TREMBLE AT GOD’S WORD – PART III
"This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2b
In the first session, we carefully looked at the fact that Jesus wants us to be disciples, or students, and He wants us to make disciples, or students, of people.
Last week, we looked at what God says about those who do not tremble at His Word.
And we started to look on how to conduct a true Yeshiva and we finished with the suggestion that Yeshivas should be conducted at home first, within the family unit.
Now what we need to know is that conducting a Yeshiva at home is not the same as conducting a Western church service. Unfortunately, many heads of households feel inadequate to lead their family in a Bible study because they feel unprepared. They assume they must reproduce what they have seen at their local church building. Conducting a family Bible time, a Yeshiva, is what God requires of each head of the household – the father or in a single parent family, the single mother or the single father. God wants that head of the household to be the priest of their own home.
Here are 4 pointers on how to lead such a Yeshiva :
1. Parents should lead their own children into faith in the Lord like David led his son, Solomon, into faith in the Lord.
Turn to Psalm 91.
- David tells Solomon the Gospel in verse 1 : "He who dwells in the shelter (womb) of the Most
High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."
This is a parent telling his own child the good news. The good news is that if anyone will enter the womb (mercy) of God, He will protect him.
- Solomon confesses with his mouth and believes in his heart the gospel in verse 2 : "I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
- David tells Solomon all that the Lord will do for him now that he believes in verses 3 – 13.
- The Lord affirms to David that He will do all David said and show Solomon His salvation in verses 14-16.
2. It is the parent’s responsibility to teach their children the Bible at home.
Turn to Proverbs 4:1-4.
Solomon tells his sons to learn from him in their own house just as he had learned from his father, David, in David’s house – note key verses 3 & 4.
3. Parents should continually impress God’s Word upon their children.
Turn to Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
Parents can only teach their own children God’s Word if (verse 5) they completely love the Lord and the Lord’s commandments are already in their own heart (verse 6).
Parents are to teach their children while sitting with them at home, while travelling together, when they go to bed and when they awaken each morning (read verse 7)
4. Children are never too young (or too old) to learn the Bible.
Turn to II Timothy 3:14-15.
Paul told Timothy to continue in God’s Word that his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice had taught him. Paul confirms that learning from one’s parents has the quality of believing since parents would not lie. He says that Timothy was taught the holy Scriptures form infancy.
So, that what we need to do as parents. And initially you start with the Bible, and then the children grow up and you add to the table a number of Bible helps so that the Yeshiva changes to the ages around the table. You add concordances, lexicons, dictionaries, Greek/Hebrew explanations, commentaries, geographically descriptions (maps, atlas, etc...), history books, etc....
One needs to know that one of the goals of Yeshiva is that all destructive habits need to be replaced with life-giving habits. One needs to know that another goal of Yeshiva is that all destructive thought patterns need to be replaced with life-giving thought patterns
Romans 12:2
"Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect."
Phil 4:8
"Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected."
The Biblical discipline of studying God’s Word systematically, is an inward discipline – a discipline which allows us to think about the things, as God tells us to do in Phil 4:8. God has provided the means for us to take His Word (spoken and unspoken), that to understand it, which we call the renewing of the mind in Romans 12.
God’s grace which is sufficient is given to us in various ways – one of these ways is the discipline of study.
Many Christians are :
- faithful in church attendance
- earnest in fulfilling church duties
- praying in the spirit
- worship/praise and sing with gusto
- live as obedient at they can
and yet, their lives, particularly their inner lives, remain totally unchanged.
Why is this happening ? Why ?
I believe it is because they have never taken up one of the central ways God uses to change us : study.
John 8:32
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free"
Jesus made it clear "that you will know the truth and the truth will make you free." The word "will" in some translations means "shall". The understanding of "shall" (THAT IS WHY WE SHOULD HAVE CONCORDANCES, LEXICONS, HEBREW/GREEK DICTIONARIES, ETC... ON THE TABLE IN FRONT OF US DURING A YESHIVA) – the understanding of "shall" means "guarantees". Jesus will guarantee that you will know the truth and that this truth will set you free.
The truth, in this context, is also translated in some versions as "the knowledge of the truth". You have to know, have the knowledge, of the truth. If you do not know, or have the knowledge of, the truth, it can not set you free.
So, how can Jesus guarantee this. He gives you this guarantee by providing a discipline, which we can learn, and this is the discipline of "study".
Good feelings will not free us.
Ecstatic experiences will not free us.
Getting high on Jesus will not free us.
With a partial knowledge of the truth, we will not be free.
Actually, this is a principle, a God principle, in every area of human endeavor. It is true in biology and mathematics. It is true in marriage and other human relationships. But is it especially true in reference to your spiritual life.
Many, many Christians are hampered and confused in the spiritual walk by simple ignorance of the truth.
Worse yet, many have been brought into the most crucial bondage by false teaching. Matthew 23:15 : "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You travel across the land and sea to find one person who change to your ways. When you find that person, you make him more fit for hell than you are."
Let us apply ourselves to learning what constitutes the spiritual discipline of study, to identify its pitfalls, to practice it with joy, and to experience the liberation it brings.
So, how does the discipline of study works ?
Perhaps we study a tree or a book. We can see it, we can feel it. Once we do this, seeing it and feeling it, our thoughts are molded conforming to what we study.
The Old Testament instructs that the various laws be written on gates and doorposts, and bound to the wrists and the forehead so that "they shall be as frontlets between our eyes".
Deut 6:8
"Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign. Tie them on your forehead to remind you, and write them on your doors and gates."
The purpose of that Old Testament instruction was to direct your mind repeatedly and regularly in certain modes of thought about God and human relations.
Of course, the New Testament replaces the laws written on doorposts with laws written on the heart and leads us to Jesus, our ever-present and inward teacher.
But when we have the Lord in front and centre all the time by studying his word in a variety of ways, our thoughts will conform to the order of the thing being studied.
How does this differ from meditation ? Meditation is devotional while study is analytical.
Meditation will relish a word while study will explicate it. In study, there are two books to be studied : verbal and non-verbal.
Books and lectures constitute only about half of the field of study.
The world or nature, and, most important, the careful observation of events and actions are the primary non-verbal fields of study.
One can indeed learn from a book, but if a person would carefully observe and reflect upon what was occurring, he or she would learn a great deal.
Next time, we will look on how to study.
(DELIVERED AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL BY PASTOR JOHN FRYTERS ON JUNE 7, 2009)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
TREMBLE AT GOD'S WORD
TREMBLE AT GOD’S WORD – PART TWO
"This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2b
Last week we learned that God calls to Himself students. He calls to Himself disciples. He calls to Himself "disciplined ones" – those who are studying His Word and follow His ways.
God esteems those students who trembles at His Word – those who take His Word seriously.
There are problems God identifies about students who are not "TREMBLERS"
Problem # 1 :
"These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophecy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!" Isaiah 30:9-11
What does God call people who are unwilling to listen to His instruction ?
Problem # 2
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." II Timothy 4:3-4
What do people turn their ears to and away from ?
Problem # 3 :
"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, by they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."
What does God say twice about people who only listen to His Word ?
"Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. Those who hear God’s teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror. They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy." James 1:22-25
So, where it comes down to is TO STUDY THE WORD OF GOD.
So, where it comes down to is TO GET TO KNOW THE WORD – TO GET TO KNOW JESUS - not through meditation (which is also needed) – not through devotions (which is also needed) – not through just reading (which is also needed) – but through a systematic study of the Word. In Hebrew it is called YESHIVAH!!!
In the church calendar, Shavuot (or Pentecost) was celebrated about one week ago. Historically, this particular feast has long been associated with Torah study and the confirmation of one’s loyalty to the faith.
In certain Jewish communities, particularly in Eastern Europe, it was customary to introduce very young children (3 – 5 years old) to YESHIVAH.
In a modern hymn, we sing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, your word is like honey to my lips." Well, on Pentecost (Shavuot), the children were given cakes, honey and sweets "that the Torah might be sweet on his lips".
In a place like the YESHIVAH, a true study of the Word, a person had to think of himself as striving to be a scholar.
But this was not scholarship for its own sake alone but it was a means of bringing about a religious transformation.
HOW TO CONDUCT A YESHIVA ?
------------------------------------
The primary difference between a "yeshiva" and an ordinary church Bible Study is to have the entire group participate rather than a teacher doing all the talking. A yeshiva is a dialogue not a monologue. Ministry is always allowed as the Holy Spirit speaks from the Word being studied.
The students sit at tables (not in a row in the church – not on couches in someone’s home) facing one another with plenty of room to have several books opened at the same time.
As explained last week, taking our example from the book of Ecclesiastes, the teacher, a scholar himself, should prepare an outline listing Scriptures that reveal an important Bible subject. The teacher should have had his own yeshiva prior to the public yeshiva.
The teacher introduces the subject and several passages that support that subject to open the teaching session. The teacher selects a "key word" in a passage and asks the students to work together finding that word firstly in a concordance and secondly in a lexicon. The first students to find the meaning of the key word are asked to read the definition. The teacher then leads the group into discussion about the principles revealed from the definition of the key word.
Questions should be encouraged.
The teacher encourages participation by all. The teacher asks the students to find supporting passages regarding the general subject. A yeshiva can be quite noisy but always following a set order.
The skill of the teacher is very important and is used to allow the group to change the subject to follow what the Holy Spirit is revealing. It is also used to affirm the input of all participants and move the discussions along.
So, the key to a good yeshiva is both homiletics and hermeneutics.
Homiletics means the proper and orderly presentation of a speech and a lesson. A teacher without a lesson plan is not a teacher. A preacher without sermon notes is not a preacher.
Hermeneutics is the science of interpreting the Bible. Again, a good teacher must know when the Bible is speaking literally or figuratively. He must know when a passage is speaking prophetically and when God is speaking to all men or to Israel.
The proper use of hermeneutics is found in II Tim 2:15 :
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
There are many commentaries written about the Bible. But commentaries are not the Bible, they are not the Word of God. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself.
Jesus did this all the time. For instance, compare Deuteronomy 30:1-10 and Jeremiah 31:33 with John 15:1-17.
Compare Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4 with John 15:25.
Jesus did not need Christian books to give himself an idea to have a Biblical yeshiva – he used the Scriptures to explain the Scriptures.
And we are to use the same Biblical technique – we are to use the same method.
And where does the true yeshiva start in the modern church. In Jesus’ time, it started in the church – at Shavuot, with the children. But in today’s church, it needs to start at home with the parents (or the grandparents).
More about that next week in Part III of this important series.
Deuteronomy 6:7
"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up."
DELIVERED BY PASTOR JOHN FRYTERS AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL ON MAY 31, 2009
"This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." Isaiah 66:2b
Last week we learned that God calls to Himself students. He calls to Himself disciples. He calls to Himself "disciplined ones" – those who are studying His Word and follow His ways.
God esteems those students who trembles at His Word – those who take His Word seriously.
There are problems God identifies about students who are not "TREMBLERS"
Problem # 1 :
"These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophecy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!" Isaiah 30:9-11
What does God call people who are unwilling to listen to His instruction ?
Problem # 2
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." II Timothy 4:3-4
What do people turn their ears to and away from ?
Problem # 3 :
"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, by they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."
What does God say twice about people who only listen to His Word ?
"Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves. Those who hear God’s teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror. They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy." James 1:22-25
So, where it comes down to is TO STUDY THE WORD OF GOD.
So, where it comes down to is TO GET TO KNOW THE WORD – TO GET TO KNOW JESUS - not through meditation (which is also needed) – not through devotions (which is also needed) – not through just reading (which is also needed) – but through a systematic study of the Word. In Hebrew it is called YESHIVAH!!!
In the church calendar, Shavuot (or Pentecost) was celebrated about one week ago. Historically, this particular feast has long been associated with Torah study and the confirmation of one’s loyalty to the faith.
In certain Jewish communities, particularly in Eastern Europe, it was customary to introduce very young children (3 – 5 years old) to YESHIVAH.
In a modern hymn, we sing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, your word is like honey to my lips." Well, on Pentecost (Shavuot), the children were given cakes, honey and sweets "that the Torah might be sweet on his lips".
In a place like the YESHIVAH, a true study of the Word, a person had to think of himself as striving to be a scholar.
But this was not scholarship for its own sake alone but it was a means of bringing about a religious transformation.
HOW TO CONDUCT A YESHIVA ?
------------------------------------
The primary difference between a "yeshiva" and an ordinary church Bible Study is to have the entire group participate rather than a teacher doing all the talking. A yeshiva is a dialogue not a monologue. Ministry is always allowed as the Holy Spirit speaks from the Word being studied.
The students sit at tables (not in a row in the church – not on couches in someone’s home) facing one another with plenty of room to have several books opened at the same time.
As explained last week, taking our example from the book of Ecclesiastes, the teacher, a scholar himself, should prepare an outline listing Scriptures that reveal an important Bible subject. The teacher should have had his own yeshiva prior to the public yeshiva.
The teacher introduces the subject and several passages that support that subject to open the teaching session. The teacher selects a "key word" in a passage and asks the students to work together finding that word firstly in a concordance and secondly in a lexicon. The first students to find the meaning of the key word are asked to read the definition. The teacher then leads the group into discussion about the principles revealed from the definition of the key word.
Questions should be encouraged.
The teacher encourages participation by all. The teacher asks the students to find supporting passages regarding the general subject. A yeshiva can be quite noisy but always following a set order.
The skill of the teacher is very important and is used to allow the group to change the subject to follow what the Holy Spirit is revealing. It is also used to affirm the input of all participants and move the discussions along.
So, the key to a good yeshiva is both homiletics and hermeneutics.
Homiletics means the proper and orderly presentation of a speech and a lesson. A teacher without a lesson plan is not a teacher. A preacher without sermon notes is not a preacher.
Hermeneutics is the science of interpreting the Bible. Again, a good teacher must know when the Bible is speaking literally or figuratively. He must know when a passage is speaking prophetically and when God is speaking to all men or to Israel.
The proper use of hermeneutics is found in II Tim 2:15 :
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
There are many commentaries written about the Bible. But commentaries are not the Bible, they are not the Word of God. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself.
Jesus did this all the time. For instance, compare Deuteronomy 30:1-10 and Jeremiah 31:33 with John 15:1-17.
Compare Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4 with John 15:25.
Jesus did not need Christian books to give himself an idea to have a Biblical yeshiva – he used the Scriptures to explain the Scriptures.
And we are to use the same Biblical technique – we are to use the same method.
And where does the true yeshiva start in the modern church. In Jesus’ time, it started in the church – at Shavuot, with the children. But in today’s church, it needs to start at home with the parents (or the grandparents).
More about that next week in Part III of this important series.
Deuteronomy 6:7
"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up."
DELIVERED BY PASTOR JOHN FRYTERS AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL ON MAY 31, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
TREMBLE AT GOD'S WORD
TREMBLE AT HIS WORD – PART ONE
Just recently, an article appeared on the Faith Page (Religion Section) of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. A United Church of Canada minister had made a statement at a ministers conference which was editorialized in the heading "Minister states that some parts of the Bible are not worthy to be called ‘divine words of God’".
I was appalled about the statement by this minister, called a "Christian minister". I reacted, and maybe in hindsight I should not have reacted, by writing a letter to the editor. I used the Word of God to disprove this minister and to point out that she might be what Jesus called a "scoffer".
I blind-copied my letter to the editor to a number of ministers in the city – ministers that I believed to be "men of god" who believed that the "Word of God" was indeed the "Word of God" meaning the total Bible, the total Word of God, not some portions of it.
Maybe I blind-copied the letter to these ministers to see if they would (at least) support me in my analogy. That they would (at least) be an encouragement to me in public stand I was taking.
It is interesting to note that only one gave me an encouraging call – the others remained quiet – not one phone call, not one word of encouragement, not one e-mail, nothing, nothing, nothing.....
However, what was more encouraging was that the usual writers to the editor also remained silent, except one, and that one did not get the point at all that we, as born-again believers, accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, and that this really means that we, by faith, believe the whole Bible, the whole Word of God (Jesus according to the Gospel of John) and that this "minister" really makes a literal attack on our Lord and Savior by stating that parts of the Bible can not be called "divine" and that the Bible is really a book full of fables and myths.
Reflecting back on this week, this whole thing has not left me.
And than this week, Hannelore, my Bible College students, and myself attended a wonderful conference – a conference during which a re-commitment and total devotion to the Father, to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit was preached. It could not have been made more clear through teaching, preaching and testimonies.
It really encouraged me, and, more important, it really showed me that the stand I took was correct and that, no matter the silence by the ministers, we really need to go back to basics and start standing on what we, by faith, accepted – that Jesus, the Word of God, was sent by the Father to die for our sins, that He rose again, and whoever believes in Him (in the heart) will have eternal life.
So, this week Jesus drew me to a Scripture in Isaiah – Open up your Bibles and read Isaiah 66: 1-2 :
"Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me ? and where is the place of my rest ? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: BUT TO THIS MAN WILL I LOOK, EVEN TO HIM THAT IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD."
So, no matter what that minister said, no matter the silence of the other ministers, what is important to me is what God said. He said that He will pay attention to those who tremble at His Word. He said that He will esteem those who tremble at His Word.
When you opened up your Bible a few minutes ago, did you tremble when you read this Scripture ? Do you really believe that what you have in your hand is the Word of God ? Do you really believe that whatever you read in the Scriptures is awesome ? Do you really believe that this Word, you have in your hands, is Jesus, the living Word of God ? What do you believe ?
Are you trembling ? Are you trembling right now ?
Psalm 119: 112 & 120 :
"I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end............My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments."
David trembled at the Word of God. This is why David is called a "man after God’s own heart. Acts 13:22 :
"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will."
The word "tremble" in Hebrew is "hareddee" or "haredim".
"This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word"
A true student of God’s Word trembles at it. Those who tremble at God’s Word do not originate anything. They simply study and obey God’s Word. They do not add to it nor take away from it,
Deut 4:2 :
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."
They do not add to it nor take away from it, because they do not wish to suffer its judgements, as written in Revelation.
Those who tremble at God’s Word share a desire to continue a biblical way of life believing the Bible lifestyle can withstand the cultural attacks of modern, secular society. Tremblers at God’s Word reject ideas of assimilating into their society, becoming acculturated to their society and reforming their faith to fit their society. They believe God’s Word is for all times, for all people and for all cultures.
Therefore, in order to fully obey God’s Word, a "trembler" must study the Word of God to know what and how to obey.
For instance, I believe that the Bereans were "tremblers" – Acts 17:11 :
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
Jesus chose his disciples and appointed them to be with Him and to preach. You can found the account of the Gospel of Matthew, Luke and Mark (Matt 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11, 6:12-16; Mark 3:13-19)
The word "disciple" actually means "student". In Luke 6:13, the word "disciple" is "mathetas" in the Greek text. However, in the Hebrew New Testament it is "talmid" which means "student"
Talmid (pronounced Talmeed) comes from the root "Talmud" which means "to study".
So, Jesus chose his "students". He frequently took them aside for deeper study.
It states in the Scriptures that Jesus taught his disciples, his students with one having authority – Matt 7:28-29 :
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Then, in Matt 28:18-20, he releases this same authority to his students (disciples) and us and commands us to do the same he did throughout his ministry. (READ)
Who does God consider a student ?
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
"The Teacher was very wise and taught the people what he knew. He very carefully thought about, studied, and set in order many wise teachings. The Teacher looked for just the right words to write what is dependable and true. Words from wise people are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from one Shepherd. So be careful, my son, about other teachings. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you tired.
Now, everything had been heard, so I give my final advice: Honor God and obey his commands, because this is all people must do. God will judge everything, even what is done in secret, the good and the evil."
Isaiah 50:4
"The Lord God gave me the ability to teach so that I know what to say to make the weak strong. Every morning he wakes me. He teaches me to listen like a student."
II Timothy 2:15
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Based on these three Scriptures, we can pose the following questions :
1. In all three passages, what is the purpose of study ?
2. In Eccl 12:9-14, what are the four steps a teacher must take to properly present a lesson?
3. According to Isaiah 50:4, is there a time to study ?
4. In II Tim 2:15, to whom does the student need to seek approval for his study ?
5. Is studying work according to Ecclesiastes ?
6. What does it mean to "correctly handle" the word ?
DELIVERED ON MAY 24, 2009 AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL BY PASTOR JOHN FRYTERS.
Just recently, an article appeared on the Faith Page (Religion Section) of the Prince Albert Daily Herald. A United Church of Canada minister had made a statement at a ministers conference which was editorialized in the heading "Minister states that some parts of the Bible are not worthy to be called ‘divine words of God’".
I was appalled about the statement by this minister, called a "Christian minister". I reacted, and maybe in hindsight I should not have reacted, by writing a letter to the editor. I used the Word of God to disprove this minister and to point out that she might be what Jesus called a "scoffer".
I blind-copied my letter to the editor to a number of ministers in the city – ministers that I believed to be "men of god" who believed that the "Word of God" was indeed the "Word of God" meaning the total Bible, the total Word of God, not some portions of it.
Maybe I blind-copied the letter to these ministers to see if they would (at least) support me in my analogy. That they would (at least) be an encouragement to me in public stand I was taking.
It is interesting to note that only one gave me an encouraging call – the others remained quiet – not one phone call, not one word of encouragement, not one e-mail, nothing, nothing, nothing.....
However, what was more encouraging was that the usual writers to the editor also remained silent, except one, and that one did not get the point at all that we, as born-again believers, accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, and that this really means that we, by faith, believe the whole Bible, the whole Word of God (Jesus according to the Gospel of John) and that this "minister" really makes a literal attack on our Lord and Savior by stating that parts of the Bible can not be called "divine" and that the Bible is really a book full of fables and myths.
Reflecting back on this week, this whole thing has not left me.
And than this week, Hannelore, my Bible College students, and myself attended a wonderful conference – a conference during which a re-commitment and total devotion to the Father, to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit was preached. It could not have been made more clear through teaching, preaching and testimonies.
It really encouraged me, and, more important, it really showed me that the stand I took was correct and that, no matter the silence by the ministers, we really need to go back to basics and start standing on what we, by faith, accepted – that Jesus, the Word of God, was sent by the Father to die for our sins, that He rose again, and whoever believes in Him (in the heart) will have eternal life.
So, this week Jesus drew me to a Scripture in Isaiah – Open up your Bibles and read Isaiah 66: 1-2 :
"Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me ? and where is the place of my rest ? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: BUT TO THIS MAN WILL I LOOK, EVEN TO HIM THAT IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TREMBLETH AT MY WORD."
So, no matter what that minister said, no matter the silence of the other ministers, what is important to me is what God said. He said that He will pay attention to those who tremble at His Word. He said that He will esteem those who tremble at His Word.
When you opened up your Bible a few minutes ago, did you tremble when you read this Scripture ? Do you really believe that what you have in your hand is the Word of God ? Do you really believe that whatever you read in the Scriptures is awesome ? Do you really believe that this Word, you have in your hands, is Jesus, the living Word of God ? What do you believe ?
Are you trembling ? Are you trembling right now ?
Psalm 119: 112 & 120 :
"I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end............My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments."
David trembled at the Word of God. This is why David is called a "man after God’s own heart. Acts 13:22 :
"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will."
The word "tremble" in Hebrew is "hareddee" or "haredim".
"This is the one I esteem : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word"
A true student of God’s Word trembles at it. Those who tremble at God’s Word do not originate anything. They simply study and obey God’s Word. They do not add to it nor take away from it,
Deut 4:2 :
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."
They do not add to it nor take away from it, because they do not wish to suffer its judgements, as written in Revelation.
Those who tremble at God’s Word share a desire to continue a biblical way of life believing the Bible lifestyle can withstand the cultural attacks of modern, secular society. Tremblers at God’s Word reject ideas of assimilating into their society, becoming acculturated to their society and reforming their faith to fit their society. They believe God’s Word is for all times, for all people and for all cultures.
Therefore, in order to fully obey God’s Word, a "trembler" must study the Word of God to know what and how to obey.
For instance, I believe that the Bereans were "tremblers" – Acts 17:11 :
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
Jesus chose his disciples and appointed them to be with Him and to preach. You can found the account of the Gospel of Matthew, Luke and Mark (Matt 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11, 6:12-16; Mark 3:13-19)
The word "disciple" actually means "student". In Luke 6:13, the word "disciple" is "mathetas" in the Greek text. However, in the Hebrew New Testament it is "talmid" which means "student"
Talmid (pronounced Talmeed) comes from the root "Talmud" which means "to study".
So, Jesus chose his "students". He frequently took them aside for deeper study.
It states in the Scriptures that Jesus taught his disciples, his students with one having authority – Matt 7:28-29 :
"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Then, in Matt 28:18-20, he releases this same authority to his students (disciples) and us and commands us to do the same he did throughout his ministry. (READ)
Who does God consider a student ?
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
"The Teacher was very wise and taught the people what he knew. He very carefully thought about, studied, and set in order many wise teachings. The Teacher looked for just the right words to write what is dependable and true. Words from wise people are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from one Shepherd. So be careful, my son, about other teachings. People are always writing books, and too much study will make you tired.
Now, everything had been heard, so I give my final advice: Honor God and obey his commands, because this is all people must do. God will judge everything, even what is done in secret, the good and the evil."
Isaiah 50:4
"The Lord God gave me the ability to teach so that I know what to say to make the weak strong. Every morning he wakes me. He teaches me to listen like a student."
II Timothy 2:15
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Based on these three Scriptures, we can pose the following questions :
1. In all three passages, what is the purpose of study ?
2. In Eccl 12:9-14, what are the four steps a teacher must take to properly present a lesson?
3. According to Isaiah 50:4, is there a time to study ?
4. In II Tim 2:15, to whom does the student need to seek approval for his study ?
5. Is studying work according to Ecclesiastes ?
6. What does it mean to "correctly handle" the word ?
DELIVERED ON MAY 24, 2009 AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL BY PASTOR JOHN FRYTERS.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
PLUGGING INTO GOD'S POWER SUPPLY
PLUGGING INTO GOD’S POWER SUPPLY
(Sermon delivered at Under The Juniper Tree Chapel on Resurrection Sunday, April 12th, 2009)
A 1000-power microscope can magnify an image to 1000x its original size. A 3000-power telescope can do the same thing – looking deep into galaxies previously unknown.
Shuttles to the international space station need a lot of power, provided by large rockets, to free themselves from the power of gravity of the earth.
Just this week, North Korea was in the news because it launched a rocket into space which could have carried, according to Canadian and US officials, nuclear power heads. One nuclear bomb could flatten an area as large as Saskatoon and Prince Albert together – such a devise could literally wipe both cities of the map of the earth. In addition, it would kill thousands upon thousands through its residual radio-active effects.
These are some excellent illustrations of how science has progressed and how practical the application of "power" has become.
But there is one type of power which tops them all - a power, which the world believes is impossible. It is the power to prevent physical death.
And yet, it is a historical fact that such power has existed and still exists in today’s world.
Phil 3:10
Paul tells the Philippians, after Jesus has left the earth, : "I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead."
Paul knew and believed by faith (we do not know if he was present when Jesus died on the Cross) that Jesus indeed had died and had resurrected after three days in the tomb. He must have heard that not only Jesus resurrected but that many others had resurrected at the same time – people who died maybe many years prior to that date.
Matthew 27:52-53
"The graves opened, and many of God’s people who had died were raised from the dead. They came out of the graves after Jesus was raised from the dead and went into the holy city, where they appeared to many people."
The single event of Jesus’ resurrection unleashed such "power" that, at the same time, many others came back alive and, in fact, lived to tell about it.
And where did this all start ? Let’s turn to the Book of Genesis 2:17 :
"...but you must not eat the fruit from the tree which gives the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat fruit from that tree, you will die."
And we all know the rest of the story.
But God, in His mercy, provided a way out...
Heb 2:14
"Since these children are people with physical bodies, Jesus, Himself, became like them. He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death – the devil."
So, Jesus died, he rose again and shortly after that, he was taken up, with His resurrected body, into the clouds to sit on the right hand where he has been and is interceding on our behalf.
However, before He left in the clouds, He told His disciples (and us) something astounding...
Matt 28:18-19
"Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All power in heaven and earth is given to me. SO (emphasis added) go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’"
And Mark in Mark 16:16, added :
"Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who does not believe will be punished. And those who believe will be able to do these things as proof : They will use my name to force out demons. They will speak in new languages. They will pick up snakes and drink poison without being hurt. They will touch the sick and the sick will be healed."
Jesus was just extending what He already had given to His disciples earlier.
Luke 9:1
"Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over all demons and the ability to heal sicknesses."
Luke 10:19
"Listen, I have given you power to walk on snakes and scorpions, power that is greater than the enemy has. So nothing can hurt you."
Also, before He left He told His disciples (and us) :
Luke 24:49
"I will send you what my Father has promised, but you must stay in Jerusalem until you have received that power from heaven."
Acts 1:8
"But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power."
So, what is our problem in 2009 ? Why are we not exercising the greatest gift ever given ? Where is that so-called "power" in my life and in your life ? What’s the use of being saved and not exercise that power ? All legitimate questions if you carefully look at today’s church.
The apostle Paul already noticed it 2000 years ago. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul tells us (II Tim 3:5): "...(they) will act as they serve God, but will not have His power."
But prior to that, in the same chapter, Paul describes the world, and yes indeed, many individuals who call themselves (then and now) "Christians" :
II Tim 3:1-5
"Remember this! In the last days there will be many troubles, because people will love themselves, love money, brag, and be proud. They will say evil things against others and will not obey their parents or be thankful or be the kind of people God wants. They will not love others, will refuse to forgive, will gossip, and will not control themselves. They will be cruel, will hate what is good, will turn against their friends, and will do foolish things without thinking. They will be conceited, will love pleasure instead of God, and will act as if they serve God but will not have his power. Stay away from those people."
1. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!
Besides staying away from them, what can we do to exercise the power of the Resurrected
Christ in us ?
I Pet 1:5
"God’s power protects you through your faith until salvation is shown to you at the end of time"
2. HAVE FAITH
and Resurrection power will sustain you and you will be able to use it as God intended it to be used.
3. RECOGNIZE AND BE HUMBLE
in your weaknesses. This is what God tells us in II Corinthians 12:9 :
"But he said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.’ So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me."
4. FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD
John 1:12
"But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God"
(I suggest you quickly review points 1, 2, 3 & 4 above)
So, now we are ready!!!
Eph 3:10
"With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine."
Luke 18:27
"Jesus answered, "God can do things that are not possible for people to do."
Mark 9:23
"Jesus said to the father, ‘You said, If you can! All things are possible for the one who believes.’"
Let us be true to the Word of God!!! Let us live in His Power and exercise it daily. I pray that you might know Him and the power of His resurrection.
Pastor John Fryters
(Sermon delivered at Under The Juniper Tree Chapel on Resurrection Sunday, April 12th, 2009)
A 1000-power microscope can magnify an image to 1000x its original size. A 3000-power telescope can do the same thing – looking deep into galaxies previously unknown.
Shuttles to the international space station need a lot of power, provided by large rockets, to free themselves from the power of gravity of the earth.
Just this week, North Korea was in the news because it launched a rocket into space which could have carried, according to Canadian and US officials, nuclear power heads. One nuclear bomb could flatten an area as large as Saskatoon and Prince Albert together – such a devise could literally wipe both cities of the map of the earth. In addition, it would kill thousands upon thousands through its residual radio-active effects.
These are some excellent illustrations of how science has progressed and how practical the application of "power" has become.
But there is one type of power which tops them all - a power, which the world believes is impossible. It is the power to prevent physical death.
And yet, it is a historical fact that such power has existed and still exists in today’s world.
Phil 3:10
Paul tells the Philippians, after Jesus has left the earth, : "I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead."
Paul knew and believed by faith (we do not know if he was present when Jesus died on the Cross) that Jesus indeed had died and had resurrected after three days in the tomb. He must have heard that not only Jesus resurrected but that many others had resurrected at the same time – people who died maybe many years prior to that date.
Matthew 27:52-53
"The graves opened, and many of God’s people who had died were raised from the dead. They came out of the graves after Jesus was raised from the dead and went into the holy city, where they appeared to many people."
The single event of Jesus’ resurrection unleashed such "power" that, at the same time, many others came back alive and, in fact, lived to tell about it.
And where did this all start ? Let’s turn to the Book of Genesis 2:17 :
"...but you must not eat the fruit from the tree which gives the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat fruit from that tree, you will die."
And we all know the rest of the story.
But God, in His mercy, provided a way out...
Heb 2:14
"Since these children are people with physical bodies, Jesus, Himself, became like them. He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death – the devil."
So, Jesus died, he rose again and shortly after that, he was taken up, with His resurrected body, into the clouds to sit on the right hand where he has been and is interceding on our behalf.
However, before He left in the clouds, He told His disciples (and us) something astounding...
Matt 28:18-19
"Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All power in heaven and earth is given to me. SO (emphasis added) go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.’"
And Mark in Mark 16:16, added :
"Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who does not believe will be punished. And those who believe will be able to do these things as proof : They will use my name to force out demons. They will speak in new languages. They will pick up snakes and drink poison without being hurt. They will touch the sick and the sick will be healed."
Jesus was just extending what He already had given to His disciples earlier.
Luke 9:1
"Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over all demons and the ability to heal sicknesses."
Luke 10:19
"Listen, I have given you power to walk on snakes and scorpions, power that is greater than the enemy has. So nothing can hurt you."
Also, before He left He told His disciples (and us) :
Luke 24:49
"I will send you what my Father has promised, but you must stay in Jerusalem until you have received that power from heaven."
Acts 1:8
"But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power."
So, what is our problem in 2009 ? Why are we not exercising the greatest gift ever given ? Where is that so-called "power" in my life and in your life ? What’s the use of being saved and not exercise that power ? All legitimate questions if you carefully look at today’s church.
The apostle Paul already noticed it 2000 years ago. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul tells us (II Tim 3:5): "...(they) will act as they serve God, but will not have His power."
But prior to that, in the same chapter, Paul describes the world, and yes indeed, many individuals who call themselves (then and now) "Christians" :
II Tim 3:1-5
"Remember this! In the last days there will be many troubles, because people will love themselves, love money, brag, and be proud. They will say evil things against others and will not obey their parents or be thankful or be the kind of people God wants. They will not love others, will refuse to forgive, will gossip, and will not control themselves. They will be cruel, will hate what is good, will turn against their friends, and will do foolish things without thinking. They will be conceited, will love pleasure instead of God, and will act as if they serve God but will not have his power. Stay away from those people."
1. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!
Besides staying away from them, what can we do to exercise the power of the Resurrected
Christ in us ?
I Pet 1:5
"God’s power protects you through your faith until salvation is shown to you at the end of time"
2. HAVE FAITH
and Resurrection power will sustain you and you will be able to use it as God intended it to be used.
3. RECOGNIZE AND BE HUMBLE
in your weaknesses. This is what God tells us in II Corinthians 12:9 :
"But he said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.’ So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me."
4. FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD
John 1:12
"But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God"
(I suggest you quickly review points 1, 2, 3 & 4 above)
So, now we are ready!!!
Eph 3:10
"With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine."
Luke 18:27
"Jesus answered, "God can do things that are not possible for people to do."
Mark 9:23
"Jesus said to the father, ‘You said, If you can! All things are possible for the one who believes.’"
Let us be true to the Word of God!!! Let us live in His Power and exercise it daily. I pray that you might know Him and the power of His resurrection.
Pastor John Fryters
Saturday, March 28, 2009
YOU WANT AUTHORITY - WHAT ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY AND FAITHFULNESS ?
AUTHORITY/ACCOUNTABILITY/RESPONSIBILITY
There are many Christians that want to be in some ministry. They want to authority to be in charge. They want to lead... BUT....
Let’s look at some Scriptures :
Paul said to his student Timothy :
"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (II Tim 2:3)
"...for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal;..." (II Tim 2:9)
"If we endure, we will also reign with Him;..." (II Tim 2:12)
In the Gospel of Mark, we read :
"As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to Him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, "DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, DO NOT DEFRAUD, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER’ And he said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.’ Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property." Mark 10:17-23
And further in this Chapter, we read Jesus’ words :
"Jesus said, ‘Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake’" Mark 10:29
Then in 1 Tim 1:6, the Apostle Paul said :
"You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit."
Reading all these passages, do you still want to be in ministry or do you still want the authority of being in charge of a ministry ? Do you really ?
If you want to be in ministry, if you want to be in charge of a ministry, if you want to have the authority, I suggest you read, or better study both instructional letters from the Apostle Paul to his student Timothy. You’ll find out that with being in charge of a ministry, it also carries something else we need to consider. Being in charge also means to be accountable for that ministry and for those you are or will be ministering to. And besides accountability, you will need to be faithful in what you are called to do.
ACCOUNTABILITY – RESPONSIBILITY – FAITHFULNESS
ACCOUNTABILITY
---------------------------
Accountable for what ?
Accountable for our reputation
In Ministry you need to take a stand for righteousness.
Particularly when you are in ministry, your life need to line up with your
mouths and what comes out of your mouth needs to line up with your
life.
In Ministry, we need to be accountable for own ethics.
Accountable for our morality
Be very careful to clean up your life.
You need to take the "world" our of your life.
You need to be aware of immorality with your eyes, your thoughts (unseen immorality). Be aware of immorality behind closed doors in our families. (Would you like your pastor to be a fly on your living room or bedroom wall sometimes ?)
Accountable for our temperament
you need to be slow to anger
you need to speak the "right" words
Accountable for our habits
you need to be aware for "habitual" sins against your body, against others and against God
"I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your practice from your youth, that you have not obeyed My voice." Jer 22:21
"Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, for it is in the power of their hands." Micah 2:1
What is a lie – What is the truth ?
Accountable for our own maturity
you need to grow up
Now, Paul speaks well of his student Timothy. What made Timothy so successful ?
The answer was "Faithfulness to God by being faithful to God’s servant".
When my pastor asks me something, I do it!!! (of course, if it is not contradictory to the Word of God)
Faithfulness is the cornerstone of our success – NOT our talents or abilities.
II Tim 2:2
"The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
Faithful means – who also shall teach this doctrine.
Luke 12:42-43
"And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time ? Blessed is that slave whom his master find so doing when he comes."
Stewardship of "life".
Faithful means – who also shall rule over his household.
I Tim 1:12
"so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Placed in ministry by Jesus.
Faithful means – who also be placed into the ministry.
Matt 25:21
"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master."
Ruler over many things and be happy about it.
Faithful means – who also shall be ruler over many things.
If this principle of being faithful to God – through being faithful to God’s servants, if this principle works, then God will
- give the ability
- make the faithful servant able notwithstanding an apparent lack of ability or talent
- mature the faithful servant
THREE THINGS ARE ESSENTIAL IN BECOMING FAITFUL
===============================================
How much are we in touch with Jesus ?
How faithful are we really ?
When Jesus was tempted, after rejecting the devil, reminding the weasel of the Word of God, he returned in the power of the Spirit, which enabled him in ministry (He got the ability).
Still want to be in ministry ? Still want to be in charge of a ministry ? Want to have the authority ?
Then be accountable, responsible and faithful.
Pastor John Fryters
(delivered in Under The Juniper Tree Chapel on March 29th, 2009)
There are many Christians that want to be in some ministry. They want to authority to be in charge. They want to lead... BUT....
Let’s look at some Scriptures :
Paul said to his student Timothy :
"Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (II Tim 2:3)
"...for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal;..." (II Tim 2:9)
"If we endure, we will also reign with Him;..." (II Tim 2:12)
In the Gospel of Mark, we read :
"As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to Him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, "DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, DO NOT DEFRAUD, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER’ And he said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.’ Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property." Mark 10:17-23
And further in this Chapter, we read Jesus’ words :
"Jesus said, ‘Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake’" Mark 10:29
Then in 1 Tim 1:6, the Apostle Paul said :
"You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit."
Reading all these passages, do you still want to be in ministry or do you still want the authority of being in charge of a ministry ? Do you really ?
If you want to be in ministry, if you want to be in charge of a ministry, if you want to have the authority, I suggest you read, or better study both instructional letters from the Apostle Paul to his student Timothy. You’ll find out that with being in charge of a ministry, it also carries something else we need to consider. Being in charge also means to be accountable for that ministry and for those you are or will be ministering to. And besides accountability, you will need to be faithful in what you are called to do.
ACCOUNTABILITY – RESPONSIBILITY – FAITHFULNESS
ACCOUNTABILITY
---------------------------
Accountable for what ?
Accountable for our reputation
In Ministry you need to take a stand for righteousness.
Particularly when you are in ministry, your life need to line up with your
mouths and what comes out of your mouth needs to line up with your
life.
In Ministry, we need to be accountable for own ethics.
Accountable for our morality
Be very careful to clean up your life.
You need to take the "world" our of your life.
You need to be aware of immorality with your eyes, your thoughts (unseen immorality). Be aware of immorality behind closed doors in our families. (Would you like your pastor to be a fly on your living room or bedroom wall sometimes ?)
Accountable for our temperament
you need to be slow to anger
you need to speak the "right" words
Accountable for our habits
you need to be aware for "habitual" sins against your body, against others and against God
"I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your practice from your youth, that you have not obeyed My voice." Jer 22:21
"Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, for it is in the power of their hands." Micah 2:1
What is a lie – What is the truth ?
Accountable for our own maturity
you need to grow up
Now, Paul speaks well of his student Timothy. What made Timothy so successful ?
The answer was "Faithfulness to God by being faithful to God’s servant".
When my pastor asks me something, I do it!!! (of course, if it is not contradictory to the Word of God)
Faithfulness is the cornerstone of our success – NOT our talents or abilities.
II Tim 2:2
"The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
Faithful means – who also shall teach this doctrine.
Luke 12:42-43
"And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time ? Blessed is that slave whom his master find so doing when he comes."
Stewardship of "life".
Faithful means – who also shall rule over his household.
I Tim 1:12
"so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Placed in ministry by Jesus.
Faithful means – who also be placed into the ministry.
Matt 25:21
"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master."
Ruler over many things and be happy about it.
Faithful means – who also shall be ruler over many things.
If this principle of being faithful to God – through being faithful to God’s servants, if this principle works, then God will
- give the ability
- make the faithful servant able notwithstanding an apparent lack of ability or talent
- mature the faithful servant
THREE THINGS ARE ESSENTIAL IN BECOMING FAITFUL
===============================================
How much are we in touch with Jesus ?
How faithful are we really ?
When Jesus was tempted, after rejecting the devil, reminding the weasel of the Word of God, he returned in the power of the Spirit, which enabled him in ministry (He got the ability).
Still want to be in ministry ? Still want to be in charge of a ministry ? Want to have the authority ?
Then be accountable, responsible and faithful.
Pastor John Fryters
(delivered in Under The Juniper Tree Chapel on March 29th, 2009)
Friday, January 16, 2009
SOUND DOCTRINE
SOUND DOCTRINE
OPENING SCRIPTURE
"By telling these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will be made strong by the words of the faith and the good teaching (doctrine) which you have been following. But do not follow foolish stories that disagree with God’s truth, but train yourself to serve God"
I Timothy 4:6-7
The serpent in the Garden of Eden gave misinformation to Eve, and since that time the world has been flooded with misinformation. Misinformation about everything under the sun. Much of the information is based on lies, on half-truths, and sometimes on 99% truth mixed with 1% lies. The latter piece of misinformation being the most dangerous one.
Daniel 12:4
"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase"
Here we are seeing a prophecy of Daniel about today’s age if we equate the word knowledge with information. We have computers, i-pods, blackberries, interactive watches, HD television, digital radio, and technology changes every day, and access to information increases, and increases, and increases.
On the other hand, another prophet Hosea stated
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"
Paul, who was very wise, was able to make sense of these two Bible truths. In 2 Timothy 3:7 he states : "...always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth".
Now, who is doing this ? Who is responsible for this state of mind to "never be able to acknowledge the truth" ? Many Scriptures are pointing towards one source, the main source of information :
Revelation 12:9
"So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world"
1 John 5:19
"...The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one"
2 Corinthians 4:4
"... The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who are perishing"
So, it is clear from these Scriptures who the author of deception is, or the author of misinformation, and, what is worse, the author of false doctrines.
When Jesus spoke to his disciples and to us about the various signs of the End of the age, he stated in Mark 13:22 & 23:
"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told everything ahead of time"
Furthermore, in Matthew 7:15, Jesus tells us
"Be careful of false prophets. They come to you looking gentle like sheep, but they are really dangerous like wolves"
So, are you on guard. Would you be able to recognize these false prophets ?
Let’s look at the word "doctrine" a little closer. According to one dictionary (The Canadian Dictionary for Children) the word doctrine means : "Something that is believed by a group of people. The beliefs of a religion and the ideals of a political party are doctrines".
The Bible, however, tells us a different story. In Deuteronomy, this whole issue is clarified – see Deuteronomy 32:1-2, God tells us :
"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass"
The word "doctrine" here refers directly to "the words of my mouth, and, my speech" meaning "God’s mouth and God’s speech". Jesus explains Deuteronomy in the Book of John 7:16-18:
"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him"
So, how do we further define sound or good doctrine ? In the books of Timothy, we see many references to the word "doctrine", or "sound doctrine" or "good doctrine". And I am just let the Scriptures do the talking from here (all quoting from the KJV) :
"For whoremongers, for them that define themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine"
I Tim 1:10
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears"
II Tim 4:3
"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine"
I Tim 4:13
"As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine"I Tim 1:3
In the New Century Version, this last verse reads as follows :
"I asked you to stay longer in Ephesus when I went into Macedonia so you could command some people there to stop teaching false things"
In verse 4 we read :
"Tell them not to spend their time on stories that are not true...."
Verse 6 & 7 :
"Some people have missed these things and turned to useless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand either what they are talking about or what they are sure about."
So, there we are – back at the topic of "false teacher", "false prophet".
Peter explains to us what will happen to those false teachers and I am quoting from the New Century Version again – 2 Peter 2:1-3 :
"There used to be false prophets among God’s people, just as you will have some false teachers in your group. They will secretly teach things that are wrong – teachings that will cause people to be lost. They will even refuse to accept the Master, Jesus, who bought their freedom. So they will bring quick ruin on themselves. Many will follow their evil ways and say evil things about the way of truth. Those false teachers only want your money, so they will use you by telling you lies. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is still coming, and their ruin is certain."
So how do we sift through all that is being thrown at us ? How do we know what is the truth 100%. Well, the answer is simple, as stated in Deuteronomy God refers to "doctrine" as "the words of His mouth and His speech". There is the answer – ONLY THAT IS SOUND DOCTRINE.
It is interesting that just before Peter starts to explain what will happen to false teachers, in 2 Peter 1:20, he is clear by stating :
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation"
And in the next verse, he explains :
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost"
So where does this leave us ?
The first thing we need to do is always to "test the spirit". That is done in a variety of ways :
- check their confession of Jesus
- observe their relationship with the world
- what is their attitude towards God’s commandments
- do they love the brothers and sisters
- is there evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- is God’s Word given priority in teaching
The second thing we need to do is always check the given word with the actual written Word of God and, through prayer, with the Living Word of God inside of you. If you can, stay away from modern day scholars on the internet. Instead go straight to the Word of God.
And finally, the third thing we need to do is found in the Scriptures in I Tim 6:1-5,11
"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
(v 11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
The most important of these three points is that the actual Word of God – not commentaries, not private interpretations, not scholarly web site explanations – is the ultimate, sound and good doctrine.
May God bless you as you study His doctrine.
Given by Pastor John Fryters at Under The Juniper Tree Chapel on Sunday, January 18th, 2009
OPENING SCRIPTURE
"By telling these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will be made strong by the words of the faith and the good teaching (doctrine) which you have been following. But do not follow foolish stories that disagree with God’s truth, but train yourself to serve God"
I Timothy 4:6-7
The serpent in the Garden of Eden gave misinformation to Eve, and since that time the world has been flooded with misinformation. Misinformation about everything under the sun. Much of the information is based on lies, on half-truths, and sometimes on 99% truth mixed with 1% lies. The latter piece of misinformation being the most dangerous one.
Daniel 12:4
"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase"
Here we are seeing a prophecy of Daniel about today’s age if we equate the word knowledge with information. We have computers, i-pods, blackberries, interactive watches, HD television, digital radio, and technology changes every day, and access to information increases, and increases, and increases.
On the other hand, another prophet Hosea stated
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"
Paul, who was very wise, was able to make sense of these two Bible truths. In 2 Timothy 3:7 he states : "...always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth".
Now, who is doing this ? Who is responsible for this state of mind to "never be able to acknowledge the truth" ? Many Scriptures are pointing towards one source, the main source of information :
Revelation 12:9
"So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world"
1 John 5:19
"...The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one"
2 Corinthians 4:4
"... The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who are perishing"
So, it is clear from these Scriptures who the author of deception is, or the author of misinformation, and, what is worse, the author of false doctrines.
When Jesus spoke to his disciples and to us about the various signs of the End of the age, he stated in Mark 13:22 & 23:
"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told everything ahead of time"
Furthermore, in Matthew 7:15, Jesus tells us
"Be careful of false prophets. They come to you looking gentle like sheep, but they are really dangerous like wolves"
So, are you on guard. Would you be able to recognize these false prophets ?
Let’s look at the word "doctrine" a little closer. According to one dictionary (The Canadian Dictionary for Children) the word doctrine means : "Something that is believed by a group of people. The beliefs of a religion and the ideals of a political party are doctrines".
The Bible, however, tells us a different story. In Deuteronomy, this whole issue is clarified – see Deuteronomy 32:1-2, God tells us :
"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass"
The word "doctrine" here refers directly to "the words of my mouth, and, my speech" meaning "God’s mouth and God’s speech". Jesus explains Deuteronomy in the Book of John 7:16-18:
"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him"
So, how do we further define sound or good doctrine ? In the books of Timothy, we see many references to the word "doctrine", or "sound doctrine" or "good doctrine". And I am just let the Scriptures do the talking from here (all quoting from the KJV) :
"For whoremongers, for them that define themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine"
I Tim 1:10
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears"
II Tim 4:3
"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine"
I Tim 4:13
"As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine"I Tim 1:3
In the New Century Version, this last verse reads as follows :
"I asked you to stay longer in Ephesus when I went into Macedonia so you could command some people there to stop teaching false things"
In verse 4 we read :
"Tell them not to spend their time on stories that are not true...."
Verse 6 & 7 :
"Some people have missed these things and turned to useless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand either what they are talking about or what they are sure about."
So, there we are – back at the topic of "false teacher", "false prophet".
Peter explains to us what will happen to those false teachers and I am quoting from the New Century Version again – 2 Peter 2:1-3 :
"There used to be false prophets among God’s people, just as you will have some false teachers in your group. They will secretly teach things that are wrong – teachings that will cause people to be lost. They will even refuse to accept the Master, Jesus, who bought their freedom. So they will bring quick ruin on themselves. Many will follow their evil ways and say evil things about the way of truth. Those false teachers only want your money, so they will use you by telling you lies. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is still coming, and their ruin is certain."
So how do we sift through all that is being thrown at us ? How do we know what is the truth 100%. Well, the answer is simple, as stated in Deuteronomy God refers to "doctrine" as "the words of His mouth and His speech". There is the answer – ONLY THAT IS SOUND DOCTRINE.
It is interesting that just before Peter starts to explain what will happen to false teachers, in 2 Peter 1:20, he is clear by stating :
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation"
And in the next verse, he explains :
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost"
So where does this leave us ?
The first thing we need to do is always to "test the spirit". That is done in a variety of ways :
- check their confession of Jesus
- observe their relationship with the world
- what is their attitude towards God’s commandments
- do they love the brothers and sisters
- is there evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- is God’s Word given priority in teaching
The second thing we need to do is always check the given word with the actual written Word of God and, through prayer, with the Living Word of God inside of you. If you can, stay away from modern day scholars on the internet. Instead go straight to the Word of God.
And finally, the third thing we need to do is found in the Scriptures in I Tim 6:1-5,11
"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
(v 11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
The most important of these three points is that the actual Word of God – not commentaries, not private interpretations, not scholarly web site explanations – is the ultimate, sound and good doctrine.
May God bless you as you study His doctrine.
Given by Pastor John Fryters at Under The Juniper Tree Chapel on Sunday, January 18th, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
NEW BEGINNINGS
SOME OF US CELEBRATED THE COMING IN OF THE NEW YEAR A FEW DAYS AGO. SOME OTHERS JUST WENT FROM THE OLD INTO THE NEW BECAUSE WE DO NOT EVEN DARE TO REMEMBER ANY NEW YEAR.
YOU SEE, WHEN YOU ARE 60+, THOUGH WE LONG TO BE WITH JESUS, YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE REMINDED THAT YOU ARE IN THE TWILIGHT OF YOUR LIFE.
SOME OF US MAKE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS. SOME OTHERS MAKE A POINT THAT THEY DO NOT MAKE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WORK ANY WAY.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT NEW BEGINNINGS.
YOU KNOW THAT THE WORD OF GOD HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT NEW BEGINNINGS.
I WANT YOU TO TURN TO THE BOOK OF GALATIANS.
GAL 4 : 9-10
BUT NOW YOU KNOW THE TRUE GOD. REALLY, IT IS GOD WHO KNOWS YOU. SO WHY DO YOU TURN BACK TO THOSE WEAK AND USELESS RULES YOU FOLLOWED BEFORE ? DO YOU WANT TO BE SLAVES TO THOSE THINGS AGAIN ? YOU STILL FOLLOW TEACHINGS ABOUT SPECIAL DAYS, MONTHS, SEASONS, AND YEARS.
THE LORD, THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL, APPEARS TO SAY THAT THE OBSERVANCE OF SPECIAL DAYS OR TIMES IS IN FACT A WASTE OF OUR TIME.
THEN GO TO ROMANS 14:5-8
SOME THINK THAT ONE DAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER, AND OTHERS THINK THAT EVERY DAY IS THE SAME. LET ALL BE SURE IN THEIR OWN MIND. THOSE WHO THINK ONE DAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHER DAYS ARE DOING THAT FOR THE LORD. AND THOSE WHO EAT ALL KINDS OF FOOD ARE DOING THAT FOR THE LORD, AND THEY GIVE THANKS TO GOD. WE DO NOT LIVE OR DIE FOR OURSELVES. IF WE LIVE, WE ARE LIVING FOR THE LORD, AND IF WE DIE, WE ARE DYING FOR THE LORD. SO LIVING OR DYING, WE BELONG TO THE LORD.
THE APOSTLE AGAIN REMINDS US THAT THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT CERTAIN DAYS, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY DAY. IN ADDITION, HE TELLS US THAT WHATEVER WE DO, LIVING OR DYING, WE ARE DOING IT FOR THE LORD.
NOW, THAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT. BUT DID JESUS DO AWAY WITH OLD TESTAMENT TRUTH ? NO, OF COURSE NOT, JESUS CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW, NOT TO DO AWAY WITH IT. AND ALSO, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE WHOLE "COUNSEL OF GOD" IN BALANCE.
SO, IN GENESIS, WE SEE THAT THERE WAS A BEGINNING. IN GENESIS 1:1, WE READ "IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED...."
IN EXODUS 12:2, WE READ "THIS MONTH WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS, THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR FOR YOU".
YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE JEWISH CALENDAR, MONTHS WERE COUNTED. FIRST INSTANCE, THE TERM "THE FIRST MONTH" IS MENTIONED THE MOST IN THE OT SCRIPTURES (I.E. ABOUT 30 TIMES). "THE SEVENTH MONTH" (GOD’S FAVORITE NUMBER) IS IN SECOND PLACE.
THEN, IN GENERAL TERMS, IN THE PREACHER BOOK, ECCLESIASTES, IN CHAPTER 3 VERSE 1 WE READ :
"THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND EVERYTHING ON EARTH HAS ITS SPECIAL SEASON".
SO, EVERYTHING HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END.
TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK NOT ONLY ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS NEW YEAR 2009, BUT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS NEW CHURCH PLANT, UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL, WHICH, IN EARNEST, BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2008.
AS ALREADY STATED, WE NEED TO SEE EVERYTHING IN LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES, IN LIGHT OF THE WORD OF GOD, THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD (BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT). WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH, AND FOR THAT MATTER, OUR CHURCH.
IN 2 PETER 3:1-2, WE READ
"MY FRIENDS, THIS IS THE SECOND LETTER I HAVE WRITTEN YOU TO HELP YOU HONEST MINDS REMEMBER. I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE WORDS THE HOLY PROPHETS SPOKE IN THE PAST, AND REMEMBER THE COMMAND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR GAVE US THROUGH YOUR APOSTLES."
PETER REINFORCES THE IDEA THAT THE "WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD" IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER WHAT WE CONSIDER.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ARE A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE THE LORD GAVE OF SUCH A CHURCH. STARTING WITH THE DAY OF PENTECOST, WE SEE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. GOD GAVE HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM, MIRACULOUS SIGNS FOLLOWED AND THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH WAS BORN.
SO, ANY NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THAT SAME PHASE.
IN ROMANS 8:8-9, WE READ "BUT YOU ARE NOT RULED BY YOUR SINFUL SELVES. YOU ARE RULED BY THE SPIRIT, IF THAT SPIRIT OF GOD REALLY LIVES IN YOU. BUT THE PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST DOES NOT BELONG TO CHRIST."
AS YOU AND I MAKE UP THE CHURCH, THIS CHURCH - IF WE, COLLECTIVELY, DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, WE DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. IN FACT, WE WOULD NOT BE A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.
WHILE INITIALLY, THERE WAS A VERY RAPID, INITIAL GROWTH OF THE CHURCH, THE WORD OF GOD IS CLEAR THAT, IN FACT, THE CHURCH REMAINED AS A SMALL, OFTEN-PERSECUTED ORGANISM.
"IF THE WORLD HATES YOU, REMEMBER THAT IT HATED ME FIRST. IF YOU BELONGED TO THE WORLD, IT WOULD LOVE YOU AS IT LOVES IT OWN. BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, SO YOU DON’T BELONG TO IT. THAT IS WHY THE WORLD HATES YOU." (JOHN 15:18-19)
"ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. THE GATE IS WIDE AND THE ROAD IS WIDE THAT LEADS TO HELL, AND MANY PEOPLE ENTER THROUGH THAT GATE. BUT THE GATE IS SMALL AND THE ROAD IS NARROW THAT LEADS TO TRUE LIFE. ONLY A FEW PEOPLE FIND THAT ROAD." (MATTHEW 7:13-14)
"DON’T FEAR, LITTLE FLOCK, BECAUSE YOUR FATHER WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM." (LUKE 12:32)
YOU SEE, JESUS PREDICTED (PROPHESIED) THAT HIS FLOCK WOULD REMAIN RELATIVELY SMALL. LATER ON IN THOSE SAME SCRIPTURES, HE FORETELLS US ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS, ARISING FROM THE CHURCH, DIVIDING IT AND DILUTING ITS MESSAGE.
SO, THIS IS WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING TO THE SMALL GROUP GATHERED IN THIS NEW CHURCH, UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL :
"LITTLE FLOCK, DO NOT BE DISMAYED. LITTLE FLOCK, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. LITTLE FLOCK, HAVE FAITH, I INTENDED IT TO BE SMALL AND NOT TO GROW IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS, AT LEAST NOT INITIALLY. LITTLE FLOCK, YOU ARE DOING OKAY. LITTLE FLOCK, ALREADY NOW YOU ARE TOUCHING MORE LIVES THAN MANY OTHER, LARGER CHURCHES IN YOUR MIDST. I HAVE A PLAN FOR THEM TOO, BUT BE NOT CONCERNED WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING. BE ONLY CONCERNED WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING."
LOOKING AT THIS PROPHETIC WORD THE LORD GAVE ME YESTERDAY MORNING, I NEED TO QUICKLY SHOW YOU THAT IT IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING.
YES, SO FAR WE ARE A SMALL FLOCK – ABOUT 10 IN SIZE. BUT WHAT REALLY COUNTS IS NOT SIZE, BUT IMPACT.
WHICH CHURCH, THROUGH ITS RESOURCES, MINISTERS DIRECTLY, ON A DAILY BASIS, TO 16 IV DRUG USERS AND OTHERS WITH SEVERE ADDICTIONS, WHO USED TO WORK THE STREET, WHO HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS, WHO HAD THEIR CHILDREN APPREHENDED ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH, OR FOR THAT MATTER LARGER CHURCH, HAS ITS OWN BIBLE TRAINING CENTRE WITH :
2 FULL-TIME STUDENTS IN PRINCE ALBERT (MAYBE EVEN MORE STARTING MONDAY)
3 ACTIVE PART-TIME DISTANCE STUDENTS
CLOSE TO 10 PART-TIME STUDENTS AT SASKATCHEWAN PENITENTIARY (WHICH SMALL OR EVEN LARGER CHURCH REGULARLY MINISTERS IN THE MORE THAN 10 JAILS IN THIS CITY ?)
8 TO 10 CASUAL STUDENTS IN OUR REGINA CAMPUS
AND ABOUT 100 REGULAR STUDENTS AT OUR THREE CAMPUSES IN PERU?
WHICH TINY CHURCH PROVIDES DIRECT AND ACTUAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO A MISSIONS CHURCH IN TABLADA DE LURIN, A CHURCH WITH ABOUT 100 PRECIOUS PEOPLE (SEE E-MAIL ATTACHMENT TO OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT) ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN BUILDING A BRAND NEW CHURCH BUILDING IN A SQUATTER COMMUNITY IN PERU CALLED PUENTE BOLIVAR. A CHURCH THAT NOW ATTRACTS 22 ADULTS AND ABOUT 10 TEENAGERS ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH, THROUGH ITS AFFILIATED MINISTRY OF JUBILATION PROGRAM, PROVIDED BRANDNEW HOUSING TO 4 SINGLE MOMS AND 9 CHILDREN IN 2008 ? WHICH TINY CHURCH IS PLANNING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS HOUSING PROGRAM AND HOPES TO BUILD ABOUT 30 HOUSES THIS YEAR ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH IS ACTIVELY PLANNING TO BUILD A TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR CLOSE TO 100 STUDENTS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH ACTIVELY SUPPORTS A BRAND NEW CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION WHICH IS GOING TO MINISTER TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF PRINCE ALBERT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY OF THE LARGER CHURCHES HAVE NOT EVEN GIVEN ONE DOLLAR TO THIS OUTREACH EFFORT! LET’S ESTIMATE THAT JUST OUR PORTION OF SUPPORT ALLOWS THIS NEW RADIO STATION TO TOUCH ABOUT 500 HEARTS.
WHICH TINY CHURCH HAS ACTUALLY A POSITIVE BANK BALANCE ? DEBT DOES NOT RESTRICT US IN WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO. (SEE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT WHICH WAS HANDED OUT THIS MORNING.)
OUR SIZE SIMPLY DOES NOT DICTATE WHAT WE CAN DO. WHAT DICTATES WHAT WE CAN DO IS THE SPIRIT OF OUR ALLMIGHTY GOD. AND WITH HIM, EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE. PLEASE BE REMINDED THROUGH LUKE 1:37 "GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!"
IF YOU COUNT UP THE ABOVE FIGURES, WE DIRECTLY MINISTER TO ABOUT 870 PRECIOUS SOULS.
PLEASE BE ENCOURAGED IN THIS NEW BEGINNING!!!
PASTOR JOHN
(DELIVERED AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL ON January 4th, 2009)
YOU SEE, WHEN YOU ARE 60+, THOUGH WE LONG TO BE WITH JESUS, YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE REMINDED THAT YOU ARE IN THE TWILIGHT OF YOUR LIFE.
SOME OF US MAKE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS. SOME OTHERS MAKE A POINT THAT THEY DO NOT MAKE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WORK ANY WAY.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT NEW BEGINNINGS.
YOU KNOW THAT THE WORD OF GOD HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT NEW BEGINNINGS.
I WANT YOU TO TURN TO THE BOOK OF GALATIANS.
GAL 4 : 9-10
BUT NOW YOU KNOW THE TRUE GOD. REALLY, IT IS GOD WHO KNOWS YOU. SO WHY DO YOU TURN BACK TO THOSE WEAK AND USELESS RULES YOU FOLLOWED BEFORE ? DO YOU WANT TO BE SLAVES TO THOSE THINGS AGAIN ? YOU STILL FOLLOW TEACHINGS ABOUT SPECIAL DAYS, MONTHS, SEASONS, AND YEARS.
THE LORD, THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL, APPEARS TO SAY THAT THE OBSERVANCE OF SPECIAL DAYS OR TIMES IS IN FACT A WASTE OF OUR TIME.
THEN GO TO ROMANS 14:5-8
SOME THINK THAT ONE DAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER, AND OTHERS THINK THAT EVERY DAY IS THE SAME. LET ALL BE SURE IN THEIR OWN MIND. THOSE WHO THINK ONE DAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHER DAYS ARE DOING THAT FOR THE LORD. AND THOSE WHO EAT ALL KINDS OF FOOD ARE DOING THAT FOR THE LORD, AND THEY GIVE THANKS TO GOD. WE DO NOT LIVE OR DIE FOR OURSELVES. IF WE LIVE, WE ARE LIVING FOR THE LORD, AND IF WE DIE, WE ARE DYING FOR THE LORD. SO LIVING OR DYING, WE BELONG TO THE LORD.
THE APOSTLE AGAIN REMINDS US THAT THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT CERTAIN DAYS, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY DAY. IN ADDITION, HE TELLS US THAT WHATEVER WE DO, LIVING OR DYING, WE ARE DOING IT FOR THE LORD.
NOW, THAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT. BUT DID JESUS DO AWAY WITH OLD TESTAMENT TRUTH ? NO, OF COURSE NOT, JESUS CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW, NOT TO DO AWAY WITH IT. AND ALSO, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE WHOLE "COUNSEL OF GOD" IN BALANCE.
SO, IN GENESIS, WE SEE THAT THERE WAS A BEGINNING. IN GENESIS 1:1, WE READ "IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED...."
IN EXODUS 12:2, WE READ "THIS MONTH WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS, THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR FOR YOU".
YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE JEWISH CALENDAR, MONTHS WERE COUNTED. FIRST INSTANCE, THE TERM "THE FIRST MONTH" IS MENTIONED THE MOST IN THE OT SCRIPTURES (I.E. ABOUT 30 TIMES). "THE SEVENTH MONTH" (GOD’S FAVORITE NUMBER) IS IN SECOND PLACE.
THEN, IN GENERAL TERMS, IN THE PREACHER BOOK, ECCLESIASTES, IN CHAPTER 3 VERSE 1 WE READ :
"THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND EVERYTHING ON EARTH HAS ITS SPECIAL SEASON".
SO, EVERYTHING HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END.
TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK NOT ONLY ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS NEW YEAR 2009, BUT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS NEW CHURCH PLANT, UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL, WHICH, IN EARNEST, BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2008.
AS ALREADY STATED, WE NEED TO SEE EVERYTHING IN LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES, IN LIGHT OF THE WORD OF GOD, THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD (BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT). WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH, AND FOR THAT MATTER, OUR CHURCH.
IN 2 PETER 3:1-2, WE READ
"MY FRIENDS, THIS IS THE SECOND LETTER I HAVE WRITTEN YOU TO HELP YOU HONEST MINDS REMEMBER. I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE WORDS THE HOLY PROPHETS SPOKE IN THE PAST, AND REMEMBER THE COMMAND OUR LORD AND SAVIOR GAVE US THROUGH YOUR APOSTLES."
PETER REINFORCES THE IDEA THAT THE "WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD" IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER WHAT WE CONSIDER.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ARE A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE THE LORD GAVE OF SUCH A CHURCH. STARTING WITH THE DAY OF PENTECOST, WE SEE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. GOD GAVE HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM, MIRACULOUS SIGNS FOLLOWED AND THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH WAS BORN.
SO, ANY NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THAT SAME PHASE.
IN ROMANS 8:8-9, WE READ "BUT YOU ARE NOT RULED BY YOUR SINFUL SELVES. YOU ARE RULED BY THE SPIRIT, IF THAT SPIRIT OF GOD REALLY LIVES IN YOU. BUT THE PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST DOES NOT BELONG TO CHRIST."
AS YOU AND I MAKE UP THE CHURCH, THIS CHURCH - IF WE, COLLECTIVELY, DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, WE DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. IN FACT, WE WOULD NOT BE A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.
WHILE INITIALLY, THERE WAS A VERY RAPID, INITIAL GROWTH OF THE CHURCH, THE WORD OF GOD IS CLEAR THAT, IN FACT, THE CHURCH REMAINED AS A SMALL, OFTEN-PERSECUTED ORGANISM.
"IF THE WORLD HATES YOU, REMEMBER THAT IT HATED ME FIRST. IF YOU BELONGED TO THE WORLD, IT WOULD LOVE YOU AS IT LOVES IT OWN. BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, SO YOU DON’T BELONG TO IT. THAT IS WHY THE WORLD HATES YOU." (JOHN 15:18-19)
"ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. THE GATE IS WIDE AND THE ROAD IS WIDE THAT LEADS TO HELL, AND MANY PEOPLE ENTER THROUGH THAT GATE. BUT THE GATE IS SMALL AND THE ROAD IS NARROW THAT LEADS TO TRUE LIFE. ONLY A FEW PEOPLE FIND THAT ROAD." (MATTHEW 7:13-14)
"DON’T FEAR, LITTLE FLOCK, BECAUSE YOUR FATHER WANTS TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM." (LUKE 12:32)
YOU SEE, JESUS PREDICTED (PROPHESIED) THAT HIS FLOCK WOULD REMAIN RELATIVELY SMALL. LATER ON IN THOSE SAME SCRIPTURES, HE FORETELLS US ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS, ARISING FROM THE CHURCH, DIVIDING IT AND DILUTING ITS MESSAGE.
SO, THIS IS WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING TO THE SMALL GROUP GATHERED IN THIS NEW CHURCH, UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL :
"LITTLE FLOCK, DO NOT BE DISMAYED. LITTLE FLOCK, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. LITTLE FLOCK, HAVE FAITH, I INTENDED IT TO BE SMALL AND NOT TO GROW IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS, AT LEAST NOT INITIALLY. LITTLE FLOCK, YOU ARE DOING OKAY. LITTLE FLOCK, ALREADY NOW YOU ARE TOUCHING MORE LIVES THAN MANY OTHER, LARGER CHURCHES IN YOUR MIDST. I HAVE A PLAN FOR THEM TOO, BUT BE NOT CONCERNED WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING. BE ONLY CONCERNED WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING."
LOOKING AT THIS PROPHETIC WORD THE LORD GAVE ME YESTERDAY MORNING, I NEED TO QUICKLY SHOW YOU THAT IT IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING.
YES, SO FAR WE ARE A SMALL FLOCK – ABOUT 10 IN SIZE. BUT WHAT REALLY COUNTS IS NOT SIZE, BUT IMPACT.
WHICH CHURCH, THROUGH ITS RESOURCES, MINISTERS DIRECTLY, ON A DAILY BASIS, TO 16 IV DRUG USERS AND OTHERS WITH SEVERE ADDICTIONS, WHO USED TO WORK THE STREET, WHO HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS, WHO HAD THEIR CHILDREN APPREHENDED ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH, OR FOR THAT MATTER LARGER CHURCH, HAS ITS OWN BIBLE TRAINING CENTRE WITH :
2 FULL-TIME STUDENTS IN PRINCE ALBERT (MAYBE EVEN MORE STARTING MONDAY)
3 ACTIVE PART-TIME DISTANCE STUDENTS
CLOSE TO 10 PART-TIME STUDENTS AT SASKATCHEWAN PENITENTIARY (WHICH SMALL OR EVEN LARGER CHURCH REGULARLY MINISTERS IN THE MORE THAN 10 JAILS IN THIS CITY ?)
8 TO 10 CASUAL STUDENTS IN OUR REGINA CAMPUS
AND ABOUT 100 REGULAR STUDENTS AT OUR THREE CAMPUSES IN PERU?
WHICH TINY CHURCH PROVIDES DIRECT AND ACTUAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO A MISSIONS CHURCH IN TABLADA DE LURIN, A CHURCH WITH ABOUT 100 PRECIOUS PEOPLE (SEE E-MAIL ATTACHMENT TO OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT) ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN BUILDING A BRAND NEW CHURCH BUILDING IN A SQUATTER COMMUNITY IN PERU CALLED PUENTE BOLIVAR. A CHURCH THAT NOW ATTRACTS 22 ADULTS AND ABOUT 10 TEENAGERS ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH, THROUGH ITS AFFILIATED MINISTRY OF JUBILATION PROGRAM, PROVIDED BRANDNEW HOUSING TO 4 SINGLE MOMS AND 9 CHILDREN IN 2008 ? WHICH TINY CHURCH IS PLANNING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS HOUSING PROGRAM AND HOPES TO BUILD ABOUT 30 HOUSES THIS YEAR ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH IS ACTIVELY PLANNING TO BUILD A TECHNICAL SCHOOL FOR CLOSE TO 100 STUDENTS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN ?
WHICH TINY CHURCH ACTIVELY SUPPORTS A BRAND NEW CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION WHICH IS GOING TO MINISTER TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF PRINCE ALBERT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY OF THE LARGER CHURCHES HAVE NOT EVEN GIVEN ONE DOLLAR TO THIS OUTREACH EFFORT! LET’S ESTIMATE THAT JUST OUR PORTION OF SUPPORT ALLOWS THIS NEW RADIO STATION TO TOUCH ABOUT 500 HEARTS.
WHICH TINY CHURCH HAS ACTUALLY A POSITIVE BANK BALANCE ? DEBT DOES NOT RESTRICT US IN WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO. (SEE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT WHICH WAS HANDED OUT THIS MORNING.)
OUR SIZE SIMPLY DOES NOT DICTATE WHAT WE CAN DO. WHAT DICTATES WHAT WE CAN DO IS THE SPIRIT OF OUR ALLMIGHTY GOD. AND WITH HIM, EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE. PLEASE BE REMINDED THROUGH LUKE 1:37 "GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!"
IF YOU COUNT UP THE ABOVE FIGURES, WE DIRECTLY MINISTER TO ABOUT 870 PRECIOUS SOULS.
PLEASE BE ENCOURAGED IN THIS NEW BEGINNING!!!
PASTOR JOHN
(DELIVERED AT UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE CHAPEL ON January 4th, 2009)
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