A WORLD WITHOUT GOD

A WORLD WITHOUT GOD!

Rom 1:28

28 And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome,

AMPLIFIED BIBLE

Phil 3:18-4:1

18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Philippians 4

4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

           Our government is corrupt, our world is nearly bankrupt, and our church members are often compliant with the evil around them. We forget that Christianity was born during a time of great evil and, in fact, thrived in a world that was antagonistic toward God. Churches, which at the first were simple assemblies of the faithful, were disrupted regularly. They met in secret using codes to announce meetings. They sang hymns in whispers and read from patches of torn scripture. They helped each other; relied on each other and trusted in God.

           It seems to me that verse 1 of Philippians chapter 4 rightfully belongs at the end of chapter three. Paul described a world that gloried in their shame and whose mind was firmly set on wicked things. He also reminded the Philippians that their destiny was heaven and that they lived as expatriates in a foreign land. Then he urged them to “stand fast” in the Lord. The two English words “stand fast” is translated from a single Greek word, steko, which is the perfect tense of “to be stationary.” It is clear that we are not to be moved from our faithfulness to Christ even during evil times. I think Christians should stop blaming God for being absent when they themselves are not present.

           George Orwell, writing regarding Europe’s rejection of God, said: "For two hundred years we had sawed and sawed and sawed at the branch we were sitting on.  And in the end, much more suddenly than anyone had foreseen, our efforts were rewarded, and down we came.  But unfortunately there had been a little mistake: The thing at the bottom was not a bed of roses after all; it was a cesspool full of barbed wire.”

1 Cor 15:58

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Dear Lord, let my faithfulness and steadfastness be equal to the world’s wickedness. Let me not be overrun. AMEN

FINISH IT

FINISH IT!

Phil 4:7

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

           My desk is stacked with half finished projects. I dare not clear the clutter for fear that I will upset some project which must then be started over. It is a shameful admission, I know, but I suspect many of you can relate to this. I think it is because a new project is presented to me before the old one is done. This happens so often that soon I am hopelessly behind in my work.

           Paul, writing to the Philippians, urges them to finish the process of discipleship. They had been taught sound principles from the Bible and had seen them practiced by their teacher. Now it was time to do what they knew to do. The little word “do” is the Greek word prasso and means: “to practice repeatedly; to accomplish; to finish.”  Are you practicing repeatedly and habitually all the “Christianity” that you have been taught? The Apostles were given one final command before Jesus returned to His Father. We know it as The Great Commission.

Matt 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

James Ryle relates a story of Leonardo Da Vinci and one of his students. The Master had prepared a canvas, mixed the palette, sketched in the picture of what he was going to paint, and began applying his brush to the work — laying in colors and tones, shadings and hues that brought the sketch to life with every stroke.

Then, without any warning, Da Vinci turned to his student and handed him the palette and brush, saying, "You finish it." The student was taken back. "Your greatness," he said in true humility, "I cannot even presume to finish your work." And Da Vinci replied, "Will not what I have done inspire you to do your very best?"

Dear Lord, let me be inspired by your work and your sacrifice so that I may finish my assignment here. AMEN

HE MAY NOT

HE MAY NOT!

Luke 9:23-24

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

           Do not suppose that becoming a believing Christian will repair everything that is torn in your life. The results of sin damage everything and life may never be rainbows and gumdrops. Jesus warned us that following would require a cross.

           He may not keep you from suffering pain and humiliation! Peter and his friends were jailed, beaten and then sternly warned to never speak in the name of Jesus again. At this point they had a choice and their choice was Jesus.

Acts 5:41

41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

           He may not heal the rift in your family! Remember that each family member has his own personal responsibility to either follow Christ or deny Him. Pain may remain and continue in your family but now the difference is that you have the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Matt 10:34-36

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

           He may not line your pockets with wealth nor bless your body with health! The prosperity gospel is deceitful and brings prosperity only to those who preach it. Many times Paul suffered the lack of supplies when churches forgot his support. On at least one occasion he had to resort to his trade as a tent maker to provide for his needs. God did not give Paul every convenience but He instead gave him contentment.

Phil 4:12-13

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

           He may not always punish your enemies! We are told to pray for our enemies and to persevere in a steady walk with God. We are to walk through the difficult and dry places and make a difference for others.

Ps 84:5-6

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

Dear Lord, let me be a refreshing drink to the thirsty today. AMEN

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION!

Luke 6:47-49

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

How Firm a Foundation is a Christian hymn, published in 1787 by John Rippon in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns, known as "Rippon's Selection". It is attributed only to "K", which probably refers to Robert Keen(e), precentor (choir and music leader) at Rippon's church, though other names suggested include Richard or John Keene, Kirk­ham, or John Keith. It is most often sung to the tune "Protection" (or "Foundation") by Joseph Funk from A Com­pil­a­tion of Gen­u­ine Church Mu­sic (1832), though the original tune may be Keen(e)'s "Geard". This was the favorite hymn of General Robert E. Lee and has been played at the funerals of several US politicians. (Information from Wikipedia.)

The hymn is born just eleven years after the Declaration of Independence. The ashes of the Revolutionary War still hung in the air and the foundation of the nation was being laid. But much more than the foundation of a nation is in view.

           Your peace is not due to the lack of storms in your life but the firmness of your foundation. Let the winds blow and the storms rage! In the words of the hymn: “That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake.” Of the seven verses of this hymn, the following provides me with great encouragement.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

Dear Lord, be very near to your children who are going through fiery trials and deep waters today. AMEN

HOMESICK

HOMESICK!

2 Sam 23:15-16

15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

           Of the 51 times the word “home” appears in the Authorized Version, none seems to suggest homesickness! I find that curious. Perhaps it is because much of the Old Testament characters spent their time on the move and bunked down in tents. But did they not become attached to a region or a city or a house? We don’t find many sentimental, homesick folks in Scripture.

           King David gives us a glimpse of what might be called homesickness when he yearned for a drink of water from a familiar well in his hometown of Bethlehem. He and his men were bivouacked in the open because it was a time of war. David’s homesick heart remembered the water of Bethlehem and he spoke of it aloud. Loyal men broke through the enemy’s defenses just to draw a portion to satisfy the craving of their King.

           Benjamin Franklin once said: “A little house well filled, a little field well tilled, a little wife well willed, are great riches.” I think this is the essence of home for most of us. Jesus has promised to provide a place for us. One day we will be going home.

John 14:1-3

14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Dear Father, thank you for preparing a place for me. AMEN