HOW TO DEAL WITH HECKLERS!

 

Monday, January 31, 2022

 

HOW TO DEAL WITH HECKLERS!

Neh 4:3

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

 

Judg 6:15

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

 

1 Cor 15:9-10

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am…

 

          In these three verses we see hecklers. One is external and the other is internal. Nehemiah and his people were rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. This included rebuilding the homes that were attached to the wall. These were not professional builders but patriots, so their work was made more of passion than perfection. Yet the work progressed, and the wall began to take shape. It both impressed and frustrated the enemy who tried to shout them down by saying that the weight of a fox, and the cadence of his walk, would cause the wall to crumble.

 

          Gideon’s internal heckler responded to the angel by saying that his tribe had been so thinned that it could no longer stand before its foes, and he was the smallest in that weakened tribe. The angel said he was a “mighty man of valor”, but Gideon just couldn’t see himself in that way. He was already defeated in his own mind.

 

          Paul actually used a Greek word that meant that he was short of stature. Perhaps he was. He did not feel worthy to be an apostle because of his past. He had persecuted the church that now he was trying to build. Finally, he said: “But by the grace of God I am what I am.”   

 

The world is full of critics, self-proclaimed experts, and hecklers. Usually, they are spectators and not participants. Every baseball team could use a man who plays every position perfectly, never strikes out and never makes an error. The trouble is, there is no way to make him lay down his hot dog and come down out of the stands!

 

The best way to treat a heckler is to just go ahead and succeed. With the external heckler you might actually have to work with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. The internal heckler just needs to be quietly ignored while you work steadily on. In Walt Kelly’s comic strip, Pogo is quoted as saying: “Yep, son, we have met the enemy and he is us.”

 

Dear Lord, all day long the heckler inside keeps telling me that I can’t succeed while the angel of the Lord refers to me as a mighty man of valor. Help me to trust your opinion of me and not that of myself. AMEN

ISAAC'S SONG

 

Sunday, January 30, 2022

 

ISAAC'S SONG

 

I know my Father loves me

But where is the Lamb?

The acrid coals fret hotly in the pan

And speaks of consuming judgment

according to God's plan.

The tinder wood is bundled

and carried on my back.

The sacrifice is ready

There's nothing that we lack

Except a lamb.

 

I feel a great unrest

Deep within my soul.

Everything is ready

The stones, the wood, the coals.

It's not like Father to forget.

He's quite a detailed man.

But for the life of me I can't believe

That he'd forget the lamb.

 

I know that I am special.

God's miracle I'm told.

Father said that God did say

I'm essential to His Plan.

To ask the question I must ask

Makes me seem too bold.

But we've traveled far upon our way

And we've failed to bring a lamb.

 

A sudden terror grips me

And shakes me to my soul.

Father silently assists me

With the stones and wood and coals

And the terror screams inside me:

I'll be taken from the fold!

 

Yes, I'm the lamb of sacrifice

Though I understand it not.

My hands are tied

And I lay me down upon the wood and

coals.

 

I've never seen such love and pain

Within my Father's eyes.

The dagger starts its downward ride

And I close my eyes against the blows.

 

The blows don't come, and I look above

To see a stranger's hand.

And hear a sweet and heavenly voice:

"God has provided Himself a Lamb".

 

And now I know more surely

Than any other man.

My life was spared and truly

God has a wondrous plan.

Once marked for death I now am free

Because of the Sacrifice Lamb.

 

By: Rev. Ron Abbott

THE GIFT OF FELLOWSHIP!

 

Saturday, January 29, 2022

 

THE GIFT OF FELLOWSHIP!

 

Mal 3:13-16

13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord  hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord , and that thought upon his name.

 

          Malachi chapter three is about more than money! There have been so many references to verse 10 that it is easy to think that this chapter is all about tithing, but it is actually a mirror of our current times. Worship had deteriorated into a series of forms and rituals while many were asking if it was vain to serve God. Most saw no benefit in it, but a few remained faithful.

 

          Merriam-Webster says that “fellowship” is the condition of friendly relationship existing among persons; a group with similar interests. There are three characteristics given to those who were faithful.

 

          They feared the Lord! The word “fear” suggests a reverence that adjusts one’s morality. It is a respect that causes one to change or to be different. It is respect with honor. It caused them to depart from evil and to keep God’s ordinances.

 

          They spake often one to another! They mutually encouraged one another. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said: “Communion is strength; solitude is weakness. Alone, the fine old beech yields to the blast and lies prone on the meadow. In the forest, supporting each other, the trees laugh at the hurricane. The sheep of Jesus flock together. The social element is the genius of Christianity.”

 

          They thought on His name!  They meditated on the person of God. Much of our thinking is about ourselves; our needs and our comfort but these thought on the various aspects of God. God was in their heart. God listened in! When we are casually having fellowship with other believers God hears and records it.

 

Ps 119:63

63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for the sweet fellowship of other believers. AMEN

A GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE!

 

Friday, January 28, 2022

 

A GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE!

 

2 Tim 2:1-2

2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

 

          Both First and Second Timothy were written from an older sage to a younger apprentice. Both seemed to understand the relationship, and now Paul urges Timothy to gradually become that older mentor. The idea is that truth and tradition might be passed along unchanged. Merriam-Webster says that a mentor is: a trusted counselor or guide; a tutor or coach.

 

          Becoming a mentor presumes that you know something and that you have experience. There is also the presumption that you have accomplished something worthy of copying. There must have been something very attractive about Jesus to make Peter, James, and John to leave their fishing careers to follow this itinerant preacher.

 

          Becoming a student presumes that you do NOT know yet but that you are eager to learn. There was no challenge coming from young Timothy either of the truth or the traditions. At the end of the day Timothy wanted to be like Paul. Immediately following verses one and two we see a warning because there would be “hardness” to endure and options to filter through the net of reason.

 

2 Tim 2:3-4

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

 

          Today you know something that needs to be taught to another. Be a good teacher! You may also still be a student. Study hard! Learn both the truths and the traditions! There will be time to be innovative but for now learn the basics. There will be times of hardness. There will always be choices to make. Choose wisely.

 

Dear Lord, I know so much and yet so very little. Let me be a good teacher and a faithful student. AMEN

A GIFT OF PATIENT GRACE!

 

Thursday, January 27, 2022

 

A GIFT OF PATIENT GRACE!

 

Matt 18:23-35

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

 

          Yesterday I mentioned the wonderful gift of time and how we should pay attention to those who feel set aside and alone. Today I want to focus on the greatly needed gift of patient grace. Actually, I couldn’t decide if it was patience or grace that was to be my topic and finally decided it was a blend of both.

 

          The word “patient” in verses 26 and 29 is the word makrothumeo and means “to bear with; to suffer long or to patiently endure.” Certainly, I am not perfect and require many people throughout the day to patiently endure my faults. The story that Jesus told points this out and requires me to show the same kind of patient grace to others.

 

          We who are church people think we know the meaning of the word grace. Flippantly we will say it is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. This dismisses anyone who questions us without having to give an answer for our misdeeds. Someone has said that grace is “the desire and ability to do God’s will.” However, Merriam-Webster has a lengthy definition of the word which includes: “a temporary respite.” Grace, then, can be a temporary pardon until a better pattern of behavior is learned. That is certainly what I need!

 

          Today you will need others to extend to you patient grace. I know this is true because you are human and imperfect. Today you will be given many opportunities to extend patient grace to others. When we are tempted to cut someone short because of their imperfections – let us remember our own.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for the patient grace that you extend to me so many times. Help me to be gracious to others. Let others see Jesus in me today. AMEN

A GIFT OF TIME!

 

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

 

A GIFT OF TIME!

James 4:14

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

Eph 5:15-16

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

 

          Our English language provides many meanings to the simple word “time.” It is a period of time in which an action, process or condition exists or continues as in the sentence: “gone a long time.” It can refer to a state of affairs such as “hard times.” And every naughty child can tell you the meaning of “time-out.”

 

          Time is life. It appears for a little while and then it is gone. Paul urged the Ephesians to redeem the time. The word “redeeming” is the Greek exagorazo which literally means “to buy up or to rescue from loss.” Time spent doing one thing can’t ever be regained to do another thing. That period of time is used up. If we are to rescue time from loss, then we need to be more aware of how our time is spent.

 

          My love language, and that of my wife, is primarily “quality time.” Our most enjoyable “times” are spent on the front porch swing with a cup of coffee. We may talk for hours, or we may say little or nothing to each other. We are not wasting time. We are investing it in each other. When a visitor comes to spend time with me, I view it and treasure it as an act of love. My visits to others are intended to share love as well.

 

          At my age I have noticed there are at least two groups of people who need loving gifts of time. One is older people, and the other is children. Older people know they have little time left. Many of them feel forgotten and cast aside. They understand and appreciate your gift of time. Sit with one and listen as they recount stories of times long past. Times remembered are times that can be enjoyed again and again.

 

          Children don’t always feel very important to older people. They are surprised and pleased when we spend some of our precious draining time to join them in their play, to sing their songs and to listen to their dreams. Teens, once they overcome their shock, seem truly pleased that we want to spend time with them.

 

John 4:9-10

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

 

          Today you may have the opportunity to give the gift of time. Don’t view it as an intrusion. It may be God’s appointment.

 

Dear Lord, make me aware of those who need a bit of my time. AMEN

THE APOSTACY

 

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

 

THE APOSTACY

 

2 Thess 2:1-4

2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

 

          It is becoming more difficult to watch the news! The perilous [fierce] times have come, and we stand aghast at them. Please understand that this is not simply the result of poor leadership by a geriatric old man or a billionaire with orange hair. It is the energetic activity of Satanic panic. He knows his time is short (Rev. 12:12) and he is demonstrating great wrath.

 

          War swords rattling on at least two major fronts with other little fires erupting, civil lawlessness and violence of soulless predators, and chaos headline the daily fare. Remaining faithful requires ever more grit.

 

          THE APOSTACY, for that is the literal rendering of the original, has already begun and is being accelerated by the pure convenience of abandoning faith. We seem to have lost a suitable “model” for Christian faith because we have abandoned holiness and replaced it with a tepid form of religion while denying its power. (Rev. 3:16)

 

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.

 

2 Tim 2:3

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

 

Lord, these days require a willingness to suffer that is not being presented in our churches. Give us the strength and will to endure. Even so come quickly. AMEN

HOW GOD SPEAKS

 

Monday, January 24, 2022

 

HOW GOD SPEAKS

 

Joel 2:28

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

 

Acts 2:17-18

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

 

          In the upper room 120 believers met and waited on the “promise.” When he (not it) came, there was a symbol which was fire. There was a sign which was the ability to speak in a previously unlearned language. And there was a sermon! All those spoke of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The text of the sermon was from Joel, and it was wonderful news.

 

 Acts 2:21

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

          The manner in which God revealed Himself has changed through the years. Adam Clarke says as he comments on Genesis 15:1, “[The word of the Lord came unto Abram] This is the first place where God is represented as revealing himself by his word. Some learned men suppose that the d­bar Yahweh, translated here "word of the Lord," means the same with the logos tou Theou of John 1:1.”

 

          Dreams were one way that God revealed Himself but not all dreams. Ebenezer Scrooge explained that it might be a parcel of undigested cheese that provoked the dream. Joseph’s recurring dreams in Genesis 37:5-9 predicted that one day Joseph’s family would bow before him. It was the dream that provoked its own fulfillment as the brothers sold Joseph into slavery. It was God, of course, that enabled the slave to become the sovereign.

 

          When Joel and Peter said that “your sons and daughters shall prophecy”, he was not necessarily saying they would predict the future but that they would proclaim the gospel. The sense is not foretelling but forth telling or telling forth.

 

          Today we have the miracle of a written copy of the Word of God, bathed in the blood of martyrs and written with the ink of ages. It is sharper than a two-edged sword! It is the one book that you can never finish reading because it is “quick” which means it is living and not dead. It is inhabited by the Holy Spirit and pierces both the mind and the heart. Read it! Trust it! Live it!

 

Heb 1:1-2

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for your revealed Word. AMEN

NOT NOW – MAYBE LATER!

 

Sunday, January 23, 2022

 

NOT NOW – MAYBE LATER!

 

Acts 17:29-33

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them.

 

          There were three responses to Paul’s preaching in Athens. Some mocked, a word that means “to throw out the lip!” A smaller group seemed interested but wanted to hear more later. A still smaller group trusted Jesus and were saved. It is that middle group that seems to occupy the pews in many churches today. As a young preacher I was trained to withstand opposition and was prepared for martyrdom, but I was ill prepared for apathy.

 

          The constant hearing and re-hearing of sermons have made some people immune to the sermon’s content. They are not moved when their sin is challenged, and they are not motivated when warned of coming judgment. Their lives are not changed but they feel somehow cleansed by simply listening. The service ends and the preacher hears, “we will hear thee again of this matter.” The call to commitment is met with a cordial rebuff which is supposed to be softened by the promise to hear the call again.

 

The consequences of cordial rejection are the same as that of fierce resistance. Those who would hear Paul again would fare no better in the judgment than those who mocked. There is sadness in verse 33 when we read: “So Paul departed from among them.” There is a melancholy finality to it!

 

            The seeming futility and frustration of preaching to dead hearts and clouded minds grays the head of many a good preacher. Even Jesus sighed as He overlooked Jerusalem and said: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matt 23:37

 

"I would have ... ye would not" summarizes the tragedy of final rejection of the truth. There is no argument here about divine sovereignty and human responsibility, for both are included. God could not force His salvation on the people; neither could He change the consequences of their stubborn rejection. "You will not come to Me that you may have life" (John 5:40). (From The Bible Exposition Commentary)

 

Dear Lord, let me not postpone my response to your merciful call. Let your Holy Spirit move upon my heart today. AMEN