Friday, April 25, 2008

Emphasize What?

In the early 1800’s a religious fervor swept our country. In this excitement a unity movement was born. Two of the primary movers and shakers of this movement were Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell. Two well-used phrases from this movement described the direction. They were these: “We are Christians only but not the only Christians,” and “In essentials unity, in opinions liberty, and in all things love.”

During the “Civil War” the direction of this movement began to change. Our group began to move from a “Unity Movement” to a “Restoration Movement” emphasizing blueprints and patterns. We moved from, “Christians only but not the only Christians” to if you aren’t part of our group you can’t be saved. This change was solidified in August of 1889 when Daniel Sommers delivered his message called the “Address and Declaration”. This was delivered at Sand Creek in Shelby County, Illinois at the site of the old Salem congregation. The final words of this message were,““In closing up this address and declaration, we state that we are impelled form a sense of duty to say, that all such innovations and corruptions to which we hav referred, that after being admonished, and having had sufficient time for reflection, if they do not turn away from such abominations, that we can not and will not regard them as brethren.”

The direction was set. The emphasis would now be restoration and patternism. As such it has remained for 130 years. The question that begs to be asked is this, “Does Christ intend this to be the direction of His church?” Does the Lord intend that our “niche” be that of restoring patterns and blueprints? I will be the first to state that Bible things need to be done in Bible ways, but is this where we put our emphasis? When the curtain of history falls on those of us living today, do we want to be known as the group that got the pattern right? Wouldn’t it be more in keeping with Scripture to preach Christ and Him crucified?

The direction of our emphasis determines what we produce. For 130 years we have made our primary emphasis restoration, patternism, and blueprints. It has produced a divided movement. What initially was about unity has become a splintered body. Is this the direction we want? According to Luke 19:10 Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Our emphasis should be about Jesus and the things He emphasized. If we emphasized preaching Christ our results would be dramatically different. Let me state again Bible things need to be done in Bible ways, but this can’t be the total of our direction. Souls are at stake. Let’s make sure that our emphasis and direction is the same as the direction and emphasis of Jesus

Posted by onedaysoon at 23:34:27 | Permalink | Comments (4)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

How Big Is Your God?

In Joshua 10 the children of Israel enter into a treaty with the people of Gibeon. The people of Gibeon misled the Israelites. God’s children were led to believe they were entering into an agreement with a people who lived a great distance from them. Once Joshua learned the truth he was upset, but he kept the treaty because he had given them his oath by the Lord. The results of this treaty were felt almost immediately. The Gibonites were attacked and sent word to Joshua to come quickly and help. Joshua provided the necessary help.

In this battle two great truths emerged. First, God worked through nature to help his people. If you read the text there were as many enemy soldiers killed by hailstones as were put to death by the sword. Second, as a result of Joshua’s prayer, time stood still allowing the Israelites time to finish their mission. The Israelites were serving a mighty God indeed!

Today the Lord continues to use natural events to work in the lives of His servants. God is still working in the lives of those who serve Him. Sometimes we teach God is no longer interested in the day-to-day activities here on earth. Nothing could be further from the truth. God continues to work in and through man.

Perhaps God doesn’t do great things through us today because we doubt Him and His ability. God still answers prayer. God continues to want to hear our petitions. At the point of salvation God adopts us into His family. As heirs of God and joint-heirs of Jesus Christ our ability to petition the father is a tremendous gift. Many times we can’t set up a desired meeting with one of our elected officials. We can always approach the throne of the Almighty.

Could it be that we have not because we ask not? Is it possible that our concept of God is too small? Do we pray small prayers because our concept of God is small? I am glad Joshua’s concept of the father was powerful. Joshua’s concept of God was large enough that his prayer made the sun stand still. How big is your God?

Posted by onedaysoon at 18:20:19 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Sunday, April 20, 2008

God Is Working Upstream

Moses led God’s children for forty years. Due to their unbelief those who were 20 years of age and older when the Israelites left Egypt were not allowed to go into the promised land. Moses and this group with the exception of Joshua and Caleb had died in the wilderness. Joshua had now been placed in the role of leader by the Lord. Joshua was ready to take God’s people into the land the Lord had promised to them. They were nearing the river that separated them from the promised land. In Joshua 3: 9-13 they are given their instructions. “As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord - the Lord of all the earth - set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” They couldn’t see the things God was doing for them but they could be assured that God was working upstream.

How often we have wanted God to work upstream for us. Truthfully we forget that God has done so much for us already. When Jesus died on the cross it was in reality God working upstream for us. We may not have seen Jesus die but he died nonetheless. In the death that the Messiah suffered, He allowed us an opportunity to reestablish fellowship with the Father. It was God working out of sight, paying a price we could not pay. In the past God has done much for us that was out of our line of sight.

Our God is big enough to continue working in our lives today. He is interested in us on an “individual” basis. God has a purpose in our lives and intends that we accomplish that purpose. In John 9:1-3 the man born blind was born in that condition so that the works of God might be made manifest through him. How marvelous to know that God was glorified as a result of something we were able to do!

It is imperative for us to understand that God is still an active God. He hasn’t given us Scripture and said, “Do your best.” He is a God who is still working behind the scenes for each of us. Find your place in His will and walk in it because He is still working upstream in our lives!

Posted by onedaysoon at 02:43:28 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Events Represent a Crossroads

When a major event occurs in our lives we often remember even the smallest details, sometimes for the rest of our lives. I will have been married 32 years my next anniversary. I can remember almost every detail that took place the day Robbi and I were married. Often I have asked why do I remember these things so vividly when many times I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday. The reason is quite simple. Major events in our lives matter. They represent a crossroads in our lives, a place where choices must be made.

In John 9 the disciples ask Jesus a question. The disciples ask, “Who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus quickly answers by telling them that “neither this man nor his parents sinned but this was done that the works of God might be made manifest.” You are probably familiar with the rest of the story. Jesus healed the man who had been born blind.

As a result of this miraculous event many lives were forever changed. The man who had been blind was certainly changed. His parents who refused to answer the Jews were forever changed by their refusal. The Jews couldn’t deny the miracle and were thereby also changed. This event would stand out in the eyes of all concerned for the rest of their lives.

One thing that we must realize is that this happened for a purpose. This event was planned by the hand of God Himself. Some believe that God created the world and the things in it, gave us His Word and said, “Do the best you can.” Nothing could be further from the truth. God is still in control. God is active in events that take place even today.

Each of these events represent a crossroad in the lives of those involved. The choices we make in these major events often change the direction we travel for the remainder of our lives. When you are faced with a decision in your life be careful to consider the desires of our Lord. God remembers this event before he created the world. The events of our lives are important. Remember we may be like the man born blind in more ways that we wish to imagine. This event in your life may be taking place in order that the works of God might be made manifest!

Posted by onedaysoon at 21:12:57 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Monday, April 7, 2008

Grace in our Lives

   For most of my life I have heard “grace,” described as unmerited favor.  From a purely clinical point of view this seems to be a good description.  How many of us really understand this definition as it applies to our everyday lives?  For many of us grace is beyond our comprehension. 

In our fellowship we operate like the pendulum on a clock.  We swing to extremes on just about every issue.  The subject of grace is no different.  Too often we fall into two groups.  We have the salvation by faith alone group.  This group is reacting against the works group.  On the other side of the equation is the work your way to righteousness group.  Their main intent is to show that it isn’t by faith only.  The truth lies somewhere in the middle between these two extremes.  As a result of these extreme views grace has become a point of dissention.  This ought not be!

Let me describe first what grace is not.  Grace is not permission to sin.  The doctrine of permission basically says, “Ignore God because His grace will cover you.  The doctrine of permission is a perversion of grace.  Grace does not allow us to live our lives anyway we choose.  The Romans had made this mistake.  Paul told them in Romans 6:1-2 they had no right to continue in sin.

On the other hand grace isn’t married to the concept of Legalism.  Legalism is trusting in self rather than Christ.  This doctrine basically says, “Here is perfect doctrine, keep it and be saved.”  Man has never and will never be justified by law keeping.  Galatians 2:16 tells us this very thing.

What is Grace?  This seems to be the question we must address. John 1:17 says, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”  In 2 Corinthians 8:9 scripture further explains what has taken place through grace.  It says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”  Grace came to earth through Jesus Christ.  Real grace is Jesus changing places with us.  Jesus became the sin payment.  He became death for us.  It was man who deserved to die, but Christ extended to us unmerited favor when he changed places with us.

This grace is available to all men.  Jesus came to earth as sin payment and grace for all men.  According to Scripture all will not be saved.  In fact, only a remnant will find their way to eternal life.  This doesn’t cheapen grace.  In fact it makes it of even more value.  While Jesus was willing to change place with any and all men, only those who accept this unmerited favor through genuine obedient faith will be saved.  Praise God for His love.  It is through the willingness of God that we enjoy this wonderful grace.  Because God loved us beyond measure Christ is allowed and willing to change places with us.  That my friend is what grace is really all about. Talk about unmerited favor!  It is really about Jesus willingness to change places with sinful man.  This is the practical definition of Grace.

Posted by onedaysoon at 18:16:02 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Could the Ethiopian Eunuch be Fellowshipped Today?

We know very little about the eunuch Phillip taught the gospel. We know what he was reading when approached by Phillip. We know where he was from and where he was going. We even know where he had been. The big question is, “Do we know enough about the eunuch to extend fellowship?” In order for us to make a faithful decision about our ability to fellowship the eunuch we need to ask some basic questions necessary to determine if we can extend fellowship.

1. Did the eunuch hold the correct view on Marriage-Divorce-and Remarriage?
2. Did the eunuch hold the correct position on instrumental music?
3. Did the eunuch hold the correct position on what could be supported from the treasury?
4. Did the women in his local congregation hold to their proper role in worship?
5. Did the eunuch’s local congregation call Bible things by Bible names?
6. Did the eunuch’s local congregation resist fellowshipping the denominations in the area?
7. Did the eunuch’s local congregation resist the temptation to give in to innovations?
8. Were the eunuch and his congregation careful to follow all the blue prints and patterns of the first century church?
9. Did the eunuch understand that his baptism was for the remission of sins? Did he have a proper understanding of the church? After all Scripture tells us only that Phillip preached to him the good news of Jesus.
10. Was the eunuch’s church careful that they didn’t bid God speed to anyone who was not “Sound”?


If we place the same standards on the characters of the New Testament, which we place on fellow Christians today, where would that leave us? The rule of Silence states that anything not specifically stated or outlined cannot be used or implemented. If we are consistent with our rule do we really know enough about the Ethiopian eunuch to extend fellowship?

Posted by onedaysoon at 00:44:45 | Permalink | Comments (9)