human heart, mind, will. They felt that man was helpless apart from God.

Their sect appealed to all Jews who were world weary and who hated Rome. Their converts were many though they are not mentioned directly in the New Testament. Some scholars feel that John the Baptist who dwelt in the wilderness and who baptized must have come in contact with them. Some of their beliefs are akin to some of the New Testament teachings.

But the Essenes died out after 70 AD and by 100 AD they seemed to completely disappear. We now know that they joined the rebels and zealots to fight against the Romans. They ended up fleeing to Masada where they were besieged and died out about 70-73 AD.

DID THEY READ THESE SCRIPTURES?

If zeal could have done it, they had zeal. If dedication could have done it, they had dedication. If hard work, self-denial, love of the law could have done it, they had those things.

But did they read these Scriptures? "And he changeth the times and the seasons he removeth kings, and setteth up kings he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding (Dan. 221)

Or these? "The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men" (Dan. 417 RSV). These passages make it clear that God sets up kings and removes them. God rules in man’s realm and sometimes He gives it to base or very low men. This concept is repeated in this chapter. See verses 25 and 32.

We think that rulers of nations must be men or high principles or honor. Was Nebuchadnezzar a great and moral man? Probably not. He was influenced by convenience and was totally selfish. God performed miracles in front of him and finally had to drive him into madness before he could come to acknowledge that God was great than he was!

Daniel had to speak to Nebuchadnezzar’s son and explain that it was God who gave Nebuchadnezzar all his power and his total, absolute rule. But when Nebuchadnezzar’s pride became overwhelming, he was driven from men until he learned this lesson "…until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of men, and sets over it whom he will" (Dan. 518-21).

Even earlier in the Bible we read of God’s power over the affairs of this world and the rulers of this world’s nations. God tells Pharaoh that He could have destroyed him and his entire nation. But he let him live for a purpose to show God’s great power (Exodus 914-17)!

Did the Essenes read this passage? "He makes nations great, and he destroys them he enlarges nations, and leads them away" (Job 1223 RSV).

WHO REALLY CHOOSES OUR LEADERS?

If we take the Bible at its word, it is saying that God has power in the affairs of men. Jesus knew this when He was in front of Pilate. "Pilate therefore said to him, ‘You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin.’" (John 1910-11 RSV).

Jesus knew rulers had been given their powers by God. In the United States, we assume that our leaders are chosen by us. But there was an elected vice-president chosen by a man who ran for an unprecedented 4th term. He probably would never have run for president on his own. He was not charismatic, he was not well-known. But he became president when the president died. He walked into a job that was hard and complicated. He had to make the tough decisions and he did so. Today, Harry S. Truman is considered one of the outstanding presidents of the USA.

There was a man who was never elected president or vice-president. Yet, because of his good reputation as a person, he was able to heal much of the damage that had been done because of the previous president. He was Gerald Ford.

God was considered to have such an active role in the affairs of this world that it is written in the New Testament like this "And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation" (Acts 1726 RSV).

In the next Sabbath Thoughts we will understand more what was the position of Christ’s teaching and the teaching of the New Testament regarding the governments of this world and their leaders.

Families – Nurturing or Toxic?

2009-08-31T17:48:00.002-07:00

What do you think of when you hear the word "family"? What feeling do you get when you hear or say that word? "Family" is often the source of deep emotions – either positive or negative. The lure of the family is so great that many movies and TV shows are built around it. Tears and emotions are evoked when parents and children reconcile after being apart or angry for years.

The "family" has survived over many centuries spanning millennia in almost all cultures. Traditionally the family is the place of shelter and solace to help in times of trouble. It is a place where we can belong, share and care. As one person said, "Home is a place when you go there they have to take you in."

Today people still want the love, safety, respects, caring, understanding, individuality, and belonging that a family affords. But things have changed! Over the last century the family has evolved from the extended family to the nuclear family. The extended family is mother, father, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. A nuclear family is mother-father (husband & wife) and children.

How many people live near their grandparents today? Many married adults don’t even live close to either set of parents. Our industrialized age has created physical distance between members of families. Many people not only don’t live near cousins, they virtually never talk to them. Sometimes they don’t even know that some cousins exist.

Think of families you know. What kind of atmosphere was there? If the family were a toxic family you might have experience an atmosphere that was negative, stifling, intolerant, with little joy or care for one another. The attempts at humor would have been mostly sarcastic and belittling. In that family members often feel depleted, uncomfortable and stifled.

Members of a nurturing family, by contrast, feel alive, honest, loved. They have a genuine interest in one another, express open affection, feel relaxed, speak with clear voices in an open atmosphere. This is the type of family the Biblical writers had in mind when they use the metaphors of Father, Son, Mother, Husband, Brothers, Sisters and "sons and daughters" (2Cor. 6:18). The family should be a place of comfort, love, acceptance, and development -- mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

The Bible has many examples of families with problems too. In the first family Cain killed his brother. In Abraham’s family, he had to send his son Ishmael away because of family strife and jealousy (Gen. 21:9-10). In Isaac’s family Jacob deceived his father to get the blessing. Esau hated him for him for many years.

When Jacob went to take a wife he was deceived by Laban, his father-in-law. Here’s how. Jacob wanted Rachael as his wife but Laban made him take her sister, Leah, first. Leah bore him children but the woman he loved could not bare children for a long time.

When Rachael finally was able to conceive she bore Jacob two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. She died giving birth to Benjamin. Troubles followed for Jacob’s family as Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery.

During the times of the judges, Eli, the priest who raised Samuel, had sons who became corrupt. He ignored them and God punished him and his sons. Samuel, who served many years as a judge in Israel had sons who became dishonest and corrupt to the point that the elders of Israel were moved to ask for a king. They went from the frying pan into the fire. Instead of asking God to give them another judge, they came up with their own solution to a thorny problem and wanted a king. Thus began the monarchy of Israel & Judah.

King David’s family was also torn asunder by rivalries, rape and murder. Because David had many wives, he also had many children. The children all stayed with their own mothers for rearing. They often saw one another at various functions. One of David’s son’s, Amnon, raped a half sister, Tamar. Her brother Absalom got revenge by killing Amnon (2 Sam. 13). Later Absalom fomented an insurrection against his own father, David. To show his utter contempt for his father, David, Absalom went into the private residences of David’s wives as though to make love to them.

From the examples of David and Samuel we can see that even though a man serves God completely and gives his full time and attention to God’s work, it does not substitute for his duties as a father and husband in his own family. Samuel was simply too busy to spend time with his own sons and they developed values of greed that should have shock their father it was because of Samuel’s sons that the people of Israel demanded and got a human king as their leader like the nations around them. This began a national slide that continued even into captivity.

It is through the kings of Judah that we see an interesting occurrence in the passages of Scripture. Note that most of the occasions when a king listed as a good king, his mother’s name is mentioned. But when a king did not do right his mother’s name is not usually mentioned. See 2 Chron. 25 -29. In these examples we see that one king can be great and his son turn out to do evil in God’s sight. We also see that a king can be evil in God’s sight and his son turn out to do what is right in God’s eyes and walk in God’s ways and do what is right in the eyes of God. Usually his mother’s name is mentioned.

This may indicate the powerful influence that a mother has on her children and especially her sons. It also may bring encouragement to widows and those divorced women who have to rear children alone. It shows that it is possible for a woman to have a profound influence on her sons and help them in the development of good or bad character. Hopefully, by teaching and training, women can help their sons toward godly character.

Spiritual Gifts (Parts 7 & 8)

2009-08-31T17:48:00.001-07:00

As we continue to describe the spiritual gifts, we come to the gift of Administration (KJV= governments). The Greek word is "kubernesis" which is translated "administration" in the more modern translations. This word describes the captain or helmsman of a ship. It has to do with a directional and managerial service or ministry. Persons with this gift have the "extra ability to organize and coordinate people and materials effectively to attain objectives and goals." The noun form of this Greek word is used in Acts 2711 and in Revelation 1817 where it refers to the captain or master of the ship. It is referring to the steering master. That person is likely to count the cost before beginning a project and to have it sufficiently organized to see it through. See Luke 1428-30.

Healings is another gift of the Spirit which is defined as the "extra ability to cure or be cured of ill conditions that hinder the effective ministries in the Body of Christ or individuals." This gift is mentioned in 1Cor. 129, 28. The Greek word is "iama" translated in the KJV "healing" three times. It is "a means of healing, remedy, medicine, or a healing." It means to make whole or cure. This is more than just physical healing of disease and may refer to a much broader healing of the mind, spirit, and inner person. See also Luke 619.

There are other Greek words translated "heal" as well. One of them is the same word that is translated "save." But these are not the words used regarding the spiritual gift.

There is the gift of Tongues and its corresponding gift of the Interpretation of Tongues (1Cor. 1210). We know that there are "tongues of men and of angels." Reading 1Cor. 14 carefully we see that a person may pray in a tongue but s/he cannot even interpret what they are saying (v. 13). It, therefore, appears that these "tongues" were more than just the ability to speak in a foreign language. Nevertheless, Paul forbid speaking in tongues in church unless there was an interpreter and all such speaking had to be done in an orderly manner so that there be no confusion (1Cor. 1433).

There is the gift of Intercessory Prayer which can be defined as the "extra ability to know when, how and for what and for whom to pray and their prayer achieves effective results." While all of us pray, there are people who have a special gift to intercede on behalf of others. They labor in prayers (Col. 412-13). They pray, not for themselves, but for the benefit and blessings to others (Col. 19-12). They write down and remember to pray for others who are having trouble and sorrows. Their prayer is effectual (James 516). They do it without looking for any credit for themselves but on behalf and for the benefit of others.

We know there is a gift of Martyrdom as described by Paul when he wrote, "and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profits me nothing (1Cor 133). While all Christians must stand ready to suffer and even die for their belief in Christ, there are some that can do it in a way that becomes a witness to the minds and hearts of others. Stephen was such a person. He was able to say, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep (died)" (Acts 754-60). Saul was consenting to his death. But Saul (who later become Paul) probably never got that image of Stephen out of his mind. It haunted him as he wrote these words, "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1Cor. 159).

I can hear his words now. In the Kingdom when they are resurrected, I can hear Paul saying, "I feel so badly about having consented to your death. But I could never get that picture out of my mind. I had never seen or heard anyone be martyred with such grace and with such an impact on us all. I have thought about you thousands of time, especially after my conversion. I know you know I did it in ignorance."

We now come to our next spiritual gift which is Service. We might define this as the extra ability "to identify unmet needs in a task related to God’s work and to make use of available resources to meet them." Another definition would be "the extra ability to place importance on any deed or service that aids the church or individuals without concern for rank, recognition or popularity." See Romans 127 and Acts 61-4.

Service differs from "Helps" or "Mercy" in that it is task oriented. The Greek word for "service" is "diakonia" which is often translated "ministry." It is the word from which we derive our English word "deacon." People who have this gift often have many abilities which they can use to satisfy unmet needs. They see what needs to be done and they pitch in and do it. They often are not in the limelight and don't necessarily seek it.

Another spiritual gift is that of Spirit Music. It is the "extra ability to create or perform music to inspire others to worship and to service to the glory of Christ and the Father." We read, "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 1415). These are people who love God and are deeply converted, who, when they sing, impart their love of God and the worship of Him to others.

Craftsmanship is not mentioned in the New Testament. But it is in the Old Testament. "Bezalel and Oholiab and every able man in whom the LORD has put ability and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning" (Ex. 361-3). See also Exodus 3520-35.

Another gift stated plainly is the gift of Miracles. This gift would include the "super ability God gives to certain members of the Body to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature." We see this gift in 1 Cor. 1210, 28. The words used here are "working ("energema" = energy) of miracles" (Grk =dunamis = power). This is the word from which we get dynamite.

Paul wrote, "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power" (Eph. 37) The words in bold here are the same words in the Greek as working of miracles." They are, "energema autos dunamis." The energy of power or the "working of miracles."

A person does not have to struggle hard to know whether s/he has the gift of miracles. This one is plain and abundant. It is so obvious when it alters the ordinary course of nature that one does not have to be in doubt about some one who has it. Presently, I haven't seen this gift much in the Body of Christ.

As with tall gifts, they are to be used to edify the Body of Christ and individual members. As Peter wrote, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 410). A more modern translation reads this way "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received" (New Revised Standard Version).

May God help you to discover your own spiritual gifts and to employ them in the service of the great Church and individual members.

Spiritual Gifts (Parts 5 & 6)

2009-08-31T17:47:00.001-07:00

We continue with a description of the spiritual gifts. And we now come to The Gift of Knowledge. The Greek word is "gnosis" from which an early heretical sect got its name -- Gnostics. They believed that all one had to do was to acquire knowledge and nothing else really mattered.

But the "word of knowledge" is to "know the timeless truths and facts relating to God’s will and the mission of the church." No doubt Paul had this gift as he committed to Timothy the great treasure of the truth of the gospel (2Tim.1:13-14). Paul said he would rather speak with knowledge than with tongues (1Cor. 14:6). And while every Christian has some general knowledge from the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 2:12-16) the person gifted with knowledge has an insatiable need to know and study. See also Rom. 11:33; 1Cor. 12:8, 2Cor. 11:6; Eph. 3:19; Col. 2:3).

Next we will review the Gift of Exhortation. There was a man whose name meant "son of encouragement" and who gave money to the early church. He then became an apostle and worked with Paul His name? Barnabas! See Acts 4:31-37; Acts 9:26-28.

Barnabas was put in charge of the Antioch church but went to fetch Paul. Evidently, he felt Paul’s gifts could help strengthen the church (Acts 11:22-29). He wasn’t worried about his position. He could have had the head title all to himself but he felt Paul could bring special edification to that congregation.

The Greek word for exhortation is "parakaleo" which means to "call along side." It has to do with companionship, being with and for another, guiding, encouraging, strengthening, consoling, motivating, begging, and comforting. It is related to the word for "Comforter" which is used of the Holy Spirit.

When Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on their second journey, Paul refused because Mark had left them at Pamphylia on the first journey. But the "son of encouragement" insisted to the point he was willing to take Mark even if it mean going on a separate journey (Acts 15:36-41). Later Paul came to realize that Mark had changed and acknowledged that he was profitable (2Tim 4:11).See also Rom. 12:8; 1Thes. 2:11; 1Tim. 4:13; Heb. 10:25.

There is a gift called Discerning of spirits (1Cor. 12:10). The word "discerning" comes from the Greek "diakrisis" which means to discriminate, separate, judge, estimate, dispute or oppose. It is the super ability to "differentiate between good and evil, right and wrong, what is of God, human nature, or evil, and to use this knowledge for the protection and health of the body of Christ." While every Christian has some ability to discern the spiritual truths of God not all have the ability to discern the spirits and attitudes of those around them accurately and beneficially. See also the following passages: Matt. 7:6; Acts 5:1-11; 8:22-23; 1Cor. 12:10; 2Pet. 2:1-3; 1John 4:1-6.

There is a gift called Giving (Rom. 12:8). While everyone is to give, there are persons who have an ability beyond normal to do so. They delight in the sheer act of giving. The Greek word for giving is "metadidomi" and it means "to turn over, to give, share, transfer, deliver from one’s substance to the needs of another."

We see this when we read of the widow who gave her all. Jesus made this statement, ""Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had" ( Luke 21:2; Mark 12:41-44).

We might say that those who have the gift of giving give to the point that it appears unreasonable. But they do so for the sheer joy of doing so. The widow referred to above gave all that she had to live on. One would not expect anyone to give to a church or temple everything they had. That’s unreasonable. But she did and Jesus noticed and commented on it.

We see what the Macedonian church did when it came to contributing to the saints in Jerusalem. Paul stated that they went beyond their means (2Cor. 8:1-7). Again we see that people who have the gift of giving do so beyond what would be considered reasonable to others. This giving brings them joy and they often are blessed with more to give. It seems that they are never left without.

Those with the gift of giving do so without any motive for self-exaltation. They often give anonymously See also Acts 20:35; 1Kings 17:8-16.

There is a gift called Helps (1Cor. 12:28). This gift can be defined as the super ability and eagerness "to aid or assist others in need to such an extent that the helper receives as much joy as the person helped." There is a reciprocity between the one helped and the one helping. People with this gift feel compelled to give from their skills, talents and energy to help others who have need. They delight in the relationship that comes from giving that help.

The Bible speaks of the gift of Evangelist (Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim..4:3-5). An person with this gift has the super ability to present the truth of the gospel so that it moves others to accept that truth and become disciples of Christ. This person would be well versed in the understanding of God’s Word and His plan. That person would have extraordinary ability to make those truths plain and clear to whatever audience there was. The would necessitate understanding a particular audience’s objections, culture, difficulties, sins.

There is also the gift of Faith (1Cor. 12:9). This may be defined as the extra ability to extend one’s basic or saving faith to serve the Body of Christ and individuals in their needs related to the life and service of the Church. See Mark 9:23; Acts 11:22-24. While every one has to have, some people have extraordinary amounts as a result of a spiritual gift.

We’ll continue with the definitions of more spiritual gifts in our next Sabbath Thoughts!

Spiritual Gifts (Parts 3 & 4)

2009-08-31T17:46:00.002-07:00

In order to understand what spiritual gifts are, it is also helpful to understand what they are not. We have already stated they were not roles, acquired skills, natural talents or church offices.

Technically they are not to be acquainted with the "fruit of the Spirit." However, it is doubtful that one can have spiritual gifts without bearing fruit of the spirit (Gal. 522-23). Without the fruit of the spirit no spiritual gift would be effective.

Technically, a spiritual gift is not "agape." Paul makes it plain that agape and spiritual gifts are different when he states that without "agape" (love) a spiritual gift is essentially useless. Agape can be used for love in other instances as well as for the "love of God." Almost always when it talks about God’s love the Greek manuscripts use "agape."

Spiritual gifts are not for self gain. They are not divisive. Some groups have split because of claims, uses, or denials of spiritual gifts. Furthermore, spiritual gifts are not the same for every one. People often have a gift mix rather than just one gift. Neither are the gifts in the same mix for every congregation.

And lastly, spiritual gifts are not satanic counterfeits. Satan can performs signs and wonders but these are not really spiritual gifts (Matt. 2424).

WHAT SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE They are extraordinary abilities that God gives to build up the Body of Christ, or a local congregation, for a service to its members and through its members and to the world.

1) They are unmerited blessings (gifts in grace) from God.

2) They are forms of service or ministries.

There are prerequisites

1) You must be converted and have the Holy Spirit to have spiritual gifts. (1Cor. 214).

2) You must believe in spiritual gifts.

3) You must be willing to work to understand and discover them.

4) You must pray that God will help you to identify yours.

We might classify the gifts like this

1) Speaking Gifts such as exhortation (Rom. 128), word of wisdom and knowledge (1Cor. 128), tongues, prophecy (1Cor. 1210), teaching (1Cor. 1228).

2) Serving Gifts such as administration, helps, leadership, giving, mercy and service.

3) Sign Gifts such as healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues, miracles, and discernment of spirits.

FOUR STEPS

1) Explore the possibilities begin thinking about gifts, read the passages.

2) Experiment with as many gifts as you can. Look for needs.

3) Examine your feelings. You may come up with this thought "This is really what I’d like to do for God more than anything else."

4) Pray and ask God to give you understanding.

We now want to elaborate on each of the spiritual gifts. We will start with what Paul said he preferred. He placed "prophecy" forthtelling not necessarily foretellingabove tongues.

The gift of prophecy has been defined by one scholar as " the extraordinary ability to link biblical truths and God’s will for today’s living and to be an instrument for revealing or interpreting historic or current messages from God for righteous and just living in today’s world."

A person with the gift of prophecy is usually articulate, s/he can identify motives, character and contrast righteousness with unrighteousness, justice with injustice. The gift of prophecy reaches the inner hearts of people and can bring about repentance and change. Passages relating to this gift are Acts 214-36 where Peter speaks forth. Acts 1128; 1532 2110-12; 219-11. There are others such as Rom. 126d; 1Cor. 1210; 143, 6, 24-28; Eph. 31-6.

The gift of pastor can be defined as "the extraordinary ability to carry varieties of spiritual, physical, and social concerns for groups and individuals and to persist over long periods of time and circumstances with effective caring." The Greek word is "poimen" and is translated in the KJV as "shepherd" and "pastor." It means someone who oversees, manages, cares for, assembles together, and feeds those who committed themselves to the poimen’s charge. Passages related to this gift are Matt. 2812-14; John 101-30; Acts 2028; 1Tim. 31-7; 1 Pet. 52-4; Eph. 411-14.

There is the gift of teaching (Gk. "didaskalia"). It means to "teach, to instruct, to clarify, to elucidate, to illuminate, to simplify, and to illustrate. This gift seems to underlie other gifts such as pastor or prophecy. For, if one cannot teach, it appears that prophecy or pastor would be ineffective. In fact, every elder must be "able to teach" (1Tim. 32). The passages referring to this gift are Acts 131; 1824-28; 2020-21; 1Cor. 1228; 1Tim. 27; 2Tim. 111; James 31; Eph. 411.

Another is the gift of wisdom (Gk.- "sophia"). This is defined as the super ability to make concrete, practical applications of knowledge to specific and concrete situations that call on God’s favor. A person with this gift is able to apply God’s truth to present situations. That person would be able to ask practical questions and use the information to make wise, proper and godly decisions.. While God gives wisdom to everyone who asks (James 15), the gift of wisdom is a super ability. See Acts 63, 10; 710; 1Cor. 118-27; 318-19; 1218; Col. 128; 316; 2 Pet. 315.

Solomon had that ability to the point people were astounded at this insights and practical applications of knowledge to a specific situation. Perhaps his most famous case was that of the two harlots who became mothers. One laid on her child accidentally during the night and it died. She then stole the other woman’s child and place the dead child in the bed with her. They came before Solomon each claiming the living child. Knowing how much a mother cares for her baby Solomon was able to use that knowledge to find out who the real mother was (1Kings 316-27).

We’ll examine other gifts in our next Sabbath Thoughts.