"THE CRITICAL DIFFERENCE"

   "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and Falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice  and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecute the prophets who were before you.

                                                                    MATTHEW 5: 11-12

     It was built for an international exposition in the last century and called "monstrous" by both critics and citizens. They loudly demamded the structure be torn down as soo. As the 1889 expisition closed. Yet from the moment its architect first conceived the structure, was destined for greatness.

      Today it stands as one of the architectural wonders of the modern world. It has become the primary landmark of Paris, France. The architect, of course, was Alexander Gustave Eiffel. His famous structure? The Eiffel Tower.

      Jesus Christ was loyal to another Structure--- the Church. He entrusted the building of the Church to an unlikely band of disciple, whom He defended, prayed for, and prepared to take the Gospel to the far- reaching corners of the world. To outsiders, the disciple of Jesus probably had a reputation as ignorant, politically weak, religiously untrained, disorganized, and in moments, blundering idiots. But Jesus, the architect of the Church, knew His structure was destined for greatness.

     Being a Christian has never been politically correct." Critics through the years have compiled a list of derigatory names to call the Church and its members. In spite of criticism, however, we are instructed to carry on. We are to persist in building the body of Christ until His return. As we build, we can be assured see will please God and He will bless us.

     The famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius once consoled a young musician who had received a bad review by saying, "Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have errected a statue to a critic."

     Jesus said,  I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). One day the Church will be the ones left standing. What will the critics say then? 

        No matter what comes your way today, be proud you are a member of Jesus' Church!

"As To The Lord"

       "With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

                                         EPHESIANS 6 : 7

        When we think of the most profession, we nearly always think of those  that offer a service, such as doctors, lawyers, or teachers. Pershaps at the pinnacle of the service professions are those who are involved in full-time ministry -- the helping of others in their spiritual lives in the name of the Lord. We tend to reverse most highly those who make a commitment to serving God and others: pastors, priests, monks, missionary, evangelists, and Bible teacher

        Ministry, however, is not limited to those who earn their living by it. Ministry is the call and challenge of God to all Christians. Ministry is giving to others and living our lives as unto the Lord

         Ministry happens in the home, in the school, on the street, at the grocery store, in the boardroom, at the committe meeting, and in the gym. It happens whenever and whenever a person, motivated by the love of Jesus Christ, performs an act of loving service for another person

                Gandhi once wrote:

                If when we plunge our hand unto a bowl of water,

                 Or stir up the fire with the bellows

                 Or tabulate interminable columns of figureson our

                            Biikkeeping table,

                 Or, burnt by the sun, we are plunged in the mud 

                             of the rice field,

                 Or standing by the smelter's furnace

                 We do not fulfill the same religious life as if in prayer

                 In a monastery, the world will nver be saved."

                There is no ignoble work except that which is void of 

                ministry! There is no lack of meaning in any job

                 Performed with God's love and "as unto the Lord."

                 Whenever the tasks you today, perform them as if 

                 You were performing them for Jesus Himself, 

                 Because ultimately you ate!

"SPIRiTUAL. FRESH"

                       "Watch stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong"

                                            1 Corintjians 16 : 13

When a bear has cubs, she rarely strays far from them. The mother bear knows that hungry predators prowl the forest in search of any living thing that is vulnerable and unproctected. So, she remains alert and aware, constanly watching for her enemy, or a threat of any kind. She's a powerful guardian protecting what is precious to her. 

         Just as the mother bear watches to protect her cubs. Christian need to watch and guard themselves against our spiritual enemy, Satan. For the Bible says he roams about as a lion, ready to devour us.

          Maybe you believe that you coild never fall prey to Satan's scheme. But nothing could be further frim the truth! A persistent attitude of precautionary watchfulness can protect you agsinst spiritual danger or entrapment. 

           In today's revommended reading frim Ezekiel, the watchman sounds the warning that enemy soldier are coming. The people can choose to heed or disregard his alarm. Be wise and heed the warning to be on gusrd againsg Satan. Commit yourself to see and resist any spritual threat. Like that mother bear, become a powerful guardian of what is precious to you, and preserve the fsith for whick Jesus paid so dear a price

            No one ever falls into sin as the result of being too watchful.

"STIR YOUR FAITH"

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another"

HEBREWS 10 : 25

    Philip Haille went to the little village of Le Chambon, France to write about a people who, unlike other villages, had hidden their Jews from the Nazis. He wondered what caused them to risk their lives to do such extraordinary good.

    He interviewed people in the village and was overwhelmed not by their extraordinary qualities, but by their ordinariness. They were not an unusually bright, quick-witted, brave, or discerning people.

    Haile looked for possible connections between the citizens' lives to find the reason they had done what no other French town had done. In the end, the author concluded that the one factor uniting them to do good was their attendance at the little church.

    Sunday after Sunday they heard the sermons of Pastor Trochme. Over time became the courage from God to do it. When it came a time for them to act boldly as on the day the Nazis came to town they quietly did what was right.

    One elderly woman faked heart attack when the Nazi come  to search her house. She told Haille about her personal dramatic ploy. "Pastor always taught us that there comes a time in every life when a person is asked to do something for Jesus. When my time came, I Just knew what to do." 

    There were two strong beliefs that gave the citizens of this town inner strength of steel. First, they knew spiritual strenght together in Christ was greater than any foe they Faced. Even in times of war, they did not forsake gathering. Second, they took the Word of God into their hearts in an active way knowing God would bless them when the principle of their faith were reflected in their behavior.

    The strength and courage Haille discovered in the people of Le Chambon was a result of simple obedience to God never to stop meeting together to worship and hear His Word. When extreme difficulty came their way, their unity in the faith was a habitual part of their everyday lives.

    Thank God today for a church where you can receive strength and courage. If you don't go to church, ask the Lord to lead you to the body of believers just right for you. And stir your faith.

" Life Through the Word"

        "They received the word with all readiness, and searched the 

           Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

                                           ACTS 17 : 1b

        The believer in Thessalonica realize that their city leaders will do anything to keep the peace and suppress rumors of rebellion, and that thejews will not cease from their false accusations if Paul and his companions remain. The situation in untenable. So they send the missionaries out of the city under cover of darkness.

         

        Skirting an arm of the Aegean sea, the party heads for the town of Berea. This is a much smaller locale than Paul customarily targets, but it does have synagogue. As per his custom, Paul goes there to preach the Gospel to local Jews. Luke is quick to draw a contrast between the response of these Jews and those in zthessalonica; thr Bereans are more " fair- minded," he says why? They have high regard for and faith nin the Cruptures. Dr. Simon kistemaker say, "when Paul proclaim the Gospel, they immediately go to God's written Word for verification. . . . Day by day, the Bereans examine the Scripture to see whether the teaching of Paul and Sil accord with God's written word. They do so notfrom unbelief and foubt but from honest analysis and eagerness to learn the message of Go's revelation." Ensbled by the spirit to see that the things taught by ypsul agree with their treasured Scriptures, many of the Jews and the Gentile God-fearers believe.

        We have seen that the Jews of Thessalonica were like those of Asia Minor in their Jealousy over the Gospel's success among the Gentiles of their synagogue. Now we see thst they are also like Asia Minor Jews in the depth of their Jealousy; as those Jews followed Pail to harass him, so do these. Hearing of Paul's work, the thessalonican Jew Journey to berea and begin agitating the pagan crowds,  once again, Paul is forced to abandon a fledgling work, but he leaves Silas and Timonthy behind to organize the church.

        Believers from the Berean church escort all the way down the Grecian peninsula to Athens. 

Luke is not clear on how they travel, but his passing mention that they go "to sea" may indicate passage by ship. But upon arriving in the secular, sophisticated heart of Greek culture, Paul realize he will need help and asks his Berean companions to return home and home and send silas and Timothy to him as quickless as posiible. A great challenge lies before them

        Jesus said that searching the Scripture will not lead to eternal life unless it leads to him (John5:39). The Bereand, for all their love of the sacred writings, were lost until the were enabled to see Christ in thr Scripture. Be diligentl to read and study your Bible. But as you do, ask God to lead you through it to a deeper understanding of Christ.

        

"Only the Beginning"

      "It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

                                                Philippians 2 :13

      We have seen that it is an absolute necessity that a person be born again if he or she is to enter the kingdom of God. We have also learned that regeneration is performed by God, that it is done without means, that it is mysterious, and that it cannot be revoked. As we close our brief study on this vital topic, it is appropriate that we remind ourselves of one other crucial facet of rebirth-- it is just the beginning of the Christian life.

      Just as none of us would have lives to live if we had not had birthdays, we cannot have new lives in Christ without spiritual rebirth. Yet just as the days of our lives are not the same as our birthdays, our Christian lives are not the same as our regeneration. This seems elementary, but it is a fact that often is not clearly grasped by believers. Regeneration is simply the doorway into the new life. In others words, our new lives in Christ are the result of spiritual rebirth. When He regenerates us, changes us forever. But He diesn't stop there. He continues working in us to move us toward the next stages in the process of our full redemption--- faith in Christ, justification, sanctification, and eventuall glorification.

      A newly born baby has much growing to do. The same is true for newly reborn believers. Great capacity for evil remains in the hearts of the regenerate. It must be resisted and replaced by Christlikeness. This is the lifelong process known as sanctification, or growth in holiness. Whereas regeneration is  work of God alone, sanctification is a work  in which we participate with God. But He gives us tools for the task, for this process is mediate (''having means") rather than immediate ("without means"). As is regeneration. While God primarily uses the word (by reading, studying memorizing and hearing it, we learn His will for our lived and sacrament ( baptism and the Lord Supper ) as our means of grace, He also employs prayer and  wosprship ( by taking ours cares, thanks and praise to Him, we grow in dependence on and love for Him), fellowship ( by spending time with others believers, we tap into their positive influence), and service in the church (evangelism, giving, acts of mercy, and so forth). By making diligent use of such means, we moves on from the starting point of our new birth to a greater experience of God's love for us.

      The Philippian jailer had been born again, bit God had only begun working in his life. The same is true for you. If you have been reborn spiritually, you now have a capacity to live God that you lacked before. Now begin to seek Him with all your being; He promises that if you do so, you will not be disappointed.

"For Today"

 "And Jesus... Said to them; "Take heed that ni one deceives you"

MATTHEW 24 : 4

     In 1843, williM Miller proclaimrd that Jesus would return to earth on March21 of that year. Believing in his mathematics calculations, Miller's follower sold everything to prepare the Rapture. But the day came and went. Imagine the disruption in so many lives as they anticipated this day, only to be disappointed.

    This story illustrates how focused some believers are on the future. Their lives are so centered on what will be. They ignore what they could be doing for Christ in the here and now.

     While it's important to know and uderstand what will happen in the future according to biblical prophecy, we must be careful not to neglect today. In other words, we are not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.

     Where do you stand with prophecy? Are you in concerned with the future that you miss out on the opportunities of today? Or, are you so settled into what is that you have not considered what will be? All Scripture is inspired by God, including the prophetic parts. Prophecy can enrich the way you live today, as you view the present in light of God's plan for the future.