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ENCOUNTERING CHRIST

Good Morning Loving Church,

Today is Thursday, June 23rd, 2016. Today is the 175^th Day of 2016.

There are only 191 days left in this year; and, there ONLY 24 DAYS left until VBS BEGINS; and, only 185 days left until CHRISTMAS…

Today is my sister Donna’s 70^th Birthday

ON THIS DAY IN 1914: “J. Gresham Machen, Presbyterian educator and defender of orthodoxy is ordained at Plainsboro, N.J.”

Machen’s writings, especially “Christianity vs. Liberalism” are among the best and most important theological books of the 20^th Century.

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew 5:16

Glorifying the Father

¹⁶ “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

This is an amazing sentence.

Believers are commanded to let OUR light shine before others, so that they may see OUR good works… yet, we must do this in such a way that they will… “give glory to your Father Who is in heaven.”

We do the work; God gets the glory. Simple.

Not really.

Pride is one of the greatest of sins and one of the most potent foes faced by the believer. When we do “good works” it is all too easy for US to accept the praise brought by them.

We must humbly do our good works “before men” but we must do them in such a way as to give all of the glory to GOD.

Sometimes that is as easy as doing these things quietly and anonymously. When that is not possible, we need to be quick to explain that our changed life through Jesus is the source of any human “goodness” that we appear to have.

So, we do the works and God gets the glory.

One of the ways I have found to begin a gospel conversation – or at least attempt to – is to give the glory to God whenever I do something honorable that surprises a person.

For example: I have had occasion to return money to a person who gave me too much change. I sometimes remember to tell them, “Don’t thank me; thank Jesus. If HE had not changed my life, I would be more than happy to take advantage of people.”

That way I am not the hero… Jesus is.

That is the point of this passage.

The Midweek Bible Study Lesson for next Wednesday, 6/29, is “The Judgment Seat of Christ”.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST

Good Morning Loving Church,

Today is Wednesday, June 22^nd, 2016. Today is the 174^th Day of 2016.

There are only 192 days left in this year; and, there ONLY 25 DAYS left until VBS BEGINS; and, only 186 days left until CHRISTMAS…

On this day in 1750:

“Jonathan Edwards is dismissed from his pulpit in Northampton, Massachusetts because he has rejected the “halfway covenant” which allows individuals who have made no confession of salvation to baptize their children. His calls for holiness do not sit well with his congregation either. One hundred and fifty years later, Northampton Church will erect a monument to Edwards.”

For the next several years, Edwards (the greatest Theologian-Pastor ever to live in North America) would spend his time teaching a handful of Native Americans.

However… in HIS benevolent providence, God gave him this time to write several of the most important theological books ever published.

Later, Edwards was elected President of Princeton but died within days of that after taking a smallpox vaccination and contracting the disease.

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew 5:14-16

The Light of the World
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

John 3:19-21
¹⁹ “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
²⁰ For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
²¹ But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

The greatest heart-break in my life today is watching the certain coming of another “Dark Age.” The light of the gospel is going out in North America and only God knows when (if ever) HE will bring it back again.

Lost people “love darkness” because their deeds are evil.

Western civilization, which was built on the light of God’s Word, has passed into night in Western Europe and now Canada is surely slipping away.

The United States is not far behind.

Here is our challenge! WE are THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. At least, we are supposed to be. If the Light of the World is dim, how great will be the darkness.

Salt; and Light. God’s people.

Here is a haunting limerick for us…

How much light would this world see; if every Believer lived just like me?

The solution? Simple.

^{16 “}In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

The Midweek Bible Study Lesson for THIS EVENING is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST

Good Morning Loving Church,

Today is Tuesday, June 21^st, 2016. Today is the 173^rd Day of 2016.

There are only 193 days left in this year; and, there ONLY 26 DAYS left until VBS BEGINS; and, only 187 days left until CHRISTMAS…

Today is Hunter Priest’s Birthday!

On this Day in 1834: Cyrus McCormick, a Christian inventor and businessman, patents the world’s first truly workable reaper. He will make a fortune from it, much of which will go to charity.

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew 5:13-16
¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Salt and Light!

There are not many passages from the New Testament that are better known among Christians than this.

As you have heard many times, Jesus uses this double metaphor to describe our life and the impact we should have on the world around us…

Salt was mostly used to add flavor to a bland world. A world without Christ and HIS people would be dull and deadly.

The Presence of Christ in the life of HIS people should bring joy and happiness and a way of living (even in the hard times) that is a marked contrast from those who do not know HIM.

“Salt” was commonly used as the primary preservative of things that perish; especially for the storage of meat.

The presence of Christians in a culture act as a preservative by showing the culture a living illustration of how living in obedience to Jesus brings blessings and spiritual health to one’s life and family.

“Salt” that had been contaminated and could not be used to either season or preserve food was stored and used to melt snow. It was literally “trampled under people’s feet.”

And so it is with the soiled Christian. The dirtiness of sin in our life soils our life and the world around us knows it quite well.

So, the soiled “Salt” is put away and ignored and only brought out to be trampled under foot.

All Christians ought to passionately desire to bring spice and joy and happiness into their world. We ought to desire to serve God to preserve our culture and our Nation by being examples of how holiness brings blessing.

None of us want to be soiled and ignored.

We do not want to be someone deserving of being trampled under the feet of the world.

We have heard this numerous times: let us seek to be “Salty Saints!”

The lesson for TOMORROW EVENING, (June 22^nd) is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST

Good Morning Loving Church,

Today is Monday, June 20^th, 2016. Today is the 172^nd Day of 2016.

There are only 194 days left in this year; and, there ONLY 27 DAYS left until VBS BEGINS; and, only 188 days left until CHRISTMAS…

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER !!!

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew 5:10-12
¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Here we are reminded again that the Citizens of the KINGDOM are very different people than the Citizens of the World.

Before I deal with the amazing reaction to persecution given in verse 12, please take note of two “conditions” of the persecution of which Jesus speaks in verses 10-11.

First, HE is speaking of persecution “for righteousness’ sake.” Neither here nor anywhere else does Jesus tell us that all persecution brings blessing. It is when HIS KINGDOM people are persecuted for living like HIM that we are blessed of God.

Sadly, but surely, sometimes our difficulties are due to our own sinful behaviors. Those situations are a case of “reaping what we sow” and cannot be thought of as “suffering for Jesus.”

On those occasions, we are simply suffering for our sins.

Second, Jesus is speaking of being persecuted “falsely.” As hard as any persecution is, it is very painful to be persecuted because of accusations against us that we know are not true.

Again, if the accusations against us that bring persecution are true – that is, that we are guilty of sinful behavior, then such persecution does not guarantee the blessings of God.

BUT, when we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; and, or, the accusations against us are false, then we can rejoice because God, HIMSELF, (Who knows all things) will reward us.

Two final thoughts…

First, our promised reward will be in heaven. We may never be justified before men in this world. We may suffer wrongly and continually. God will reward us, but HE may allow us to suffer here to be rewarded there.

Finally, we can rejoice because we are in good company when we suffer for righteousness’ sake and when we suffer for things of which we are not guilty.

“For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” If God allowed Joseph, and Jeremiah, and John the Baptist to suffer undeservedly, what makes us think that HE must deliver us?

HE may deliver us; and, HE often does. But we have no guarantee of that.

When we suffer for following God… when we suffer because of false accusations…

Rejoice!

The lesson for NEXT Wednesday evening, (June 22^nd) is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST

Good Morning Glorious Church,

Today is Friday, June 17^th, 2016. Today is the 169^th Day of 2016.

There are only 197 days left in this year; and, there are only 2 days left until FATHER’S DAY, AND ONLY 30 DAYS left until VBS BEGINS; and, only 191 days left until CHRISTMAS…

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew 5:10
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Here we encounter Jesus, the Christ.

The King of HIS Kingdom explaining the characteristics of the subjects of HIS Kingdom. We are HIS people, the Sheep of HIS pasture.

The next characteristic HE mentions is that of being persecuted.

At first glance, this just does not make sense. Persecuted?

We, HIS people, have already been described as “poor in spirit” “mourning over our sins” “meek” “hungering for righteousness” “merciful” “pure in heart” and “peacemakers.”

Who would want to persecute such people, and why?

The same kind of people who persecuted and crucified Jesus and Paul and the Apostles and all of the faithful followers of Jesus down through the ages.

Those who hate God, holiness, and those who tell them that they must repent and believe in Jesus to be saved.

Note carefully that being persecuted is as surely part of being a new creation as is the transformation into the kind of people described in verses 2-9.

We have always known that our Brothers and Sisters have faced – and face now – much more severe persecution than that which we have faced in North America.

As Western civilization dies, we clearly see the coming of a new “Dark Age” of naturalistic hedonism and its inevitable hatred of Christ and HIS Kingdom people.

Our defense is to share the gospel and teach those who come to believe in Jesus to obey everything HE has commanded us. Another way to say that is, “to live out the Great Commandments and Carry out the Great Commission…”

God can deliver HIS people. But, all over the world and all across the ages, we see that HE often allows them to suffer persecution – even catastrophic persecution – in order to accomplish HIS will in the world.

Let us pray for another “Great Awakening” in our life, our family, our Church, our Nation, and the World.

The lesson for the next time we meet, NEXT Wednesday evening, (June 22^nd) is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST

Good Morning Glorious Church,

Today is Thursday, June 16^th, 2016. Today is the 168^th Day of 2016.

There are only 198 days left in this year; and, there are only 3 days left until FATHER’S DAY, AND ONLY 31 DAYS left until VBS BEGINS; and, only 192 days left until CHRISTMAS…

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Here we encounter Jesus, the Christ.

The King of HIS Kingdom giving the characteristics of the subjects of HIS Kingdom. We are HIS people, the Sheep of HIS pasture.

The next characteristic HE mentions is that of being a peacemaker. Indeed.

We must seek to live in peace with all men and do all that we can to facilitate peaceful co-existence between all peoples.

The most important peacemaking we do is when we lead sinners to repent of their sins and trust Jesus whereby they come to be at peace with God.

By the way, Southern Baptists witnessed a great example of peacemaking today at our National Convention. After two votes for President, neither of which provided a clear choice; Dr. J D Greear withdrew his name and made the motion that Dr. Steve Gains be elected by acclamation. That motion passed.

Dr. Steve Gains had also offered to withdraw.

May this wonderful example remind all of us that while unity is not more import than sound doctrine, it is more important than just about anything else.

May our lives and our Church be known as peacemakers, not peace breakers.

The lesson for the next time we meet, NEXT Wednesday evening, (June 22^nd) is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Wednesday, June 15^th, 2016. Today is the 167^th Day of 2016.

Today is Shana Bailliez’ Birthday

There are only 199 days left in this year; and, there are only 4 days left until FATHER’S DAY, AND ONLY 32 DAYS left until VBS BEGINS,

There are only 193 days left until CHRISTMAS…

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

The greatest blessing of the Christian faith is encountering Jesus Christ HE is the sum and substance of Christianity. It is in encountering HIM and knowing HIM and coming to know HIM more and more fully that the Bible Believer is transformed to be more and more like HIM.

Truly, we encounter Jesus in all of scripture…

We clearly see HIM and hear HIS heart in these verses…

In Matthew 5:8, HE tells HIS Sheep how we can “see God.”

When we think about heaven, we are tempted to make ourselves the focus. (Surprise, surprise). HE is, of course, the proper focus.

In many of the world’s false religions, people seek to encounter God in some way, only to find that the “god” they encounter is themselves.

There is One True and Living God and HE is the God of the Christian Bible. HE is Jesus of Nazareth, the Second Person of the divine Trinity.

Yes, we do want to “see” God.

How?

When we repent of our sins, and trust Jesus as our Savior and LORD, our sins are placed on HIM and HIS perfect righteousness is placed on us. (2^nd Corinthians 5:21)

Thereby, we are made righteous. This is the one and only way that humans become “pure in heart” and the only way we can meet God’s conditions to “see” HIM.

In Matthew 5:8, we encounter the righteous Jesus. After we repent and believe in HIM, our heart is made pure.

If we know HIM, either following our death or at the time of HIS return, we will “see God.”

Do not miss the opportunity for Mid-Week Prayer and Bible Study Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00pm. We are studying the Second Coming of Jesus and the events that follow into the Eternal State.

The lesson for the next time we meet, NEXT Wednesday evening, June 22^nd, is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

There will be no classes on June 8^th and 15^th while I am on vacation.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Friday, June 3^rd, 2016. Today is the 155^th Day of 2016.

Today is Craig Chapman’s Birthday

There are only 211 days left in this year; and, there are only 16 days left until Father’s Day; and, there are only 205 days left until CHRISTMAS…

I will be on vacation for a couple of weeks so this will be the last Devotional until I return. I deeply appreciate your prayers for safe travels.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – “CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CITIZENS OF GOD’S KINGDOM”

Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

The goal of every believer’s life is to become more and more like Christ.

There are few areas of our life where we can demonstrate that Christ-likeness than in the area of showing mercy. It is radically unnatural for a human to be merciful; so, mercy easily appears as “supernatural.”

It is. It comes from a relationship with Christ.

What is mercy? Mercy is when we do not behave toward a person in a way which reflects how they deserve to be treated because of bad behavior.

Jesus does not behave toward us as our behavior toward HIM deserves. That is mercy. And, that is what we need to show to others.

Jesus reminds us that HE rewards HIS people who show mercy by showing them mercy.

Mercy is, of course, based on compassion. We “understand” that we too sin against others so it becomes easy to be merciful toward those who sin against us.

See the cycle here? God is merciful in saving us so we then show mercy to others. Because we show mercy to others, Jesus continues to show mercy toward us.

Everyone needs mercy and we need to show mercy; always.

Do not miss the opportunity for Mid-Week Prayer and Bible Study Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00pm. We are studying the Second Coming of Jesus and the events that follow into the Eternal State.

The lesson for the next time we meet, Wednesday evening, June 22^nd, is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

There will be no classes on June 8^th and 15^th while I am on vacation.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Thursday, June 2^nd, 2016. Today is the 154^th Day of 2016.

Today is Rebecca Warner’s Birthday…

There are only 212 days left in this year; and, there are only 17 days left until Father’s Day; and, there are only 206 days left until CHRISTMAS…

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – “CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CITIZENS OF GOD’S KINGDOM”

Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Of all of the verses in the Sermon on the Mount, this one should make it obviously clear that Jesus is addressing believers (“Citizens of the Kingdom”) in this sermon.

NO unbeliever will ever “hunger and thirst for righteousness…”

None.

Romans 3:9-18
⁹ “What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
¹⁰ as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
¹¹ no one understands; no one seeks for God.
¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
¹³ “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
¹⁴ “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶ in their paths are ruin and misery,
¹⁷ and the way of peace they have not known.”
¹⁸ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Only the direct intervention of God in regenerating an unsaved person will create in them a hunger and thirst for the things of God.

There are two great blessings here…

First, if you do “hunger and thirst after righteousness…” you can be certain that you are indeed a born-again believer.

Second, if you do “hunger and thirst after righteousness…” you have the promise of Jesus that you will be filled.

Filled with righteousness? Yes.

When we repent of our sins and trust Jesus as our Savior and LORD, God imputes our sins to Jesus.

At the same blessed and happy moment, HE also imputes to the believer the righteousness of Jesus.

This is how Abraham was saved…

Genesis 15:6
“And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

And this is how every other saved person is saved…

2 Corinthians 5:21
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

WAIT… there is more… God not only immediately declares us righteous; HE begins a life-long process of making us righteous through the sanctifying work of the HOLY SPIRIT as the believer actively obeys the Law of God.

Philippians 2:12-13
¹² “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Philippians 1:6
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

God’s Kingdom people “hunger and thirst for righteousness…” and, by HIS grace and for HIS glory, God fills HIS people with the righteousness of Christ.

Do not miss the opportunity for Mid-Week Prayer and Bible Study Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00pm. We are studying the Second Coming of Jesus and the events that follow into the Eternal State.

The lesson for the next time we meet, Wednesday evening, June 22^nd, is “THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH”.

There will be no classes on June 8^th and 15^th while I am on vacation.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!

A Word from THE WORD

Good Morning Happy Church,

Today is Wednesday, June 1^st, 2016. Today is the 153^rd Day of 2016.

There are only 213 days left in this year; and, there are only 18 days left until Father’s Day; and, there are only 207 days left until CHRISTMAS…

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – “CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CITIZENS OF GOD’S KINGDOM”

Matthew 5:1-12
¹ “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Meekness is not Weakness

⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

As HE continues HIS correction of the false teaching of the Pharisees, Jesus points out that one of the characteristics of HIS Kingdom people is meekness.

Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is not the opposite of strength, it is the opposite of being prideful.

Someone has well said that being meek does not mean that you think little of yourself; being meek means you do not think about yourself.

God’s Kingdom people are meek because we know that our standing before God is the result of God’s mercy and grace.

In HIS mercy, God does not give us what we do deserve.

In HIS grace, God does give us what we do not deserve.

Meekness is the result of knowing who we are and Who God is. It is the result of knowing that we are completely dependent on HIM for our salvation.

Blessed are the meek because we will “inherit” the earth. We will not conquer it; we will inherit it from the ONE Who will indeed conquer it.

Both in the Millennial Kingdom and on the New Earth following it; God’s Kingdom people will live with God on that New Earth as we will faithfully serve HIM for all of eternity.

Since that is so, why not “practice up” serving HIM now?

Do not miss the opportunity for Mid-Week Prayer and Bible Study Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00pm. We are studying the Second Coming of Jesus and the events that follow into the Eternal State.

The lesson for next this evening is “Three 2’s of the Second Coming” pointing out three key elements of the future that come in Twos in the Scripture.

Each Wednesday will feature a stand-alone lesson, so even if you can’t make them all; be sure you catch as many of these lessons as you can.

Carpe Diem!