Sermons From My Heart

When we do God’s work in our world, there is always a chance that we will face opposition, including persecution. How can we handle opposition when it arises? The best way is to follow the example of the apostle Paul, especially the example we find in 2 Corinthians 6:3-13.

Paul’s motives and commission by God were questioned. His motives and his conduct were attacked. What made the situation worse was the knowledge that some people who Paul had led to Christ believed that the accusations were true.

Suffering is typically perceived as negative, perhaps even a punishment from God. Paul saw it as the seal of God’s approval. So, with his authority under attack, Paul lists his hardships as his credentials. He gave insights into the costs of his ministry. He argued that the trials he endured were witnesses to the sincerity of his ministry.

People had different views of Paul and his ministry. Some saw him as a poor, sorrowful, unknown, dying impostor without honour. Others saw him as spiritually alive, honourable, well-though-of servant of God who enriched people throughout his ministry. He was evaluated by both worldly standards and spiritual standards. Our world has a stereotypical view of Christians. Any believer who engages in a faithful ministry should expect to be rejected and accepted, hated and loved. He or she should expect to enjoy both joy and hardships.

Paul proved himself by being faithful and diligent despite persecution. He did not solely rely on his own strength. He relied on spiritual virtue. Paul has provided an excellent example for us as Christians to follow when we are opposed or persecuted.

Paul lists how he conducted himself during his trials. Weapons on the right hand are offensive, those on the left are defensive. Christians can prepare for any battle by living virtuously and arming themselves with the word of truth and the power of God. The Holy Spirit enables these things.

Ministers are held to a higher standard of conduct that the rest of the population. This is understandable. The misconduct of one minister will bring scorn on the ministry and affect the usefulness and success of other ministers. As the old saying goes, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.” Integrity and power for daily life are a result of a heart committed to purity. A clean heart releases God’s authority and power.

Paul lists several positive influences of his ministry, and these same influences are the characteristics of positive Christian ministry today. He lived a pure life. He communicated the knowledge of what was true. He was patient in the face of trials. He was kind to everyone, and he loved everyone. He was under the satisfying influence of the Holy Spirit. In all cases, Paul acted in a manner that commended the ministry and the gospel in all circumstances, regardless of whether the world supported him or opposed him. Similarly, our actions must commend our ministry and the Good News in all circumstances regardless of the support (or lack thereof) of the world.

Paul’s list presents a model of Christlike character amid negative circumstances. The biblical paradoxes can be confusing—strength through weakness, comfort through suffering, life through death, glory through shame. But God is the lord of the paradox too, bringing good out of evil.

If we live the type of life Paul led, Christ can lead us into abundant life despite suffering. The key is to love one another. Love is a commitment. If two people love one another, they are committed to each other. Love is in short supply, and it is in short supply in the church. Many people have left the church because they have forgotten how important it is to be connected with a local faith community. We find love, joy and an outlet for service within the church. Unity and connections within the church are essential to the successful completion of the church’s mission. That mission is our mission as believers-that is, to spread the Good News to a world that is hurting, skeptical, and often hostile.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1608)
2. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2, Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 237-240)
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4. Pastor David McGee, “Wrapped in Kindness.” Retrieved form www.crossthebridge.com\
5. Mary Southerland, “Standing Firm in the Storms of Life, Part 1.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

Today, we celebrate Pentecost. It is also the birthday of the church, and like all other birthdays, a gift was given. That gift was the Holy Spirit, and we still receive the Holy Spirit today. The Holy Spirit also came bearing gifts, and it brings the same gifts today.

In 1 Corinthians 12:3-13, Paul lists four broad categories of spiritual gifts, each with a specific purpose. The special gifts are to equip God’s people. The speaking gifts are to explain God’s truth. The serving gifts are to enable God’s work. The sign gifts are to establish God’s authority.

The gifts from God fall into three categories: gifts received in relation to the Spirit, acts of service and works made possible by God’s power. The same God is the giver of these gifts. These gifts are for the common good of the church, not for the benefit of the recipients.

God gives different gifts to different people. To some, he gives the faith of miracles. This faith is greater than regular faith. To others, He gives the gift of healing. To others, He gives the ability to speak in languages that they did not know before. The Corinthians may have been afraid that those speaking in tongues were blaspheming the Lord. Paul reassured them that a person who was truly regenerated and indwelt by the Holy Spirit was incapable of cursing God.

Although we don’t have the gift of healing today, God still hears and answers our prayers, especially our prayers for the sick. One gift we receive is insights into the needs of people to bring them to Christ. That gift raises the spiritual bar for Christians who want to impact the world for Christ today.

We have the chance to be part of one of the greatest healings of all time. That healing is the dead coming to life. When we tell others the Gospel and they respond, they go from death to life, from condemnation to forgiveness, from being a child of the devil to a child of God.

In the 1800s, a young boy was fascinated by the beauty of snowflakes. He looked at them with an old microscope and made sketches of their designs, but they melted too quickly to capture their detail. In 1885, he attached a bellows camera to the microscope and after several tries he took his first picture of a snowflake.

No two snowflakes are alike, but all come from the same source. The same is true for all Christians. All of us come from the same God, but we are all different. God has chosen to bring a variety of people together into a unified whole, and He has given us different gifts, and He has given them to us in different ways.

The doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation upon which all other doctrines are built. Paul uses the beautiful mystery of the Trinity to demonstrate to the Corinthians that just as there is diversity within the Godhead (Father/Son/Spirit) yet only one God, there is also diversity in spiritual gifts but only one church. The diversity of gifts should serve to promote unity within the church, not division and competition.

Paul likens these gifts and the church to the human body. The body is made up of various parts and is still one body. The church is one body made up of many members, each with their own gifts and functions. The work of the church is to encourage its members to discover and use these gifts. The Spirit operates in our lives in such a way that we discover understandings and abilities that we did not know we had.

One reason why we sometimes don’t recognize our gifts is because of sin. Our self-centered human nature and our preoccupation with lesser things causes us to focus on worldly things. When the Spirit enters our lives, it begins to remove the clutter, just like we remove clutter when we move.

In ancient times, before all of Scripture was written, God would give a sign gift such as miracles, healings tongues or interpretation of tongues to validate the word of His spokesmen. Once the Word of God was completed, there was no further need for a revelation because God had said all that He intended to say. So today, if someone says, “I have a word from God,” ignore it. The canon of Scripture is closed.

The last chapter of the Book of Revelation pronounces a curse on anyone who would add to or subtract from Scripture. People do receive further understanding about the word God has already given, but no one receives any additional, prophetic revelation. Prophecy is now limited to proclaiming what has already been revealed in the Scriptures. That does not mean that Christians should ignore people such as ministers who deliver a message from God. They are to use the gift of discernment to determine the truthfulness of the message.

The validity of any speaking exercise is determined by the truthfulness of it. If the speaker affirms the lordship of Jesus, the message is truth from the Holy Spirit. What someone says and believers about Jesus is the test of whether he or she speaks from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always leads people to Christ.

All our gifts come from God. Pride creeps in when we begin to think that we had these gifts and the power they bring to begin with. We did not earn our gifts, and God does not show favoritism. Each spiritual gift is just that-a gift. It was given by God because He wants us to share the Gospel with a hurting world.

Throughout Scripture, God chose the most unlikely and unqualified people to do His work in our world. In most cases these people insisted that they were not worthy. They forgot one thing that we sometimes forget today. What is impossible with people is possible with God. All we have to do is believe that God has called us to go into the world in His name, and not listen to the limitations we or others have imposed.

Some people are jealous of the gifts others have received. They think that their own gifts are small or insignificant compared to others. Sometimes this leads to a serious, permanent rift in a relationship, and sometimes this is God’s will. There are times God chooses to spread the Good News rapidly in different direction and different ways by having two capable servants have a disagreement. As they separate and minister in different locations and in different ways, He accomplishes a greater objective than if they agreed.

On this the birthday of the church, our attitude should be one of thankfulness and gratefulness. It is a duty that God wants us to accomplish cheerfully by using the gifts He has given us. If we do, we will be doing His work in our world-and that is a gift that we can give to Him and to others.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1587-1588)
2. A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2 Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 144-150)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Pastor David McGee, “From Death to Life.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
6. Pastor David McGee, “It’s Not You.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
7. Dennis Fisher, “Ice Flowers.” Retrieved from www.rbc.org
8. Christine Caine, “Justified by God.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
9. Charles R. Swindoll, “Agreeing About Disagreements, Part Two.” Retrieved from www.insightforliving.ca

What’s one of the hardest things you have ever had to do? For most of us, the answer is waiting, especially if we are sitting in a doctor’s waiting room. Frustration soon sets in. The disciples felt the same way, especially when Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for the power He said would be coming to them. This was especially frustrating for Peter, who preferred to be doing something instead of waiting. Waiting is so frustrating because it means someone else or something else is in charge, not us. Being out of control and subject to the control of others reminds us of our finiteness and vulnerability.

The disciples wondered what type of power would be coming. Many people believed Jesus was going to bring a literal kingdom on earth. The disciples believed that this power would enable them to drive out the Romans and establish a Jewish kingdom. The disciples were not about to act on their own. They had the wisdom to wait and pray for guidance and leadership.

Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question took their focus off their timetables and put it on to what they needed to do to spread the Gospel to the world. Along with focusing on when Christ will return, believers should also concentrate on witnessing to a dying world. Jesus will fulfill all the Old Testament promises in the future. When God fulfills His promises, He always exceeds our expectations.

Jesus told the disciples how the gospel would spread. The Holy Spirit gave the early Christians power so that their accomplishments were supernatural. The Great Commission appears in all four gospels as well as in Acts 1:6-14. Jesus promised that the disciples would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. This power would enable the disciples to do great things and be great witnesses for Jesus.

Jesus promised to send a guide and comforter. He sends the same guide and comforter to everyone-the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the same power it gives to everyone-the power of speaking, preaching the gospel, enduring life’s trials, etc. This power will be given to people who can accept Jesus’ authority over timing. God does things in his own time and in his own way. His concept of time is different from ours.

God wants to bless us with the power of the Holy Spirit. This starts with prayer and reconciled relationships with ourselves and the people in our lives. The process begins again and again throughout all our lives. When we receive this power, we can change lives and change the world.

When Alfred Nobel discovered an explosive element that was stronger than anything the world had known at the time, he asked a friend and Greek scholar for a word that conveyed the meaning of explosive power. The Greek word was dunamis, and Nobel named his invention “dynamite.” Dunamis is the same word that Jesus used when He told His disciples that they would receive dynamite power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

When we get the power, we have a choice. God has chosen us to be His light of hope in a world that has been darkened by sin. We must choose to use that power by surrendering our lives to Him. We should not be like the Scottish lady at the turn of the 19^th century. She lived alone in a house on the west coast of Scotland. She was traditional and frugal. Her neighbours were shocked when she announced her plans to have electricity installed in her home.

Within a few weeks, the power lines were up and she had electric power, but the company noticed that she was not using the power. A company representative decided to visit her and find out why she wasn’t using any power.

He explained to her, “Your meter shows you’ve had power for three months, but you have scarcely used it.” She replied, “Oh, you see, I don’t use very much of it. Every evening when the sun sets, I turn the electric lamps on long enough to see that I can light my candle, and then I turn it off again!”

If we choose to live life in our own power, we will only accomplish normal things. If we choose to live life in God’s power, following His leading, our lives will be marked by the activity of God which can’t be explained by our own abilities.

God calls us to be His ambassadors in this world. He wants us to introduce Christ’s love and grace to people. We can only do this with the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s so easy to be mesmerized by the amazing power and miracles of God that we can become mere observers instead of active participants in what He wants us to do. God wants us to act, just like the angels told the disciples to act.

Christ’s work of salvation rests primarily on four pillars of truth: His birth, His crucifixion, His Resurrection and His ascension. The ascension was the exclamation point. It completely and finally demonstrated that His atonement had forever solved the problem that sin created. As believers, we are to be witnesses to His saving work, and like the original disciples, we are called by Jesus to spread the Good News to a world that desperately needs to hear His message.

Jesus did not want the disciples to be confused or discouraged by His ascension, so He sent the two angels to comfort them and order them to “get moving.” With the declaration in verse 11, the angels confirmed that the second person of the Trinity was then, and forever would be, God and Man. Just as He left, so would He return-in His glorified body. This is part of every Christian’s hope! Christ was the first fruit of the resurrection, meaning that when all things are made new, His followers will be made like Him.

When the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they were constantly grappling with the shock and emotions of what they had just seen and heard. They were embarking on a new chapter in history. So, what did they do? They prayed and drew strength from God as they went forward in faith to serve Him. The great preacher Harry Ironside once said that, “When God is going to do some great thing, He moves the hearts of people to pray. He stirs them up to pray in view of that which He is about to do.” The disciples needed that time of preparation, prayer and self-examination so they would be ready for the power to change the world.

The patience of the disciples was rewarded when, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit arrived and touched them. The Holy Spirit gave them the power to accomplish many things, including the ability to preach to the members of the crowd in their own languages.

The events in Acts 1:6-14 are all part of God’s plan for redeeming the world. We are a part of His plan. We don’t know when the kingdom will come, but we do know that we are called to spread the Good News. We can do this by being in contact with people and infusing them with the Gospel. When we do, the power of the Holy Spirit in us will be released.

It’s our duty to tell others what we experienced when we met Jesus, and it is a duty that we should perform joyfully. For us the focus of our mission is at home in life’s most intimate relationships. It’s where people really know us. It has a focus at work and in the community where the consistency of our life and witness can be observed. How can we keep the gift of salvation quiet and not share it with others?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1486-1487)
2. Jeremiah, David: A.D.: The Revolution that Changed the World (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers; 2015; pp. 40-44)
3. Jeremiah, David: Acts: The Church in Action, Vol. 1 (San Diego, CA: Turning Point for God;2006,2015; pp. 13-36
4. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
5. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 36-48)
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
7. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
8. “Devoted to Prayer.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmaillcom
9. “Power to Proclaim.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmaillcom
10. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Our Calling.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
11. Pastor Greg Laurie, “The Explosive Power of Pentecost.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
12. Pastor Ken Klaus, “An Unstoppable Message.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
13. T.M. Moore, “Kingdom Power.” Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org
14. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, The Ascension of the Lord (A).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
15. Richard Neill Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 1:6-14.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
16. Pastor Ed Young, “The Joy of Witnessing.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
17. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Joy of Witnessing.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
18. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.; 2016; pp. 20-26)

Have you ever wondered how you can reach and teach people who don’t know Christ? If so, you can learn from the example Paul used in the passage from Acts 17:22-31.

Paul approached the subject of his message from the viewpoint of the Greeks. He did not use flattery. He complimented them on their pursuit of spiritual knowledge. He used something familiar to the Greeks to introduce them to something that they weren’t familiar with. The Greeks accepted all gods, but in case they forgot any gods, they built an altar to an unknown god. The Greeks were searching for knowledge. They didn’t have to look any further than Jesus. If we are looking for knowledge, all we have to do is look for Jesus. Paul proceeded to tell them about the one god they overlooked in their pursuit of spiritual knowledge.

Paul understood the character of his audience and tailored his message to them. He acknowledged their gods and then proceeded to teach them about the god they knew as “the unknown god.” In doing so, he gently tried to convince them that their worship of multiple gods was foolish He spoke of God as the Creator of a world who could control every event and could not be confined to temples. The Creator does not need to depend on us for happiness. The Creator created life, and so we depend on Him.

Paul developed his theme carefully. He emphasized four points:

1. As the Creator, God can’t be contained.
2. As the Originator, God has no needs.
3. As the Sovereign of the universe, He has a purpose. He is accessible to everyone.
4. As the source of life, God does not depend on us. We, on the other hand, depend on Him.

Paul applied his message to the needs of the Greeks. God wants people to repent so He can grant them unmerited favour.

After laying the groundwork, Paul moved on to the main point of his message. Jesus has been revealed. His authority was validated when he rose from the dead. Paul introduced the concept of resurrection into the Greeks’ concept of the universe. The Greeks considered the concept of resurrection to be absurd. Paul brings Christ into the picture by pointing out that the Resurrection proves Jesus as God’s Man who will one day judge the world in righteousness.

Standing amid countless idols created by humans, Paul made the point that humanity does not create God. In fact, the Greeks’ own poets had recognized that God created humans, not vice versa.

 Everyone can learn about God, and Paul provided the Greeks with the same opportunity. He encouraged the Greeks to search the Scriptures and find the proofs of his existence. They were invited to learn about God’s perfection and His laws. God is near to us because the proofs of his existence and power are all around us.

God’s purpose is for us to seek the Lord, in the hope we will search for Him and find Him. When we look for God, we are looking for a God who is already known to us. He invites us to search for Him, and He promises to reward our search.

How should we defend our faith when people ask us to explain the hope that is in us? We can follow the example Paul used with the Greeks. We can start by acknowledging points of common interest. At the same time, we must hold our ground in matters that strike at the nerve of Christian faith. This is an uneasy, unresolved tension that witnesses to Christ learn to live with.

The gospel sounds different every place it is told, because it is connected linguistically, culturally and personally to humanity. That’s why Paul chose the approach he used when he preached to the Greeks. Paul explained that Jesus fit within basic Greek religious ideas, but Jesus also confounded them by being something new and unfamiliar.

Paul met the Greeks on their own time and at their own place. He set a good example for us as Christians to follow. Instead of expecting people to come to church and learn about God, we can teach them about God by meeting them where they are-at work, at home, in school, in clubs or in groups and so on. We must be involved in our world. In a society where technology and communications change rapidly, we must search for new ways to relate to people (including non-Christians) and preach the Good News.

How can we do this? Well, for example, we can:

1. Spend time understanding the people who live in this world of new media and communications.
2. Follow the Twitter feeds and Facebook posts of those who are not Christians. They pay attention to the same social issues and problems that Jesus encountered though His ministry.

For example, James and his wife were at church one Sunday when they noticed a new couple sitting not far from them. After the service, they walked up and greeted them. The new couple asked where they lived, so James described his neighborhood and talked about how nice it was.

The same question was asked to the new couple, who lamented about where they were living. They said that in the few weeks since they moved in, not one of their neighbours had stopped to say hello.

 The two couples parted, got into their cars and drove home. As James and his wife were pulling into their driveway, they were shocked to see the new couple…pulling in the driveway just next to theirs.

 Bibliography

1. 1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1517-1518)
   2. Swindoll, Charles. R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers; 2016, pp. 348-350)
   3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
   4. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 252-255)
   5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
   6. C. Clifton Black, “Commentary on Acts 17:22-31.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
   7. Matt Skinner, “Commentary on Acts 17:22-31.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
   8. Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “From Synagogues and Sanctuaries to Bars and Boardrooms: The Apostle Paul at the Aeropagus.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
   9. The Rev. Hardy Kim, “Proclaiming Christ in the New Aeropagus.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
   10. Dr. Randy Hyde, “Seeker Unsensitive.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
   11. “How to be a Light Where God Has You.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

• Richard Neil Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 17:22-31.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

One of the interesting aspects of humanity is the fact that all of us are different. These differences make the world interesting to say the least. After all, the world would be a very boring place if everyone was identical. On the other hand, differences can lead to problems if they are not dealt with. In terms of Christianity, these differences can divide people into two groups-those who have weak faith, and those whose faith is strong. Those who have strong faith are to accept and help those who are slipping in their faith. We see an example of how differences in faith can divide people in the passage from Romans 14:1-12.

Many Christians in Rome were converts from pagan religion. Part of pagan religion involved sacrificing animals in honour of a god. Any meat that was not burned in fire or eaten during the ritual could be sold in the market. Converts from pagan religion were afraid to eat meat that was offered to idols, so they usually did not eat any meat that they did not prepare themselves.

Some people in the church who felt free to eat meat passed judgment on those who did not. Those who made the criticisms were weak in their faith. When Paul suggested vegetarians also judged those who ate meat, he was saying that the sin of despising and disgracing brothers and sisters can work both ways. Neither behavior is acceptable to God; both must be avoided in the body of Christ. Paul urged those who were on either side of the issue to show understanding, compassion and tenderness. He urged those who were strong in faith to be considerate in the exercise of their freedom and strengthen the weak. Love and fellowship in Christ should be the basis for Christian acceptance of one another.

The church faces similar issues today. How many churches condemn their members who don’t behave according to that church’s teachings? Every church could be changed if it took these principles to heart:

1. A life of grace begins with mutual acceptance. Accepting another person doesn’t mean that we must agree with him or her. We can respectfully disagree with ideas or opinions without rejecting the person who holds them.
2. An attitude of grace requires releasing others to be who God wants them to be.
3. A commitment to grace forbids one from judging someone else. We don’t know all the facts of the situation. We can’t be objective. We can’t redeem. God is the only person who can fulfill these criteria.

All of us are faced with people who seem different. We have different values and can use those to judge ourselves superior to others, but God has already judged us and found us worthy of love, compassion and salvation. Instead of focusing too much on how our differences stack up against each other, we should turn our focus toward the God who sees us and loves us all the same. All of us are the same in the only way that matters. We are God’s beloved, for whom Christ died so that we may life forever. None of our differences compare to this one, essential similarity.

We belong to God. He will renew our minds. We must give Him the chance to change us and fellow believers. We must not try to control others’ behavior based on what pleases us. The motivation to change behavior must come from a conscience that has been changed by God. God is pleased with the individual Christian because of Christ, not because of his or her views on peripheral matters. Christians are to have the same attitude, striving toward unity, not unnecessary dissension.

We are not to judge others when it comes to non-essential matter of faith. We must ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” Every believer should make sure their conscience does not condemn them and then act on what they believe, being responsible to make judgments about things not specifically covered in Scripture. The centre of Christian life is faithfulness and love toward God-whether in obeying Scripture or seeking to apply scriptural principles .

Paul wants believers to deal with controversial issues on the solid base of commitment to Christ instead of surrendering to pressure. This does not mean that it doesn’t matter what Christians believe or how they believe. In many matters, Christ and the apostles were clear. In many areas of spiritual experience there are no hard and fast rules, so a certain degree of freedom has been granted.

God tells us that there will be a day when each of us will have to give an account of what we did with the gifts He gave us. Why does He do this? It’s because He knows that we don’t want to behave well unless acting badly has consequences. If we judge another person, we assume God’s role. We place ourselves above Him.

To play the role of God in another person’s life is dangerous. God is the only person who has the right to judge others. His standards are much higher than ours. If He is not pleased with a person’s conduct, He will deal with the situation as he sees fit. He will use the Holy Spirit to change the offender’s conduct so that it will be more Christ-like, just like the Holy Spirit changes our behavior. Christians will stand one day before Christ’s judgment seat, not to determine their salvation, but to have their works examined before receiving rewards.

Bibliography

1.  Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1564)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010, pp. 286-294)
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 1 Bible software package.
4. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, pp. 244-247)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. Joe Gibbs, “Judgment Day.” Retrieved from www.GamePlanForLife.com
8. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for Romans 14:1-12.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? Acts 2:42-47 offers us a glimpse of heaven here on earth. The early believers joined together in faith, hope and love in the very best ways possible. The reading from Acts is a picture of the early church. It suggests what the Holy Spirit can do. The Holy Spirit gives Christians the power to provide mutual service that reflects God’s justice, mercy, love and compassion. The Christian community exists not for our sake, but to care for its most vulnerable members and to be the means by which God’s gift of salvation is extended to others.

The apostles were eyewitnesses of Christ’s life, and they taught what they knew about Jesus and the Old Testament witness about Him. The apostles were likely in awe of the power they now had. They knew that it was not their power but God’s power. They knew that they had a responsibility to use that power wisely.

The early church was a healthy church. It was devoted to teaching, fellowship and celebrating the Lord’s Supper. It was a growing church. It was a joyously united church. It was a worshipping church. A healthy church today shows the same characteristics.

The early church believed in fellowship, or holding things in common or sharing things together. The early church also continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread and in prayers. When these believers assembled, they prayed both spontaneous and memorized prayers from their Jewish roots. God demonstrated the authority of the apostles through the miracles they performed, confirming the Gospel they preached and inspiring awe and reverence of Him. In the days following Christ’s ascension into heaven, this amazing power was moving into the church, and God was adding to their number every day. Every day, people were thinking, “I want some of that.”

Our worship is a witness to people both inside and outside the church. For example, when nonbelievers go to church, that are checking everything out. They are taking everything in. What kind of witness are we to the people sitting near to us? Non-believers will form an opinion about God and Christianity largely based on what they see. As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

The early believers also opened their hearts to each other. They saw the best and worst of themselves, but they still loved one another, and they shoed that love by sharing what they owned with one another. The early believers shared what they owned because they were generous and committed to one another, not because they were required to do so. The fellowship of the early church expressed itself in open hearts, open hands and open homes.

Fellowship means that all Christians have the same hope of heaven-the same joys, the same hatred of sin and the same enemies. They have the same subjects of conversation, of feeling and of prayer. Revival leads to fellowship. It unites us with fellow Christians, and it unites those who were separated by sin with us when they repent and turn to God in faith. God’s grace unites us in seriousness and solemnity.

The passage from Acts depicts the life of the early Christian community as a model for Christian life today. Unfortunately, most Christians don’t follow this model. Our individual and communal lives should reflect our experiences of God’s grace and action in and among us. The early Christians realized that devotion to Jesus involved a commitment to a new way of thinking and living. A Christian lifestyle that appreciates the study of Scripture, generosity and caring doesn’t happen easily or automatically. It requires intention, effort and choice.

The early church is an example of what happens when the living Christ sets us free to fulfill His purpose for His people-that they become one with Him and with each other. If we as Christians want to be one with Christ, we must take time to be together to listen to each other, care for each other and be there for each other. Christians are partners with Jesus and other believers, so it is our spiritual duty to encourage one another in faith, righteousness and obedience. If we want to grow in faith and fulfill the mission Jesus has given us, we must regularly gather together for teaching, worship, encouragement and prayer.

Opening our hearts to one another means sharing our lives with them, and that’s what the early believers did. Christian lives can’t be lived in isolation. They are connected and work together just like all of the parts of a human body work together. Our churches can often be described as a group of people sitting in a circle with their chairs facing in. Paul and Luke want us to turn our chairs back to back and face out in a fellowship of the gospel. When we face out and reach out we have an outlet that fills our church with the young life of new believers.

God uses life’s circumstances to prepare people to receive the Good News. We can target people and take them to dinner and testify to the truth of Jesus through our words and the example of our Christian lives, but they will remain green to the Gospel. Only when God Himself moves in their hearts to ripen them through a circumstance or condition that is beyond their own ability to solve will they receive the Gospel.

The early believers also opened their homes to each other as places of worship, and in doing so followed Paul’s commands as written in Hebrews 13:2 and Titus 1:8. A well-known minister made the following comment:

“Something holy happens around a dinner table that will never happen in a sanctuary. In an church auditorium, you see the backs of heads. Around the table, you see the expressions on faces. In the auditorium, one person speaks; around the table, everyone has a voice. Church services are on the clock. Around the table there is time for talk.”

In some ways, the church today carries on this tradition. For example, members often meet in one another’s homes in small groups for Bible study or informal gatherings.

An essential part of worship, the Lord’s Supper-also referred to as breaking bread or Communion-causes believers to look back to the cross, forward to the coming of Christ, and inward to the condition of their heart.

The early believers were passionate believers. They were so excited about their faith that they couldn’t wait to go to church. They loved being with fellow believers, sharing their faith and the Lord’s Supper and being encouraged by other believers. They were so eager that they met together every day! If only people today were that eager!

The result of these activities was the growth of the church. Everyone who observed the lives and prayers of the early church experienced a sense of awe of God and his presence. The church grew and found favour with people both inside and outside of the church. The love of the people was a testimony, especially to those who did not agree with the apostles’ teachings. Oh, how we need this today.

The early church turned its wold upside-down for Christ. They taught the doctrine of Christ, their fellowship centered on Christ, they remembered Him in communion, they communicated with Him in prayer, and they exalted Christ in worship. As the 21st century church focuses on Christ in this way, the Spirit will turn its world upside-down as well.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1490-1491)
2. Jeremiah, David: A.D.: The Revolution that Changed the World (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers; 2015; pp. 49-56)
3. Jeremiah, David: Acts: The Church in Action, Vol. 1 (San Diego, CA: Turning Point for God;2006,2015; pp. 70-73)
4. Pastor Mark Jeske, “Devoted to Worshipping Together.” Retrieved from www.TimeofGrace.org
5. Barnes’ Nots on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
6. Pastor Bobbly Schuller, “The Early Days.” Retrieved from www.hourofpower.cc
7. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 71-74)
8. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
9. Stanley, C.F., The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
10. Pastor Dick Woodward, “A Fellowship in the Gospel.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@corsswalkmail.com
11. Pastor Greg Laurie, “You Are Being Watched.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
12. Dr. Lanie LeBlanc, “2nd Sunday of Eater/Divine Mercy Sunday.” Retrieved from volume2@lists.opsouth.org
13. Richard Neill Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 2:42-47.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
14. Pastor James MacDonald, “Picking Apples.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
15. Johnathan Kever, “A Healthy Church.” Retrieved from www.preaching.com
16. Matt Skinner, “Commentary on Acts 2:42-47.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
17. Scott Schauff, “Commentary on Acts 2:42-47.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
18. Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “Apostolic Devotion: The Actual Historic Tradition.” Retrieved from http://www.journeywithjesus.org

Have you ever had difficulty trusting someone or something? If so, you’re not alone. In today’s Gospel reading, Thomas did not trust the disciples when they told him that they had seen the risen Saviour. Thomas refused to believe them until he saw Jesus himself.

Psalm 16 is a psalm of trust. King David was the writer, and he trusted God. He tells us that we can trust God as well. God has asked us to trust him in the midst of the trials of life. We can trust God because He is present with us in every moment of life. We can be confident in a God who counsels and makes us secure and promises eternal pleasures. In contrast, those who go after the pleasures of the world reap nothing but sorrow. Nothing can shake us loose from the grip of God’s grace if we remain close to Jesus and our hope remains focused on His return. Only Jesus can provide the cure for the loneliness many of us experience in life today.

Psalm 16 is also an Easter psalm. It is full of hope. God will preserve us because of His goodness. God is our inheritance. He is always before us. God gives us hope. He is the God of life. Psalm 16 embraces the true meaning of life: God and people. When we love God and love people, we fulfill the two Great Commandments.

Verses 1 and 2 include three different names for God: powerful creator, covenant-giver and the Lord and Master of Life. David saw in all of these names the personal presence of God in his life.

David saw the idols of the Moabites and the Philistines, and he heard of his own people’s history of idolatry. The principles of God’s holiness kept him from giving in to the same temptations. God’s presence is seen in the moral instructions we receive. It is His assurance of stability. David gives us three benefits of God’s presence:

1. Our hearts will be glad with the joy of His presence.
2. Our tongues will speak kind and wise words.
3. Our bodies will rest secure because God will carry our burdens and reduce our stress.

David challenges us to live differently, to live a life in which God is the only god for us, for all. How would our daily lives change if we looked to God as the only god that we have? How would our lives be oriented if we believed that God is the only source of any good we have?

It might seem strange to us, but God tells us to bless our competitors and our enemies. We can do this because our security is based on doing what God calls us to do. It is not based on pitting ourselves against other people. When we give to others, we often receive something for ourselves. When we bless others, we are often blessed ourselves.
Blessing our enemies is part of God’s plan for our lives. He understands the plan even if we can’t understand it. If we seek His will, He will make His plan known to us in His own time and in His own way.

The word “lot” means circumstances, or the place where God has put a person. People do well to recognize, as David did, the daily provisions of God. God often gives his counsel when we are quiet enough to listen to Him-for example, while in bed or getting ready for sleep. We must be ready to listen at all times because He may be ready to speak at any time.

When we accept Christ, we will experience joy. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of God within us. Joy will automatically be evident on our faces. God gives us the gift of joy so that we may experience fullness in Him. Living within God’s boundaries provides a joy and fulfillment we can’t find anywhere else.

Joy is one of the greatest things our world needs today. Joy brings things like enthusiasm for life, determination to never give up, and a strong desire to encourage others. It will give us the strength to face life’s challenges. The greatest joy we have is the knowledge that Christ conquered death through His resurrection. That knowledge is part of the great joy of Easter. We don’t have to be afraid of death any more.

Jesus came as God’s heir to establish our eternal inheritance. This is part of our resurrection hope. God was always at Jesus’ right hand. Jesus was kept secure through death and into eternal life by His resurrection. Jesus took the pains of life into the presence of God. He fulfilled the promise of victory over the grave. Chris was preserved by God, given His inheritance, not moved or shaken, secured from death and ushered into God’s presence where there is eternal life.

All of us have times in our lives when we need something or someone to help us. Sometimes these things become crutches to us, but at other times they give us the confidence and support we desperately need. God is the only support we truly need, and we can rest assured that He will always be close by.

Nothing is good until it is connected or reconnected to God. When it comes to our lives, we were created and redeemed from sin so that we could be with God. He is the source of life and love. He is always with us and sees our best. We were not created or redeemed to go it alone. God is Emmanuel-God with us. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we don’t have to go it alone.

Psalm 16 is an expression of God’s care and presence We will not rot in the grave. We know a life that is stronger than death. God has shown us the way of life, and we enjoy the pleasures of living with God now and forever. When we sense God’s presence in our lives, we enjoy the pleasures of living with God now and forever, and we can face the challenges of life because we know that God is with us.

I want to close my message today with this story. It’s called “Just Checkin’ In,” and it ties in quite nicely with the theme of my message.

A minister passed through his church in the middle of the day.

Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle.

The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn’t shaved in awhile.

His shirt was kinda’ shabby and his coat was worn and frayed.

The man knelt, bowed his head, then arose and walked away.

In the days that followed each noon time brought this chap

And each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister’s suspicions grew, and robbery was his main fear.

He decided to stop the man and ask him, “Whatcha’ doing’ here?”

The old man worked down the road. Lunch was half and hour.

Lunch time was his prayer time, for finding strength and power.

“I stay only moments, see, ‘cause the factory is so far away;

As I kneel here talkin’ to the Lord, this is kinda’ what I say:

‘I just came again to tell You, Lord, how happy I have been,

Since we found each other’s friendship and You took away my sin.

I don’t know much of how to pray

But I think about You every day.

So, Jesus, this is Jim just checkin’ in.’”

The minister feeling foolish, told Jim, that this was fine.

He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime.

“time to go,” Jim smiled, said “Thanks.” He hurried to the door.

The minister knelt at the altar, he’d never done it before.

His cold heart melted, warmed with love, he met Jesus there. “I just came again to tell You, Lord, how happy I have been,

Since we found each other’s friendship and You took away my sin.

I don’t know much of how to pray

But I think about You every day.

So, Jesus, this is me just checkin’ in.’”

It was past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn’t come.

As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry some.

He went to the factory and asked about Jim and found out that he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried, but he’d given them a thrill.

The week that He was with them, brought changes in the ward.

His smiles, a joy contagious, changed people, his reward.

The head nurse couldn’t understand why Jim was so glad,

When no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by Jim’s bed, he voiced the nurse’s concern;

No friends came to show they cared; Jim had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile;

“The nurse is wrong, she couldn’t know, that everyday at noon

He’s here, a dear friend of min, you see,

He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:

‘I just came again to tell you, Jim, how happy I have been,

Since we found each other’s friendship and I took away your sin.

I always love to hear you pray

I think about you every day.

And so my dear Jim, this is Jesus checkin’ in.’”

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 714-715)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Williams, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol: 13: Psalms 1-72 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1986, pp. 129-135)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Joni Eareckson Tada, “Do You Ever Miss the Lord?” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org
6. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “King Solomon’s Warning.” Retrieved from www.ltw.org
7. Os Hillman, “Competition in the Kingdom.” Retrieved from www.marketplaceleaders.com
8. Dawn Mast, “Lifting my Spirit.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
9. Steve Arterburn, “A Renewed Sense of Purpose.” Retrieved from www.newlife.com
10. Charles R. Swindoll, “Outrageous Joy.” Retrieved form www.insightforliving.ca
11. Jim Burns, “Just Checking In.” Retrieved from www.homeword.com
12. Pastor Jesse Bradley, “When God is Near.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
13. Dr. David Jeremiah, “Victory is Ours!” Retrieved from www.davidjeremiah.org
14. Pastor Ken Klaus, “It’s All Good!” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
15. Pastor Ken Klaus, “You are the Best, Lord!” Retrieved from www.lhm.org

Have you ever wondered how the disciples were able to accomplish so much after Jesus returned to heaven? The answer is revealed in the story of Peter and John and the healing of the lame man. We read what happened because of that healing from Acts 3:11-26.

Jesus worked through Peter and the Holy Spirit to heal the lame man. Jesus had two main purposes for healing the lame man:

1. He loved the lame man and released his healing power because of the compassion and concern in His heart.
2. He wanted the people to know that the movement he started when he was on earth was continuing through His disciples, in whom He was living through the Holy Spirit.

Peter directed the attention away from himself and toward Jesus. We as Christians are encouraged to follow the same pattern.

Faith was the secret of the lame man’s healing, and it is the secret of unlocking all power in heaven and earth. That’s why Peter could heal the lame man. He had great faith and consequently great power. Peter wanted the people to receive the same gift of faith.Faith is a response to Christ’s love revealed on the cross and in the Resurrection. Faith comes by hearing the truth. When we have faith, we receive Christ’s healing power through the gift of the Holy Spirit for our needs and those for whom He guides us to pray. Unless a prayer request glorifies Him, His name can’t be used nor the power released.

The Jews knew about miracles and could interpret them. They should have known that the miracle of the lame man’s healing came from God and not from man. Peter’s sermon was a call for the Jews to repent and accept Jesus as the Messiah. He told the Jews that they were responsible for Jesus’ arrest and death and that they needed to repent, even though Jesus was crucified because of the ignorance of the people. In the very city where his audience had crucified Jesus, Peter used the word “you” four times to confront them with the enormity of their sins. Before these people could repent, they had to see themselves as guilty before God.

Peter could have scolded the Jews for crucifying Jesus, but if he did he would not have reached their hearts. His goal was to encourage the Jews to repent, and that could only be done with tenderness, love and kindness. Love, not scolding, is the key to encouraging people to repent.

The main reason why the Jews crucified Jesus was that they did not know that He was the Messiah. Ignorance must be considered when looking at a crime, but the Jews did have an opportunity to know that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter reminded them that since these events were predicted in the Old Testament, they had hope in God’s mercy, especially since they were living under grace just like we are living under grace today.

In Acts 3:22 and 23, Peter quoted Moses, the hero of the Israelites. Moses said in Deuteronomy 18:15,18 and 19 that God would raise up a prophet. That prophet was Jesus. The New Testament is the glorious revelation of the Old Testament shadows that mysteriously forecast the coming of the Saviour. Peter showed that he preached the same Messiah and God that the prophets proclaimed.

Peter told his audience that he knew that they and their leaders had killed Jesus in ignorance and Jesus appealed to the Father in Luke 23:24 not to hold their sin against them. Their sins could be blotted out if they would only repent and be converted.

It’s one thing to admit our mistakes, and another to actually be willing to turn to God. If we are willing to accept Christ as our Saviour, God’s grace will be enough. He will wipe away our sins. He will restore us and our relationship with Him.

Peter promised three results of repentance:

1. Forgiveness of sins.
2. Times of refreshing. People will be refreshed in their Spirits when the Holy Spirit comes to live within them.
3. Christ will return and establish His kingdom on earth. The earth will be renewed beyond the abundant and productive state it had before Adam and Eve’s fall.Every sermon in the Book of Acts is built around the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the sermon we heard in the reading from Acts is no exception. If Christ is not resurrected, then His death is meaningless.

Countless people who place their faith in Christ say that their first and most evident emotion is the sense of having a burden lifted from them. The idea of repentance applies to us today. The Scriptures state that if we do not hear God’s Word and repent, we will be destroyed. We have a choice, and we should choose the offer of mercy and embrace the Messiah. If we do, we will receive the same power of the Holy Spirit. When we receive the Holy Spirit, we will also be able to accomplish so much for the Kingdom while we are here on earth.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1491-1492)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 81-86)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Dr. Tony Evans, “Do You Need to Change Your Expectations?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Repentance.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
7. Richard Neill Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 3:12-19.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
8. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

There are three stages in every successful relationship, including romance. First, you must get to know the other person. Second, you must like the other person. Finally, you must love the other person. Our relationship with Jesus involves all three stages. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 10:1-13.

Knowing Jesus involves knowing what he wants us to do so we can be saved. The Jews were outwardly eager to know God, but they were not eager to know Christ. They failed to submit to God’s righteousness. They tried to be righteous before God on the basis of their own works. They sought to establish their own righteousness and missed the gift God offered them. For the Jews to receive God’s righteousness, they had to stop relying on works and start believing in Christ’s work.

Asking Christ to be our Saviour requires us to give up control in order to have real life. The Jews did not want to give up that control. Asking Christ to be our Saviour also involves breaking through the barriers of generation gaps, social status and culture-something else that the Jews did not want to do. True happiness only comes when we discover the treasure house that Jesus makes available when we come to Him in faith.

Asking God to save us but not change us is like asking a surgeon to remove a cancerous growth from our bodies without cutting. Cutting and breaking are a part of healing in God’s kingdom. Healing can only come when we allow Jesus to enter our hearts and remove anything that is useless or harmful.

Knowing Christ involves knowing what he did for us. The word “end” means that Christ is the goal or fulfillment of the Old Testament law. He was the object to which the law pointed. The Mosaic law is no longer binding on us as Christians. The Mosaic law looked forward to Christ. It ended when Christ came to earth.

If a person chooses to be justified by the law, he or she must live by the law. There is no room for error. The entire law must be kept because keeping a portion of it has no value. If someone breaks one of the laws, he or she breaks all of them. The law demands absolute perfection without any mitigation. Christ was the only person who obeyed the law perfectly, so he was the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

An outward expression of our faith in Christ gives outward evidence of inward faith. We need to believe in the resurrection and the complete truth connected with it. That includes Jesus’ sin-bearing death in our place and God’s approval of Christ’s work. Trusting in Christ is the pathway to salvation, not deeds. We can’t earn salvation through our own efforts. It can only be obtained through faith in Christ. Faith is a heartfelt belief in the reality of Christ’s resurrection. In Christ’s resurrection we see that his claim to deity is valid. We also see that his death brings salvation to us.

When we place our faith in Christ, God looks at us just as He looks at Jesus. Jesus completely obeyed the law, without exception and without fault. Christ’s perfect record becomes ours through faith. Anyone who puts his or her faith in Christ will be saved and will receive eternal life.

Paul speaks of righteousness as if it is a person. We do not need to ascend to heaven to bring righteousness down. Christ has already done that. W do not need to descend into the grave. Christ has already been raised from the dead. We do not have to go on a journey around the world to find it. Christ is accessible by faith, as near as our mouths and hearts. All we have to do is reach out and receive Him by faith.

Knowing Christ involves confessing that Christ is our Saviour. Confessing Christ is evidence of genuine faith. Salvation comes through belief in Christ, acknowledging that He is God, and was raised from the dead. His death satisfied God’s demand for the penalty for sins. His resurrection validated both His claims and the Father’s statements that He is God.

When we are saved, we need to anchor our faith in the promises of God and nothing else. If we pray a prayer of salvation, our hearts and mouths must go together. Words are not enough. Real life begins when we depend on Jesus, when we call out to Him to give us what we can’t earn ourselves-a right relationship with God. That can only happen through faith in what he did for us on the cross.

When we are saved, that does not mean that we won’t have any problems in life. What it does mean is that our eternity will be set in heaven with God. In return, we are to tell the world about Jesus. We are called to either go where God sends us or donate money or anything else that will help others go into the mission field.

Because Christ is God, His death, burial and resurrection took care of the world’s sins. Just as all who sin will be judged, all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Christ lived the life we could not live and took the punishment we could not take to offer the hope we can’t resist. His sacrifice forces us to ask the question: If he so loved us, can we not love each other?

 Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1558-1559)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 193-198)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. Bayless Conley, “Wise Counsel.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
8. Anne Graham Lotz, “One Life.” Retrieved from www.angelministries.org
9. Elizabeth Cole, “The Call.” Retrieved from www.homeword.com
10. Pastor Ed Young, “Acknowledge Who God Is.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
11. Dr. David Jeremiah, “Sending and Sent.” Retrieved from www.davidjeremiah.org
12. Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, “Call on Him.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
13. Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Mission Question.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
14. Pastor Bobby Schuller, “Supposed to Be.” Retrieved from www.hourofpower.org
15. Os Hillman, “The Eternal Sales Call.” Retrieved from www.marketplaceleaders.com
16. “Crossing the Gap Between Us.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
17. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Our Treasure House.” Retrieved from www.ltw.org
18. Exegesis for Romans 10:5-15. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com 

Have you ever wondered what happens to people who don’t obey God’s will? If you have, there is a good example in the passage from Jeremiah 22:13-23.

Jehoiakim renovated the palace by conscripting his people during the Babylonian crisis, and that reflected his misplaced priorities. He attended to his personal comfort rather than fulfilling his royal duty to care for the poor and the needy. Jehoiakim would not only die, which happened before the Babylonians captured the city of Jerusalem in 597 BC, but there would not even be lament over his death and he would not receive a proper burial.

Jehoiakim’s oppressive ways meant that he did not know God. He saw only an opportunity for wealth. He did not see the needs of the poor. Because he was cruel, no one mourned his death. His burial was the same as the burial of a donkey. Those of you who have ever buried the remains of a dead animal know that it is a very simple task. All you have to do is dig a hole that is big enough for the carcass, put it in the hole and fill the hole. This is not the same as the elaborate burial rituals dead kings and queens receive today.

Those who followed Jehoiakim and his ways were driven out of the country and scattered throughout the world just like the wind scatters seeds that are lying on the ground. God had the last word then, and he has the last word today.

When we serve, when we give to the poor and needy, when we step out of our comfort zones and step into the lives of those who are suffering, we will see God’s heart for people. Generous living is a life of proper stewardship. We aren’t living generously if we give away our time, talent and obligations in one part of our lives but not meeting the obligations in the other parts of our lives.

One of our obligations is to know God. That means more than having a peaceful feeling in our hearts. It means acting for the benefit of others, especially for people who can’t pay us back. If we know God, we will love to serve him. If we know God, he will speak to us in both our prosperity and our hardship. In both cases we have to listen carefully for His voice and hear and obey what He says. What has God been saying to you lately?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1456-1458)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Guest, J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 19: Jeremiah, Lamentations (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1988; pp. 154-159)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. “Spending on the Future.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Kelly McFadden, “God’s Heart for the Poor and Needy.” Retrieved from www.homeword.com