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....June 3, 2019
If you’re just joining us reading Reflections, we’re in a teaching series in Acts entitled – Unstoppable. This week we continue in Acts 4:32-5:12...
From inception, God has intended that His church would be an unstoppable force to carry His good news of God’s love and Jesus sacrifice to the nations. Yet for this to occur, this movement can’t be a movement of human ability/ingenuity, but a movement of the Holy Spirit
Starting at Pentecost, after Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit descended to launch the Great Commission in and through His people – and heaven broke loose. As we’ve already witnessed through the first four weeks – God was and is radically at work transforming lives in miraculous ways.
What you may have missed in this early story is the opposition the disciples were facing. It wasn’t solely against flesh and blood, but as Eph. 6 tells us – our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.
Up to this point, the battle the early church was facing was primarily external in nature – and the enemy was losing. In Acts 4 and 5, Satan changes his tactics to the internal – and he chooses a man who was ripe for the picking. And he chose area of his life where we’re all vulnerable – the area of generosity and money.
Let me clear the deck for this lesson, it’s not directly about stewardship and money, but about the generosity of the Holy Spirit and spiritual war we are engaged.
GENEROSITY and the Movement of the Spirit
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had…God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.
What’s going on! As the Holy Spirit was changing lives – generosity, unity, and concern was abounding. Instead of selfish consumption that marks the flesh, the church was experiencing genuine care and people were giving of themselves selflessly.
They were giving because God was moving. They wanted to help each other and share the news of Christ. This reality is at the heart our tithes and offerings. It’s not about Law, but the Spirit. It wasn’t about a command – they were compelled by Christ.
For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Barnabas is an example of someone who God had blessed who was using his wealth to minister to others. He wasn’t looking for a seat at the table, or giving so others would look at him w/ respect, He gave b/c he was compelled by the H.S. to minister to the church and share the Gospel.
Giving should always flow from a heart of gratitude because we are grateful for God’s generosity to us – b/c God so loved the world He gave us Jesus to die in our place to give us life.
I think this is why Jesus said what he did in Mt. 6...
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Don’t live selfishly for your gain but invest your blessings into the things that count for eternity – God’s mission.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light w/in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
This is about perspective. If your focus is on your ambitions and desires instead of on God’s will, then you’re a candidate to succumb to the enemy.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Either God is your God or money will be your god – but it cannot be both. And the god of money is a terrible master.
Truth: God asks us to give not because He needs the money but because we need Him – and He knows if we make money our god and our focus, then we’ll miss out on His will/purpose of us knowing Him and participating in His best for our lives.
Generosity is a choice of followship. A willingness to give is evidence of a heart surrendered and intimate with God. Meaning – if you have a giving problem, it is because you have a relationship and trust issue with God – and you’re being duped by the devil and may not even realize it.
Later in Acts, we hear about a 2nd couple whose motives were less than pure and whose hearts had been deceived by the enemy. Starting in Chapter 5, we learn about a couple who fell prey to the wiles of the devil and the yearnings of the flesh.
STINGINESS and the Movement of Satan
A man named Ananias, together w/ his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. W/ his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Then Peter said, “Ananias how is it Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the H.S. and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About 3 hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the church and all who heard about these events.
Notice Peter’s words– Ananias how is it Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…
Ananias and Sapphira were believers gone astray. They fell prey to the concerns and ambitions of the flesh – just like we are capable of doing. Only in their case, the Holy Spirit didn’t let them get away with it as God revealed their treachery to Peter. Peter knew what they had done because the Holy Spirit had revealed it. He also revealed that Satan was the instigator. Up to this point, Satan had been attacking the church externally, and since the church was growing, he changed his tactics. Instead of attacking outside-in, he was now attacking inside-out. He continues to do the same to us today.
One day, a congregation was awaiting the service to begin when in a flash of light, Satan appeared in front of them! Everyone began screaming and running for the exits trying to get away from the evil incarnate.
Soon the church was empty except for one elderly cowboy who sat calmly in his pew w/out moving, seemingly oblivious to the fact that God's enemy was in his presence. So Satan asked, 'Do you know who I am?' The old cowboy replied, 'Yep, sure do...' 'Aren't you afraid of me?' Satan asked. 'Nope, sure ain't.' said the cowboy. 'Don't you realize I can kill you with one word?' asked Satan. 'Don't doubt it for a minute,' replied the man. 'Did you know I can cause you profound, horrifying agony for all eternity?' Satan persisted. 'Yep,' the man replied calmly. 'And you’re still not afraid?' asked Satan. 'Nope,' said the old cowboy. More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, 'Why aren't you afraid of me?' The old man replied, 'Because I’ve been married to your sister for 48 yrs.'
I think we often minimize the work of Satan in the events of our day – and while I don’t believe there’s a demon behind every bush or that the devil makes us do it – I do understand Satan is alive and well and at work.
Yet there are countless people who do not believe there is a spiritual war or that Satan exists.
A 2013 survey found that a majority of Americans personally believe in the existence of the devil and believe that demons can possess humans.
The research found that more than half of all Americans (57%) believe in the existence of the devil and a slight majority (51%) believe in possession by evil spirits. Regardless of religious identity levels of belief top 50%, except for Jews, who theologically reject the idea of a sentient Satan. “Born-again” Christians are the most likely to both believe in the devil (86%) and possession (72%).
The Takeaways: Some of the more interesting findings from the survey include:
• Women are more likely than men to believe in the devil (61% to 53%) and demon possession (54% to 49%).
• A majority of all age groups believe the devil exists, with 45-64 year olds having the highest percentage of believers (62%) and the 30-44 range having the highest percentage of skeptics (30%).
• Republicans are more likely to believe in the devil than are Democrats (65% to 55%)
• Black (72%) and Hispanic (60%) Americans are more likely than whites (54%) to believe Satan is real.
• The college educated and those with less than a high school education are least likely to believe (48% and 49%) while high school grads, those with some college, and post graduates are most likely to believe (63%, 58%, and 51%).
• Belief is highest in the South (64%) and Midwest (56%).
• “Born again” Christians, Protestants, and Catholics are most likely to believe the devil exists (86%, 70%, and 66%) and demon possession is possible (72%, 59%, and 59%), while Jewish and Muslim Americans are the least likely religious groups to believe Satan is real (17% and 25%). Muslims are more likely to believe someone can be possessed an evil spirit (49%) than believe in the devil.
• Few Americans believe that possession occurs “very frequently” (6%) or “frequently” (9%). The exception is Muslim Americans, 60% of whom believe demon possession occurs frequently.
Satan is an ancient, treacherous foe who was present in Eden to deceive Adam and Eve and has been terrorizing humanity ever since. No matter how spiritual you are, you are mistaken if you think he’s quaking in his boots at the sight of you.
Who is Satan? Ezekiel 28 gives us some insight...
You had everything going for you. You were in Eden, God's garden. You were dressed in splendor, your robe studded w/ jewels: Carnelian, peridot, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and…emerald, all in settings of gold. A robe was prepared for you the same day you were created. You were the anointed cherub placed on the mountain of God. You strolled in magnificence among the stones of fire.
From the day of your creation you were sheer perfection… and then imperfection and evil were detected in you. In much buying and selling you turned violent, you sinned! I threw you, disgraced, off the mountain of God. I threw you out – you, the anointed angel-cherub. No more strolling among the gems of fire for you! Your beauty went to your head. You corrupted wisdom by using it to get worldly fame. I threw you to the ground, sent you sprawling before an audience of kings and let them gloat over your demise. Ez. 28:12
At the dawn of creation, Satan was the highest ranking of all God’s angelic beings. He was God’s greatest creation – a flawless diamond – perfect in his being and exalted in position. He was the anointed Cherub responsible for covering the mercy seat and the Ark of the Covenant. His job was to protect God’s holiness. So God gave him access to His holy mountain and enabled Him to walk w/ Him. Yet because of his pride and thirst for power, he rebelled, so God threw him from His presence.
In the fall, God gave Satan a short lease to operate – and he has masterfully manipulated the lost and the saved in his attempt to thwart the work of God and the move of the Holy Spirit.
How does the devil operate? Some people think that once we become Christians, the devil doesn’t bother us anymore, but that’s not true. When we’re lost, he’s trying to keep us from believing, but once we begin to follow Christ – he puts a target on our backs to silence our witness.
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy…John 10:10
Satan’s goal is simple. He wants to prevent and pervert people being saved. He wants to discredit and disable a believer’s witness. He wants to fluster and frustrate the will of God.
He looks for any tendency or crack in our lives to deceive and distort the truth of God in our lives. His ultimate objective is to get us to honor him and serve his kingdom.
Satan has his own beatitudes you know....
Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend even an hour once a week with other Christians – they’re my best workers.
Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – I can use them. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church – they’re my missionaries.
Blessed are the trouble makers – they shall be called my children.
Blessed are the complainers – I'm all ears to them.
Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes – for they get nothing out of his sermons.
Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church – for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
Blessed are those who gossip – for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
Blessed are those who are easily offended – for they will soon get angry and quit.
Blessed are those who don’t give an offering to carry on God's work – for in stealing from God you steal for me.
Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister – for he shall be with me forever.
Blessed are you who, when you read this, think it is about other people and not yourself – I've got you!
His favorite tactic is fear – fear of failure, rejection, to lose. Fear we won’t have enough and God won't show up.
Fear is the belief that Satan’s plans are better than God’s plans – while faith (antidote) is the belief that God’s plans are better than the enemy’s plans.
We’re not helpless. If we are “in Christ,” we can stand our ground. We can be victors instead of victims.
You’re of God and you’ve overcome them, because greater is the One in you than he who is in the world.
Be sober-minded and alert. Your enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
To combat the enemy, we must be awake and vigilant to the spiritual battle around us and embrace and live out of God’s power abiding in us.
Bottomline – if we want to participate in the movement of the Holy Spirit through God’s church – then we need to be alert to devil’s schemes who wages both an external/internal campaigns on God’s people to prevent God’s mission from being accomplished.
If you’re just joining us reading Reflections, we’re in a teaching series in Acts entitled – Unstoppable. This week we continue in Acts 4:32-5:12...
From inception, God has intended that His church would be an unstoppable force to carry His good news of God’s love and Jesus sacrifice to the nations. Yet for this to occur, this movement can’t be a movement of human ability/ingenuity, but a movement of the Holy Spirit
Starting at Pentecost, after Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit descended to launch the Great Commission in and through His people – and heaven broke loose. As we’ve already witnessed through the first four weeks – God was and is radically at work transforming lives in miraculous ways.
What you may have missed in this early story is the opposition the disciples were facing. It wasn’t solely against flesh and blood, but as Eph. 6 tells us – our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.
Up to this point, the battle the early church was facing was primarily external in nature – and the enemy was losing. In Acts 4 and 5, Satan changes his tactics to the internal – and he chooses a man who was ripe for the picking. And he chose area of his life where we’re all vulnerable – the area of generosity and money.
Let me clear the deck for this lesson, it’s not directly about stewardship and money, but about the generosity of the Holy Spirit and spiritual war we are engaged.
GENEROSITY and the Movement of the Spirit
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had…God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.
What’s going on! As the Holy Spirit was changing lives – generosity, unity, and concern was abounding. Instead of selfish consumption that marks the flesh, the church was experiencing genuine care and people were giving of themselves selflessly.
They were giving because God was moving. They wanted to help each other and share the news of Christ. This reality is at the heart our tithes and offerings. It’s not about Law, but the Spirit. It wasn’t about a command – they were compelled by Christ.
For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Barnabas is an example of someone who God had blessed who was using his wealth to minister to others. He wasn’t looking for a seat at the table, or giving so others would look at him w/ respect, He gave b/c he was compelled by the H.S. to minister to the church and share the Gospel.
Giving should always flow from a heart of gratitude because we are grateful for God’s generosity to us – b/c God so loved the world He gave us Jesus to die in our place to give us life.
I think this is why Jesus said what he did in Mt. 6...
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Don’t live selfishly for your gain but invest your blessings into the things that count for eternity – God’s mission.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light w/in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
This is about perspective. If your focus is on your ambitions and desires instead of on God’s will, then you’re a candidate to succumb to the enemy.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Either God is your God or money will be your god – but it cannot be both. And the god of money is a terrible master.
Truth: God asks us to give not because He needs the money but because we need Him – and He knows if we make money our god and our focus, then we’ll miss out on His will/purpose of us knowing Him and participating in His best for our lives.
Generosity is a choice of followship. A willingness to give is evidence of a heart surrendered and intimate with God. Meaning – if you have a giving problem, it is because you have a relationship and trust issue with God – and you’re being duped by the devil and may not even realize it.
Later in Acts, we hear about a 2nd couple whose motives were less than pure and whose hearts had been deceived by the enemy. Starting in Chapter 5, we learn about a couple who fell prey to the wiles of the devil and the yearnings of the flesh.
STINGINESS and the Movement of Satan
A man named Ananias, together w/ his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. W/ his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Then Peter said, “Ananias how is it Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the H.S. and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About 3 hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the church and all who heard about these events.
Notice Peter’s words– Ananias how is it Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…
Ananias and Sapphira were believers gone astray. They fell prey to the concerns and ambitions of the flesh – just like we are capable of doing. Only in their case, the Holy Spirit didn’t let them get away with it as God revealed their treachery to Peter. Peter knew what they had done because the Holy Spirit had revealed it. He also revealed that Satan was the instigator. Up to this point, Satan had been attacking the church externally, and since the church was growing, he changed his tactics. Instead of attacking outside-in, he was now attacking inside-out. He continues to do the same to us today.
One day, a congregation was awaiting the service to begin when in a flash of light, Satan appeared in front of them! Everyone began screaming and running for the exits trying to get away from the evil incarnate.
Soon the church was empty except for one elderly cowboy who sat calmly in his pew w/out moving, seemingly oblivious to the fact that God's enemy was in his presence. So Satan asked, 'Do you know who I am?' The old cowboy replied, 'Yep, sure do...' 'Aren't you afraid of me?' Satan asked. 'Nope, sure ain't.' said the cowboy. 'Don't you realize I can kill you with one word?' asked Satan. 'Don't doubt it for a minute,' replied the man. 'Did you know I can cause you profound, horrifying agony for all eternity?' Satan persisted. 'Yep,' the man replied calmly. 'And you’re still not afraid?' asked Satan. 'Nope,' said the old cowboy. More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, 'Why aren't you afraid of me?' The old man replied, 'Because I’ve been married to your sister for 48 yrs.'
I think we often minimize the work of Satan in the events of our day – and while I don’t believe there’s a demon behind every bush or that the devil makes us do it – I do understand Satan is alive and well and at work.
Yet there are countless people who do not believe there is a spiritual war or that Satan exists.
A 2013 survey found that a majority of Americans personally believe in the existence of the devil and believe that demons can possess humans.
The research found that more than half of all Americans (57%) believe in the existence of the devil and a slight majority (51%) believe in possession by evil spirits. Regardless of religious identity levels of belief top 50%, except for Jews, who theologically reject the idea of a sentient Satan. “Born-again” Christians are the most likely to both believe in the devil (86%) and possession (72%).
The Takeaways: Some of the more interesting findings from the survey include:
• Women are more likely than men to believe in the devil (61% to 53%) and demon possession (54% to 49%).
• A majority of all age groups believe the devil exists, with 45-64 year olds having the highest percentage of believers (62%) and the 30-44 range having the highest percentage of skeptics (30%).
• Republicans are more likely to believe in the devil than are Democrats (65% to 55%)
• Black (72%) and Hispanic (60%) Americans are more likely than whites (54%) to believe Satan is real.
• The college educated and those with less than a high school education are least likely to believe (48% and 49%) while high school grads, those with some college, and post graduates are most likely to believe (63%, 58%, and 51%).
• Belief is highest in the South (64%) and Midwest (56%).
• “Born again” Christians, Protestants, and Catholics are most likely to believe the devil exists (86%, 70%, and 66%) and demon possession is possible (72%, 59%, and 59%), while Jewish and Muslim Americans are the least likely religious groups to believe Satan is real (17% and 25%). Muslims are more likely to believe someone can be possessed an evil spirit (49%) than believe in the devil.
• Few Americans believe that possession occurs “very frequently” (6%) or “frequently” (9%). The exception is Muslim Americans, 60% of whom believe demon possession occurs frequently.
Satan is an ancient, treacherous foe who was present in Eden to deceive Adam and Eve and has been terrorizing humanity ever since. No matter how spiritual you are, you are mistaken if you think he’s quaking in his boots at the sight of you.
Who is Satan? Ezekiel 28 gives us some insight...
You had everything going for you. You were in Eden, God's garden. You were dressed in splendor, your robe studded w/ jewels: Carnelian, peridot, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and…emerald, all in settings of gold. A robe was prepared for you the same day you were created. You were the anointed cherub placed on the mountain of God. You strolled in magnificence among the stones of fire.
From the day of your creation you were sheer perfection… and then imperfection and evil were detected in you. In much buying and selling you turned violent, you sinned! I threw you, disgraced, off the mountain of God. I threw you out – you, the anointed angel-cherub. No more strolling among the gems of fire for you! Your beauty went to your head. You corrupted wisdom by using it to get worldly fame. I threw you to the ground, sent you sprawling before an audience of kings and let them gloat over your demise. Ez. 28:12
At the dawn of creation, Satan was the highest ranking of all God’s angelic beings. He was God’s greatest creation – a flawless diamond – perfect in his being and exalted in position. He was the anointed Cherub responsible for covering the mercy seat and the Ark of the Covenant. His job was to protect God’s holiness. So God gave him access to His holy mountain and enabled Him to walk w/ Him. Yet because of his pride and thirst for power, he rebelled, so God threw him from His presence.
In the fall, God gave Satan a short lease to operate – and he has masterfully manipulated the lost and the saved in his attempt to thwart the work of God and the move of the Holy Spirit.
How does the devil operate? Some people think that once we become Christians, the devil doesn’t bother us anymore, but that’s not true. When we’re lost, he’s trying to keep us from believing, but once we begin to follow Christ – he puts a target on our backs to silence our witness.
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy…John 10:10
Satan’s goal is simple. He wants to prevent and pervert people being saved. He wants to discredit and disable a believer’s witness. He wants to fluster and frustrate the will of God.
He looks for any tendency or crack in our lives to deceive and distort the truth of God in our lives. His ultimate objective is to get us to honor him and serve his kingdom.
Satan has his own beatitudes you know....
Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend even an hour once a week with other Christians – they’re my best workers.
Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – I can use them. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church – they’re my missionaries.
Blessed are the trouble makers – they shall be called my children.
Blessed are the complainers – I'm all ears to them.
Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes – for they get nothing out of his sermons.
Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church – for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
Blessed are those who gossip – for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
Blessed are those who are easily offended – for they will soon get angry and quit.
Blessed are those who don’t give an offering to carry on God's work – for in stealing from God you steal for me.
Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister – for he shall be with me forever.
Blessed are you who, when you read this, think it is about other people and not yourself – I've got you!
His favorite tactic is fear – fear of failure, rejection, to lose. Fear we won’t have enough and God won't show up.
Fear is the belief that Satan’s plans are better than God’s plans – while faith (antidote) is the belief that God’s plans are better than the enemy’s plans.
We’re not helpless. If we are “in Christ,” we can stand our ground. We can be victors instead of victims.
You’re of God and you’ve overcome them, because greater is the One in you than he who is in the world.
Be sober-minded and alert. Your enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
To combat the enemy, we must be awake and vigilant to the spiritual battle around us and embrace and live out of God’s power abiding in us.
Bottomline – if we want to participate in the movement of the Holy Spirit through God’s church – then we need to be alert to devil’s schemes who wages both an external/internal campaigns on God’s people to prevent God’s mission from being accomplished.
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
Wanted to share this special story with you.... Like a lot of things in life, it's much easier said than done but this is where faith and perseverance comes in.
Once there were three trees on a hill in a woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
Then the second tree said "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said. "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter." and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one" and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and women came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the king of kings in it's boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE...A TEACHING
We continue our shortened walk through Gods Word and this week....The Letter to the Galatians...
Who wrote the book?
For a brief time at the end of his second missionary journey, and then for more than two years on his third missionary journey, Paul ministered to the church at Ephesus (Acts 18:18–21; 19:1–41). During his time in this city that housed the famous temple to the Greek goddess Artemis, Paul saw many converted to faith in Jesus Christ and many others who opposed his preaching in the synagogues and homes. One prominent silversmith, Demetrius, who made implements for the worship of Artemis, found his business suffering greatly because people were converting to Christianity. The ensuing near-riot led Paul to leave the city, but only after the apostle had done much to stabilize and grow the Christian community there.
Where are we?
Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand of Tychicus, accompanied by Onesimus (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7–9; Philemon 1:10–12). It was during this time that Paul sat in Rome undergoing his first Roman imprisonment (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1), making Ephesians one of the four epistles commonly known as the Prison Epistles. The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
Why is Ephesians so important?
Second Corinthians and Galatians abound with personal touches from Paul, either about his own life or that of the recipients. Ephesians, on the other hand, stands at the opposite end of the spectrum as one of Paul’s most formal letters. While Galatians offers instructions particularly important for those churches overrun with legalism, Ephesians deals with topics at the very core of what it means to be a Christian—both in faith and in practice—regardless of any particular problem in the community.
What's the big idea?
Paul divided his letter to the Ephesians into two clear segments; applying the truths of the first makes possible the actions and lifestyle of the second. Paul spent the first three chapters of the letter discussing God’s creation of a holy community by His gift of grace in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The members of this community have been chosen by God through the work of Christ, adopted as sons and daughters of God, and brought near to the Father through faith in His Son. All people with this faith—Jews and Gentiles alike—were dead in their transgressions and sins but have been made alive because of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
While Paul was not responding to a particular theological or moral problem, he wanted to protect against future problems by encouraging the Ephesians to mature in their faith. So after laying out profound theological truths in the first half of the book, Paul made his purpose clear: he expected that this community of faith would walk in accordance with its heavenly calling (Ephesians 4:1). As a result of the theological realities Christians accept by their faith in God, several practices should follow in their relationships within the church, in the home, and in the world.
How do I apply this?
The book of Ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors, designed to ensure believers are living up to our heavenly calling. As we continue in our faith from day to day, month to month, and year to year, the temptation to get comfortable will always exist. However, Paul presented the gift of God in Christ and the benefits we receive so clearly that we cannot help but ask ourselves if our lives reflect that reality as they should.
How have you grown in your Christian life since you came to faith in Jesus Christ? The latter half of Ephesians makes clear that spiritual growth occurs primarily in community with others, iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). Your Christian “walk” (in other words, your daily life) is to be characterized by unity, holiness, love, wisdom, and perseverance in spiritual warfare.
Maturity yields benefits in believers’ moral lives, but it extends far beyond that as well. Increased maturity benefits the community at large, leading us as Christians to present a more consistent witness to the working of God in our lives as well as protecting us from the harmful divisions and quarrels that have plagued so many communities throughout history.
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou