Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....6/24/19
As we move forward this week in our study of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, we look into Acts 12:1-19
In 1865, on Whit Monday, a holiday 7 weeks after Easter, the children of Sabine Baring-Gould’s Sunday school were invited to walk in a parade in Yorkshire, England. Baring-Gould thought the children should have a song to sing as they marched carrying their crosses and banners – only he couldn’t find an appropriate song. So the night prior, he wrote a song for that’s still being sung today.
"Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle, see his banners go.
At the sign of triumph, Satan’s host doth flee; on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver, at the shout of praise; brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
Like a mighty army moves the church of God; brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, but the church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of hell can never ’gainst that church prevail; we have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, blend w/ours your voices in the triumph song. Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King, this through countless ages men/angels sing.
On a day when we’re celebrating our veterans, we’re being reminded not just of their service/sacrifice to our nation, but also of the spiritual battle being waged in our land today. It is a battle for life – for decency – for truth – and for eternity."
You therefore, endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3
On November 5th of 2017, our nation, and our brothers and sisters in Christ in Sutherland Springs, TX, experienced an awful tragedy that reminds us of what we’re fighting for as a nation and as followers of Jesus Christ.
As a quick review of the tragedy, a lone gunman entered into FBC Sutherland Springs – and under the influence of evil unleashed hate and depravity executing 26 followers of Jesus. In a senseless act of evil – 26 believers gave their lives for the cause of Christ as they stepped into the arms of Jesus.
Throughout the writing of this teaching, as I reflected on this tragedy and the impact it had across our country two things came to mind. First, I couldn’t help but think this isn’t why the valiant men and women who’ve served our country served. And second, even in the midst of tragedy – our God is present!
As you are aware, we’ve been in a study in Acts discussing the unstoppable ministry of the Holy Spirit. And as God would have it, today we come upon a text that reminds us that even in the midst of the movement of God, the enemy of God is still seeking to bring harm to the people of God.
It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death w/ the sword. When he saw this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. Acts 12:1-5
Persecution is a frightening yet rewarding blessing. It’s something few of us would prefer, and yet it’s an absolute guarantee if we choose to follow Jesus. In times of persecution, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12
Persecution is a GIVEN...
When, not if, but when – at some point in time all believers can expect some kind of persecution.
One of my mentors, Pastor John MacArthur, wrote in his New Testament Survey, "Every faithful believer will have some resistance and ridicule from the world, while others, for God’s own purposes, will endure extreme suffering."
All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12
Jesus never taught a prosperity gospel but a persecution gospel. He taught that to follow Him would require denying self and taking up your cross. I do not want to digress from the original intention of this teaching however, I thought this might be a good time to address this fallacy of the prosperity gospel. As a side note, the prosperity gospel is a man made interpretation of the gifts and blessings promised to followers of Christ.
Instead of stressing the importance of wealth, the Bible warns against pursuing it. Believers, especially leaders in the church (1 Timothy 3:3), are to be free from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5). The love of money leads to all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).
In sharp contrast to the prosperity gospel emphasis on gaining money and possessions in this life, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). The irreconcilable contradictions between prosperity teaching and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is best summed up in the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve both God and money.” I will now get off my soapbox and return you to the regular scheduled teaching.
Persecution is a GIFT
Most of us can agree persecution is a given, but to say it’s a gift is a stretch. We find it hard to believe we’re blessed when people mess with us because of our faith.
We have this treasure in jars of clay to show this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We’re hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Cr. 4:7-10
A Persecution VALIDATES Relationship
Persecution is a certificate of authenticity that people see Jesus in us. You’ll only face it if people see Jesus in you.
B Persecution VERIFIES Reliance
Persecution causes us to trust God more. It helps us to examine our lives that we might lean more on God.
C Persecution VOICES the Resurrection
Persecution proclaims the message of Christ – it reveals the truth and hope of Christ in us to everyone we encounter.
I read this week about a young man in India who lived in a village where people were opposed to the gospel. After his brother and wife became believers, Adam wasn’t willing to trust Christ. As they began to live the gospel, they also began to experience beatings from the Hindus in the village. It seemed every time his brother was beaten, someone believed in Christ – including Adam – who began to suffer the same persecution as his brother. One day the villagers surrounded them, and in a fit of rage, prepared a pot of boiling water and were going to cook them alive, until one of the persecutors said, "If we do this, even more will become Christians," so they beat them instead. And others came to Christ. And now there’s a church of more than 35 families in the village.
Make no mistake – by all estimates, November 5, 2017, was a horrific tragedy. Yet as hard as it might be to fathom, although I’m certain God was grieved, He wasn’t caught off-guard or sleeping – He was present. And He was with each person in that church building.
There’s one suitable response to persecution – surrender. If you’ve already died to Christ than no man can take your life!
No man can ever take from you that which you have already surrendered.
'Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle, see his banners go.'
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
Live for Today
Oooo
Some people .............( .....)
come into our lives..... ) ../
and quickly go.......... (__/
oooO
(..... ) .......Some people
..\.. ( ........become friends
...\__)...... and stay a while...
leaving beautiful .....Oooo
footprints on our ....(...... )
hearts..........................)... /
..................................(_ _/
oooO
.(..... )...... and we are
...\... ( .......~ never ~
....\__) ......quite the same
because we have
made a good friend!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right Now -
-somebody is very proud of you.
-somebody is thinking of you.
-somebody is caring about you.
-somebody misses you.
-somebody wants to talk to you.
-somebody wants to be with you.
-somebody hopes you aren't in trouble.
-somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
-somebody wants to hold your hand.
-somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
-somebody wants you to be happy.
-somebody wants you to find him/her.
-somebody is celebrating your successes.
-somebody wants to give you a gift.
-somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
-somebody hopes you're not too cold, or too hot
-somebody wants to hug you.
-somebody loves you.
-somebody admires your strength.
-somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
-somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on.
-somebody wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun.
-somebody thinks the world of you.
-somebody wants to protect you.
-somebody would do anything for you.
-somebody wants to be forgiven.
-somebody is grateful for your forgiveness.
-somebody wants to laugh with you.
-somebody remembers you and wishes that you were there.
-somebody is praising God for you.
-somebody needs to know that your love is unconditional.
-somebody values your advice.
-somebody wants to tell you how much they care.
-somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
-somebody wants to hold you in their arms.
-somebody wants YOU to hold them in your arms.
-somebody treasures your spirit.
-somebody wishes they could STOP time because of you.
-somebody praises God for your friendship and love.
-somebody can't wait to see you.
-somebody loves you for who you are.
-somebody loves the way you make them feel.
-somebody wants to be with you.
-somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
-somebody's glad that you're his/her friend.
-somebody wants to be your friend.
-somebody stayed up all night thinking about you.
-somebody is alive because of you.
-somebody is wishing that you noticed him/her.
-somebody wants to get to know you better.
-somebody wants to be near you.
-somebody misses your advice/guidance.
-somebody has faith in you.
-somebody trusts you.
-somebody needs you to send them this letter
-somebody needs your support.
-somebody needs you to have faith in them.
-somebody will cry when they read this.
-somebody needs you to let them be your friend.
-somebody hears a song that reminds them of you.
And remember....all this is from the Lord:)
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE...A TEACHING
T
This week, we continue our trek through the Bible with a look at Pauls Letter to the Philippines...
Who wrote the book?
Paul ministered at Philippi during his second missionary journey, spending about three months in the city. The ministry at Philippi marked Paul’s entrance into Macedonia, which came about as a result of a vision he had in the city of Troas, just across the northeastern corner of the Aegean Sea from the port city of Neapolis and its close neighbor Philippi (Acts 16:8–12).
During this first stay in Philippi—he later briefly visited the city on his third missionary journey (20:6)—Paul brought to faith in Christ people who would form the core of the burgeoning congregation in the city. Among them were Lydia, a businesswoman who opened her home to Paul and his coworkers (16:13–15), and the Philippian jailer, who was converted under Paul’s ministry after an earthquake miraculously broke open the prison (16:22–34).
Where are we?
Of the four Prison Epistles, Paul likely wrote Philippians last, near the end of his Roman imprisonment in AD 61 or 62. Paul sent the other three Prison Epistles—Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon—by the hand of Tychicus, as their destinations were near one another. However, the letter to the Philippians was to be delivered by Epaphroditus, who had come to Paul in Rome with financial help from the church at Philippi (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). But during his time in Rome, Epaphroditus took ill, which delayed his return home and, therefore, the delivery of the letter (2:26–27).
Why is Philippians so important?
The apostle Paul did not write Philippians in response to a crisis, as he did with Galatians and Colossians. Instead, he wrote to express his appreciation and affection for the Philippian believers. More than any other church, the believers in Philippi offered Paul material support for his ministry (2 Corinthians 8:11; Philippians 4:15–18). Paul’s affection for these people is clear throughout the letter as he encouraged them to live out their faith in joy and unity (1:3–5, 25–26; 4:1).
What's the big idea?
Philippians brims over with often quoted passages: “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6), “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (1:21), and “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (4:13) are just a few. But the portrait of Jesus Christ as a humble servant serves as the core of Paul’s teaching in this letter (2:5–11).
Paul’s joy at the mere thought of the Philippian church is undeniable in the letter, and it’s that same joy that he wanted the recipients to possess as well. To lead the Philippians to this truth, Paul took them directly to Jesus, teaching them that a community of believers living in harmony with one another comes only through mutual humility modeled after the Savior. Paul wrote that he poured out his life as an offering for the sake of Christ, leading Paul to find great joy and contentment in Christ’s service. His letter to the Philippians showed them that by centering their lives on Christ, they, too, might live in true joy.
How do I apply this?
Though we all have much to be thankful for, the pace and the pressure of life often squeeze the joy from us. Our shoulders slumped and our heads bowed, we find some days—or months—very difficult to get through. Desperate, we often search for joy in all kinds of ways—acquiring possessions, visiting places, or seeing people. But none of these can provide lasting joy. Where do you find joy in the midst of a trying circumstance?
Paul knew, as did the Philippians, that true joy comes only through humble faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ, joining ourselves in harmony with His followers, and serving others in the name of Christ. This was the life experienced by the Philippian believers, and it is a life available to us today.
Allow the joy you find in Christ to keep you from useless quarrels and divisions and to instead guide you into harmonious relationships with God’s people.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou
This week, we continue our trek through the Bible with a look at Pauls Letter to the Philippines...
Who wrote the book?
Paul ministered at Philippi during his second missionary journey, spending about three months in the city. The ministry at Philippi marked Paul’s entrance into Macedonia, which came about as a result of a vision he had in the city of Troas, just across the northeastern corner of the Aegean Sea from the port city of Neapolis and its close neighbor Philippi (Acts 16:8–12).
During this first stay in Philippi—he later briefly visited the city on his third missionary journey (20:6)—Paul brought to faith in Christ people who would form the core of the burgeoning congregation in the city. Among them were Lydia, a businesswoman who opened her home to Paul and his coworkers (16:13–15), and the Philippian jailer, who was converted under Paul’s ministry after an earthquake miraculously broke open the prison (16:22–34).
Where are we?
Of the four Prison Epistles, Paul likely wrote Philippians last, near the end of his Roman imprisonment in AD 61 or 62. Paul sent the other three Prison Epistles—Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon—by the hand of Tychicus, as their destinations were near one another. However, the letter to the Philippians was to be delivered by Epaphroditus, who had come to Paul in Rome with financial help from the church at Philippi (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). But during his time in Rome, Epaphroditus took ill, which delayed his return home and, therefore, the delivery of the letter (2:26–27).
Why is Philippians so important?
The apostle Paul did not write Philippians in response to a crisis, as he did with Galatians and Colossians. Instead, he wrote to express his appreciation and affection for the Philippian believers. More than any other church, the believers in Philippi offered Paul material support for his ministry (2 Corinthians 8:11; Philippians 4:15–18). Paul’s affection for these people is clear throughout the letter as he encouraged them to live out their faith in joy and unity (1:3–5, 25–26; 4:1).
What's the big idea?
Philippians brims over with often quoted passages: “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6), “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (1:21), and “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (4:13) are just a few. But the portrait of Jesus Christ as a humble servant serves as the core of Paul’s teaching in this letter (2:5–11).
Paul’s joy at the mere thought of the Philippian church is undeniable in the letter, and it’s that same joy that he wanted the recipients to possess as well. To lead the Philippians to this truth, Paul took them directly to Jesus, teaching them that a community of believers living in harmony with one another comes only through mutual humility modeled after the Savior. Paul wrote that he poured out his life as an offering for the sake of Christ, leading Paul to find great joy and contentment in Christ’s service. His letter to the Philippians showed them that by centering their lives on Christ, they, too, might live in true joy.
How do I apply this?
Though we all have much to be thankful for, the pace and the pressure of life often squeeze the joy from us. Our shoulders slumped and our heads bowed, we find some days—or months—very difficult to get through. Desperate, we often search for joy in all kinds of ways—acquiring possessions, visiting places, or seeing people. But none of these can provide lasting joy. Where do you find joy in the midst of a trying circumstance?
Paul knew, as did the Philippians, that true joy comes only through humble faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ, joining ourselves in harmony with His followers, and serving others in the name of Christ. This was the life experienced by the Philippian believers, and it is a life available to us today.
Allow the joy you find in Christ to keep you from useless quarrels and divisions and to instead guide you into harmonious relationships with God’s people.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou